Anti-brahminism has been a "nice" formula for many political parties and activists in India. Politically inexpensive (Only abt 2% nationally, not a vote bank), safe (Other than, perhaps, in Bihar and U.P., brahmins are non-violent), highly visible in important posts during the early years of independence and, the intellegentia which preserved the Sastras, Kavyas and Ithihasas, for over 3,000 years. Thus brahmins and Hinduism are identified, mistakenly. We do not know if Manu Dev was a brahmin but he is the face of brahminism. Very few have read Manusmriti, do not know for instance, that he had prescribed the strictest duties for brahmins, stricter than for other castes. Nor do our politicians know that Manusmriti was NOT followed by every Hindu Raja in every part of India. His Smriti was treated in the same way the Congress Party is treating our Constitution - highly flexible. That Indian society has changed in drastic ways, with the status of brahmins very much reduced in socio-economic and political terms is, deliberately NOT noticed. In Tamil Nadu, those 50 and above will know that the rural areas are now empty of brahmins. They were nearly 10% of some villages. Their place is now taken up by muslims. People like Nanchil may not have noticed that Tamil muslims are now switching to urdu. These Anti-Sanskrit, Anti-Hindi rulers of TNadu are in for a shock. In another 20 years, Urdu-speaking muslims will be about 15% of TNadu's population. Cowards, won't talk abt it much.
RE:Anti-brahminism and politics in India
by Varsha Godbole on May 12, 2008 04:18 PM Permalink
Gentleman, all this discussion on Caste based reservation is meaningless. Politicians in India decide their action based on likely impact on vote banks. Brahmins do not cosntitute sizeable votebanks. Hence their neglect.
