The career of Mayank Agarwal is a cautionary tale that one should be reminded of today given the hype around Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan
Agarwal was Bradmanesque in India. Unstoppable. 4 centuries including 2 doubles in 6 tests
Pedestrian abroad. Now a footnote
Mayank still had an average of above 40 - pretty good for an opener - when he was discarded
One could argue he should've been given more chances
But the pipeline of talent is so rich in India that selectors had to look past him
Feb 8 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
Modi is a boomer. And animated by things that "boomer to early millennial" right-wing Indians were animated by
Article 370, UCC, Ram mandir, Checkmating Pak
Ticking all those boxes
But Gen Z "right wingers" have different concerns - caste politics, fear of the subaltern
The "trad" you see in H-twitter is an embryonic representation of a growing segment in H-society
Will get bigger
Under 30. Upper caste. Disillusioned with India. Fearing the assertive subalterns. Denied college seats by OBC quota. Socially conservative. Dislike feminism
Jan 20 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
Nothing quite like this has ever happened in Hindu history
A temple that speaks to all Hindus of all denominations, traditions and castes. That transcends regional and lingual ties
That appeals to religious Hindus, political Hindus
A first in 3000 years of recorded H-history
It is a product of modernity. A product of mass politics, mass consciousness, development of a historical sense among the teeming millions
Not a place of worship that develops out of elite patronage in the main (as is the case with most ancient temples)
Jan 2 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Many Indians still don't get it
Use your hard work and ingenuity to produce goods and services for the country. Don't use all that energy to crack a silly exam.
It's a sad commentary on our dysfunctional culture, on our economy, on lack of opportunities for our youth
Judging myself by my entrance exam rank. Feeling inferior or superior based on a single number
We have to outgrow that. Don't be too hung up on these badges (be it JEE, CAT, UPSC)
If you are so smart, try to make the world a better place
Dec 24, 2023 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
विष्णु is usually regarded as a relatively "minor" god in Vedic literature
But as per Deborah Soifer, his distinguishing characteristics emerge in ऋग्वेदसंहिता itself
A benevolent kindly spirit
A "universal", "pervasive" character
Ability to intervene w/o arms in favor of gods
In Soifer's view, the Puranic विष्णु who descends to the earth in different अवतारs to "save" mankind from अधर्म is not a latter-day evolution, but a continuation of the same essential traits which characterized the Vedic विष्णु
Apr 15, 2023 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Democracy works in India precisely because of its social structure, not despite it
Homogenous oriental societies (like China or Middle East) tend to autocracy
Democracy is well suited for "diverse" India as it ensures all groups a seat at the table and offers bargaining power
India has gotten more homogenous in recent decades
Given rise of Hindutva, growing popularity of Hindi, weakening of caste
This has reflected in a stronger central govt, more unipolar polity, tendencies towards mild authoritarianism (some may call benevolent)
Not a surprise
Apr 13, 2023 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
William WIlson Hunter describing Hinduism in 1886 in his work "Indian Empire" commissioned by the British government
Hunter describing the "Brahman" class below in the same book
Rather provocative
Mar 11, 2023 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Hot take -
Hinduism is a fairly "relativist", "anything goes" religion if you take "brahminism" out of it
It is the brahminical religion that brings a certain puritanism to it, sans which you can use the numerous local traditions to drive whatever agenda that catches your fancy
Which is why any kind of Hindu movement that is not brahminical will be fairly "liberal-ish"
The populist Hindutva of our times being no exception
It will be nativist no doubt, but also super susceptible to woke ideas and fads (which will be "indianized" and consumed)
Mar 5, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Many H-nationalist leaning Hindi enthusiasts are aghast that several southerners view Hindi as the language of Muslims / Turks
There's a historical reason for that. The spread of Hindavi / Khariboli into deep south in late medieval times was mediated by Muslim warlords
(contd)
Of course Khariboli has roots preceding Islam. And yes, Hindi reinvented itself with a new sanskritized register in 19th cen, with the Hindi movement driven by the Hindu middle class (figures like Bharatendu)
But Southerners aren't aware of all that.
Mar 5, 2023 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
Not a fan of rhetoric where it is categorically declared "my state's folks are more virtuous than your state's folks"
Try theorizing why that might be the case at least. That way, we can discuss the merits of the theory
Otherwise it is just inflamed rhetoric
A major issue with Indians is -
We don't like taking a step back and evaluating stuff without emotional investment.
It's always "us vs them". You never become a third person and evaluate dispassionately
Feb 7, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
It's amazing how poor mobile connectivity is in many parts of large cities like Bangalore, Mysore.
One may be earning a crore a year. Yet one struggles to make phone calls in many parts of the city!
One shudders to think of the situation in much smaller towns in hinterland
This is where India lacks.
Infrastructure sucks. Starting from mobile connectivity to internet speeds to city roads to highways
High incomes in India merely buy you private luxury. But w.r.t. public goods you are v poor indeed
Jan 23, 2023 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
On veg diet of well to-do ancestors vs today
Our ancestors likely ate LOT of calories
Massive amounts of rice/veggies. With high calorie intake, you'd hit abs protein req
And they'd burn it
Today we continue with carb heavy diet
But lower calories. So you fall short on protein
To me this is contrary to the perception that we eat a lot of calories today and our ancestors didn't
I think calories have actually come down. We have work-lunches, breakfasts in a hurry. And we are mindful of gaining weight given limited exercise
So we actually eat less
Jan 22, 2023 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Mainstream model of an "indian veda" composed post settlement in India doesn't explain why shruti traditions are so distinct and tribal from inception (diff RV,YV clans for e.g.)
Model below argues for older origination of traditions among distinct IA tribes on the steppe itself
Argument here is for origination of distinct hotA, adhvaryu, atharvan traditions etc on the steppe itself among completely distinct IA tribes on the move
If these traditions developed post assimilation with harappans in "India", there's no reason for them to remain tribal
Jan 21, 2023 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Ppl get super-defensive about वर्ण system even when trying to explain its historical context
In its origins वर्ण was three-fold & a purely Aryan concept. Sacred thread was open to all three वर्णs
Issues of hierarchy arose when Aryan culture expanded to include non-Aryan groups
So you don't have to complicate the narrative too much by talking about karma, division of labor etc
It's straightforward. A three-fold system sans much hierarchy to start with. Whole Aryan society was eligible for initiation, and even study of श्रुति
Oct 30, 2018 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
For those who bemoan "Caste endogamy" I have a question -
Are you also against cultural diversity?
The answer will most likely be "No".
To me that's a contradiction
Cultural diversity stems in large measure from endogamy.
As endogamy erodes, diversity also erodes.
And that's PERFECTLY fine.
But one has to be aware of the tradeoff
Oct 19, 2018 • 40 tweets • 6 min read
Today is Vijayadashami - a day viewed as being symbolic of the victory of good over evil
It is most commonly associated with the victory of Shri Rāmachandra over Rāvaṇa
But it is also a day on which we would do well to recount Rāma's grace at the moment of his greatest triumph
We live in times of extreme polarization and self-righteousness
Every party is convinced that "Right" is on their side, and that the other side deserves hell.
Grace and kindness at the moment of victory is hard to come by.
Sep 1, 2018 • 76 tweets • 11 min read
The Isha Upanishad is one of the most widely known Hindu scriptures.
It occupies a central place in Vedanta, and has been commented upon by Acharyas in all the great Vedantin traditions - the most prominent among whom are Sankara, Madhwa and Vedanta Desika
One of the reasons for its popularity and appeal is its brevity and apparent simplicity. It comprises of just 18 verses, and ranks among the shortest of all Upanishads
Aug 23, 2018 • 23 tweets • 3 min read
The Indian diaspora is said to be over 30MM
While the popular tendency is usually to talk of the diaspora in the West (which is recent in formation), Indians have played a far more important role in East Africa if we take a long historical view of the past 150 years
(Contd..)
Thomas Sowell’s very fine book “Migrations and Cultures” is an eye-opener in this respect as it sheds a great deal of light on the Indian engagement in Africa since the middle of 19th century.
Aug 22, 2018 • 92 tweets • 13 min read
Swarajya today published a video by @arvindneela on whether or not Bhagavad Gita supports Caste system
Link:
While I agree with the general thrust of the video, let me share my thoughts on this - as I had examined this particular topic a year backswarajyamag.com/videos/watch-d…
The Bhagavad Gita is arguably the most revered text in the Hindu religious tradition. It is almost universally regarded as one of the three canonical texts of Hindu philosophy (Prasthanatrayi) with the other two being Badarayana’s Brahma Sutras and the Mukhya Upanisads
(Contd)
Aug 21, 2018 • 33 tweets • 5 min read
Kerala is in the news
Yet even when it is in the news on account of “natural causes”, Kerala provokes debate.
Keralite “exceptionalism”, for better or worse, comes to the fore, and invariably causes friction.
What makes Kerala a difficult state? Why is it “exceptional”?
Let’s list some aspects of Keralite exceptionalism. Some of these points are in a light hearted vein.
1. Large sections of Keralite society were traditionally matrilineal. Much of India is patrilineal
2. Kerala is 50% Non hindu. Much of India is over 80% Hindu.
Aug 18, 2018 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Jadunath Sarkar is probably India's foremost historian of the late medieval period
Delighted to note that nearly all his important work is online
