Nice list. For the first time in years, I find myself viewing Ebert's top ten year end list without having watched a single one of them. And this time it's more like a top twenty.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Once Upon A Time In Kerala
Once upon a time in Kerala, there used to be a very entrenched, heirarchical caste system. Some would argue that this still exists even in modern Kerala, but let's not go there. We are all honorable men and women.
So, once upon a time in Kerala, there was a deep rooted caste system. Some say this started with the advent of the Nambuthiris, who pretty much treated anyone not a Nambuthiri as an untouchable. This extended to other castes soon enough, which meant you had the Nairs who were expected to instantly cut down the heads of lower caste people who presumed to defile them. This defiliation could occur because the lower castes were on the same road as them, were looking at them or were within 72 feet of them. The Nair man - for it was mainly men who walked out on the road anyway - was expected to have a bath in a temple pond immediately, to wash off this pollution. The Nair man was not expected to eat before he did this cleansing and was universally shunned till he corrected this sin.
Thankfully, we live in an advanced society now where this does not occur anymore. We are all honorable men and women and we do not differentiate. Right? Right.
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