Tamil Nadu brahmins are at cross roads, their future scenario remains uncertain

By NS Venkataraman*
For over 70 years now, brahmin community in Tamil Nadu have been abused, insulted and even physically attacked on some occasions by those who claimed that they were part of the so called dravidian movement. However, brahmin community silently and helplessly ducked under pressure and showed no signs of resistance or fight back.
Of course, in the recent past, the intensity of the hate campaign against brahmin community reduced somewhat in Tamil Nadu, though it has not been stopped. This has been so, probably due to the fact that there have been no resistance from the brahmins and the hate campaigners derived vicarious satisfaction that further whipping the brahmins would be like “whipping the dead snake”.

Migration from rural areas

The net result of such situation is that brahmins have largely vacated from villages and rural areas of Tamil Nadu and have moved to the big towns and cities, where they thought that their presence would not be noticed and they would be lost in the crowd. Further, the size of the brahmin families have also shrunk and brahmin population have been steadily declining over the years.
The overwhelming view of the brahmin community is that Tamil Nadu is no place for brahmins and steadily, they are seeking pastures elsewhere and are moving to other states in India and abroad. Perhaps, those who still live in Tamil Nadu are senior people who cannot move away due to age and being at the retirement stage and those who could not move out of Tamil Nadu in spite of their efforts or due to other reasons.

Reservation policy

Today, due to the reservation policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu, the so called forward class brahmins have been eliminated in calculated manner in the reservation quota, which is more than 65% for government jobs and educational institutions run by the government. Such reservation policy is now in force even in Indian Institute of Technology, which are supposed to be elite technical institutions offering high standards. Therefore, brahmins have to seek admission in the unreserved quota which are small percentage in open category. Due to this restrictions, many brahmins are unable to get admission in these institutions. Brahmins have now become conspicuous by near absence in government departments in Tamil Nadu and in educational institutions run by government of Tamil Nadu.
Of course, there are still some miniscule number of brahmins in high and middle level positions due to their success in competitive examinations conducted by central government departments and central government run public sector organisations. Today, brahmins are mostly employed in the private sector units. Some brahmins still remain as owners of medium and large scale industries in Tamil Nadu. This is due to the fact that such units were set up long back and they are still in top position due to succession based on hierarchy.

Changing lifestyle

Due to such climate of hate, there have been considerable pressure on the brahmin community that have been steadily built up over the years. Such pressure have resulted in considerable changes in the social structure and life style of brahmins. Perhaps, the situation is developing where some of the brahmin youth, both boys and girls have become self critical of their lineage. Such ongoing changes have resulted in conditions where the brahmin community could be diluted in the coming years due to frequent occurrence of inter caste marriages by brahmin boys and girls not only with Indians but also with foreigners.
The traditional religious practices of brahmins are getting diluted or even given up in some cases. With number of Tamil brahmins going out of the country and settling abroad as citizens with no plans to come back to India, they inevitably get themselves absorbed in overseas culture.

Changing historical role

Historically and traditionally, the brahmin community has been entrusted with the duty and responsibility to preserve the vedic knowledge, which are accompanied by various mantras ( hyms ) and other procedures. The number of brahmins who still learn, understand and try to preserve such holy hyms are declining rapidly. Of course, special tuition centres ( known as vedhapatasala ) are being organized by individual groups but most of these tuition centres do not get enough students in spite of free stay and boarding and stipend facilities offered. Obviously, this means that brahmin families and brahmin youth are looking for their future elsewhere and not in traditional brahmin life pattern.
Like adding fuel to fire, the present Tamil Nadu government is interfering in the management of Hindu temples and is taking steps to appoint priests who are not brahmins. In such condition, the position and job prospects of brahmins as priest in the temples are rapidly getting eroded.

Economic disparity

Today, there is considerable economic disparity between the brahmins themselves. While some of the brahmins have reasonably educated themselves and have managed to remain in middle class at economic level, there are section of brahmins who largely make their living by working in temples as priests and by offering their services during religious ceremonies. Most of such brahmins are in distress due to financial issues. As a result, most of them would like to move away from their present avocation and ensure that their children do not follow the practice of their parents.
Such poor brahmins desperately want to educate their sons and daughters to improve their financial status in life. However, with government educational institutions largely being denied to them due to reservation policy, they have to necessarily admit their children in private educational institutions, where fees are exhorbitant. Having no other way, they take the risk of admitting the children in private educational institutions and run from pillar to post to get donation from trusts and kind hearted individuals. Often they find that some donations are hard to get adequately, since the fees in the private educational institutions are exhorbitant.

At the crossroads

Certainly, brahmins in Tamil Nadu are at the cross roads and the future scenario for Tamil speaking brahmins remain uncertain. It appears the brahmin community in Tamil Nadu is in a state of crisis.

---

*Trustee, Nandini Voice of the Deprived, Chennai

Comments

Towards 2024: Time for ‘We the People of India’ to wake up before it is too late

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India!

Regretful: Kapil Dev retired not leaving Indian cricket with integrity he upheld

By Harsh Thakor Kapil Dev scaled heights as an entertainer and a player upholding the spirit of the game almost unparalleled in his era. In his time he was cricket’s ultimate mascot of sportsmanship On his day Kapil could dazzle in all departments to turn the tempo of game in the manner of a Tsunami breaking in. He radiated r energy, at a level rarely scaled in his era on a cricket field. Few ever blended aggression with artistry so comprehenisively. Although fast medium, he could be as daunting with the ball as the very best, with his crafty outswinger, offcutter, slower ball and ball that kicked from a good length. Inspite of bowling on docile tracks on the subcontinent, Kapil had 434 scalps, with virtually no assistance. I can never forget how he obtained pace and movement on flat pancakes, trapping the great Vivian Richards in Front or getting Geoff Boycott or Zaheer Abbas caught behind. No paceman carried the workload of his team’s bowling attack on his shoulders in his eras muc

Critical factors that determine, contribute to the success and effectiveness of NGOs

By Rohit Rakshit Over the last few years, I have been fortunate to work with numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across various states in the country. This experience has allowed me to gain insights into their diverse areas of work while also enabling me to analyze the key attributes that contribute to the success of a good NGO. According to my observations, the following are the critical factors that determine the effectiveness of an NGO.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

Raising temperature of frozen foods by 3 degrees from -18°C to -15°C can slash carbon emissions: Study

By Payel Sannigrahi Frozen food temperatures could be changed by just three degrees to save the carbon dioxide emissions of 3.8 million cars per year, research suggests.

Eight years of empowering tribal communities through water initiatives in Chhattisgarh

By Gazala Paul* In the heart of Chhattisgarh, amidst the echoes of tribal life, a transformative journey has unfolded over the past eight years. The Samerth organization has diligently worked to elevate the lives of indigenous communities in the Kawardha district through the project, "Enabling Baiga Community to access safe drinking water."

Odisha leadership crisis deepens: CM engages retired babus to oversee depts' work

By Sudhansu R Das Over decades, Odisha has lost much of its crop diversity, fertile agriculture land, water bodies, employment potential, handicraft and handloom skills etc. The state has failed to strike a balance between the urban and rural sector growth; this leads to the migration of villagers to the urban areas leading to collapse of the urban infrastructures and an acute labor shortage in rural areas. A large number of educated, skilled and unskilled Odia people have migrated to other states for higher education, quality jobs and for earning livelihood which plummet the efficiency level of government departments. Utmost transparency in the recruitment and promotion in the state government departments will improve governance mechanisms in the state. "No near and dear one approach" in governance mechanisms can only achieve inclusive growth for the state on payment basis. This is a moral hazard. When so many educated young people seek employment outside the

20% of Indian businesses have no emission plan in place despite climate emergency: Report

By Jag Jivan New research underlines urgent need for strategies and transition plans to combat climate change, remain successful and meet stakeholder expectations.

TERI researchers outline ways for robust, equitable and flexible outcome at COP28

By Sanya Hans Researchers at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) launched two crucial policy briefs ahead of the much anticipated 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) scheduled from November 30 to December 12, 2023 at Dubai, UAE. Former climate negotiator, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, a Distinguished Fellow at TERI emphasized, “Adaptation is an imperative and absolute must in present times for the Global South. COP28 needs to make the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) integral to climate commitments and action”. “Climate change demands that energy use must be sustainable; the development imperative of the Global South demands it to be inclusive, just and fair," Mr Puri added. Outcome on GGA will be a key determinant for the success of COP28 The policy brief titled ‘Road to Dubai and The Global Goal on Adaption’ reviewed the discussions around the GGA framework to provide perspectives on what could be a robust, equitable, and flexible outcome of the GGA process at CO

1982-83 Bombay textile strike played major role in shaping working class movement

By Harsh Thakor On January 18th, 1982 the working class movement commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Textile Workers Strike that lasted for 18 months, till July 1983. It was landmark event that played a major role in shaping the working class movement. With more than 2.5 lakh workers from 65 textile mills joining in this strike for almost two years, this strike became one of the most significant strikes in terms of scale and duration All democrats should applaud the mill workers’ united battle, and their unflinching resilience an death defying courage continues to serve as a model for contemporary working-class movements. Many middle class persons harboured opinions that the Textile workers were pampered or were a labour aristocracy, ignorant of how they were denied wages to provide for basic necessities. The Great Bombay Textile Strike is notably one of the most defining movements in the working class struggles in Post-independent India. Bombay’s textile industry flourished in

Search This Blog