We have become used to making crass remarks in our times.One of the most common perception is that Brahmins are themselves responsible for their downfall.It’s their bonhomie with corrupt thought patterns that have eclipsed their glory.There is cycle of events. Since Dalits were oppressed at the hands of Brahmins in previous ages,it’s now their turn to oppress the Brahmins. Ironically, reservations have nearly created such a scenario in which Brahmins have become a marginalized class.
Interestingly, the rise of women is also being hailed as per cycle of events.The men tortured them in previous times.Now it’s their turn to harass men.Here too female oriented laws and reservation for them are virtually tearing apart the man and woman intimate relationship.I would not deny that both in case of Dalits and women some injustice indeed had been done in past.However,let these problems do not give rise to solutions that become more dangerous than problems!
However,the same thing is happening in our society?The solutions in form of laws and reservation may or may not have improved the face of Dalits or women but they have indeed polarized the society to a dangerous extent.At present,the Indian society has become playhouse of strange set of values that have virtually toppled all good beliefs.Reservations have replaced meritocracy with mediocrity leading to great frustration among the talented souls.
A married woman threatens to implicate the husband in false case if the husband dares to prevent her from wrongdoings.In modern terminology that’s being hailed as “awareness”. However,my thinking mind,fails to treat that as awareness.Is it awareness that has given rise to so many complexities of all types? Is that awareness that makes a women file a false case ? Is that awareness which place mediocrity above meritocracy merely to honour reservation policies ? I feel that if awareness is creating so many problems for me then it’s better that I should fast become most ignorant !
One women’s rights female supporter once told me that rising number of divorce cases in courts is indicative of the fact that women have now become aware of their rights ! That means court cases are directly proportional to level of awareness ! Readers please don’t blame me for such odd assumptions.I am only stating on basis of perceptions that have hit our society in recent times.No body should assume that I am against reforms.Or that I am against corrective measures. I am only stating that while framing new rules for new society just be extra conscious so that our better ways and means don’t trap us in unspeakable problems.
One reason why our solutions have backfired is because we arrived at them via lies and falsehood sponsored by progressive literature and ,of course, because we treated theories created by Britishers as ultimate truth.One such theory is that Brahmins prevented other classes from having access to knowledge of Vedas.However,we find not only great woman scholars but we also find that characters like Kakbhusundi narrating tales of Rama to Garuda or for that matter Lord Shiva in form of a “chandala”(low person) giving discourse to Sri Shankara !
We never dared to question the findings of foreign scholars who talked about us in prejudiced way.They said men oppressed the women.We believed that with eyes wide shut.They told us that Brahmins suppressed and harassed the Dalits.We also believed that in toto.We never tried to question the exaggerated versions.As a result ,we are a society caught in worst type of contradictions.Anyway,I was talking about the downfall of Brahmins.I agree they have deviated away from highly virtuous lifestyle.
I wish to know haven’t we all deviated away from a life based on values?Why Brahmins alone are being ridiculed as hypocrites,as ponga pandits ?They may have fallen from grace but then is that fall solely because of their own character flaws ? I mean if Brahmins have deviated away from the life based on values then is that because they have willingly chosen to do so ? I don’t think so.May be most of us have stopped treating them as representative of virtues ,especially in urban belt, but I can still say with conformity that they are still the fountainhead of wisdom.
They are still unparallel in their understanding and approach.They are still finest combination of wisdom and balance which is why they are hailed as Panditah(one who is owner of wisdom and equanimity ).No wonder why a dalit leader finds her social engineering incomplete without their pivotal role ! It’s another thing that very system in which they come to play an important role they are being subjected to humiliation of all sorts.I will not go into past to tell that they enjoyed a high position,to an extent that all our main incarnation of Gods washed their feet and had their blessings.“I am convinced that everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges, – astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis, etc.It is very important to note that some 2,500 years ago at the least Pythagoras went from Samos to the Ganges to learn geometry.But he would certainly not have undertaken such a strange journey had the reputation of the Brahmins’ science not been long established in Europe.” (Voltaire)
It’s really painful to see Brahmins stripped of their dignity in our present society.Even they themselves admit that since they have given to modern lifestyles it’s hard for them to hail themselves as Brahmins ! Some openly tell that they drink beer and are involved in prohibited actions. However, having seen society from all possible angles,I must say they are still the best class of human beings on planet earth.
That’s why I refuse to believe that Brahmins would have ever treated Dalits or women the way it has been depicted in foreign literature.In my eyes the real culprit are the patterns that we followed for past many centuries.
Can’t we see that how modern education has distanced away from our roots that most of the Gen-Next people are absolutely unaware of the finer traits of our legacy ? How can we honour our roots if we are so cut-off from our past ? Same logic can be used to explain why Brahmins are so ashamed to acknowledge their true worth or, for that matter,why they have made themselves susceptible to humiliation ?They have just lost hold of the attributes that made them special.It’s still with them but they are unable to manifest it.Remember, a diamond even in guttered water shall remain priceless and precious.My point is that circumstances are to be blamed more than their own individual flaws which have led to downsizing of their aura.It’s time for the Brahmins to recognize their true worth.They should mend their manners and learn to keep themselves above the ironies of our times.
The essence of India is the essence of Brahmins.From birth till death the shlokas carved by them show us the way.If time has written for them a role mired in humiliation then they should accept that with grace.However,the ironies of our times should not be the excuse for them to move away from the divinity that exists in them. I hope their bond with divinity shall remain intact which is so necessary to keep universe no less than as reflection of the kingdom of devas(gods).
References:
Education system Given To Us By The Britishers
The Plight Of Modern Brahmins
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