MAIL BAG
Limited impact?
This refers to “Time for system reboot?” (Magazine, May 24). In Tamil Nadu, cinema played a significant role in bringing about social reforms. In fact it was assisted by social movements and then it took a political turn. Yet it is a shame some evil practices like the “double cup” are still prevalent. In fact, “caste discrimination” does not get projected at world forums because of the double standards of our government. Cinema can play a significant role in focusing on social evils, preparing the minds of the people for reforms. But it should be followed up by such social organisations and leaders for results leading to system change.
A. Jacob Sahayam,
Thiruvananthapuram
The article detailed the role serious cinema can play in shaping the destiny of the country and its people. Our cinema is escapist in nature and glorifies the heroes (heroines in some films). Even the few films with political orientations like Arth Satya dealt with individual, emotional issues rather than views as these views do not make commercial potboilers. In this context the Marathi film “Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale boltoy” is a bold attempt in moulding the views of the people by finding solutions to the problems from within rather than criticising others for the ills of the society. Ideally we require such films which educate as well as entertain us through the powerful medium.
P. Esakki Muthu,
Udangudi
For an equal footing
This has reference to “Caste and the World” by S. Anand (Magazine, May 24). It’s only this South Asian subcontinent that has this affliction of the endogamous caste-system. Despite B.R. Ambedkar, K.R. Narayanan, Balakrishna, S.K. Thorat and Mayawati – Dalits holding high offices today – one has to go back 2,500 years to find that it was only the Buddha, a Prince of Kapilavastu, who once largely eradicated caste in India for 1500 years. Even Kanchipuram had 25 monasteries and 10,000 monks according to Xuanzang , the Chinese Monk in the 7th century AD. Not only was India Buddhist but this egalitarian religion was spread through the Silk Route to Afghanistan, China, Korea and Japan. The King of Sri Lanka took a branch of the Bodhi tree and planted it in Anuradhapura in Srilanka. Burma, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia all became Buddhist.
The return of Brahmanical Hinduism during the 10th to 12th centuries has re-divided India into the inexorable hierarchy of endogamous castes. Fortunately, first due to British archaeologists, then tourism from the Buddhist nations and China expelling His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Tibet, Buddhism is re-appearing in India again. Ambedkar’s conversion of 400,000 Dalits in Nagpur was perhaps the largest single conversion to Buddhism but it still numbers less than two percent of the population.
Prodipto Roy
New Delhi
The article was a passionate essay reflecting the humiliation born out of the ongoing indictment of human beings on caste lines. The denial of untouchability prevalent in the society is worse than the practice itself. The mindset of the middle class intelligentsia, in general seeks to undermine the existence of caste prejudice and gender bias based on a superficial perspective on the growing assertion of the oppressed sections. The fourth estate that rushes to cash in on sensational news items on individual crimes chooses to look the other way when gruesome attacks take place against the socially deprived people.
Neo-liberal policies have served only to further enhance the inequities in both social and economic sense. Despite very serious efforts undertaken by Marxist leaders and the Dalit organisations in the Khairlanji atrocity, the Court set aside the question of any caste oppression in the case treating it as yet another instance of criminal offence and even that much justice eluded the Thinniyam Dalits.
The author is right in exhorting on people cutting across caste lines to cry a halt to caste discrimination.
S.V. Venugopalan
Chennai
Welcome relief
“On pills and needles” by Indu Balachandran took me back to those earlier Hindu Magazines which invariably carried hilarious articles. When every other article is loaded with tons of serious information and details which are often a test to the fading memory, articles of this kind are a welcome relief with subtle humour and recognition of everyday experience.
Though doctors are the easiest targets of journal jokes, Ms. Balachandran certainly hit the nail on the head at several places. The nerve with which she mixed the slang at the conclusive remark of the nurse was really shocking, but delectable nevertheless.
P. Andrew Valsan,
Nagercoil
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