Are there any Brahmins in Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Brahmins: Lost in Tamil Nadu. Years ago, well-known Tamil actor and political satirist Mr Cho Ramaswamy had remarked tongue firmly in cheek – “Tamil Brahmins are people who fight with each other, degrade themselves and paint the entire community in shades of dark.”
Is Ramaswamy right about Brahmins?
If you look at the events (in literary and movie circles in Tamil Nadu and the political climate), you will realise that Mr Ramaswamy was absolutely right then, he is right even now. We talk about Kashmiri Pandits becoming strangers in Jammu and Kashmir. The Tamil Brahmins find themselves alienated in their own land.
Are Tamil Brahmins disproportionately represented in the civil service?
The first claim is belied by the fact that Tamil Brahmins, who constitute less than 3\% of the population by Dhume’s own admissions, are massively disproportionately represented in the Civil Service, the legal profession (including the Judiciary), Chartered Accountancy, and so many other high-end professional fields.
Are Tamil Brahmins more casteist than the Vellalars?
I don’t think Tamil Brahmins are any more casteist than Thevars Mudliars, Vellalars (or any other upper caste I didn’t list). My primary reason for negative feelings is due to their lack of Tamil identity. Tamil Brahmins see themselves as a distinct group from the other castes, and prefer a pan-Indian identity.
Why do Tamil Brahmins self-Mark?
As targets of Non-Brahminism and Dravidianism, Tamil Brahmins were the earliest to frame merit as a caste claim. Their marking as Brahmins produced forms of self-marking as a tactic of meritocratic claim-making.
What are the professions of Brahmins in India?
Today IT, management and CA are the chosen professions of brahmins. Many have migrated to the US and have been instrumental in many Silicon Valley start-up successes. Many have taken to entrepreneurship in India too and helped to seed the IT revolution in India. In Tamil Nadu, the political narrative has been stridently anti-brahminical.