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Modernity is a homogenizing force, and tends to kill diversity in culture, belief and ideology
But pays lip service to superficial forms of diversity like that of color, gender
Caste in contrast preserves all forms of diversity - intellectual, religious, moral, cultural
But pays lip service to superficial forms of diversity like that of color, gender
Caste in contrast preserves all forms of diversity - intellectual, religious, moral, cultural
So moderns naturally dislike caste.
As caste is not "neat". It is messy.
A society with castes celebrates messiness as an ideal
As caste is not "neat". It is messy.
A society with castes celebrates messiness as an ideal
Modernity likes neat-ness, uniformity
Everyone takes time off on Saturdays & Sundays. Everyone watches "Friends" and "HIMYM"
Everyone queues up at MacD for a hamburger
Everyone goes on a shopping binge the day after Thanksgiving
Everyone has read Harry Potter, Da Vinci code
Everyone takes time off on Saturdays & Sundays. Everyone watches "Friends" and "HIMYM"
Everyone queues up at MacD for a hamburger
Everyone goes on a shopping binge the day after Thanksgiving
Everyone has read Harry Potter, Da Vinci code
Now I want to add the qualifier that "modernity" impacts even the so-called "nationalist" movements in different countries
Even Hindu Right is impacted by it
Even Hindu Right is impacted by it
E.g. If you examine Hindu culture closely over past 200 years, you will see how "modernity" has impacted it
Emergence of Bhagavad Gita as "THE" H-book of sorts
Sanitization of Hinduism - emphasis on Vedanta
Discouragement of several "problematic" Tantra traditions
Emergence of Bhagavad Gita as "THE" H-book of sorts
Sanitization of Hinduism - emphasis on Vedanta
Discouragement of several "problematic" Tantra traditions
Valorization of "Advaitin" view as the "standard" hindu philosophical line
Eradication of practices that were once part of H-society. E.g. Sambandham, polyandry in Kerala
Discouragement of animal sacrifice
These are some ways in which modernity has impacted Hindu culture
Eradication of practices that were once part of H-society. E.g. Sambandham, polyandry in Kerala
Discouragement of animal sacrifice
These are some ways in which modernity has impacted Hindu culture
Having said that, largely because of caste, Hindu society retains its pre-modern character
So in that sense it is exceptional..
It is a blend of modern homogenizing influences and pre-modern traditions
That seamlessly co-exist
So in that sense it is exceptional..
It is a blend of modern homogenizing influences and pre-modern traditions
That seamlessly co-exist
In the West, tendencies towards "homogenization" / "standardization" have long preceded modernity
E.g. The First council of Nicaea met in 325 CE to reach a consensus on the nature of relationship between God and his Son. And also resolve inconsistencies w.r.t. the date of Easter
E.g. The First council of Nicaea met in 325 CE to reach a consensus on the nature of relationship between God and his Son. And also resolve inconsistencies w.r.t. the date of Easter
So homogenization precedes modernity. Particularly in the West
India has always resisted it. But is now nonetheless prone to homogenizing influences (like the ones I mentioned)
But it retains ancient diversities in practice thanks to caste
India has always resisted it. But is now nonetheless prone to homogenizing influences (like the ones I mentioned)
But it retains ancient diversities in practice thanks to caste
E.g. When it comes to Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Krishna -
Within South India, many communities observed it in early August.
Several others observed it in early September
And even among the latter, some observed it on Day X, others on Day X+1
Within South India, many communities observed it in early August.
Several others observed it in early September
And even among the latter, some observed it on Day X, others on Day X+1
So clearly even modern Hinduism resists homogeneity in religious practice
And this resistance stems from the fact that in H-society, the sense of "community" to which you belong is stronger than the sense of being "Hindu"
And this resistance stems from the fact that in H-society, the sense of "community" to which you belong is stronger than the sense of being "Hindu"
Post-script and Disclaimer : I am a "modern" myself (to a great extent) and v much prone to the homogenizing tendencies of modern Liberalism
So this thread should not be construed as an unqualified attack on modernity
So this thread should not be construed as an unqualified attack on modernity
