Karl Marx on Brahmans and Hindus
DCHAT...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
There are some persons - who have *heard* some fierce "speeches" from some
unknown, frustrated "intellectual" and then those men of straw (hearer) do
try to excrete the same towards those who are proselytes of lower abilities
and lesser creed. Such people, do exist in alarmingly dangerous numbers in the
feudal countries where religious "fanaticsm" is often a way of emancipation
and fortitude. Often, these mouthpieces have no knowledge of what is right or
wrong, and, suffer from the inability to be analytical and most unfortunately
turn out to be flat liars or at best as obfuscators. Yes, one of such persons
who fall into the above category is Sanjeev Mahajan - who has in all
probability accepted the apprenticeship under the politically unknown
Dr.T.Jayaraman. Many storms in a teacup have waxed and waned, but, the utter
falsehood that has engulfed Sanjeev Mahajan remains as an unsolved mystery.
Mahajan and his guru, in a recent trashy article, go to the extent of making
Marxist claims that Hinduism and Brahmanical culture is baleful to the real
progress of the Indian society. I have asserted that Sanjeev Mahajan is
a flat liar, and thus doubt the cerdibility of his "guru" because I have now
come across a "strange" writing of Dr.Karl Marx - where Dr.Marx hold in the
highest esteem the Brahmanical culture and intellect. To cut the long story
short, I reproduce in verbatim the exact quote from the works of Karl Marx
himself. (The reference, from where this is abstracted, is provided in its
complete details - below.)
".... At all events, we may safely expect to see, at a more or less remote
period, the regeneration of that great and interesting country, whose gentle
natives are, to use the expression of Prince Soltykov, even in the most
inferior classes, " plus fins et adroits que les Italiens " (more subtle and
adroit than the Italians), whose submission even is counterbalanced by a
certain calm nobility, who, notwithstanding their natural langor, have
astonished the British officers by their bravery, whose country has been the
source of our languages, our religions, and who represent the type of the
ancient German in the Jat, and the type of the ancient Greek in the Brahmin."
(The above quote shows the respect that Karl Marx - originator of the most
charming Stalinist theories had for the Brahminical intellect in India. the
quote appears in [1, p. 221].)
So when Sanjeev tries his best to denigrate the Brahmins and the Hindu way
of life, please *DO NOT* pay attention. What has Mahajan and his guru to say
now ? Another rebuttal from Stalin ?
Similarly on the Islamic rule in India, Dr.Marx writes,
" Arabs, Turks, Tartars, Moguls, who had successively overrun India, soon
became Hindooized, the barbarian conquerors being, by an eternal law of
history, conquered themselves by the superior civilization of their subjects."
(See [1, p.218].)
I think that both the quotes explicitly states what Dr.Marx himself thought
of India, Hindus and Brahmins and the Islamic invasions in India.
Therefore I think that the IPSG members, and, Sanjeev Mahajan are guilty of
spreading falsehood and obfuscation amongst informed readers. What is most
shameful is that many uninformed foreigners reading the arguments from the
guru of Sanjeev Mahajan will be fooled. This must be taken seriously. I also
appeal to all Hindus, to read the works of Dr.Marx and verify for themselves
how respectful, one of the *greatest* social scientists in this world, Dr.Karl
Marx, was towards the ancient Hindu culture or the Sanatan Hindu Dharma.
- regards,
deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
REFERENCE
*************
[1] Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels, (collected works: 1853-'54, vol. 12),
Lawrence and Wishart, London, 1979, England: ISBN 0 85315 357 4. (The
article is titled " The Future Results of British Rule in India ".)
[At most Universities the call number is HX 39.5.A224 1975C]
Prabu Muthu
From: pr...@cs.utexas.edu (Prabu Muthu)
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
Subject: Re: Karl Marx on Brahmans and Hindus
Date: 26 Jan 1993 14:25:13 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
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Message-ID: <lmb7h9...@agave.cs.utexas.edu>
References: <01GTVBRFS...@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU>
I'm sorry to contradict yet another person, but that one quote
alone does not prove that Marx was a sympathizer of the Brahminical
system. He has expressed, on many different occasions, his
dislike of the system. He compares it (mistakenly, perhaps) to
the feudal system of many other cultures; Brahmins, he theorizes,
were simply those who devised a clever way to get capital without
working at it. This is, of course, an oversimplification of his
analysis, but it is the correct perspective.
As far as that quote (and other similar ones) is concerned, Marx has
a seemingly contradictory habit of celebrating the very societies he
is condemning. Even capitalism, he says, is great stuff. But all
the goodness is due to the fact that these are necessary steps on
the way to achieving a truly Marxist (Communist, in his words, but
that term has become too closely linked to Stalinism) society. He
also probably truly appreciated some of the Marxist tendencies of
the Brahminical society, but not in the same way as those who
idealize such a state of affairs.
Prabu
--
Prabu Muthu pr...@cs.utexas.edu
Comp Sci/Philosophy
DCHAT...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
I'm sorry to contradict yet another person, but that one quote
alone does not prove that Marx was a sympathizer of the Brahminical
system. He has expressed, on many different occasions, his
dislike of the system. He compares it (mistakenly, perhaps) to
the feudal system of many other cultures; Brahmins, he theorizes,
were simply those who devised a clever way to get capital without
working at it. This is, of course, an oversimplification of his
analysis, but it is the correct perspective.
As far as that quote (and other similar ones) is concerned, Marx has
a seemingly contradictory habit of celebrating the very societies he
is condemning. Even capitalism, he says, is great stuff. But all
the goodness is due to the fact that these are necessary steps on
the way to achieving a truly Marxist (Communist, in his words, but
that term has become too closely linked to Stalinism) society. He
also probably truly appreciated some of the Marxist tendencies of
the Brahminical society, but not in the same way as those who
idealize such a state of affairs.
Prabu
--
Prabu Muthu pr...@cs.utexas.edu
Comp Sci/Philosophy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> MY Reply <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Today, if someone is confused about Marxism, it is unfortunate. Moreover,
as you assert, that Marx had the habit of contradicting himself, is just
a resemblance that you have not been able to grasp what Marx had tried to
imply. Undertstanding Marx is quite a difficult task. However, I am more
interested in his analysis of man and history. This aspect has been treated
by Erich Fromm, Jean Paul Satre and other noted "radical humanists" like
Bertrand Russell. I think that Erich Fromm explains Marx's viewpoint about
humanity. Regarding fedualism in India and Marx's comments, I am quite aware
of that. There are two articles written directly on the British rule in
India. (In other orticles, Marx just touches these points - from a collective
aspect). However, what Marx says about the past history of India, Brahmins
and Hindus is definitely true. What our society was - say upto Vikramaditya's
reign and what it became in the Islamic rule, are in most cases radically
different and needs criticsm. Marx's economic theories have been proven to
be incorrect, but, what he had analysed about history and man still remains
on of the cornerstones of human thought. This analytical aspect, even though
it is wrong/ inapplicable in our times, interests me. For that is exactly
what an inquisitive Hindu Brahman mind should be - just as Marx himself had
identified.
- best regards,