Its surprising to see a politician like Vaiko, whatever may be his true intensions. His decision to walk for 42 days and 1050 Kilo meters, be in jail for 18 months without applying for bail and his decision to be out of the central ministry, all have helped to raise his stocks among the public and made him a dark horse. I can hear you saying, after all he is a politician, but just ask yourself has any other contemporary Indian politician gone through this ordeal or made such bold decisions. Before even receiving a arrest warrant, we have people getting admitted into hospitals and parties (Read PMK and DMK) getting plum ministerial berths for their kith and kin. In such a surrounding its refreshing to see a politician like Vaiko. I have heard him speak in the parliament and during the AIADMK tirunelveli conference. I should say that he is well learned and well spoken and as a matter of fact impressed me a lot. I guess among the present crop of politicians, he is a welcome change.
Thursday, September 16
Tuesday, September 14
Power of the Stained glass
Today I was reading a post on Arun Vaidyanathan’s blog. It was talking about senseless Brahmin bashing. I was wondering why the ones who are bashing are doing so. Are there some actual reasons behind this entire Brahmin bashing or people just do it for the heck of it?
Thinking about this made me realize the power of the stained glass. We all wear one and as a matter of fact we all see the world through the stained glass and yet don’t realize that we are wearing one. Everyone’s stained glass is unique and different from the other. The stained glass is like a glass ceiling on a cathedral, with many shades and colors in it. Each shade and color represents one's own value system, brought up, education, culture, beliefs, personal experiences, role models and outlook towards life. Most of the stains (colors/shades) form in the early part of life and stay forever.
Okay coming to the topic of Brahmin bashing and Stained glass, what’s the connection. At times I think there is some deep-rooted reason in Brahmin bashing. As a matter of fact I don’t do, but whenever some one does I don’t find fault with them due to my stained glass. I am not a Brahmin, but most of my close friends are Brahmins and I feel good about every one of them. But this incident, which happened some 20-22 years ago, left a permanent stain on my glass. At that time I was studying in third standard in Bharthiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore. Sankaracharya was visiting the city/school. The school authorities in BVB said he would come to the school and that he would be staying in a rich man's house near by for some yagam and interested people can visit the rich man's house and attend the yagam. My dad was a bank manager and I told my dad about this and he took us all. We met Sankaracharya and took his blessings. Food preparations were going on and the aroma of the food was making me feel excited. I wanted to have food there, but an announcement came in the mike and I still can remember every word of it. It said all Brahmins can stay for food and everyone else can take the prasadam and leave. I was so young, but even after 20 years I can remember the effect it had on me. It made me feel inferior for no reason that I was aware of.
Thinking about this made me realize the power of the stained glass. We all wear one and as a matter of fact we all see the world through the stained glass and yet don’t realize that we are wearing one. Everyone’s stained glass is unique and different from the other. The stained glass is like a glass ceiling on a cathedral, with many shades and colors in it. Each shade and color represents one's own value system, brought up, education, culture, beliefs, personal experiences, role models and outlook towards life. Most of the stains (colors/shades) form in the early part of life and stay forever.
Okay coming to the topic of Brahmin bashing and Stained glass, what’s the connection. At times I think there is some deep-rooted reason in Brahmin bashing. As a matter of fact I don’t do, but whenever some one does I don’t find fault with them due to my stained glass. I am not a Brahmin, but most of my close friends are Brahmins and I feel good about every one of them. But this incident, which happened some 20-22 years ago, left a permanent stain on my glass. At that time I was studying in third standard in Bharthiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore. Sankaracharya was visiting the city/school. The school authorities in BVB said he would come to the school and that he would be staying in a rich man's house near by for some yagam and interested people can visit the rich man's house and attend the yagam. My dad was a bank manager and I told my dad about this and he took us all. We met Sankaracharya and took his blessings. Food preparations were going on and the aroma of the food was making me feel excited. I wanted to have food there, but an announcement came in the mike and I still can remember every word of it. It said all Brahmins can stay for food and everyone else can take the prasadam and leave. I was so young, but even after 20 years I can remember the effect it had on me. It made me feel inferior for no reason that I was aware of.
Monday, September 13
Friday, September 10
Poverty & Opulence
I recently had a chance to interact with an American family, who had recently visited India (Bangalore). The guy is a top level executive with an American company. He has been selected by the company to head the Indian operations. As part of the familiarization trip, the family had visited India, and they stayed in Bangalore for a week. They had just returned and I had a chance to interact with them. When I asked them about their first impressions on India this is what they said ‘Poverty & Opulence’.
They stayed at the Leela Palace and the couple in unison said, Leela Palace was the best luxury hotel they had ever stayed in. At the same time they agreed that it was a totally different world when they stepped out of the hotel/Office. The traffic, dust, crowd, noise and poverty on the roads were totally in contrast to what they experienced indoors. They were a little overawed by the contrasts in society. I guess we Indians are used to it and hence it doesn’t affect us so much. But now thinking more of it, I feet ashamed at the thought of eating a $20 meal ( I have done it more than once…what a shame) when I know for a fact that there are people in the same city who cant even afford to have one square meal a day.
We in general talked about India and I was boasting about the success of arranged marriages and the low rate of divorces, but the American couple dented my pride by highlighting the dowry system and the plight of daughter-in-laws. In fact, he pointed out the high number of fire accidents as a by product of dowry system. So not once but twice I was on the back foot. In the end, it was a whole new experience to look at India from an American perspective. I guess as a country we have a long way to go. If we all decide to give something back to the country, then some day it is very much possible.
They stayed at the Leela Palace and the couple in unison said, Leela Palace was the best luxury hotel they had ever stayed in. At the same time they agreed that it was a totally different world when they stepped out of the hotel/Office. The traffic, dust, crowd, noise and poverty on the roads were totally in contrast to what they experienced indoors. They were a little overawed by the contrasts in society. I guess we Indians are used to it and hence it doesn’t affect us so much. But now thinking more of it, I feet ashamed at the thought of eating a $20 meal ( I have done it more than once…what a shame) when I know for a fact that there are people in the same city who cant even afford to have one square meal a day.
We in general talked about India and I was boasting about the success of arranged marriages and the low rate of divorces, but the American couple dented my pride by highlighting the dowry system and the plight of daughter-in-laws. In fact, he pointed out the high number of fire accidents as a by product of dowry system. So not once but twice I was on the back foot. In the end, it was a whole new experience to look at India from an American perspective. I guess as a country we have a long way to go. If we all decide to give something back to the country, then some day it is very much possible.
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