--- "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Yes, you can. Just as you can have race
> without racism, nation without nationalism,
> Islam without Islamism...you get the idea.
>
> It is perlexing that these simple matters
> are as yet unknown to you.
------------------------------------------
Dear Rajan,
I had mentally cast you in the role of "bitter old
man", but after watching the interview, I realise
you're actually "angry young man". A role only
suitable for Big B, that too in his Deewar glory days
:-)
Your lip-quivering admonition of FN is hardly
warranted. The words nationalism and racism have
nation and race as their root but the meaning of the
words is entirely different. Caste or jat (as the
Indian word is), has everything to do with casteism.
If one is historically particular and accurate,
inherent in one's caste are certain privileges such as
grants (usually land) from kings to Brahmans,
exemption from taxes to some castes, entry or
prohibition into certain guilds, not to mention the
social privileges it alleges. All of this is ofcourse,
much dust in the winds of history and the intent of
caste and any inherent utility that it may have
accrued is lost with its present day calcification.
However, if one still professes a caste, one is
tacitly assumes the privileges that go with it.
Incidentally I wonder how many brahmins know that
their predecessors were simple bards, huntsmen and
charioteers, who later took on religious duties?
That's something for our Catholic Bamons to think
about :-)
best,
selma
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