04-10-2005, 09:12 AM
xposting Kalavai Venkat's post from IC
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivili...n/message/73529
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A few thoughts. In brief, don't reinvent Hindutva; let it just be one of the many Hindu voices. Instead, create amorphous local Hindu social systems as we had in the past.
1. Hindus have rarely gravitated towards a monolithic central organization. That actually militates against the very core of the Hindu spirit. An organization like RSS tries to evolve consensus. They have to sing everything: Sarasvati vandana, Hanuman chalisa, praise Gandhi, Ambedkar, Siva and Vishnu. They try to be something for everyone. A very poor way to offer value proposition except for those that gravitate towards Hindu nationalism.
2. Hindu revival must happen at local levels, and any (amorphous) organizing should be that of special interest groups, offering special value proposition.
3. Inventory the real threats that Hindus face and generate pragmatic solutions:
a. No media clout. Start media that is driven by business logic and not by some ideology. Why do most devout Hindus buy `The Hindu' even though it is a Communist newspaper? Simple. The sports coverage is the best, reporting is perceived as credible and the editing very well done. Compare this with most pro-Hindu publications and you get the idea. I subscribed to a pro-Hindu publication, run by a very bright and well-meaning Hindu. Guess what? I received only 3 issues.
Packaging and professionalism is everything in the age of consumerism.
b. Institute scholarships for bright Hindu kids, preferably those that practice their traditions, and motivate them to register for humanities programs in the Indian universities. Don't forget that most Hindu-hating leftists have no better than a second class in high school. If bright Hindu kids with better academic grades were to apply, and swamp all schools from BHU to JNU, we are effectively shutting-off the entry points of the enemies. These kids must lie low till they form a critical mass as professors. This is exactly what the Dravidianists and missionaries did. Once you attain critical mass, your writ runs.
c. Try to accept the diversity in Hinduism. An Advaitin, a Vaishnava, a Mimamsaka and a tribal all follow varied traditions. Don't impose stereotypes. Encourage the tribal to nourish his age old traditions. Don't impose Bhagavad Gita and Vedas on him. It is actually a powerful move. We can then have a solid ground for blocking missionary activities: these activities threaten fragile local tribal traditions. You can enact laws to preserve the tribal traditions instead of banning missionary activities and achieve the same purpose. The international leftists would actually support you. But, this also requires that you don't expect the tribal to sing Sarasvati vandana or learn Sanskrit.
d. Create local organizations with specific purposes and value propositions. For example, an organization that nurtures the traditions of the Nair community in Kerala will appeal to them. But you have to offer a reason for the young to assemble. Very few will come to sing some patriotic songs. Instead, set up kick boxing classes, yoga sessions, English classes etc. Folks will join, pay for the same, and you have a self-sustaining model. Each of these communities has financially well-off members living abroad. Invite them to donate, recognize their leadership, be accountable to them and soon you have viable organizations.
4. Once these local organizations attain critical mass, leverage their clout to create local institutions like schools. Try to make each of those a center of excellence. These local organizations should come up with a list of demands to the politicians.
5. Christianity and Islam are both irrational cults and a bundle of internal contradictions. Both are dependant of the historicity of their founders and the miracles attributed/involving them. Any informed person can shred these cults to pieces in rational discussion. It is a travesty that Hindus are ignorant of these ideologies. Sections of Hindus must get acquainted with these ideologies, and not only critique but also write satires caricaturing these cults. So long as you allow these degenerate cults to sit on a high pedestal, they will continue to harm the societies they invade.
6. There is one area where the RSS and VHP are best suited to play a role: reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. That must be pursued with all seriousness.
7. Deliver with a bang. Never whine.
Thanks.
PS: It is hard to agree with Srinivas on his observations on jati. We must distinguish between jati identities and anti-brahminism. In TN, this movement was and is spear-headed by upper caste Vellalas â
particularly, Vellala Gounders and Mudaliars, who were and are extremely conscious of their jati identity. Another group that is rabidly anti-brahmin is the Christian convert. Vellala opposition to Brahmin is due to the fact that the Brahmin surpassed the Vellala in English education. It was entirely the resentment of the erstwhile most dominant community of TN at its inability to match the success of a miniscule minority.
Christian conversions happen only among certain jatis: for example, fishermen, Nadar, Udaiyar and sections of Vellala to name a few. The reasons are historical to be taken up later. Many jatis have extreme pride in their identity and its members treat Christianity and missionaries with contempt. Observe the reaction of the Vanniyar to missionary appeals. Such jatis rarely display anti-brahmin feelings.
It is also hard to agree with Subrahmanya on Sanskritization. Just observe any Harijan name his kid: it is practically a Sanskrit name. It is a reality that jatis Sanskritize themselves as they progress in social ladder. I would certainly oppose any organized Sanskritization of any jati but it is equally undeniable that many of them voluntarily do that.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivili...n/message/73529
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A few thoughts. In brief, don't reinvent Hindutva; let it just be one of the many Hindu voices. Instead, create amorphous local Hindu social systems as we had in the past.
1. Hindus have rarely gravitated towards a monolithic central organization. That actually militates against the very core of the Hindu spirit. An organization like RSS tries to evolve consensus. They have to sing everything: Sarasvati vandana, Hanuman chalisa, praise Gandhi, Ambedkar, Siva and Vishnu. They try to be something for everyone. A very poor way to offer value proposition except for those that gravitate towards Hindu nationalism.
2. Hindu revival must happen at local levels, and any (amorphous) organizing should be that of special interest groups, offering special value proposition.
3. Inventory the real threats that Hindus face and generate pragmatic solutions:
a. No media clout. Start media that is driven by business logic and not by some ideology. Why do most devout Hindus buy `The Hindu' even though it is a Communist newspaper? Simple. The sports coverage is the best, reporting is perceived as credible and the editing very well done. Compare this with most pro-Hindu publications and you get the idea. I subscribed to a pro-Hindu publication, run by a very bright and well-meaning Hindu. Guess what? I received only 3 issues.
Packaging and professionalism is everything in the age of consumerism.
b. Institute scholarships for bright Hindu kids, preferably those that practice their traditions, and motivate them to register for humanities programs in the Indian universities. Don't forget that most Hindu-hating leftists have no better than a second class in high school. If bright Hindu kids with better academic grades were to apply, and swamp all schools from BHU to JNU, we are effectively shutting-off the entry points of the enemies. These kids must lie low till they form a critical mass as professors. This is exactly what the Dravidianists and missionaries did. Once you attain critical mass, your writ runs.
c. Try to accept the diversity in Hinduism. An Advaitin, a Vaishnava, a Mimamsaka and a tribal all follow varied traditions. Don't impose stereotypes. Encourage the tribal to nourish his age old traditions. Don't impose Bhagavad Gita and Vedas on him. It is actually a powerful move. We can then have a solid ground for blocking missionary activities: these activities threaten fragile local tribal traditions. You can enact laws to preserve the tribal traditions instead of banning missionary activities and achieve the same purpose. The international leftists would actually support you. But, this also requires that you don't expect the tribal to sing Sarasvati vandana or learn Sanskrit.
d. Create local organizations with specific purposes and value propositions. For example, an organization that nurtures the traditions of the Nair community in Kerala will appeal to them. But you have to offer a reason for the young to assemble. Very few will come to sing some patriotic songs. Instead, set up kick boxing classes, yoga sessions, English classes etc. Folks will join, pay for the same, and you have a self-sustaining model. Each of these communities has financially well-off members living abroad. Invite them to donate, recognize their leadership, be accountable to them and soon you have viable organizations.
4. Once these local organizations attain critical mass, leverage their clout to create local institutions like schools. Try to make each of those a center of excellence. These local organizations should come up with a list of demands to the politicians.
5. Christianity and Islam are both irrational cults and a bundle of internal contradictions. Both are dependant of the historicity of their founders and the miracles attributed/involving them. Any informed person can shred these cults to pieces in rational discussion. It is a travesty that Hindus are ignorant of these ideologies. Sections of Hindus must get acquainted with these ideologies, and not only critique but also write satires caricaturing these cults. So long as you allow these degenerate cults to sit on a high pedestal, they will continue to harm the societies they invade.
6. There is one area where the RSS and VHP are best suited to play a role: reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. That must be pursued with all seriousness.
7. Deliver with a bang. Never whine.
Thanks.
PS: It is hard to agree with Srinivas on his observations on jati. We must distinguish between jati identities and anti-brahminism. In TN, this movement was and is spear-headed by upper caste Vellalas â
particularly, Vellala Gounders and Mudaliars, who were and are extremely conscious of their jati identity. Another group that is rabidly anti-brahmin is the Christian convert. Vellala opposition to Brahmin is due to the fact that the Brahmin surpassed the Vellala in English education. It was entirely the resentment of the erstwhile most dominant community of TN at its inability to match the success of a miniscule minority.
Christian conversions happen only among certain jatis: for example, fishermen, Nadar, Udaiyar and sections of Vellala to name a few. The reasons are historical to be taken up later. Many jatis have extreme pride in their identity and its members treat Christianity and missionaries with contempt. Observe the reaction of the Vanniyar to missionary appeals. Such jatis rarely display anti-brahmin feelings.
It is also hard to agree with Subrahmanya on Sanskritization. Just observe any Harijan name his kid: it is practically a Sanskrit name. It is a reality that jatis Sanskritize themselves as they progress in social ladder. I would certainly oppose any organized Sanskritization of any jati but it is equally undeniable that many of them voluntarily do that.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->