03-04-2006, 04:23 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ON THE INTELLECTUAL HONESTY OF SOUTH ASIA EXPERTS AND WITZEL-SUPPORTERS.. PART XVIIILCXIV
Another Witzel Admirer steps on his own Little Cheney:
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The oxgyen level in the high rise above Danube most be preeeetttyy looow I guess - turns Fullbright people to Halfbright
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.indiawest.com/view.php?subactio...ive=11412\
57855&start_from=&ucat=9&
Plight of 'Dalits' In Favorable Light?
Dear Editor,
One of the objections of nationalist Hindu Americans to the description of
Hinduism in California textbooks for middle schools (I-W, Jan. 13) is the
mention of the plight of "dalits," formerly known as "untouchables" in the Hindu
caste system. They want this three millenia-old practice presented in a
favorable light. How?
They have pilloried Michael Witzel, professor of Sanskrit and Indology at
Harvard University, for preventing changes on this and other Hindu practices in
the textbooks. On the other hand, they have prevented American evangelical
missionaries from converting dalits to Christianity in India in the past.
These Hindus claim that conversions threaten the dalits' traditional way of
life. What life did the dalits have under Hinduism for the last 3,000 years?
They were made to live the most oppressed, degraded, humiliating life; much
worse than the 200-year-old practice of slavery in America.
Hindu nationalists do not care about dalits as human beings. Their plight was
alleviated by Hindu secularists such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi,
whom they now despise. Liberal and tolerant Hindus who oppose the Hindu
nationalist agenda are declared pseudo-secularists, leftists and Marxists. The
nationalists may help dalits now only to prevent conversions by American
missionaries. Otherwise, the dalits would have been left in their degraded
state.
The plight of the dalits still continues in many parts of India. The upper caste
mentality towards them has not changed even if they have been liberated by
Indian legislation.<span style='color:red'> <b>If 300 million dalits had converted to Christianity 100 years ago, we would have had 300 million educated and productive Indians today.</b>But if the dalits converted to Christianity today, they will continue to be oppressed as both dalits and Christians. </span>Indian Christians are viewed by Hindu nationalists as converts of low castes who abandoned Hinduism for material gain.
This image has led to Hindu antagonism and contempt for Christians that has
caused apprehension among Indian Christians.
Raju George C. Thomas
Visiting U.S. Fulbright Professor
Belgrade University
Belgrade, Serbia Montenegro
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Another Witzel Admirer steps on his own Little Cheney:
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The oxgyen level in the high rise above Danube most be preeeetttyy looow I guess - turns Fullbright people to Halfbright
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.indiawest.com/view.php?subactio...ive=11412\
57855&start_from=&ucat=9&
Plight of 'Dalits' In Favorable Light?
Dear Editor,
One of the objections of nationalist Hindu Americans to the description of
Hinduism in California textbooks for middle schools (I-W, Jan. 13) is the
mention of the plight of "dalits," formerly known as "untouchables" in the Hindu
caste system. They want this three millenia-old practice presented in a
favorable light. How?
They have pilloried Michael Witzel, professor of Sanskrit and Indology at
Harvard University, for preventing changes on this and other Hindu practices in
the textbooks. On the other hand, they have prevented American evangelical
missionaries from converting dalits to Christianity in India in the past.
These Hindus claim that conversions threaten the dalits' traditional way of
life. What life did the dalits have under Hinduism for the last 3,000 years?
They were made to live the most oppressed, degraded, humiliating life; much
worse than the 200-year-old practice of slavery in America.
Hindu nationalists do not care about dalits as human beings. Their plight was
alleviated by Hindu secularists such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi,
whom they now despise. Liberal and tolerant Hindus who oppose the Hindu
nationalist agenda are declared pseudo-secularists, leftists and Marxists. The
nationalists may help dalits now only to prevent conversions by American
missionaries. Otherwise, the dalits would have been left in their degraded
state.
The plight of the dalits still continues in many parts of India. The upper caste
mentality towards them has not changed even if they have been liberated by
Indian legislation.<span style='color:red'> <b>If 300 million dalits had converted to Christianity 100 years ago, we would have had 300 million educated and productive Indians today.</b>But if the dalits converted to Christianity today, they will continue to be oppressed as both dalits and Christians. </span>Indian Christians are viewed by Hindu nationalists as converts of low castes who abandoned Hinduism for material gain.
This image has led to Hindu antagonism and contempt for Christians that has
caused apprehension among Indian Christians.
Raju George C. Thomas
Visiting U.S. Fulbright Professor
Belgrade University
Belgrade, Serbia Montenegro
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->