Sunday, August 23, 2009

Islam and Stereotypes


One month into the new college, still on the learning track and thoroughly enjoying the fast life here. Most of the professors are good but this blog is dedicated to one Mr. A.F.Matthews, who teaches the course of 'Social Transformation in India'.
Prof Matthews has been teaching about the different 'inconveniences' and blockages in the society today and has so very compassionately spoken about how very backward we are and how very modern we think ourselves to be. To just describe His thoughts, even a huge book wouldn't be enough. His course is probably the only course that doesn't have compulsory attendance, yet sees students rushing in and eagerly awaiting the next class. He doesn't dwell too much on the course and describes it in examples and personal experiences. His knowledge is immense and will make you feel really small with guilt and regret at having wasted so many years without having a slight knowledge of anything. When he is speaking, it is like - Oh my GOD!!! how on earth does He remember the names of all the directors (of many regional and internation movies), authors, writers, historians, rulers, mythical characters, war heroes and non heroes, activists......
He was particularly moved with 'anger' when he touched the topic of religion (on a note, dont argue with Him about religion unless you can take in hard facts and digest it without falling into the pit of disbelief). The topic started with Him stating a couple of myths -- "Islam is the most conservative religion, and Christianity is the most open and advanced religion" and "Islam religion signifies polygamy". The answer the both the statements is totally the opposite. The polygamy was started when the ratio of men to women became so low because of war as a 'temporary' solution. The very idea of no idols to worship signifies the purpose of religion. Prof Matthews' favourite line -- "you are all such wonderful Christian children". The Indian society is so very conservative and we are being RULED by stereotypes. The stereotype of women as meek and humble; black as athletic and 'machine-type' and white as beauty and elegance; the stereotyping of all the religions; of sexuality and orientation; of taboos and sins...and when you look at the facts, the very basis of all these sterotypes is shaken.
I would love to just write and write about Islam and stereotypes, but owing to time and space, leaving it here...just feeling the constraints of the written communication to vocal. And to top it all, it is just more disheartening to realize that none of us is going to be changing anything, and the rush will still be to the company coming on the day zero offering mutiple zeros and people will become the slaves of that very system. Change is inevitable, the time is the constraint. The least I can do now is to gather knowledge and awe at the system and how perfectly imperfect the world is.

12 comments:

  1. I have no clue what you are talking about ..but prof mathews seems to have an impact on you :)

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  2. @mohit- ya i know it is way too general without examples...but the topic is just too vast and subjective to be explaining here...just wanted to dedicate a post Prof Matthews and those who have attended his classes would have a fair idea about these topics.

    P.S. the topics are really very very serious and what we see is just the tip of the iceberg. we are lacking the basic knowledge of the world and all that we know the is the good and beautiful planet called earth

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  3. nice post man..but i dont want to lose a gr8 gamer :)..

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  4. "The very idea of no idols to worship signifies the purpose of religion. Prof Matthews' favourite line -- "you are all such wonderful Christian children". "

    HMM......Here comes the Red Army!!!
    Bhuvan is the Marxist's latest strike( for a change not the other kind :) )

    Waise Idol worship is more practical and easy to relate to, so i personally feel its better. Besides that in Idol Worship the idea is to worship the faith of the thousands worshiping the Idol. So that way an idol symbolizes prayers of thousands rather than an act of worshiping an inanimate stone as per say.So Idol worship does not lose out the purpose of religion which basically lies in Faith in any way.

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  5. @ashi: thank you...and dont worry, u won't have to :D

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  6. @troupe: hehe...no such probs (atleast for now)
    and regarding the idol worship-- it is highly debatable and my intention was not to prove the non-idol superior than idol worship, the words were simply meant to signify the advance level of faith and mindsets of Islam (which i am sure you would argue as to how non-idol signifies higher mindset). neither me nor Prof Matthews is saying that Islam is a better religion...Mecca was decided as the place because of trade importance. but these are all other stories, the main idea is to make realize the stereotype surrounding religions especially Islam.

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  7. update: today's sti class was one of the best of this term with the start of the topic 'Caste' and covered topics of Gandhi's assassination, Veer Savarkar and the BJP...how i wish each one of you to have attended today's class...will try to write something on just today's topic sometime later.

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  8. dude there were many courses in BITS where u could have learned about this stuff, like any of the S.K. Maharana courses, bet u never attended them:P, abhi kya ho gaya?

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