The question of Brahmins

My views on Brahmins have always been changing. There was a time I believed or rather interested in brahminism and took some pride in being one. I believed in great ideals of a Brahmin and but for the caste all is well in it. I believed they can contribute much to India, I believed they lead the front in overall development. I had all examples who have led such life, made impact in ordinary people’s life. I believed the Dravidian rhetoric is mere hatred ness, I wanted to tell the world that we are not responsible for the caste, I had all arguments, we are judged harshly by contemporary politicians.

Today more I understand, more I listen, I am convinced that hatred ness is deep and genuinely innocent. I remember one of my friends telling me this, “ today Brahmins marry non-brahmins get out of traditional jobs, more progressive, but then they have left others in darkness of what they have preached for years” in effect the change in the attitude, the so called progressiveness has not helped the cause of so many dalits. I believe it has not helped. It may take another century before an ordinary Indian can think beyond caste, modern world has too much to offer that one doesn’t necessarily rely on the community support. Brahmins can in a way get the best of both tradition and the modern without being castist. I do genuinely believe that many of my Brahmin friends go beyond identity of the caste, (of course the reservation can keep the tension alive). I know of guy who vehemently opposed reservation, but has been supporting and running schools and supplementary centres in slums and rural areas. This seems to be contradiction at a superficial level. Many of the reservation grievances come from personal loss rather than caste prejudice. I also know of many activist Brahmins, I wonder today whether they can actually bring about the change, can they be real friends of the needy. I am not sure,( there is some thing in quantum physics that says the moment the observer watches the particle it displaces). The same is true with Brahmins involment in any thing makes it his movement rather than the people movement intentionally or otherwise.

what do they do. may be we should voluntarily not occupy government offices, not run NGOs, not make policies etc. stop all the intellectual activities. and for sake of millions of people just let them do what they want. as gandhi says for the sake of nation we can sacrifice brahmins.

to be continued