Comments on: The answer is simply, `I don’t know…’ http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/ HT Blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:09:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: belike http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-298 belike Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:03:31 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-298 Very well Written mam really appreciate.....you made me remember my old days. Because of caste i did not get seat in good college. And only because of cast and religion today iam not with my love one. Very well Written mam really appreciate…..you made me remember my old days. Because of caste i did not get seat in good college. And only because of cast and religion today iam not with my love one.

]]> By: Indian http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-244 Indian Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:59 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-244 What is so well said about this. I agree that caste discrimination or any discrimination should go and merit should prevail. But why generalize and make the Priest a villian. Who is anybody to give or take away what the priests do. Let us not remove and start making fun of everthing that is associated with either religion or culture of tradition. It seems to have become fashionable to do so. I again reaffirm what you say about discrimination. A priest asks for the gothra because they use the gothra to bless you, not sure what discrimination does that bring? There is nothing to feel irritated about this. My two cents. What is so well said about this.

I agree that caste discrimination or any discrimination should go and merit should prevail. But why generalize and make the Priest a villian. Who is anybody to give or take away what the priests do. Let us not remove and start making fun of everthing that is associated with either religion or culture of tradition. It seems to have become fashionable to do so. I again reaffirm what you say about discrimination.

A priest asks for the gothra because they use the gothra to bless you, not sure what discrimination does that bring? There is nothing to feel irritated about this. My two cents.

]]> By: Sam http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-243 Sam Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:36:52 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-243 so why are you presuming, that when priest asks gotra that he is going to discriminate based on that ? (it could have happened and it may keep happening in the future).. but to presume that and refusing to answer is making stereotypes on your own. you could have answered this way. 1. if you are going to discriminate based on my gothra, i am not going to tell 2. tell the gotra and ask them not to give any extra favors.. for any particular gotra's instead you are discriminating and want to refuse the age old ritual, without any basis to show that by anwering you will be discriminated.. so why are you presuming, that when priest asks gotra that he is going to discriminate based on that ?

(it could have happened and it may keep happening in the future)..

but to presume that and refusing to answer is making stereotypes on your own.

you could have answered this way.
1. if you are going to discriminate based on my gothra, i am not going to tell
2. tell the gotra and ask them not to give any extra favors.. for any particular gotra’s

instead you are discriminating and want to refuse the age old ritual, without any basis to show that by anwering you will be discriminated..

]]> By: Sujata Anandan http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-241 Sujata Anandan Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:01:12 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-241 Indian, I would say. And that's all that should matter really. But it doesn't always, does it? BTW, I have a North-South background, too, and face the same problem all the time! Indian, I would say. And that’s all that should matter really. But it doesn’t always, does it? BTW, I have a North-South background, too, and face the same problem all the time!

]]> By: WhoAmI http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-238 WhoAmI Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:10:29 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-238 I don't want to know who I am either all of a sudden. I am "an upper caste" and a woman...wonder what that makes me, a minority or a majority. I was born and brought up in Delhi, but my parents are from Kerala. Does that make me a "north Indian" or a "south Indian"? there was one time in a temple the priest had asked "What are you?" and I had smiled back at his scorned face and said, " A human being" In college, I was still struggling to come to terms with my identity and suddenly some people refused to share a table with me in the college because i was from "the North" and the "north Indians" refused to talk to me because I'm was ella-pilla bolne waali Madrasi(apparently Madras is the only place in "south India"). So I am back to the question...Who am I?? I don’t want to know who I am either all of a sudden. I am “an upper caste” and a woman…wonder what that makes me, a minority or a majority. I was born and brought up in Delhi, but my parents are from Kerala. Does that make me a “north Indian” or a “south Indian”? there was one time in a temple the priest had asked “What are you?” and I had smiled back at his scorned face and said, ”
A human being”
In college, I was still struggling to come to terms with my identity and suddenly some people refused to share a table with me in the college because i was from “the North” and the “north Indians” refused to talk to me because I’m was ella-pilla bolne waali Madrasi(apparently Madras is the only place in “south India”).
So I am back to the question…Who am I??

]]> By: Sujata Anandan http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-236 Sujata Anandan Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:38:41 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-236 Am not asking for disappearance of castes. Am only saying a person's merit should not be distunguished by caste -- superior even if a nincompoop because he belongs to an upper caste and never promoted etc just because he belongs to a backward caste. All I am saying is castes should not be politicised (which they are in this coutnry). And yes, I agree with you -- castes give you a sense of belonging but that's what they should be limited to. Am not asking for disappearance of castes. Am only saying a person’s merit should not be distunguished by caste — superior even if a nincompoop because he belongs to an upper caste and never promoted etc just because he belongs to a backward caste. All I am saying is castes should not be politicised (which they are in this coutnry). And yes, I agree with you — castes give you a sense of belonging but that’s what they should be limited to.

]]> By: Sam http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-235 Sam Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:11:03 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-235 Why can't there be castes and do away with discrimination for jobs, housing... What is wrong with having castes ? Why can’t there be castes and do away with discrimination for jobs, housing…

What is wrong with having castes ?

]]> By: Sam http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-234 Sam Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:08:29 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-234 Sujata, Let us say caste disappears all of a sudden with a magic wand. Can you tell us what would be the society look like after that ?, What will replace the community, certain values, ... Humans want to believe that they are something more than just themselves. By be being part of a bigger group, there is a certain pride, ... So please tell us what the world would be without this. By the way, gotra has many scientific usages. So even if you want to throw away the caste system, do not forget the gotras. Marrying away from your gotra could lead to better results from some fatal diseases... Sujata,
Let us say caste disappears all of a sudden with a magic wand.

Can you tell us what would be the society look like after that ?,

What will replace the community, certain values, …

Humans want to believe that they are something more than just themselves.
By be being part of a bigger group, there is a certain pride, …

So please tell us what the world would be without this.

By the way, gotra has many scientific usages.
So even if you want to throw away the caste system, do not forget the gotras.
Marrying away from your gotra could lead to better results from some fatal diseases…

]]> By: fisheyed http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-230 fisheyed Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:11:13 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-230 you acknowledge caste discrimination exists that is why you are against programs to counter the effects of caste discrimination. okay, player. you acknowledge caste discrimination exists that is why you are against programs to counter the effects of caste discrimination.

okay, player.

]]> By: Allytude http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/2009/06/12/the-answer-is-simply-i-don%e2%80%99t-know%e2%80%a6%e2%80%99/#comment-229 Allytude Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:18:15 +0000 http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly-political/?p=40#comment-229 I know "who" I am, but I am trying my best to forget. And now I claim I do not know, nor want to. I know “who” I am, but I am trying my best to forget. And now I claim I do not know, nor want to.

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