ExpertDabbler

I was curious to know more about Ramanujar the moment I realized my current favorite Indira Parthasarathy had written about him.

The introduction to the book here made me even more curious and I have already ordered it. Nevertheless i just wanted to jot down my observations.

If Ramanujar had such a liberal and inclusive view of religion and society thousand years ago, why and how did we as a society lose the plot later on? That’s mysterious to me.

Also, I am not sure if any of the so-called social reformers in the recent past, radical or moderate, have any reference to Ramanujar in their expressions or works. That’s intriguing to say the least. If I am working on a agenda, is it not a sensible strategy to reuse my predecessor’s works, words and deeds which are in sync. with my agenda to augment my own points?

If social justice and equality was the end goal, and if that could be propagated by adapting Ramanuja and his teachings which is already accepted by the majority who believe in religion, why throw all that to the dustbin and talk atheism? Now I am not sure if Periyar’s idea of atheism is a smart one to attain social justice or whatever.

If believing in God is barbaric, saying God does not exist is equally barbaric too. Religion and the concept of God as a tool has worked very well for very long, my beliefs or non-belief be damned. What matters is whether they work or not in bringing solace to the people, not whether God’s existence can be proved. I read this perspective in Jeyamohan’s blog for the first time and it did make lot of sense to me. People always do what works for them in the long run. I now think that by talking atheism, the Dravidian leaders lost the plot completely, just like the way our Kollywood directors do time and again.

Contrast this to the way Christian missionaries propagate Christianity, they do not claim that all the wisdom and literature of ancient India are stupid. Rather they nowadays claim they are essentially Christian ideas as taught by St.Thomas. This may sound laughable now, it makes for much more subtle and persuasive communication in the long run.

I hope to read this book and see I. Pa has to say.

Read this in Jeyamohan’s blog.

Probably I should do a PhD and in that claim Rajini, Kamal, AR Rahman music, Vadivelu comedy are all nothing but the manifestations of St. Thomas teaching to tamilians.

Bah!! What nonsense is this?

I tell you this is more disastrous and idiotic than the decision of KT Kunjumon to produce ‘Kodeeswaran’.