More than a month past. Time I started to pen (or keyboard) something down. It's a friday and I had gone out for lunch, as per the customary practice. I had a good buffet lunch at Chennai Woodlands, with Bisibela bath and Kovakai. Reminded me of amma's great cooking back in India.
Our topic of discussion was the Indian gods, and I was saying that I like lord Krishna better than Rama. Rama was too Idealistic for my taste. And I can never get around to forgiving him for his "so called duty" of testing/ Banishng his wife when he felt like it. It sounded too chauvinistic, and was therefore (I Guess) cherished by our Junta. Obviously, none of the desis there shared my feelings on the topic.
Then our conversation moved on to Harry potter; and there came the inevitable comment; "It's a children's book!"
As always, this kind of comment comes from someone who has not read one book of Harry Potter in his entirity. People always express their opinions very strongly when they have no idea about the subject. I challenge one of those "children's book" opinion holders to read the 6 books and then give me the same verdict!!
Another thing to note, some of the best works in Literature have been children's books. To date my favourite books like Heidi, Alice in Wonderland and Dickens' David copperfield were written with children in mind, but they retain their classic appeal among childen and adults alike after all these years!!
Speaking of books, I bought the Chronicles of Narnia (A major motion picture for the holiday season). Must see if matches Hogwart's Standards!!
- Mithra
5 comments:
People always express their opinions very strongly when they have no idea about the subject
Now thats a strong opinion you have too. Not all people have 'no idea' about stuff they talk on, dont you think?
Calling Rama a chavaunist is another 'stong opinion' you have, dont you? I know you have your own reasons and dont want to succumb to other explanations.
Rama had accepted Sita. It was the "junta" that demanded proof - or agni pareeksha. He being a democratic leader of sorts, obeyed his fellow citizens. And as you may know - country comes ahead of family, isnt it?
Moreover, the Uttar Kand - where this incident happened - is not convered by Valmiki Ramayan.
Rama is an 'ideal' king/husband/person. He crossed the whole of India just to save his beloved Sita without using his kingly powers! Rama, being of a lower caste than Ravana, defeated the evil Brahmin, respected Shabari by eating her berries, crossed rivers with help of fishermen, made friends with the jungle and what not. In modern terms he as a 'democratic, environmentalist, anti-materialistic, patriotic' super hero!
Hmmm....
"People always express their opinions very strongly when they have no idea about the subject" -
Guess that applies to me as well... I said "People"; remember?
But still, there is this fine line between obeying fellow citizens, and going by ones' own ideas. It's a great thing for a king to obey his fellow citizens, but It's not so great when it comes to testing his own wife just for other's conviction. Had he accepted her as such, people would have talked for a few days, & then shut up. Did he achieve his purpose by making her undergo the test? The test proved her purity, but people just continued their idle gossip!!
And for that he had to abandon her again! The logic behind that just beats me!! maybe it's beyond my rationality...but does it not feel chauvinsitic?
Another thing; that line was for the Harry potter thing & not really for Ramayan!
I don't know if you guys have heard about this guy named "Another Rama" who came before THE Rama. His life was exactly similar to that of Rama, except for the fact he did not take into consideration the views of his citizens wrt to the queen and all. "People talked for a few days, & then shut up". Unlike THE Rama, he was never talked about after that. So we don't know about him today. Except me, ofcourse!
"Great communicators are great story tellers" - Bill Clinton
I Dont' get the Idea... are you suggesting that Rama is remembered only because of his "sense of duty" towards his citizens; as demonstated by his act towards his wife?
Do you think people would forget his
"democratic, environmentalistic, anti-materialistic & patriotic" actions for his one "slip" - i.e. The trust he has for his wife's words over that of his citizen's?
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