To kill (many) a mocking bird

For long I've been reading numerous articles, be it blog posts or news paper clippings mocking the madisar maami or the so called typical Aiyar slang or the customs that are performed by Brahmins. It was the case in movies, where any leading hero from the time of MGR till date has donned the role of a Brahmin character to mock the community and its ways to achieve box office success. Its been one community that has often been ridiculed by anyone and everyone who wants to garner attention and like a meek goat that never bites back at people who throw stones on it, there has never been any violent protests or road rokos and not even a bandh call that I am aware of. Not that I am a "know-all" nor do I follow the pre and post activities of any such controversy. Just the way, the so called "intellectuals" who mock the community to their personal glory, I am also generalising now with the above statement.

It often irks me when people criticise out loud any custom or practice of any faith or sect and not necessarily Brahmin. But since this one community often bears the brunt of everyone, even from those who belongs to it, it irritates me like anything. Do I have any credentials worthy enough to take cudgels in support? Apart from the fact that I too belong to the meek many of the same sect, who never bother even to lift a finger against those who throw tar on our beliefs and customs, I have nothing notable as a credential. I don't even follow the daily rituals, even the simplest of them, that are supposed to be practised. I'vent been to a temple since god knows when, literally and figuratively. Not because I've stopped believing in it but for a reason even worse - laziness. Do I even understand any of those rituals and practices. Honest answer would be a shameful NO. Am I someone who wants to put forth my point of view and defend it to its contention. Answer again is NO. I am the least bothered by all these people that makes me no less a partner in their misdeeds. So I thought, at least, let me voice our my feelings in my own blog, that has been bereft of any readers off late :D More like a note from me to my own self.

The straw that broke this blogger's back was a post that was shared in Facebook by a lady blogger, atleast that's what the profile said, whom I've never met or read before. She had ranted for pages about madisar maamis and their capabilities in different situation, be it tormenting Brahmin gals to get married or fleecing their kids to US and propagate that achievement and also about their hypocritical ways. Needless to say, it was a huge hit and was even mildly funny in parts. Nope. Its not a barb and my writing skills are in no league to review or criticize anyone else's writing. But the content was what that really ticked me off. Its been the umpteenth time, someone has cribbed about how nosy madisar mami's are and how they are desperate show-off's who shamelessly meddle in other peoples life. Obviously there are people like that and no one can deny that such people never exist or existed. But why attach the communal tag??!! Its almost a fashion statement for a group of yuppie Brahmin people to mock their own community and rituals just to project that they are "cool".

IMHO, there are many things that makes being a brahmin difficult in current day's world. Reservation comes right on top. It may or may not be good in purpose. But is surely out to screw Brahmin kids studies. There is no leeway at all if they are average in their studies. Forget about higher studies, even non professional courses would be out of their reach. Another pain point would be, avoiding peer pressure and maintaining being a vegetarian, which is one of the biggest struggles for anyone from this community. I've seen many a friend of mine succumbed to this by their friend. I have no respect for those who show off to the outer world as holier than thou and valaichi katti adichify chicken on their home. If you feel something is right, you should be bold enough to admit it. Any habit or event the knowledge of which, that you cannot share with your parents or children and still continue to do it, is nothing short of a crime, knowingly being committed. Those who do turn non-veg often criticise their veg eating counter parts of hypocrisy and counter it with "meaningful" scientific arguments about plants also having life and in that way that is no less a crime than killing animals for meat. Same with drinking and smoking. There used to be a time when Brahmins were treated with respect for their habits. Since it was also a period when caste played a major role and the atrocities committed by caste Brahmins in the name of superiority ruled roost, the reason for respect was often mistaken for its casteist connotation and never for its true reason. The same coin has reversed now. Anyone who tries to be a conformist adhering to the rules and regulations that comes with being who he is, is often touted as a dork and fake. Worse of all, its people from the same community are up against each other.

There is quite a fat line between raising questions for learning and mocking. I belong to that tribe who are unwilling to follow rules just for the heck of it. I try to understand why certain things need to be done the way they are required to be and till I am not satisfied I resist. Not to portray myself as the next Martin Luther nor am I in a mindset for a lutherian protestant brahminism. I wanted to register my thoughts on this topic. And hence the post. Its half cooked and even for that it has grown so big. Would love to dwell more on this topic. Maybe as a supplement in some other post.

P.S: The views exhibited are wholly and solely my own. Itharku verengum kilaigal illai. News feederla RSS nu vantha thappa artham pannikapdaathu. Varta.