Comments on: Snake Boat Races in Kerala

By: desitude

desitude — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:35:56 +0000

Well, maybe I should say buddhists have progressively becoming a smaller percentage of India's population over the past 1000 yrs. And 7million in a population of 1bn+, I'd say that's all but non-existant.

Yes, until Ambedkar's conversion. From then on, it has become the fastest growing religion in India, though the momentum is slowing.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:55:35 +0000

Well, maybe I should say buddhists have progressively becoming a smaller percentage of India’s population over the past 1000 yrs. And 7million in a population of 1bn+, I’d say that’s all but non-existant.

By: desitude

desitude — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:12:37 +0000

I believe Buddhists have been declining in numbers in India over the past 1000 yrs (haven't researhed any numbers, just my intuition from living there)

Nah uh. There are ~ 7 million Buddhists in India as per the last census (too lazy to give you a link). The vast majority Ambedkarite Dalits, but also a community of Tibetans.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:08:12 +0000

Seeker, the foreign women (Alappuzha Boat Club) had nothing to do with the Jesus Boat Club which is a male team. It's in the Hindu article that amardeep linked to. Anyway, you don't successfully proselytize by showing up from another country, naming your boat Jesus and winning over the local Gods' boats. That's only likely to get resentment.

Navratan, Note I said if that was the motive. So if boating was part of the proselytization plan, that would be wrong as it would be trojan-horsing an unsuspecting event. But apparantly all of that was untrue so this is inconsequential anyway.

By: Jai

Jai — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:49:32 +0000

Robert Essex,

but what efforts are Buddhism and other Vedic religions(Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, etc.)

Sikhism is not a Vedic religion in the strict sense of the term.

taking to proselytize their faiths?

Not enough, I would say. Although the concept’s a little different in Sikhism — the basic humanitarian principles are meant to be proselytised, not the formal religion itself.

Amitabh,

I’m sure those white women had more upper body strength than Indian women.

I’m sure the average desi auntie with “hefty” arms and an intimidatingly-raised rolling pin would strongly disagree with you

By: Amardeep

Amardeep — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 06:33:35 +0000

You may now re-commence your racio-religious flame wars.

Come now, that wasn't necessary!

By: The Chocolate Brownie in Mango Milkshake

The Chocolate Brownie in Mango Milkshake — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:33:42 +0000

Bears highlighting the fact that the winning team wasnt a phoren team; heck, as Amardeep himself pointed out, only 10 out of a total team of 35 women were "adventure tourists". That's just 28% of the team; a bigger percentage than the 5% quota NRI's get in educational institutions, but that simply doesn't make this a ooooh-here-come-those-powerful-non-desi-women-beating-our-sorry-ass scenario. Rather, I'd read it more as an internationalization of local culture; a bit like NOLA's Mardi Gras getting tourists from Japan, or a desi tango-ing in Buenos Aires' streets [1]. No big deal, all are welcome, we are one big happy vasudaika kutumbam yada yada.

You may now re-commence your racio-religious flame wars.

-- [1]- C'est moi. After I save enough for a trip, that is.

By: Amitabh

Amitabh — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:56:59 +0000

Politically Incorrect Statement Warning:

Is anyone surprised a team with foreigners won? I'm sure those white women had more upper body strength than Indian women.

By: Navratan Kurma

Navratan Kurma — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:26:09 +0000

I was on the phone with my mom in Kerala last night and she said the word on the street is “Jayippichu”. i.e. the victory of the team that included the foreigners was “arranged” to give tourism a boost. It could be true, but it could also be a Mallu/Desi quest for an easy explanation to “How could we get our ass whupped by these newbies?”

note: For everyone, including my mom, “foreigner” = “white”

By: Navratan Kurma

Navratan Kurma — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:20:08 +0000

Seeker, the foreign women (Alappuzha Boat Club) had nothing to do with the Jesus Boat Club which is a male team. It’s in the Hindu article that amardeep linked to. Anyway, you don’t successfully proselytize by showing up from another country, naming your boat Jesus and winning over the local Gods’ boats. That’s only likely to get resentment.