எங்கே பிராமணன்?

by Cho Ramaswamy

Genres: Fiction, Religion

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy called as Cho Ramaswamy (Tamil: சோ ராமசுவாமி) is a comedian, editor, political satirist, playwright and lawyer in Tamil Nadu. He is the founder and editor of the Tamil magazine, Thuglak. His popularity in the Tamil Nadu literary circles is mainly due to his impartial assessment of political issues, and the audacity with which he publishes his viewpoints.

Reviews

[Karthick · Rating 4 out of 5]

சோ.ராமசாமி எனக்கு பிடிக்கும். காரணம், எனக்கு தெரிந்த வரையில் மனதில் பட்டத்தை பட்டென்று எவனுக்கும் பயப்படாமல், நேர்மையாக சொல்லும் மனப்பான்மை கொண்டவர். But biased political satirist!

இவர் எழுதிய புத்தகம் படித்துப் பார்ப்போம் என்று இந்த புத்தகத்தை 2 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு வாங்கினேன். படிக்க பல புத்தகங்கள் இருந்த நிலையில், இதை மறந்துவிட்டேன். சில வாரங்களுக்கு முன்பு நண்பர்களுடன் பிராமணன்/சாதிப் பிரிவு பற்றி விவாதித்தப் பொழுது எங்கே பிராமணன் சட்டென்று நினைவிற்கு வந்து படிக்க ஆரம்பித்தேன்.

உண்மையில் யார் பிராமணன்?
பிராமணீயம் என்பது ஜாதியா?
இன்றைய பிராமணர்கள் உண்மையிலேயே பிராமணர்கள் தானா?

இதற்கான விடைகளை 'layman terms' ல் அழகாக விளக்கியிருக்கிறார் சோ.

எதையும் ஆராயாமல் செவிவழி செய்திகளாக, சடங்கு, சாஸ்திரங்களை (முக்கியமாக வேதங்கள்) முழு அர்த்தம் தெரியாமல் கற்றவர்களுக்கு இந்த புத்தகம் ஒரு hitchslap ஆகா இருக்க வாய்ப்பு உண்டு.

காரணம், முடிந்தவரை போதிய ஆதாரங்களுடன் உண்மையை புட்டு புட்டு வைத்திருக்கிறார் சோ. வேதத்தில் பிராமணனின் குண நலன்கள் என்ன என்று பார்க்கும் பொழுது, "Brahmins these days are not really brahmins" என்று ஓர் குண்டை போடுகிறார்.

Obviously its a must read for all and especially for Brahmins.
It may be uncomfortable for them or it may be surprising and interesting for them (assuming for the one who seeks the meaning of it).

But still I can't agree with Cho's every details in this book. So, I cant come to a conclusion unless I read about Manusmriti, Upanishads and all 4 Vedas.

But definitely its a good introduction and a gateway to know more/ in-depth about Hinduism and Vedic period etc..

[Manikandan T S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Brahmin? Where is Brahmin? Varnas are not based on birth. It is classified on the basis of one's discipline and deeds as quoted in Vedas. As per Vedas the world can be considered to be full of vaisyas. But there is no possibility of a brahmin in current scenario. Must read for so called brahmins..

[Prabhu R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cho is a master of humour, satire and in-depth knowledge about many things that includes politics, law, history, religion etc. His way of expressing things is so concrete that one would require a vast amount of knowledge even to refute what he says. This book is an amazing work, where it explains a lot about Sanatana Dharma a.k.a. Hinduism, weaved along with a beautiful story with the characters doing their part. The story clarifies a lot of aspects about Hinduism and dispels the misinformation and misconceptions, said by half-baked people, about the Varnashramam. Though it doesn't go in-depth with the references to the Vedic Scriptures, the story gradually picks up pace, where the main character, Ashok, who is Vashishtar incarnate. Ashok's life purpose is to find a true Brahmin and the story is woven beautifully on this theme. It dispels a lot of venom spewed by many in the name of Brahminical patriarchy. A definite read for those who know and do not know about Hinduism.

[Akshaya Sivaraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The didactic novel is about a man in an arduous search of finding a true Brahmin in today's world.

Dismissing the widely popular claim that it comes with birth, he resorts to the Vedas - the truly ancient and timeless literature, for answers. As the parable unfolds, he discovers about the origins of the Hindu religion, the Varnas, the required qualities and imposed duties of each Varna, reasons and meanings for various Hindu rituals, and so on.

The story drags at places, but picks up speed at the end of the novel. The novel doesn't explore the facts and evidences in detail, but it does leave us at a better understanding about the Hindu religion and the rituals.

[Arvind Ravi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give it 4.5 instead of 5 because of the time it took to come to the central theme of the book and the way the story ended!
It is a Must read for all. You can see the wit of Cho Ramasamy. He elegantly delivers thoughts and arguments. The way the story takes off after the first 100 pages! It was very hard to stop reading! Cho gives great examples and insights on how our society has turned out to be and how it ought to be!
"பிறப்பால் ஒருவன் பிராமணன் அல்ல" - The starting argument of the book and is followed by great insights and questions which arise about the caste systems in Hinduism!
The book was a fun read and a philosophical knowledge bank!
Love your books Mr.Cho Ramasamy

[Vivek Seenivasan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A practical take on Sanathana Dharma. The book cites evidence from vedas and puranas to drive home the fact that varnas are not based on birth - as is usually perceived- but are based on one's deeds and actions. It also deals with general misconceptions in Hinduism in the form of interesting, witty and easy to read conversations between the lead characters.

[Giri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb! Cho's mastery of humor and satire is well known. But, what distinguishes this book is his effort to explain a number of rituals and ceremonies performed by Hindus while answering the key question of who really is a Brahmin.

[Chandarsekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book i recommend to read by every one

[Pavithra AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone must read

[Ashok]

Online read not available

[B. BALA CHANDER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshed again ....though I read in Tuklaq magazine. A bold statement only cho can make ever ,,,

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and narration. It was very interesting read and sometimes eye opening too.

[Venkatesan Natarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book for all of us who are in the quest of the knowing oneself. Cho Ramaswamy has dealt this question of who a true Brahmin is in the form of a story woven with characters whose behavior defies their so called qualifications (economic, birth, caste, social status etc.) One of the characters, Ashok, questions himself and tries to arrive at this answer - very beautifully explained with references to scriptural texts, the misunderstanding of those very scriptures, the true explanation and how any human being can be described as a Brahmin if the appropriate qualities are in him. This is a must read for everyone - irrespective of caste, creed, social status, birth, occupation etc. I wish this gets translated to other languages for the benefit of people who don't know Tamil.

[Arvind Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give it 4.5 instead of 5 because of the time it took to come to the central theme of the book and the way the story ended!
It is a Must read for all. You can see the wit of Cho Ramasamy. He elegantly delivers thoughts and arguments. The way the story takes off after the first 100 pages! It was very hard to stop reading! Cho gives great examples and insights on how our society has turned out to be and how it ought to be!
"பிறப்பால் ஒருவன் பிராமணன் அல்ல" - The starting argument of the book and is followed by great insights and questions which arise about the caste systems in Hinduism!
The book was a fun read and a philosophical knowledge bank!
Love your books Mr.Cho Ramasamy

[Rajthilak S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good narration style. It is our olden style of saying moral values through a story plot. Author Cho has taken a nice plot to explain about the concepts in our olden days practice of religion (Hinduism). He finishes his novel with his own wit. We cant expect good finishing for these kind of novels as it is intended to make readers to think.

[Nivi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vandhargal Vendrargal
Ki.Mu Ki.Pi

[Surya Hrithick]

i want to read this book now as pdf

[Janardhanan M P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!! Easily one of the best books on Sanatana Dharma.

[Bharath Jambulingam · Rating 3 out of 5]

To see the book review;
click on https://bharathjambulingam.wordpress.com
(book review will be posted on 8th Jan 2016)

[ஜ.சிவகுரு Jambulingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://sivathesman.wordpress.com/201...

[Swami Nathan]

Be a Brahmin not by birth, but my your values and ethics

[Poorna Chandran]

i want to read this book

[Krishna Venkatanarayanan]

it is very amazing book