Southways is angry -- an anger I can understand and face quite often.
If my post made people like her or anyone else to prove their Indian-ness, I must apologise.
As most opinions or emotions go, this is also very much guided by personal experiences.
When my husband or his family criticise the BJP or RSS, people tend to smirk saying because they are Christians. It angers me. They criticise them because they are Indians with a vote! I used to defend them saying my father in law served the country in the army, my husband's greatest ambition was to be part of the armed forces (though it didn't happen)... until I realised that what I was doing was wrong. Why the hell should they prove anything to anybody?
Everytime people say something about Christians I want to tell them, 'oh but my husband believes in buying only Indian made stuff'... sometimes it slips out, but most often I bite my tongue. Because, as he says he doesn't 'effing have to prove anything to anyone'.
So I can understand Southways anger.
I wrote the 'comments' on the post reading Broom, MM and MG. Not the posts. I would have to be semi-literate or illiterate to question MM's Indian-ness.
But in defense of what I said earlier -- I believe in nationhood. And I do feel we need to work together as Indians, we need to all put our Indian-ness over our religious preferences.
There are people who don't believe in the concept of nation-hood. that's their problem.
I believe in it. So every argument and defence from me would be from that stand.
And yes, it would help if not all comments towards Hindus/Hinduism is negative. It would help even more if there are some positive comments thrown our way.
I say this, because I am a Hindu. What is so wrong with that?
That was my basic premise. Don't demonise us! And don't twist a simple post into a PhD thesis on religious differences. For goodness' sake, give me a break!
About Dave's comments on my earlier post, half of which I don't understand, and the other half I don't agree with, I can only say this.
You don't believe in the concept of 'Nation'; I not only believe in it, it is EXTREMELY important to me. So after this there is really nothing we can argue about that would make sense to either of us. But say you are travelling in India, and Hindu mob roughs you up, my guess is, it would be the goverment that represents your 'nation' that bails you out of the mess. Not Iain Banks or Radiohead!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
my guess is, it would be the goverment that represents your 'nation' that bails you out of the mess.
More likely my insurance company, no? Anyway what you're talking about is the state (not an entirely unproblematic concept in its own right but we'll leave that to one side), which is not the same as the nation. Let me put it this way: in your example, the British government helps me out, the concept of Britishness does not.
I believe in nationhood. And I do feel we need to work together as Indians, we need to all put our Indian-ness over our religious preferences.
What about believing in humanity? In working together as people, in putting our personhood above our religious identities? Is it wrong to take certain attitudes towards Indian Muslims, but right to take them towards people born in Pakistan? What's the difference, how does it matter?
I am a Hindu. What is so wrong with that? That was my basic premise. Don't demonise us!
No-one is demonising you. People have a problem with oppressive Hindu majoritarianism (which, incidentally, dovetails with Indian nationalism in a manner very similar to the relationship between white supremacism and British nationalism), and when they talk about that you take it personally. That's no-one's problem but your own.
Am sorry if I am begnning to sound like a phd student gone wrong, but your questions are the kind that would inspire a lot of thought, argument etc :)
Hey MG... I didn't mean you. Not completely at least...
That's not to say, I am not enjoying the debate here and on your blog, completely.
I will agree with the first commenter. That no one is demonising you. if anything we're talking about individual experiences. I'm married to a Hindu and we've produced two kids - that should say something!!!
that said - why do you hunt for positive comments thrown towards Hindus separately? Everytime I write about the husband who I pretty much worship or friends who make my life worth it - well they're Hindus arent they?
the post you've linked to - was PRECISELY about this - this making me feel that I am less Indian. anyway - i like what you said about your husband on SW's blog. I dont need to effing prove my Indianness :) He sounds like a great guy... and very similar to my husband!
I haven't read all the comments that were posted on your posts and the various other posts that linked to yours. Because I'm tired of these arguments. They are not discussions but people merely putting forth ideas that they are already convinced of. I do not for a minute believe that anyone concerned would've changed their views one bit. It is merely an exercise in vain.
Sorry if I sound terribly tired. But religion can be exhausting. And I think none of this is ever going to change anything. Those who suffer will continue to. And we would all be better off if we had fewer religions and frankly, a little less of God.
Post a Comment