KARUNANIDHI went to a temple in Vellore for purposes of philanthropy, not worship. Even so it attracted headlines in Tamil Nadu because the DMK patriarch is a symbol of atheist politics. That he should enter the premises of a temple and share the limelight with priests in saffron was enough to raise the question: In the ageless tussle between Brahminic Hinduism and its challengers, was the balance tipping in favour of Brahminism again?

The intellectual foundations of Periyar’s Dravida movement were rejection of God and the nurturing of Self-Respect. His call for the demolition of Brahmin hegemony transformed social and political equations in Tamil country forever. And yet one half of his modern-day inheritors is led by an undisguised Brahmin. The other half, already compromised by creeping influences of such early No-Nos as astrology, now witnesses its supreme leader supping with God’s chosen representatives on earth.

Not that there would be anything surprising if Periyar’s notions of Dravida Self-Respect succumb to the persistent pressures of Vedic certainties. After all, the far more powerful Jaina-Buddhist philosophies were overwhelmed too.

These highly evolved philosophies nurtured egalitarianism while the Vedic tradition insisted on segregation. One sought to elevate common people to higher social-spiritual levels through education; the other prescribed that the lower orders should not be exposed to learning. As it happened, it was the discriminationist school that prevailed over the equality line.

Odd? There are researchers who point to Buddhist and Jain temples that were either destroyed or built over during an era of resurgent Brahminism. But significantly, the triumph of the Vedic tradition was confined to India and Nepal while the ‘suppressed’ Buddhism spread far and wide, producing a great culture with its own art, architecture and sculpture and its own literature in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan. And who can beat the Buddhist masters of the East in martial arts?

Perhaps early Jaina-Buddhist influences also explain the cultural differences between northern and southern India which do not fit into the simple Aryan-Dravidian compartmentalisation. While the basic scriptures of Hinduism are from the north, the south is home to the interpreters and the challengers— from Ramanuja and Madhwa to Basava. In such a soil, the earlier challenges from Jainism and Buddhism took root easily.

A new seminal book (Kerala History’s Basic Records by Puthussery Ramachandran) quotes inscriptions in ancient caves and temples to assert that before Brahmins arrived in southern India, Jains and Buddhists had established a flourishing linguistic culture in the region. The classical literary works of the Sangam period, from Tolkapiam to Thirukkural, were products of a pre-Brahmin flowering. From 1st Century AD, there was a significant Jain presence in the West Coast. Al- Baruni, the traveller who arrived after Shankara’s Brahminic consolidation, recorded that people from Konkan to Kollam (Kerala) were followers of the Buddha. An example of what Kannada owes to Jainism is Pampa, the venerated Adi Kavi who, born to Brahmin parents, chose to become a Jain.

Dravidian politics may indeed be overwhelmed by Brahminic politics. But the literary-cultural glory of the south’s pre-Brahminic inheritance shall never fade. It’s pre-politics as well. Which makes it precious.

Source: The New Indian Express of 22 February 2008

Contact the editors of The New Indian Express at adityasinha@epmltd.com & letterschennai@epmltd.com & sundayexpress@epmltd.com

Sir,

TJS George has exhibited his ignorance when he attaches 'intellect' with the Dravidian movement. The fact is there is nothing brainy or intelligent about 'Dravidianism' but only 'cunningness' attached with it and the so-called Dravidian movement was started only to cheat the gullible and innocent Tamils and rule over them.

George's blabbering on Vedic civilisation arid its tradition exposes the Christian agenda of dividing the Hindus. He has also attempted to alienate Buddhism and Jainism from Sanathann Dharma, an attempt which had failed many times in the past.

George must know that even Buddhist educational institutions named "Gankasthanilms" taught Vedas and Upanishads. The eternal "Siddhars" have given immortal Tamil Works, and many of them were Brahmins and Sage Agasthiyar was one of them. Even the Jain and Buddhist works such as Silappathikaram and Manimekalai talk extensively about Brahmins and Vedic traditions, We have Brahmins in the list of Nayanmars and Alvars also.

We have had many Brahmin, Kshathriya, Vaishya and Shudra poets in Sangam literature. This clearly shows that all classes of people had access to education The Vedic civilisation never prohibited a section of the society from learning as imagined by George.

Varnashrama Dharma was practised not to segregate or discriminate as naively said by George, but for the progress of civilisation and development of the society. The ancient rulers always revered the Brahmins and Vedic scholars and treated them Ivith utmost respect. Only the Moghttls focused more on persecuting and liquidating the Brahmins as they believed that their elimination would lead to the destruction of civilisation.

While concluding his article, George has again blabbered that "Pre-Brahmin cultural-literary glory would not fade and its precious' pre-politics as well." The fact is the Brahmins have contributed immensely to the glorious status of the culture and literature in every part of this great nation.

Sir,

I refer to TJS George's piece "God, Karunanidhi and Pre-Brahmin glory". His divisive writings and hatred for Hinduism show that he is not an Indian at heart. He still considers himself an imported Syrian Christian. Syrian Christians came as refugees to Kerala and iiindus welcomed them with open arms. They flourished and became prosperous in all fields.

When the Portuguese came, they sided with the Portuguese Christians and back-stabbed Hindus. Still Hindus, treated them with warmth. Syrian Christians are the most prosperous community in India. Having prospered in Hindu India and having taken the Indian salt, T J S George is showing his true colours.

The Pope called St. Thomas as a myth created for the harvesting of souls in India. TJS never writes about this. There are historical records to show that the Santhome Church in Chennai was built on a Shiva temple. He never writes about this.

Kenneth Humphrey, a British theologian, wrote a book Jesus never existed. The book was published by Iconoclast Press, Uckfield, East Sussex, the UK. George would never write about this.

The commies open their umbrellas if there is rain in Moscow or Beijing. TJS never writes that during the Communist revolutions in Russia, China and other places, more than 40 million innocent citizens were massacred. What have the Communists done in Kerala? As a Syrian Christian Keralite, he is talking about Brahmin, non-Brahmin divisions. What a shame?

Coming to pre-Brahmin glory, George has exposed his ignorance. He lacks elementary knowledge of history and geography. Tolkappiar was a Tamil Brahmin. Thirugnana Sambandar, Manickavasar and Appar — who gave the great Tamil Devaram, Thiruvasagam were also Brahmins. In fact, 99 per cent of the Tamil literature, owes its origin to Brahmins. It is naive and stupid to separate Hinduism and Brahminism. The less we talk about the Buddhist atrocities in Cambodia and other places the better. George, why can't you emigrate to Burma, Sri Lanka or Cambodia? Again, most of the leaders in Tamil Nadu are not Tam Mans: EVR and Jayalalithaa being Kannadiglis, MGR a Malayalee, Karunanidhi, Vaiko, Vijaykanth, Arcot Veerasamy Telugus. So much for TJS's Tamil glory!