This is typical of French men.. who bad mouth Indian liberals . May I remind you, in spite of all the critics, they exist and thrive... Or is Mr Gautier's ire directed by the fact we ape the english speaking british/americans instead of the French... (Trust the French!) Such westernisation is an unfortunate by product of liberalisation. And as for comments like knowing Kalidasa etc... whose fault is that? Are Kalidasa's translations as easily available as say a Victor Hugo/Dumas etc (Note that I am choosing French Authors here!) We should be appreciative of the fact Indians are appreciating cultute in whatever form, Indian or Western! Such articles are scurrillous and serve no useful purpose! Ciao
RE:french blues eh?
by sandeep marathe on Feb 06, 2007 02:07 AM Permalink
take it in the right sense buddy, re-read it...I don't think it's anywhere related to France or french ppl.....the views r really good & shud be seen in a neutral unbaised way(in my view)
RE:french blues eh?
by stav on Feb 06, 2007 04:04 AM Permalink
Devi prasad you have come out with a unique way to criticize Gautier. It is your reply which is completely useless in purpose..why am I even replying !!
RE:french blues eh?
by Vas on Feb 06, 2007 06:34 PM Permalink
"this is typical of French men??" You are a bigot! India has no room for bigots like you. Attack his points if you wish, and not his nationality! The fact that Kalidasas, etc. translations are not easily available in France is the problem of the impotent Indians in India and abroad, who don't want to translate Indian masterpieces into English and other Indian languages. They learn to say 'ciao' and drink wine, but have no curiosity about Indian literature. Thats precisely the point he was making. Ciao or 'chow' to you too!
It is tragic that anything that pertains to ancient Indian culture is mocked by the half-baked, western-wanne-be Indian media. A prime example is the IBN-CNN channel, which mocks anything that has to do with Hindu/Indian culture or heritage, and cannot seem to differentiate valuable cultural practices from the trivial ones. They mock yoga, ayurveda, religious and cultural practices, family system, arts, and ancient scientific accomplishments of India, as if eveything Indian is to dismissed with contempt especially if it doesn't have the seal of approval of the west. What a pathetic attitude. It is no wonder that many Indians grow up with a sense of shame of being Indian, and everything western exudes 'rationality.'
Yoga, Ayurveda etc are all to be protected and nurtured. But we need to urgently develop much greater depth and effectiveness in these systems. The tendency is to make tall claims that they cure everything etc. I am surprised that while even (seeminlgy) obscure topics like the study of insects has enough research and knowledge to fill several shelves of books, there is much lesser depth in Yoga and Ayurveda etc. We need to build on all of these and then assuredly people will come flocking to them in ever larger numbers. Notice how a Swami Ramdev who teaches elementary Yoga postures draws so many numbers. And we can guess how many more will be drawn to our traditional systems of knowledge as they become more powerful and reveal ever more knowledge of the human body and mind. Till then the lure of modern technology and the culture of westernization which goes with it will continue to dominate
Kudos to Francois Gautier. Very happy that somebody had the guts to say that Indian culture should be protected. We Indians revel in self flagellation.This must stop. Hope this essay of Francois will make a creative minority think and act accordingly
