Translations

Original source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/2789/ 29-May-2009 Dear Jeyamohan, I am sharing you the link for an article written by a person named Aravindan Neelakandan. He has highlighted some things as Gandhi's faults. Koenraad Elst, a popular researcher of Indian Politics has categorically explained them. What is your views on those points? https://hikari1965.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-post_1431.html Bheeshma Chennai The interest of the nation or that of the Hindus have never figured in  the lust for power and self-promotion of the Hindu leadership either  before independence or afterwards. All through the 20th century, ever  since Gandhi came on the scene, Hindu leaders have treated India as  their personal fiefdom and Hindus as slaves. Gandhi did not mind even  the slaughter of the Hindus provided it kept the Muslims happy. Jeyamohan, I read your reply to Semmani Arunachalam. I cannot accept it entirely. In today's world, what is your response for the difficulti...

 Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/183585/ For the past month or so, readers have been asking me this question via email - Is there really a Hindu religion? Majority of them are youngsters, beneficiaries of modern education and are interested in culture. But all they listen to are social media and the politicians' blather only. I replied rather irritated, "Hindus have a uniqueness. It is only them, who learn about their religion from their enemies and from those who have vowed to destroy their religion." Just give it a thought. How many numerous philosophers and scholars have existed here. How many books have been written. Nobody reads those. But they form an opinion about Hindu religion listening to the hatred speeches of those who do not have even an iota of understanding on the history or the spirituality of Hindu religion. Is there any other religion that exhibits such a pitiful state? To form an understanding by reading books and placing the concepts within t...

Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/183921/ One of the participants in the discussion on topic of 'Hindu religion and Castes' had sent two questions. He mentioned that these were raised by his atheist friend. Atheists are merely deniers who deny without understanding anything. It is just a mere stance. They do not understand whatever we state. First question, Within Indian religions, is it only the Hindu religion that has birth-based stratification? Second question, Is Hindu religion the only one in the world, where birth-based stratification exists? Both questions are being raised without any basic understanding. Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc contain castes and varnas. Scriptures of these religions prescribe these. People who have understood religion and history merely via public speech cacophony wouldn't know about these. Jainism insists on Varnas unconditionally. The scriptures of Jainism mentions that all the 24 Thirthankaras are Kshatriyas....

 Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/186805/ Dear J, This is a Facebook post by a supporter of Dravidian movement, whom you would also know. * "We are aghast at the fact that students are wielding machete, them following caste differences and caste supremacy, treating a co-student as a slave, their usage of drugs", so say several 'Martians' in their posts. I am aghast at these Martians. All I have to tell them is this one thing: "Wake up Anjali, Wake up!! Open your eyes and observe what's happening around you". (First part of this being a famous dialogue from the Tamil film Anjali). The incident at Nanguneri is just a sample of the state of the forsaken, neglected and insalubrious Government schools, the mental setup of its current generation of students and its long-term consequences. It's depressing and unpleasant to say this, but still need to be said. This kind of incidents will only continue. Do not fear, for panicking often will make make...

 Original source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/148563/ Respected Jeyamohan, Around 7 years back, I read the book "Indraiya Gandhi" (Contemporary Gandhi). When I read statements like, "Gandhi politicized people, enabled them to participate in politics, democratized those who were detached from politics", I realized its significance and was gladly amazed at how he did the right thing. But did he complete that undertaking? Is the populace politically knowledgeable? Are they involved in politics? Are they involved in the right way? These questions are gaining in importance. Within a state, crores of people declare allegiance to a certain party permanently. They are identifying themselves with that party and are electing that party no matter what. Have you seen someone rejecting cash for vote? But you would've seen someone raging at not receiving the cash yet. (including non-poor). Do the people have the wherewithal to vote looking beyond personal and factional (caste, r...

 Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/8746/ I had written this letter 13 years back. I was reminded of this letter recently when I replied in a similar vein to someone else. Sorrows are of 3 types. Aadhidaivic, Aadhibhotic and Adhiyaatmic. These are called Tapatrayam. (Adhiyaatmic is also referred as Adhyaatmic). They occur due to divine forces beyond our knowing. They occur due to the happenings in this world, we create and bring it upon ourselves. Among this, we ought not think about the reasons for the first type of sorrow. We must surrender ourselves as far as possible. This is what has been told. But its easy and usual/customary for us to say this until it occurs to us. Any person must have to traverse through sorrows. Knowing can temper the sorrow's fierceness somewhat. It can provide us with easy respites. Some hiding grounds can be created mentally. Still we say. "I understand your pain", as a fellow being - is what we say. Humans are capable of only that. Hi...

 Original source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/183918/ Dear J, This happened a few minutes back. I was reading in the Tanjore Central Library as usual. A well-dressed old man wearing a watch with white straps entered the library. I focused my attention towards him as I have once already seen him stealing books from the library. As I went outside to alert the security regarding this, I saw him sleeping sound. I didn't feel like waking him up. I didn't try to mention about this to anyone else as well. And that old man left the library with the stolen books. This event kept pricking me for several days. My fears and incapability was mocking me right in my face. Today, he came again. He stole the library books. I could stand it no more. When he was leaving, I stopped him. "Why are you hiding the books under your shirt", I asked. "For reading", he said with a smirk. I told him to return the books that he took. He took out a single book. I couldn't subject myself ...