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New Roads #7
Critiquing Brahmanism: A Collection of Essays
In a perspicacious observation made at a worker’s conference Dr. B. R. Ambedkar remarked that “Brahmanism and capitalism are the two enemies of the workers”. This also implied that the struggle against the one should be complemented by that against the other. And, as a corollary, those fighting against one should necessarily engage with the other. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Much has been written about the reasons underlying this. Much is still being written. But very little is being done in theory as well as in practice to actually bridge the gap.
This collection of essays is an attempt in that direction, made from a Marxist viewpoint. Breaking away from the traditional view of recording Brahmanism as a relic of the past, properly belonging to all that has in fact been superseded by the modern, I have preferred to contextualise it within that modernity itself, without ignoring its historical origins and trajectory.
Most importantly, the focus of these essays is on critiquing Brahmanism as living ideology.
This collection of essays is an attempt in that direction, made from a Marxist viewpoint. Breaking away from the traditional view of recording Brahmanism as a relic of the past, properly belonging to all that has in fact been superseded by the modern, I have preferred to contextualise it within that modernity itself, without ignoring its historical origins and trajectory.
Most importantly, the focus of these essays is on critiquing Brahmanism as living ideology.
121 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 3, 2020
To Western readers, the presentation of this book may seem like something that is only important to Indians, but don't let that fool you, this book has philosophical and political implications we all can and must learn from. From start to finish, Ajith presents a thorough, penetrating analysis of the Indian superstructure that admits of no equal. Witnessing a masterful application of Marxist dialectics to the criticism of the foundation Brahmanism rests on, one cannot help but be reminded of Marx's famous critiques in such works as The Holy Family and The German Ideology, but Ajith doesn't stop there. He obliterates the notions Hindutva fascists rely on to manipulate the masses by mobilizing an advanced understanding of history and tops it off with breaking down what Brahmanism today relies on to reinforce the semi-feudal, semi-colonial reality of India.
If you're looking for a work to help you reinforce your understanding of Marxism, this will certainly help. If you're looking for an understanding of Indian society, this is a book you cannot afford to pass by.
If you're looking for a work to help you reinforce your understanding of Marxism, this will certainly help. If you're looking for an understanding of Indian society, this is a book you cannot afford to pass by.
April 25, 2021
Overall, this series of essays by comrade Ajith is an excellent foray into Brahmanist ideology and its relationship to Hindu nationalism. The two most fruitful things I got out of these essays were:
1) Ajith's exploration of how Indian national identity is founded upon historically incoherent assertions and even a certain reliance on and continuity with British colonialism. This includes ahistorical claims about territorial cohesion and the Indian comprador class' tendency to laud British Indian Army victories when the colonial project aligned with desires to consolidate Brahmanist social organization, while suppressing instances in which the same forces displayed anti-caste system characteristics, and
2) the untangling of foundational logic of the primary strands of Brahmanist thought which serve, through absolute monism and apparent openness to diversity, to suppress challenges to Brahmanist supremacy and serve fascistic Hindu nationalist ends in practice.
I take issue with his essay on meditation, for largely the same reasons that Breht from Rev Left Radio outlined in his Patreon episode on this piece. Suffice to say that I think Ajith's argument relies on it's on skewed logic that conflates meditative practices from different spiritual traditions through a failure to engage with the breadth of meditative traditions, or simply misrepresents meditative practices in general and relies on assumptions about the goals of meditation. I come from a Zen Buddhist background and can therefore vouch for the invalidity of Ajith's arguments vis à vis at least some strands of meditative practices, but cannot claim any expertise on practices within the Brahmanist tradition.
On the whole, this book is more than a worthwhile read for both those interested in the specifics of cultural conditioning and the construction of foundational narratives undergirding Hindu nationalism, as well as for those looking to see how materialist analysis can be applied to unique conditions as a means of demystifying society more broadly.
1) Ajith's exploration of how Indian national identity is founded upon historically incoherent assertions and even a certain reliance on and continuity with British colonialism. This includes ahistorical claims about territorial cohesion and the Indian comprador class' tendency to laud British Indian Army victories when the colonial project aligned with desires to consolidate Brahmanist social organization, while suppressing instances in which the same forces displayed anti-caste system characteristics, and
2) the untangling of foundational logic of the primary strands of Brahmanist thought which serve, through absolute monism and apparent openness to diversity, to suppress challenges to Brahmanist supremacy and serve fascistic Hindu nationalist ends in practice.
I take issue with his essay on meditation, for largely the same reasons that Breht from Rev Left Radio outlined in his Patreon episode on this piece. Suffice to say that I think Ajith's argument relies on it's on skewed logic that conflates meditative practices from different spiritual traditions through a failure to engage with the breadth of meditative traditions, or simply misrepresents meditative practices in general and relies on assumptions about the goals of meditation. I come from a Zen Buddhist background and can therefore vouch for the invalidity of Ajith's arguments vis à vis at least some strands of meditative practices, but cannot claim any expertise on practices within the Brahmanist tradition.
On the whole, this book is more than a worthwhile read for both those interested in the specifics of cultural conditioning and the construction of foundational narratives undergirding Hindu nationalism, as well as for those looking to see how materialist analysis can be applied to unique conditions as a means of demystifying society more broadly.
December 26, 2021
Sometimes you read 2 pages of a book and know you will rate it five stars on Goodreads dot com.
Required reading imo
Required reading imo
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews