Atheism

Dear Varush, 

    We are all bigots in India you me, our cousins, neighbors- everyone. That's our culture. Unlike other things which is imaginary, like "Virunthombal" (that's a Tamil word use google translate), spirituality, hard working, good in maths, or magic people others think Indians are, bigotry is truly in our genes. We love to think in groups not based on interest, ideas  or geography. We are the one of the few billion people in the world who group humans based on imaginary caste in hierarchical manner. And then we think we are a ancient culture which is beautiful, wonderful and everyone should follow us. Just the hypocrisy of it all is just sad.

    As you go into the world people will keep on saying, who sees caste nowadays, reservation is ruining this country and what's your surname. Regarding the surname nonsense: If  you are in some other country and a Indian asks your surname- He/ she has socked in the teaching of caste bigoty - just forgive them they are just that poor humans. alternatively you can tell them to fuck themselves until the evil washes away. Well, who sees caste these days, we are all  (anti -caste warriors) progressive people until a person from other caste wants to marry our girl worse if a "higher caste" (whatever upper or forward caste means) girl wants to marry a Dalit.  This is rampant in the rural side, again you will see people telling you about the virtues of their small village- well if you look closure you will see villages are the hot bed for the thriving casteism and discriminations which is not going to be washed away- as Ambedkar has pointed many years ago- which has hardly changed.   

    Then there are modern idiots who will tell you caste is based on work- well I have one answer for those intelligent people- omg for that revolutionary idea I will recommend you for a Nobel peace prize. I know some of us will say we don't ask our caste among our friends- good for you. 

    Steven Pinker recommended a game to find how bigoted we are all. Just ask among a private party of friends "we are among friends if you want to discriminate who do you want to discriminate" . I am pretty sure, everyone who is not a Dalit will say Dalits. Some may say a religious group from the Abrahamic tradition.  I know esoteric people who might read this blog may think I am not like that- well okay I believe you. But you know the answer.   

If you think this is a Hinduism problem  and look elsewhere- the answer is also not in the Abrahamic religions. People who follow Abrahamic religion are not immune to caste system or theirs is a better system. Like a child those guys think if you are not with me, you are in the wrong path or worse you are in the path of evil. Which looks like a system written by bronze age tribal.  So, as Ambedkar pointed out I think those are also just as divisive like any other 

    See that's why I am a atheist. I hope you become more and more liberal and progressive. As you know my father and mother were from different caste so they were properly kicked out of the house and you know history repeated with I and your mother (also with my brother). So unlike others I don't want to be part of a religion which thinks it is a crime to marry outside your caste. Never forget, Never be part of a group whos evil ways you need to defend, Even if it gives you some small in feeling it has more baggage of useless shit. 

     So what can be done. well I don't know. I used to think as Bharathi said, to remove caste evil, Fall in love. Sadly what I see nowadays people seeing the caste and falling in love- poor Bharathi did not see that coming. What I think you and I should do is, never fall into the pit, talk for the weaker not the privileged  caste. There will always people with privilege who will play the victim card. Don't do that or if someone does it tell them politely as our new India does -go and live in Pakistan.

    But as an individual we can do one thing -treat everyone with the same respect they deserve. Not based on some imaginary caste or religion. we don't have to respect anyone's faith or beliefs, I think respect comes from behavior towards humans not based on how hard your faith is. I also dont buy the argument we should all treat every faith with respect. Why? that is just childish. If i say i have faith in my cell phone should everyone treat me with respect and treat my cell phone with respect.?

    We have not taught you religion even though your mother has some faith in god and all your grand parents. I think these are the reasons. Always ask yourself why do you need a god or religion- the question should never be is there a god. Why do you need a imaginary friend? rely on a real friend. Why do you need to be in a religion which looks at the others as "others". We are all human. 

 

Love

Hariohm