So, the first regular class of our PGP programme- Sociology- to be taught by A F Mathews. Till that time i didn't realise how important are the next one hour fifteen minutes of my life going to be. He came and said first that he will say many things that may be uncomfortable to many of you. And, yes he was very true, it was uncomfortable not only for me but also for everyone in class. It was shocking-shocking in a sense to the normal categorised conscience of everone in us. The innumerous examples with a lot of sarcasm and humor without boundaries- here was the person in front of us who was shaking the base of everyone's faith and questioning the kind of environment and thought process we all have. How rational, changing and evolving it is?! Revealing the darker side of all religions getting various quotes from all religious books, about US hegemony, about the gender biases with elaborate and mind boggling examples and quotes, about sexual orientations and its implications with all the 'civilised' mindset getting uncomfortable listening to the alacrity with which he is unfolding things, the racial discrimination consciously and sub-consciously we all indulge in drawing examples from all the civilisations of the world and many more concepts of sociology. The stir it has created in me has spurred me to write what i realise as an important point in my life which i reckon that i am privileged that i could listen to someone with such an immense knowledge and independence of thought. I dont think i will go overboard if i say (and even if i am, it will let you know the influence of him on me) that "Everyone in earth should experience his class and the magnitude of force with which it hits you to come out of your cocooned self and the narrowed mind of vision of world,religion and society at large." I have just attended three classes of him till now and each class was an experience of awakening and true enlightening of soul. Ofcourse, you need to experience that to believe in what i say! May you get the chance to listen to great Mathews. There was no surprise that seniors of the PGP want to attend his classes out of their busy schedule when mid term is near and there are a long list of people who like him, adore him and have not forgotten him years after attending his class.
Long live Mathew-ism!
Profile
http://www.mica-india.net/AcademicsandResearch/Profiles/Profiles%20new/Mathew.htm
A F Mathew Fan Club- Orkut
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=18463716
