Interview with Jerry Rao
An erudite, articulate man. Representing that dying breed - the anglicized yet conservative brAhmaNa - a type that was very influential and omnipresent in post independence India
But increasingly irrelevant today
thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-se…
An erudite, articulate man. Representing that dying breed - the anglicized yet conservative brAhmaNa - a type that was very influential and omnipresent in post independence India
But increasingly irrelevant today
thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-se…
Was personally brought up in a family of that type
Where you listen to Vishnu Sahasranama in the morning, read Neville Cardus and PG Wodehouse, listen to BBC TMS when you can, and go to bed reading Mahabharata
Where you listen to Vishnu Sahasranama in the morning, read Neville Cardus and PG Wodehouse, listen to BBC TMS when you can, and go to bed reading Mahabharata
But I am not sure if this type of person has much to convey to India today - a land of million mutinies
Of a multitude of insecure identities, and pent up rages
Of a multitude of insecure identities, and pent up rages
This breed I think arose in early 20th century - for the most part in Southern India among V1s
A class with a headstart in English education, and endowed with considerable cultural capital, relative to several other groups
A class with a headstart in English education, and endowed with considerable cultural capital, relative to several other groups
It had its day under the sun for about 50 years or so I think.
It distinguished itself from anglicized elites elsewhere (particularly Bengal) in terms of its continued lip-service to tradition and custom, notwithstanding its considerable westernization
It distinguished itself from anglicized elites elsewhere (particularly Bengal) in terms of its continued lip-service to tradition and custom, notwithstanding its considerable westernization
Post 1990 or so, we've had numerous other groups emerge strongly, making their presence felt in academia, industry and elsewhere
They speak a different idiom. They don't relate all that well to the curious mix of brahmanism and British Raj culture that men like Jerry represent
They speak a different idiom. They don't relate all that well to the curious mix of brahmanism and British Raj culture that men like Jerry represent
