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Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – 3 – The Power Seeking Layer

The Power Seeking Layer of humanity does not internally believe in or practice traditions of any culture and may or may not even have studied their culture and other cultures in depth. They seek to strengthen the unity of the band they seek to represent through moral policing and ‘awareness campaigns’ and to dominate the folks of other cultures through propaganda and direct physical conflict.

The Status Quo Layer willingly and perhaps ‘unthinkingly/foolishly’ supports them while the zero prejudice layer resentfully goes along with restrictions enforced by their own group because of their own powerlessness. The Status Quo layer wants to believe the ‘awareness campaigns’ because of their own internal resentment. The power seeking layer cannot have an abiding belief either in a vengeful or in a merciful God. They rarely sacrifice their own life,  limbs or health. They motivate and instigate others to be in the front line as the activists or the terrorists or the missionaries. From the status quo layer are drawn these activists. Other layers including the zero prejudice layer form the targets.

Every act of offence by instigated by a power seeking group on one side results in an act of offence by the power seeking group on the other side.. (as in Bush and Bin Laden. The targets were the peasants of Afganisthan/Iraq and the office goers at the WTO.. who were mostly from the zero perjudice layer).

While the power seeking group project their actions  in the name of culture, race and religion internally they cannot have any belief in that culture or religion, for destruction does not bother them.

Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – 2 – The Resentful Status Quo Layer

The Status Quo Layer refers to that layer of humanity which believes that tradition dates to the customs of their childhood as practiced by their family and neighbourhood. This layer is threatened by changes due to globalization, the arrival of the next generation, the arrival of people from other cultures into their neighbourhoods, their television sets and living rooms.

This layer is upset that their jobs, their life-style, their music, their value system and so on is altered by the arrival of newcomers and foreigners. If they are old or mild, they may complain and if they are young or aggressive they may attack. (As in the racial attacks on Indians in Australia).

Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – The Zero Prejudice Layer

In the movie Khadgam, Ravi Teja worships both the bricks used to build the Sri Rama temple and some holy muslim object so that he will get all the divine blessings he needs.

Yesterday a young 18 year old muslim girl was telling me the story of her troubled life.. parental neglect, marriage at 12 and her struggle and success in getting a bank job for Rs 5000 a month. She told me that sometimes she tells Allah that he is not taking care of her, much as Bhaktha Ramadasu, sang Evadabba Sommani….Debbalaku Orvaleka…

I told her about my own reaction when I first saw Kameswari Devi in Mahanandi Temple. I too said.. “you are my mother, how can you let me suffer, you are not doing your job properly”.

The girl was interested in knowing whether Devi helped me and I said “yes, She did, She is a woman, a Mother”. I hesitated in suggesting a visit to to the Shivajinagar  Meenakshi Amma temple, because it might offend her religious sensibilities. But both she and her older cousin were very interested and they told me that they would definitely pay Meenkashi Amma a visit, because women understand women.

A roman catholic lady sitting with us wearing yellow thread, black beads, chandan, bindi and mangala sutram, told me that she was wearing a mangala sutram because she knows the story of Siva and the significance of a mangala sutram!

There is NO Prejudice at this layer of humanity. They have troubles, need some divine intervention and will accept it whether from Jesus, Allah, Devi or Rama..

They are simple and trusting and seek divine help, wherever it is to be found.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – 2 – The Resentful Status Quo Layer

The Status Quo Layer refers to that layer of humanity which believes that tradition dates to the customs of their childhood as practiced by their family and neighbourhood. This layer is threatened by changes due to globalization, the arrival of the next generation, the arrival of people from other cultures into their neighbourhoods, their television sets and living rooms.

This layer is upset that their jobs, their life-style, their music, their value system and so on is altered by the arrival of newcomers and foreigners. If they are old or mild, they may complain and if they are young or aggressive they may attack. (As in the racial attacks on Indians in Australia).

Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – The Zero Prejudice Layer

In the movie Khadgam, Ravi Teja worships both the bricks used to build the Sri Rama temple and some holy muslim object so that he will get all the divine blessings he needs.

Yesterday a young 18 year old muslim girl was telling me the story of her troubled life.. parental neglect, marriage at 12 and her struggle and success in getting a bank job for Rs 5000 a month. She told me that sometimes she tells Allah that he is not taking care of her, much as Bhaktha Ramadasu, sang Evadabba Sommani….Debbalaku Orvaleka…

I told her about my own reaction when I first saw Kameswari Devi in Mahanandi Temple. I too said.. “you are my mother, how can you let me suffer, you are not doing your job properly”.

The girl was interested in knowing whether Devi helped me and I said “yes, She did, She is a woman, a Mother”. I hesitated in suggesting a visit to to the Shivajinagar  Meenakshi Amma temple, because it might offend her religious sensibilities. But both she and her older cousin were very interested and they told me that they would definitely pay Meenkashi Amma a visit, because women understand women.

A roman catholic lady sitting with us wearing yellow thread, black beads, chandan, bindi and mangala sutram, told me that she was wearing a mangala sutram because she knows the story of Siva and the significance of a mangala sutram!

There is NO Prejudice at this layer of humanity. They have troubles, need some divine intervention and will accept it whether from Jesus, Allah, Devi or Rama..

They are simple and trusting and seek divine help, wherever it is to be found.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – The Zero Prejudice Layer

In the movie Khadgam, Ravi Teja worships both the bricks used to build the Sri Rama temple and some holy muslim object so that he will get all the divine blessings he needs.

Yesterday a young 18 year old muslim girl was telling me the story of her troubled life.. parental neglect, marriage at 12 and her struggle and success in getting a bank job for Rs 5000 a month. She told me that sometimes she tells Allah that he is not taking care of her, much as Bhaktha Ramadasu, sang Evadabba Sommani….Debbalaku Orvaleka…

I told her about my own reaction when I first saw Kameswari Devi in Mahanandi Temple. I too said.. “you are my mother, how can you let me suffer, you are not doing your job properly”.

The girl was interested in knowing whether Devi helped me and I said “yes, She did, She is a woman, a Mother”. I hesitated in suggesting a visit to to the Shivajinagar  Meenakshi Amma temple, because it might offend her religious sensibilities. But both she and her older cousin were very interested and they told me that they would definitely pay Meenkashi Amma a visit, because women understand women.

A roman catholic lady sitting with us wearing yellow thread, black beads, chandan, bindi and mangala sutram, told me that she was wearing a mangala sutram because she knows the story of Siva and the significance of a mangala sutram!

There is NO Prejudice at this layer of humanity. They have troubles, need some divine intervention and will accept it whether from Jesus, Allah, Devi or Rama..

They are simple and trusting and seek divine help, wherever it is to be found.

Culture and Prejudice

I finally understand an important concept.

I love the different cultures of the different peoples of the world even as I am shocked by their prejudices!

I greatly admire the technology, adventurous spirit and movies of the west.., even as I am shocked by the hostility in the eyes of the “hick-town-whites”, their desire to focus on the poverty here and do nothing about it and general ignorance of and contempt for my civilization.

I greatly admire the magic of the Arabian Nights stories even as I am shocked by their desire to eliminate non-muslims.

I love the programmed efficiency of the tamils, the soft  words of the Bengalis, the clean organisedness of the Kannadigas, the simple devotion of the Kavads and so on and on and on.

Yet, I am shocked by the way my Kannadiga friends speak about Andhras, the exclusivity of the Tamils and the deliberately provocative superiority stance of the North Indians.

Individuals of various cultures and regions like me because of the effort I make to speak their language and to know about their culture and heritage. But this favour is not returned!

The majority tendency seems to be Ignore, Resent,  Dominate or Eliminate other peoples/ other tribes /other cultures.

Prejudice breeds prejudice and contempt breeds contempt. Many north Indians try to project their feelings of superiority as if there was defense inferiority in the south Indians. Most wrongly assume my culture of origin  and confide their prejudices freely to me.

Many people are confident that their culture is the best and that it is threatened or spoiled by interactions with other cultures. That is why the clannish Ignore/Dominate/Eliminate slogans.

I love other cultures, their food, their art, their music and literature etc, but I am cautious about the people of those cultures, cautious about how would they would view/treat/react to me and my people.

Update : I am amazed /shocked /disgusted that connect.in has classified this piece where they have.. A curse upon them!

Monogamy, Female Foeticide, Serial Polygamy, Dowry Deaths, Girl education

At one time in Ancient India, no fertile season of a woman was supposed to go waste. (When Uddanka’s gurupatni approached him, he refused saying that the order must come from the guru and not the gurupatni. This made his guru very fond of him).

At another time, women had to be won by a show of valour (Virya Sulka). (As Sita Devi, by Sri Rama breaking Siva’s bow and Draupadi by Arjuna shooting the eye of the fish in the revolving Matysa Yantra, looking at a watery reflection.)

Very often the hero had to fight off competing armies for the girl. (As Sri Krishna for Rukmini Devi and Bhishma for the Kasi Princesses). In fact many baby girls were adopted and raised and given to great kings in marriage. eg.,  Sita, Sakuntala, Mandodari.

At that time both polygamy and polyandry were legal and there was no talk of killing baby girls, foetuses or brides.

Enter the post British Era of India which forced monogamy as an additional ideal and law on our Indian society.

A man who may have only one wife possibly becomes very choosy and wants the prettiest and richest one he can have. He can also accept a dowry from one girl, burn her off and marry another one for another dowry., thus leading to the serial polygamy, concept accepted by western societies.

A man who does not wish to afford the heavy dowry and marriage expenses of his daughter can kill her off before he sees her baby face.

From someone who has to be fought for, wooed and won, Indian girls have become finacial liability to their fathers.

Many educated girls now earn and save for their own dowries so as to get a better (wealthier) match. The dowry for educated, working women is also lower than for their less educated sisters. Therefore, you also see more educated, working girls in India.

 

 

The Misery of Public Transportation in India

Exploitation of the helpless and Environmentally Conscious

Autos overcharge from 1.5 to 2 to 6 times the fare, even in pre-paid auto stands. In many places in Tamil Nadu, autos do not even have a meter. And in Bangalore they do not always pay attention to the meter. In Chennai, the auto drivers demand double in the prepaid stand and sfter you get a receipt they demand extra.

Buses turn back before the final stops. Many buses turn back at Bhadrappa layout and do not come till Tatanagar.

Yesterday the C1 C2 buses stopped at Hennur and did not come till Hebbal. They covered the destination board with a cloth. Each bus kept pointing to us some other bus to board and kept telling us to get off at traffic signals.

The controller is not aware of these nefarious activities. Getting change and bus tickets is a challenge!

It is one thing to say that we should save the environment by keeping the cars of the streets.. but with such miserable public transportation and exploitation by buses and autos alike – what are people to do?

The drivers should be steeply fined to change their behaviour.

Muslims I met on my recent travels and what I learnt

In Chennai, I met a nice lady and her small daughter in the bus My son got up to give her his seat in the bus, and she initially made her daughter sit next to me. Later he got a seat further on and she sent her daughter to sit next to anna (elder brother – my son), and she sat next to me. I asked her directions to the ancient Parthasarathy temple in laboured tamil.

Understanding my struggle she switched to excellent english after a while. She wore a burkha with the face veil thrown back. She told me which stop to get off and how to get there. And when we got off, she and her daughter waved us a cheerful farewell.

In the train from Chennai to Rameswaram, we shared our second class six berther with a muslim family. The young tenth standard daughter wore a burkha with the face veil thrown back. The mother wore a saree but her toe-rings were clearly visible. The father had his hair cut in the modern way. We learnt that he had worked in Saudi Arabia as a peon and had spoiled his heart with pan parag and alcohol. He spoke some broken english but was quite eager to communicate. His wife was tired and sleepy and did not say much. I spoke to the young girl in my laboured tamil and I learnt that she has many brothers and sisters and lots of friends in school. She expressed her appreciation for some of my amateur sketches. Her face was bright and smiling and she was good at her school. He father said he would let her study further as she was really good.

I learnt that muslim ladies too wear toe-rings and mangala sutrams, which they identify as Indian customs, but not bottu or sindhoor, which they identify as Hindu customs. She offered us chapathis which we regretfully could not accept as we were not hungry. But her husband did fetch me a a bottle of drinking water, when I ran out and my son was sleeping. We gave them one of our lower berths because of his heart problem.

They were courteous, friendly and nice.

On a bangalore local bus, a muslim lady sat next to me. She worked as a packer of coffee powder for Rs 3000 per month. Her husband was an auto-driver and had an additional job as well. She took into her lap, a small child who did not have a seat so that the mother could stand more comfortably.

She told me that her mother-in-law looked after her kids and said that I was her mother’s age. She said that they were educating their children, the girl as well as the boy. She had neither burkha nor bottu. She said that heart had to be pure and there was no point of a burkha in all the bus travel. She said that the lives of all the poor people were changing positively but the women of the hazrats were only allowed to study arabic and the koran.

Once, a while back, the driver who took my car for servicing was a muslim. He was honest, candid and advised me on how to avoid the up-selling that the service center would shamelessly try to inflict on me, for the welfare of their purses and not the for welfare of my car. He told me that the karnataka muslims were for the state and for peace.

I was happy to see that there were normal and nice people among the muslims of South India and the hardline was very far from their conversations. I was happy to see that the they were for the education of girls.

The downside was a muslim that I met on Chitradurga bus. He  told me that everyone in their family married only brahmin girls (love marriages) and converted them to Islam. They however followed panchangams and other such brahmin customs (related to astrology). He said, much to my shock, that our former president Abdul Kalam and Rameswaram muslims were not even muslims.

I heard that muslims are nicer in those areas of India, where they haven’t been rulers. Either way there are very nice ordinary muslims and they should not be painted with the same brush as the hardliners.

A billion people, a billion perspectives.

Don’t check stats on the weekend

It can be very depressing.

The Joy of Not Being in Love!!

After looking at young ones losing their hearts every week and the ups and downs it entails, I’m happy to report that I have not been in love for aeons.

That is the beautiful free peace and concentration on my work that I have now.

We met Sudeep! Yesterday!

Yesterday, we saw the lovely movie Wake Up Sid! at FunCinemas – Morning Show and finished an errand at Allianz Francaise.

When we came back to pick up our car, we saw an Outdoor Shooting Truck.

The security guard helpfully directed us to the basement where the crew were having lunch.

Sitting at a very simple table on a very simple chair eating a great deal of chicken was this very thin, tall and fair actor whose work in the Kannada version of swathi Muthyam I really liked. Given the way Anil Kapoor botched it up, you can tell how good an actor Sudeep must be to take on a role played by Kamal Hasaan and do it justice.

My son went up and Sudeep gave him left hand shake since he was eating with his right hand. Then this young actor stood up to greet me.. all he knew was that I was a partly gray haired middle aged woman. How courteous of him. I was very impressed. I congratulated him on SwathiMuthyam but probably not in the right words.

I hope he succeeds in his new venture. He was so nice to us.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula