Clarification

[Guest guest]

Namaskara,

 

Upfront let me state that I do not have the habit of responding to emails

where I disagree with a claim or statements. However, two statements in

Prof. Balaji Hebbar's emails dated 17Sep99 need some clarification. Let me

quote " .... many younger generation TuLu-brahmin MAdhvas themselves(many of

whom don't even know that they are MAdhvas!!!). Tragedy indeed. "

 

I was born and brought up in Kerala and my parents and my wife's parents

are from Udupi. Since job opportunities were less in Udupi and Mangalore

area, they had migrated to Kerala for better opportunities like what we

did years back coming to this country. Both were very successful in

bringing up about a dozen of children each and my in-laws' business, Bhima

Group of Jewellers is the largest jewellers in the state of Kerala with

several branches and now in Mysore, Bangalore and Madras.

 

My in-laws have founded the Tulu-Brahmin Association in Kerala with a chapter

in every city. Thay have a monthly magazine explaining Madhwa philosophy and

other religious activities. They have funds to provide scholarship to needy

students, for expenses of marriage when family can not afford, and carry out so

many activities. The association had constructed a temple of Udupi SriKrishna

in Allapuza, Kerala. Almost every tulu-brahmin family does saligrama pooja

everyday according to strict Madhwa Sampradaya in their homes. Every member

of the family is fully aware of his/her ORIGIN as a Madhwa brahmin. All

repected swamijies know Bhima and brothers well since Bhima group are one

of the largest contributor of funds to Madhwa cause especially through

Sri Pejawar Swamiji, for more than seventy years.

 

I do go to Udupi and Mangalore area every time I visit India. I have so many

relatives there. During my discussions with them including younger generation,

I did not feel that they do not know their origins. Perhaps you should clarify

this when Sri Puthige Swamiji visits your town.

 

Now back to US, Balaji's statement may apply to younger generation of ALL

types of Madhwas and other Sampradayas. This is not because of the

children's fault (quote Balaji " (where our children know more about CD-ROM

than " SitA-RAm " ) etc. " ) but that of parents not upbringing the children the

right way and are not living as examples for them to follow. May " GOD " bless

all of us for our right deeds.

 

Gopal