1/30/2006 reg : creamy layer misusing reservation policy
1/30/2006 thiruvidandai temple
1/30/2006 yin-yang & siva-sakthi
1/30/2006a treasured possesion
1/30/2006 Panchaboohtagal - an interpretation
1/30/2006 child labour in 'prospersous India
'1/30/2006
Peter Drucker : tax evesion leads to cynicism
1/30/2006 God, dharma, human logic, astrology and life ;Maughum's Razor's Edge, etc
1/30/2006 To The Editor, Thuglak, Chennai
1/30/2006 Lord Rama & L.K.Advani
1/30/2006 reg your ambiguity on TN elections - 2001
1/30/2006 Brahminism : theory & practise
1/30/2006
To : The Editor, Thuglak, Chennai
1/30/2006 To The Editor, Readers Digest
1/30/2006 Vedic society and equality
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reg : creamy layer misusing reservation policy
From : K.R.Athiyaman, Chennai - 96
To : Thriru.Ki.Veeramani Ayya Avargal, Chennai
Anbulla Ayya,
The creamy layer (that is, those who are upper middle class andabove) among BC/SC/ST communities continue to enjoy thebenifits of reservation unashamedly.(i hail from such a family).We propose that economic criteria shouldalso be included as an additional qualification for being eligible for reservation benefits.Families whose annual income is above say,Rs.1,80,000/- and where the parents are welleducated may be deemed as FCs. And many schools,where annual fees are above Rs.60,000 may beclassified as FC schools.Reservation was meant to be a short termissue and never a permenent institution asit has become now. And there should be astanding committe consisting of eminentjurists, educationalists and honest peopleto perodically evaluate the effects/abuseof reservation benefits.The whole processshould a dynamic one, not a static one, whichis now a vote bank issue and nutured byvested interests. And there should be a maximum limit for resrvation (and not thepresent >70%), which should be graduallybrought down.And in promotion among govt staff onlyseniority, merit and efficency should bethe criteria. Only one generation of anyfamily must be eligible for the benefits.Subsequent generation must be deemed FCs.Unfair reservation benefits to numerouswell off students has created resentmentand heart burn among FCs and many fair minded people. The caste divisions has becomemore rigid and divisive (esp in govt offices).I am sure Thandai Periyar and Ambedhkar wouldendorse my above views if they are alive today.They were basicaly honest in all issues. DK should have functioned as a bridge betweenBCs and SCs (esp in rural areas) and establishedpeace committes for stopping caste clashes.The aliented SCs have formed many organisationsof their own to fight for their rights, insteadof joinning DK. Blaming brahmins alone for allthe ills of the society will not solve any thing.Thanks & RegardsK.R.AthiyamanChennai
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thiruvidandai temple
Dear Freind,
The film Mogamul does poor justise to the novel. It isimpossible to portray certain depth of emotions,feelings and writings in film. and moreover thecharacter Rajam (hero Babu's freind)by Vivek is not atall like the original Rajam who plays an importantpart. And Ranganna, the guru can only be described.I think reading Mogamul is very important for abudding writer like you. sujatha sir has written aboutMogamul (and he met Thi.Ja in Delhi) and JJ silakuripugal in his 'vivadangalam vimarsanagulam'.Yestersay i biked to Thriuvidanthai temple at ECR.It is somewhat near from my place (24 kms).Kumbabisekam was done in June and i had good darshanof Lord after many years. (moolavar sannidhi wasclosed for more than two years for renovation).sir has written about this besutiful temple in his'alwargal oru arimugam' ' hope you had visted thistemple. thirumagai alwar had sung about this temple.Pls see tiruvidanthaidiviyadesam.orgAnd my most favourtite temple is Ulagalandha Perumaltemple at Thirukovilur (near Thiruvannamalai); i am fortunate that my co-brother hails from thisplaceand i had spent may happy and contented hours sittingin front of the moolasthana. The bewithcing smile ofPerumal (he is in a standing pose,thiruvikaram kolam)is indescribable. and i am at my happiest bliss whilejust having dharshan of beutifully carved deity witha most enchanting smile you can ever know. And i readthat Prabandams were first sung by mudal alawrgal atthis temple. Pls try to visit this historic andbeautiful temple.and we spent a weekend in Jan roaming around all thetemples in Kancheepuram.ok.more laterAthiyman
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yin-yang & siva-sakthi
Dear Sir,
The booklet "Oru Vingana Parvayilirundhu" (1984) isimportant and lucidly written. I consider it as one ofyour best works.Only one matter has not been mentioned. Dual natureof particles (uncertainity principle) which tellsabout wave/matter state or nature of particles ;can be co-related to our Siva Sakthi (andardhanareeshwarar) ; matter becomes energy and viceversa ; sakthi (energy) becomes sivam (matter) ;and sivasakthi is the nature of universe. (..movie :Thiruvilayadal and the famous dual between sivam andsakthi)All things and actions in this universe are co-relatedin distance and time. Saravam Brahma mayam. For e.g awave in a beach is the net result of all forces andparameters of ocean and land ,wind and time.Astrological perspective too can be fit into thisview.The postions and movements of planets affect andcontrol life events.
Thanks & regards
Athiyaman
P.S : on a ligther vein Samuel Johnson about fornication act : "....the postion being ridiculous and pleasure momentary..."
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a treasured possesion
To : Thriru Sujatha
Dear Sir,
"Enadu Ninavugal" by Kovai Ayyamuthu (1898-1975) is a remarkable autobiography of a remarakble personality. Freedom fighter, Gandhian, poet, writer-director,entreupreuner and agriculturist,whose career took many turns. Served in WW 1 in Iraq,worked in Rangoon, became a mechant in Coimbatore ;after hearing Gandhiji's call, joinned Congress and established Kadar movement in Tirupurand TN ; was collegue of EVR,C.S and Kamaraj and Kalki Sadasivam in 1930s and 40s.(jailed in Vaikomstruggle).And was a sisya of Rajaji till the end. Helpedestablish the Gandhi Ashram near Tiruchengode in 1925.Quaerelled with Gandhiji over an issue and resignedfrom Khadi movement in 1942 and went on to become asuccessful trader and businessman in Coimbatore ;wrote and directed the film "Kanchan" in 1947 atCoimbatore Central Studios (jupiter films) ; andfinally settled down as agriculturist near Pollachi in 1950.N.Mahalingam was his sisya.Subsequently joined Swatanta party under Rajaji.Worked tirelessly till the end.His book continues to inspire me and i treasure it.
Thanks & Regards
Athiyaman
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Panchaboohtagal - an interpretation
To : Thiru Sujatha
Dear Sir,
Panchaboohtams can be compared to the different states of matter as :Nilam : solidsNeer : LiquidsKattru : gasAhayam : vacuum/space (or the fourth state of matter : plasma ?)Nerupu : heat energy or photons, etc which gets released or absorbed when matter converts from one state to another.
Thanks & regards
Athiyaman
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child labour in 'prospersous India'
Dear Sir,
Economic illiteracy is wide even among intellegensia.Govt prints about Rs.85,000 crores of legal tenderevery year to paartly balance the birgeonong deficts and an equal amonut is borrowed. Inflation is manilydue to this factor. (crude oil prices contribute tolesser extent).Children are sold/stolen into child labour, beggingand prostitution because the parents' effective incomefalls due to the depreciating ruppee. Govt of India(for that matter, most govts) depreciate their owncurrencies to spend on themselves and programs.And no amount of seminars or legal acts is going tostop child labour as this is an economic phenomenon.only when employment, and wages rise can this bestopped.while the total economy is improving over the decades,govt is nearly bankrupt due to socialism, etc.And govt borrowings are frightening. pls refer budgetfigures for internal debt trap.
Thanks & Regrds
Athiyaman
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Peter Drucker : tax evesion leads to cynicism
Dear Sir,
While chatting you had mentioned about the connectionbetween tax evasion and cynicism. The following is from P.Drucker's 'The New Realities " (pp69-70)'....once the govt take, esp if collected thru taxes,exceeds a certain percentage of gross national productor personal incomes - the fiqure seems to be around 35-40 percent or so - a silent but highly effective 'tax revolt' starts. People stop working ; what is thepointif the additional income is being taxed anyway ? Worse, people begin to cheat. A 'grey economy'develops.In the US there was almost no tax cheating before 1960...'...Attempts to stamp out or even to curtail the grayeconomy are ineffectual as long as tax rates remainhigh.In fact, while everyone loudly condemns the greayeconomy, most people not only participate in it but consider it morally justified and, in fact, 'clever'. But this undermines the moral cohesion of scoiety, Itproduces a dangerous political poison, cynicism.'Seventy years ago Schumpeter warned that inflationwould destroy free society. After WW 1 , theinflations in Europe, espescally in Germany amply bore out Schumpeter's warning...'
Regards
Athiyaman
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God, dharma, human logic, astrology and life ; Maughum's Razor's Edge, etc
To : Thiru Sujatha Rangarajan
Dear Sir,
Hindu concepts of transmigration of soul, rebirth can be used to justify or rationalise the unfairnessof life on earth. God' dharma or ethics isincomprehensible to our human logic. Good peoplesuffer needlessly while evil people flourish and diepeacefully. so it seems. In Astrology, the fifth housedenotes prevoius births or purva punya sthanam.And our current life and events are based on tallyingthe good/bad things we had done in prevoius births.Only if we can understand or accept such logic can wejustify or rationalise life's contradictions andunfairness.Hope you must have read Razor's Edge by your favouriteauthor Somerset Maughaum, based on Ramanar and India.It is his most important work. Pls re-read Larry'sexperiences and inferences again. About Godlinessand human life and soul.Also R.K.Narayan's auto-biography "My Days" andsemi-autobiographical novel "English Teacher" areimportantbooks about tranmigration of soul. he says heestablished contact with his late wife (who passed away in 1939) ; and he is not unscientific.Astrology, as in weekly predictions or sun-signs are generalised and can be quite inaccurate. Only acorrectinterpretation of horoscope can give accurate resultsand analysis. The character of an individual, his strenghts and weakness, biases , health, appearance,etc can be predicted accurately in our Indianmethods.Pls try to meet Thiru.A.M.R of Kumudamjodhidam for a discussion. Or you can enquire abouthismerits and accomplishments with your contacts atKumudam office, etc. You may be in for a surprise.I am from a DK background, but now an ametuerastrologer ; and can understand many facets or life and humans better now. more later
Sincerely Yours
Athiyaman
Chennai
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To The Editor,
Thuglak
Chennai
Sir,
I am a long time reader of Thuglak. I admire your courage and forthrightness.You have critisised the film "Bharathi" . I have sent a letter(inTamil) about it. No film will get pass mark from you. Films likeKaruthamma, Mahanadhi, Nmmavar, HeyRam were all rejectedby you as mediocre. Constructive criticism is not your style;only destructive criticisim. First of all you have no MORAL RIGHT to crititsise any film, as you had acted in many fifth rate masala films in the past. It is likea butcher preaching ahimsa. Regarding feminism and women in general you are a knownchauvinist and a cynic. I have only one point to make. I perceivethat in your whole life (with a upper middle class urban broughtupamong Madras brahmins ) you were not fortunate enough to meetor know any innocent, unassuming low caste village women.It is very difficult for you to understand the ethos and the depth ofculture and love among the rural, uneducated and innocent village folks. All you know is about arrogant,narrow minded and domineeringcynical women of upper middle class Madras and of course thewomen in filmworld and politics.I sugest, you discuss this view pointwith people like Bharathiraja, Writer Sujatha and Prabanjan.Your views are nothing but sweeping generalisations. Regarding Hindu philosophy, I have herewith enclosed a copy of myletter to The Astrological Magazine, which applies to your view point too.Theoretically Hindu religion is great ; but we are interested in pracaticalaspects.Equality of all men is alien to practical Hinduism. RSS whose idealogy was a catalyst to Mahatma Gandhi 's assasinationis supported by you.Their ideology is illogical and anachronist.I hope youhave read the book "WE" by its founder. There are truly honest and selflessmembers in RSS. I have many friends there. But they are all self righteouusand wallow in hatred. Though they do not espouse violence directly, theirpreachings induce violence indirectly. Do you think that those who bannedRSS in the past were idiots and not patriotic ? I support liberalisation and privatisation.Please arrange for a regualar coloumnexplaining the various aspects and the nedd for liberalisation.
Thanks & Regards,
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Lord Rama & L.K.Advani
To : Mr.Rajinder Puri,
Dear Sir,
I belive in karma and dharma. Advani has been punished partlyfor his past sins in using the Ram templefanatics of VHP, etc tofurther his political career since 1980s.VHP and Co are alteast sincere andconsistent in their fanatisism.They are genuine communalists and facisits, who do not belive indemocracy. but they are honest and forthright. neverdouble dealingnor political animals. But Advaniis a crafty and cynical politician,and a'pseudo-communalist'. VHP is right in being disillusioned withhim, who carefully used thieragenda (Ram temple) to whip up apopulist mass base and votes. And due topolitical expediancy, heabandoned Ram temple later. Advani, whose ratha yatra (whichdirectly resulted inthe murder of 1000s of innocents in 1990)would have become PM, but for the Jain hawala case. (thanksto your PIL) ; and now he stands discredited and powerlesswithin his own group. Lord Rama has done justice. And Advaniwill neverbe PM in India.
Om tat Sat.
Regards
Athiyaman
Chennai
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reg your ambiguity on TN elections - 2001
To : Thiru Cho,Editor, Thuglak, Chennai
Dear Sir,
I am a long-time reader of Thuglak. Although we differ invarious matters, we admire your forthrightness and honesty.In your view the DMK govt sponsors terrorist / separatistgroups in TN. There seems to nothing new in this matter.Tamil separatists and terrorists have been operating for the pasttwenty five years in TN. The govt seems to be doing its best incontaining these elements. Certainly their track record seemsto better than that of 1989 - 91 regime.Let me be frank. We were LTTE sympathisers until some ten yearsago. Lot of people in Karur helped the militants of various groupsduring 1983-90. We have stopped all our support for such groupsand realise that Eelam is not a viable alternative and only politicalsettlement within the framework of Sri Lankan constitution will givelasting peace and solve the ethnic problem. We do not approveof many terror tactics & fratricide activities. Still we do have a softcorner for them and admire their courage, idealism and sacrifice.We are apologists for such groups.It is roughly equal to the ambiguous stance taken by you regarding themilitant elements of the Sangh Parivar. While you disapprove of the illegaland violent actions of VHP, Bajarag Dal and Shiv Sena, ideologically yousupport them covertly.The case of DMK is exactly the same. DMK originated from DK andhas common ideology with such Tamil separatist groups. Some of myold friends who were associated with such fringe groups express theirbitterness and frustration that the DMK govt is ruthlessly framingand persecuting them. They perceive that the the DMK govt is alwaysworse in this matter than ADMK govts ! So much for your theories !All you can say about the Babri masjid demolition is that it isunfortunate and unnecessary ; that Ramar Temple problem isunwanted now that BJP is in power. You do not overtly condemnthe BJP and the Sangha Parivar for unleashing the communalfrenzy which resulted in the demolition ofthe Babri Masjid.Youtoo act as an apologist for these fanatics and maniacs. Accordingto you Advani is the best and most respectable politician in India.We have not forgotten his infamous ratha yatra in 1990 whichwas directly responsible for some 500 communal deaths.All you can say is that he undertook the yathra to unify andawake the Hindus. That his rabble-rousing journey with fanaticslike Uma Bharathi whipped us communal passions and resultedin the demolition in 1992, is never mentioned in your columns.According to our judgement, Advani is the most dangerous personwithin the Sangh parivar. He is directly responsible for thousandof deaths. He is worse than Godse. Please, we repeat, please, dosome soul-searching regarding your one-sided views in this matter.Try to be neutral, objective and fair in your assessment. Is thereany fundamental difference between the actions of Advani and peoplelike John Pandian, Dr.Krishnasamy, and Ramadass of TN. While youcondemn and disapprove of whipping up casteist and blatantly illegalactions of these TN politicians, you do not apply the same objectivityin assessing the Sangha Parivar. Caste is part and parcel of Hindureligion. Using caste or religion in politics or in public speeches(like Uma Bharathi's) is explicitly forbidden in our constitution.In our view we see no difference between Advani and Dr.Krishnasamy.Both are narrow minded, dishonest and cynical politicians whoarouse communal or casteist passions to further their politicalends. The end result of their actions always result in violence andmurder of innocent people.One man's hero is another man's terrorist. Nethaji, Bhagat SinghVanjinathan are our heroes while the British and their allies considerthem as terrorists. Especially Netaji is considered as a traitor anddisapproved because he allied with the Nazi Germany and imperialistJapanese, who inflicted inhuman massacres in Manchuria and otherparts of Asia during the second world war. Still we Indians revereNethaji and consider him a national hero. Lot of Tamils in TN andSri Lanka have similar respect and affection for the LTTE chief.So whose view is right ? Still we want the LTTE to give up violenceand initiate peace talks. Our consideration for LTTE is equal to yourconsideration for the RSS. Both are full of misguided idealists andboth organisations have caused plenty of harm and grief in the past.Please try to be fair in your judgement.The police action of DMK govt in Veerappan matter is equal toor better than that of ADMK regime. Lack of political will and jointcommand between TN and Karnataka police departments is themain reason for the delay in his capture. He switches betweenTN and Karnataka borders according to the intensity of theoperations. there is / was little co-ordination between the twotask forces, Ego clash between top police officers from both thestates was one of the main factors in the inefficiency of operations.Please explain to us how a change in TN govt will increase theefficiency.The ADMK is the most evil party in the history of TN. You shouldnot have advised Jayalitha in any matter. Suppose your advise orviews are useful somehow for her and she may forge a strategybased on your assessment of the current political alliances andmake a come back. Indirectly, your realistic views (not advise,but only your opinion, as you put it) can help her. All your piouswritings and moral uprightness will be under question if she makesa come back. TN will slide back into dark ages again. Whyare you so ambiguous. Do you want Jaylalitha back as CM or not ?Whom do you want us to vote ? Don't escape by saying that wehave no real choice since DMK is soft on terrorists. If you areconvinced of your views then openly advise us to vote for ADMK.Till date you have not given your advise (like in 1996) in your usualforthright style. Your are worse that Mooppanar in this matter.We fear you may have a hidden agenda.
Thanks & Regards
K.R.Athiyaman
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Brahminism : theory & practise
To : The Editor, Thuglak, Chennai
Dear Sir,
This is with reference to your column about Brahminism.Theory and practise are different. But all you have quoted istheoretical brahminism. The evils of caste hierarchy, untouchablity,sati, widows isolation were not opposed or criticised by the majorityof the brahmins.When Sharda act (banning Child marriage) was passed in the 40s,it was opposed bitterly by the Brahmin elite. Satyamoorthy, the congressleader opposed the Act banning Devadasi system in temples.Dr.Muthulaksmi, the first women doctor, silenced him by asking him ifhe was willing to send his family girls as Devadasis ; and then the actwas passed. Satyamoorth was great leader and a patriot but regardingquestions about orthodox Hindu practices, he was a Brahmin of his times.Va.Ve.Su Iyer, the freedom fighter practised untouchability in hisAshram at Cheranmadhevi. This enraged EVR Periyar and he subsequentlyleft Congress for good, feeling it was dominated by reactionary Brahmins.Please write the facts about the Brahmin leaders and elite who opposed thetemple entry movement at Vykam (1925) and at Madurai in the 30s.You are tabulating the patriotic deeds of Brahmin freedom fighters. Youstate only the partial truth. For every Brahmin freedom fighter, there wasa hundred Brahmin ICS officers,Magistrates, Police officers, etc whocollaborated with the British. But we don't want to rake up all that past.In fact, there were martyrs, freedom fighters. collaborationists , indifferentcareerists in every caste during the freedom struggle. But as most of thegovt. positions (especially the top ones) were occupied by the Brahmins,the percent of collaborationists is higher among them.Sir C.P.Ramasamy Iyer is now portrayed as great statesman and legalluminary by the present Brahmin historians and media. But he was a traitorof the first order. During his reign as the Dewan of Travancore, he ruthlesslysuppressed the Congress movement and crushed all civil liberties. Worse,he declared Travancore to be independent in 1947 and named a HighCommissioner to Pakistan. He was assaulted physically by the people of thestate and Travancore joined Indian Union. All these facts were suppressedand now there is even a road named after him in Chennai !We can quote thousands of such incidents and treachery from the colonialpast regarding Brahmins, but we feel, all that is irrelevant and unnecessary today.Instead of justifying the Orthodox Brahminstic theory, you can write about theevils perpetuated in the name of Hinduism like caste as per birth, widows plight,education, sati, untouchability. The present OBCs too practise untouchabilityand have casteist values ; but the Brahamin elite should shoulder the responsibilityfor having justified the social order in the name of Manu.Brahminism is understood by us, as such practises mentioned above and henceit was opposed bitterly by the D.K movement ; not the theoretical aspects whichyou quote cleverly. If only all the Brahmins have lived according to their Scripturesand followed the theoretical Brahminsm (which you write about) sincerely, then thiswhole controversy would not have been there.
Thanks & Regards
K.R.Athiyaman
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To : The Editor, Thuglak, Chennai
Dear Sir,
Congratulations on your excellent review of the film " Rytham". For the firsttime in the long history of Thuglak, a film has been praised and reviewdobjectively.Herewith I have enclosed a letter written by Sardar Patel to RSS chief. (Taken formthe RSS website)Regarding your coloumn on Brahminism : Theory and practise are two differentfactors. Theoritical Hindusim( or Brahminism) is really great: stresses equality,selflessness, love, simple life, etc. But practical Brahminism is totally different.Right form Buddha, Ram Mohan Roy, Vivekananda, Mahathma Gandhi,E.V.R Periyar and Ambedhkar were critical of practical Hindu Orthodoxpractises. If only the Hindus( especially Brahmins and other upper castes)had followed the code and ethics esposed in your trnslations of upanishadsand Gita, this whole controversy and bitterness would not have arisen.Please understand that, we, who were victims of caste opperssion cannot andwill not understand the theoritical aspects of Brahminism. Please explain thelaw according to Manusmrihi in your coloumns. What about the controversyabout Vyalar Ravi's son's wedding at Gurvayoor temple premises ? Brahminismin 21sr Century !Personnaly, I have many differences about the ways used to combat the inequalitiesin Hindu society. Reservation should be reviewed and the creamy layer( of OBCs)should be removed from the benefits. I will write later in detail about this.
Regards,
Athiyaman
A letter of Sardar Patel's of September 11, 1948, addressed to the RSS chief Golwalkar himself:
Aurangzeb Road
New Delhi
Date: 11th Sept. 1948
Brother Sri Golwalkar,
... You are very well aware of my views about the RSS. ... There can be no doubt that the RSS did service to the Hindu society. In the areas where there was need for help and organisation, the young men of the RSS protected women and children and strove much for their sake. No person of understanding could have a word of objection regarding that. But the objectionable part arose when they, burning with revenge, began attacking Mussalmans. Organising the Hindus and helping them is one thing but going in for revenge for its sufferings on innocent and helpless men, women and children is quite another thing. ...All their speeches were full of communal poison. It was not necessary to spread poison in order to enthus the Hindus and organise for their protection. As a final result of the poison, the country had to suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhiji. Even an iota of the sympathy of the Government or of the people no more remained for the RSS. In fact opposition grew. Opposition turned more severe when the RSS men expressed joy and distributed sweets after Gandhiji's death. Under these circumstances it becamed inevitable for the Government to take action against the RSS.
Yours
(Sd.) Vallabh Bhai Patel ---
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To
The Editor,Readers Digest
Dear Sir,
I am a long time reader and admirer of RD.Most of thearticles are objective, informative and unbiased.Since your political views are right of center (I have noobjection to them), you have published a number of articlesjustifying the American involvement in the Vietnam war.It is not an unbiased or neutral viewpoint.Millions of Americans(including Bill Clinton) had opposed the war vehemently.There can be no justification (moral or ideological for the war.Questions about National sovereignty and human right violationsare not raised in your columns. Just imagine if Mexico or Argentinahad intervened> similarly in the American civil war of 1860s! Thatafter all these years, RD still tries in vain to justify the sordid chapterin American history is ironical. But I support American actions inYugoslavia ; and I am not a communist.While you publish articles about the private lives of Mao Tse Tung,Castro and other left wing dictators, no word about the personal affairsof John.F.Kennedy, who was equally bad in his abuse of women. It isnot an objective or unbiased viewpoint. Anyway if you can correct these flaws, RD will be a truly great magazine.
Thanking You,
With Regards,
K.R.Athiyaman.
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Vedic society and equality
FromK.R.Athiyaman,36,Middle St., Pasupathip[alayam,Karur -639 004 Tamil Nadu
ToThe Editor,The Astrlogical Magazine,Bangalore
Dear Sir / Madam,
Time and again you have upheld the lofty character and the superiorityof the vedas. I am a Hindu and a beliver. I have a smattering knowledgeabout our religion - mostly through the English translations.I am aSudra, one who was declared unfit to have the sacred knowledge andto learn sanskrit. I have a few questions ; I don't insist on your reply.But please try to honestly answer these questions to yourself. Of coursethis needs a bit of courage.1. Do you believe in the equality of humans - not as some theoreticalideal as prescribed in Manisha Panchaka but as a everyday fact of life -the absolute equality of humans before God, that everyone is entitledto pray, to reach God, to read the sacred literature, irrespective of theirsocial status ?2. Do you believe that salvation is possible to all - Hindus, Muslims,Christians & Jews ; Brahmana, Vaishya, Kshatrya, Sudra and Panchama ?That birth and social status doesn't disqualify anyone from reaching thesupreme knowledge ?3. What are the steps that you have taken to propagate the sacredknowledge found in the Vedas ? Any Christian who can read, can readthe Bible in his own mother tongue.Have you ever tried to translatenoble portions of Vedas into Kannada, to begin with ?4. Do you believe that the sacredness of the Vedas would be lost in thetranslation ? The medieval Church believed that only the Latin Bible wassacred - even though the Bible was written originally in Hebrew - and itshould not be translated. If you believe so, what are the steps you havetaken to spread Sanskrit among us the Indians so that we can learn theVedas as they are ?5. Can you deny that for centuries this Sanskrit was not taught to Sudrasand Panchamas, even though foreigners like Alberuni (11th Century),William Jones (18th Century) and Max Mueller were allowed to learn it ?Max Mueller was able to learn the Vedas, but not the Kshatriyas, Vaisyas,Sudras or the Panchamas. Why ? Does it mean that Panchamas and Sudrasare inferior to Milechas ?We were prevented from learning Sanskrit and the Vedas, and now you askus to appreciate their wisdom.This is like asking somebody to appreciate apainting he had never seen, not even in photo, just because some scholarthinks it is the greatest painting in the world.The white races conquered the Americas,captured most of Asia, sold theAfricans into slavery,exploited them ruthlessly,exterminated the Red Indiansand the Australian natives, and impoverished India, China and numerousother countries.But even they acknowledged, at least in theory,that all menare created equal.(Please remember Purusha Sukta).6. If a Vedic dictum runs contrary to the spirit of our times, which shall prevail ?7. It had been held that while the Srutis are eternal, Smritis are subject to theeffects of time. Hence, the smritis must be revised to suit the times. What stepshave been taken in this direction ?8. What shall be the basis of our society in future - Chaturvarna -reformed andrefined, or equality as assured by our constitution ? Please do not obfuscate.The Celebrated Manu had provided a very nice escape route from the inconvenientquestions of ignorant busybodies like me. He had ruled that a Sudra (me ! ) whopresumes to teach a Brahmin (need not say who ! ) should be "shown his place".Unfortunately these Whites had overthrown the Sacred Order of our Society andstarted off thousands of Sudras like me. Under the old system (the Sacred Varna)I 'd be eking out a miserable living as an illiterate artisan and you would be contentto call it my karma, and would not educate me.The modern education had enabled me to stand up like a man, to earn a livingsuitable to my intellectual capacity, not to feel inferior or superior to anybodyand to seek the truth for myself instead of depending on a priestly class.Now,which system, do you think will get my undying loyalty and vociferous support ?Why ?The Western society is plagued by many social evils - juvenile delinquency, singleparents, violence, high divorce rates and others. But let us not presume that we canshow them the way - with our untouchability, dowry deaths, caste violence, rigidcaste system, and people who still think all men are not equal and women arecertainly inferior.The West has nothing to teach us in religion and philosophy, but we haveeverything to learn about liberty, equality and that doctrine totally alien to us,fraternity. Please do not quote - " Vasudeva Kudumbakam". The Sudras andPanchamas were not family members of that Kudumbakam, but helpless servants.I am yet to see one Hindu religious head who upholds the equality of humans,says that the smrithis must be revised, accepts that some excesses had happenedunder Chaturvarna, that untouchablity is not suitable to our times and proclaimsthat everyone is entitled to study the Vedas. When we are considered not evenhumans,why should someone care for our support ?Only some miracle had prevented a wholesale exodus of Hindu masses to Islamand Christianity. (May be the sudras felt that thir "Superiors" will follow themthere also and continue to be the "Superiors" ! This what happened to Budhismand led to its downfall). But that does not mean that every Hindu is swallowingall the half baked theories of their "Superiors".Unless and until the guardians of the old order really regret the mistakes of thepast,accept that equality shall be the basis of our future society and teach thesacred knowledge to all deserving people, more and more Indians will repudiatethe Vedas, on which the old order claimed it was based. Let charity begin athome.
May He lead us all to wisdom and enlightenment.
Om Tat Sat.
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