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I am really encouraged by your responses. Thanks. I have also realized that I might have hurt some feelings when I went in to the historical origins of racism. So I am deleting that bit. The idea is to find meeting grounds. Not to point fingers but to shake hands. Not to answer racism with reverse racism but to expose how incongrous and unjust it is to judge a man by the colour of his skin....

If fighting injustice is spiritual then knowing how the injustice came about is important. It is like taking the first step towards the shrine. Let us continue exploring the injustice of racism. Historically racism grew from war. When people who did not look like us attacked one the first seeds of hatred were sown. Many prophets and kings fanned this hatred between cultures as they felt xenopho...

The biggest sin is discrimination. Doing it and tolerating it. I am appalled at what is happening in Australia and wish to put before the reader answers to: Why does racism still persist? Why are Indians being targeted again and again? In my view there are several reasons for this. 1. Political and historical reason : The Anglo saxon race still remembers that it ruled us once and some amo...

Hi. I am Pavan Choudary. I am a student of wisdom. This is my first blog entry and I write because I am pained by the attacks on Indian students in Australia. And I condemn them. And I am glad that Amitabh Bachhan and Aamir Khan have already come forward in their support. And I am glad how the media is giving this issue the importance it deserves. But Why does racism still persist? Why are Indi...

Two sharp insights from Confucius… Cut the handle of a new axe with an old axe and it will not be far from the old handle in appearance. Hence a gentleman asks of others no more than of himself, so long as they correct their mistakes. He who can practice tolerance and forbearance is not far from the way of the mean. He should do to others as he would have others do to him. Confucius high...

Now comes a new lament. Indian players in the Indian premier league are being racially abused. And then Air France staff is accused of harassing Indians. So much of racial discrimination targetted against one community? What is it in us Indians which makes the world treat us so? I was invited as the chief guest to the IMA (Indian Medical Association) for their annual function. My introducti...

In the Mughal and British times- due to the oppressive tax regimes- when people met citizens of another city the first question was not how is life in your city but how is tax in your city? I have also begun to ask this question of other city dwellers. How is tax in your city? Why? Because of the newly imposed house tax. Am I scared of paying taxes? No. I pay my taxes. What I fear is interac...

In the last piece I said how throwing shoes at one’s oppressors is a spiritual act. A reader has asked me he would like to go further and throw stones. Would that be more spiritual? Let me answer his question with a tale from Ramayana. Lakshaman and Sugreeva are deliberating on how to cross the sea and reach Lanka with their army. They thought it is best to begin with a prayer to the ocean-g...

A popular tale about Krishna goes as follows. Krishna is having dinner sitting in heaven. His wife Rukmani is serving him. On the Earth a devotee of Krishna is surrounded by some thugs who are moving menacingly towards him to rough him up. Krishna watches this and gets up to go to his aid. Rukmani is disappointed that her husband has to leave suddenly and tries to stop him but Krishna is determ...

Bhay se bhakti karen sab, bhay se puja hoye Bhay paras hai jeev ko, nirbhay hoye na koye (Kabir says that ‘fear’ (probably of the unknown) is instrumental in moving people towards prayer and taking to devotional practices. Fear works like the philosopher’s stone that causes people to tread on the right path). Kabir reaches the heart of the matter. He says, fear is instrumental in moving peopl...