diff --git a/Mani_Station__A_Modern_Paradigm_Shift_Towards_Calm_Computing.pdf b/Mani_Station__A_Modern_Paradigm_Shift_Towards_Calm_Computing.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa75f32 Binary files /dev/null and b/Mani_Station__A_Modern_Paradigm_Shift_Towards_Calm_Computing.pdf differ diff --git a/podcast/outline.odt b/podcast/outline.odt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..49b7daa Binary files /dev/null and b/podcast/outline.odt differ diff --git a/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3 b/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9379389 Binary files /dev/null and b/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3 differ diff --git a/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3.srt b/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3.srt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..382dbf5 --- /dev/null +++ b/podcast/rumaretiya_Jenish_and_Arranged_Marriage.mp3.srt @@ -0,0 +1,383 @@ +1 +00:00:00,000-->00:00:14,000 +[DRUMS] + +2 +00:00:14,000-->00:00:18,000 +Ah,Iknowwhatsoundthatis.It'stimetogotoIndia. + +3 +00:00:18,000-->00:00:28,000 +[PLANE/STREETNOISE] + +4 +00:00:28,000-->00:00:46,000 +Welcomebackto"PersonhoodandthePublicSelf:InsightsfromRELI67",wherewedivedeepintotheintricatetapestriesofculture,traditionandpersonalstories. + +5 +00:00:46,000-->00:00:50,000 +[BELLGONGS] + +6 +00:00:50,000-->00:00:58,000 +Today,we'reembarkingonajourneytoRajkot,avibrantcityintheheartofGujarat,India,whereancientcustomsmeetmodernaspirations. + +7 +00:00:58,000-->00:01:04,000 +[RASSAMSINGING] + +8 +00:01:04,000-->00:01:12,000 +Inthisepisode,we'reexploringatraditionthathasbeenthecornerstoneofIndiansocietyforcenturies:arrangedmarriage. + +9 +00:01:12,000-->00:01:19,000 +OurguideonthisjourneyisJenishUmaretiya,ayoungmechanicalengineerandmycousin,who'sabouttointertwinehislifewithanother,throughthisage-oldpractice. + +10 +00:01:19,000-->00:01:21,000 + + +11 +00:01:21,000-->00:01:23,000 +"Yourname?" + +12 +00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 +"My name is Jenish Nileshbhai Umretiya, I am old 23" + +13 +00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:35,000 +The singing you just heard was from the sangeet, sangeet meaning sung together in Sanskrit. + +14 +00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:40,000 +The sangeet is one of the first events of the long famed Indian wedding, + +15 +00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:50,000 +or shaadi in Hindi, a weekend long celebration of love, of connection and the bringing together of not only two people but two families. + +16 +00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:55,000 +"And so, now that you're about to get married, what's changed?" + +17 +00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,000 +'Things are definitely getting changed. + +18 +00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:08,000 +Before it was such that if I wanted to go out and go have some fun, they would let me go. + +19 +00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,000 +I had the freedom to do so, do whatever I want. + +20 +00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:17,000 +But now, my life partner has arrived, and she's perfect. + +21 +00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000 +So, I don't do that stuff anymore. + +22 +00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,000 +Mom and dad are there, but nowadays, they really don't ask specifics, because they trust me with my partner. + +23 +00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:32,000 +Now, I have this partner that I ought to care for and keep safe." + +24 +00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:43,000 +["Tum Hi Ho"] + +25 +00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:48,000 +And so, that brings us to the whole reason I came to India. + +26 +00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:57,000 +As I sat beside the ceremonial altar, watching the intricate rituals of Jenish and Princy's wedding, a poignant question lingered in my mind. + +27 +00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,000 +Why not me? + +28 +00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:10,000 +This moment wasn't just about observing a marriage, it was a gateway to exploring the vast cultural chasms that separated the concepts of marriage in India and the United States. + +29 +00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,000 +Why would I not be able to have my own arranged marriage? + +30 +00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:22,000 +Why would it never work in the United States? Or, even more, why does it work so well in India? + +31 +00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:33,000 +This episode isn't just a narrative about a marriage, it's a journey into understanding the complex tapestry of traditions, values, and personal choices that shape our lives. + +32 +00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,000 +"Howdy?" + +33 +00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000 +"America?" + +34 +00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 +"USA." + +35 +00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,000 +"Where is your house?" + +36 +00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,000 +"Over here." + +37 +00:03:43,000 --> 00:04:03,000 +"Name?" "Max." + +38 +00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:10,000 +The clip you just heard was my uncle Max playing with the neighborhood kids in my hometown. + +39 +00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:24,000 +But as we delve deeper into the story of Jenish and Princy, it's fascinating to consider the broader context of arranged marriages in India, a subject that has been under extensive study and debate over the past few years. + +40 +00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:32,000 +Traditionally arranged marriages were defined by significant parent involvement, often with little prior interaction between the perspective spouses. + +41 +00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:37,000 +But times are changing. From 1970 to 2012, there's been a gradual yet noteworthy shift. + +42 +00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:46,000 +Young men and women in India are increasingly playing a more active role in choosing their partners, and inter-caste marriages have seen arise, albeit modest. + +43 +00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:54,000 +However, the essence of arranged marriage remains resilient, often blending with modern elements, creating unique hybrid of tradition and contemporary values. + +44 +00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000 +Let's see how Jenish and Princy met each other. + +45 +00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,000 +"So talk about how you met Princy." + +46 +00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,000 + + +47 +00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000 + + +48 +00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,000 +"So it's an arranged marriage. + +49 +00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,000 +Well, actually your dad gave me a suggestion. + +50 +00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,000 +He had a friend who had a daughter. + +51 +00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,000 +That might be a good match. + +52 +00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:22,000 +We knew her family well, and there's a good girl here. + +53 +00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 +Very sweet. + +54 +00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:30,000 +Then we met and really liked each other. Now it's finally happening." + +55 +00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:36,000 +"And how long did the whole process take?" + +56 +00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,000 +"About around 10 to 12 days." + +57 +00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 +"Before then, nothing. + +58 +00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:48,000 +I had never heard her name, seen her face, met her." + +59 +00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:56,000 +I mean, that's crazy. + +60 +00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:06,000 +Like, to have met someone and then literally days after committed to them for life. + +61 +00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:12,000 +But Jenish also asserts that these marriages are very successful. + +62 +00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:20,000 +"Was always planned to get an arranged marriage? Or did you ever feel like a love marriage was an option?" + +63 +00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,000 +"No, no. + +64 +00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:28,000 +India, the love marriage success rate isn't that high." + +65 +00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:36,000 +"Out of 10 love marriages, probably eight of them would be unsuccessful, and two of them successful. + +66 +00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,000 +There's no concept, no culture, of love marriage. + +67 +00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,000 +I didn't have any desire to do so." + +68 +00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 +And he's right. + +69 +00:06:46,000 --> 00:07:00,000 +A study from 2005 from the Journal of Counseling and Development found no significant differences in overall marital satisfaction between India and the United States. + +70 +00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:08,000 +In fact, Indian participants scored a higher in spirituality, nutrition, cultural identity, and social awareness. + +71 +00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:16,000 +[MARKET CHATTER] + +72 +00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:22,000 +See, this is the crucial thing that you need to understand about India. + +73 +00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,000 +You can hear the bustling, loud marketplace around me. And that's the thing. + +74 +00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:34,000 +A very common stereotype is that Indian people are loud, and they're not yelling for no reason. + +75 +00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:46,000 +In my experience and throughout the interview, I believe that the Gujrati people and Jenish conceptualize their personhoods through their social networks. + +76 +00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:56,000 +I think my cousin put it best when he said that Americans are friendly, but they're not your friends. + +77 +00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:02,000 +In India, they're not very friendly, but they are always there for you when you need a helping hand. + +78 +00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:10,000 +See, the Gujrati people understand a very crucial part of their existence, that they need one another to survive. + +79 +00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:18,000 +The core question Jenish asks himself is usually not the American standard of "what do I want to do", but instead "who do I want to do something with?" + +80 +00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,000 +Or even more, who am I doing something for? + +81 +00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:30,000 +Over the course of my trip, almost every where we went was not for the sake of going to that place, but to meet someone to go do something with. + +82 +00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:42,000 +And at almost every point in the interview when I asked Jenish about who he is and who he wants to be, when he was telling me about why he was getting a range marriage, it was because that's what other people expected of him. + +83 +00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:50,000 +When I was asked at his wedding "if I saw any girls that I liked", I responded by asking what would happen if I pointed at someone. + +84 +00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:57,000 +I was told that it would be an easy setup, most of the girls present were friends of the family, and they would most likely say yes. + +85 +00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,000 +I was told that I was the top choice. + +86 +00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:12,000 +Without allowing my ego to be inflated, they quickly followed up by saying that it was not for my looks, but that my father was a nice guy who was extremely active in the community. + +87 +00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:21,000 +Gujrati living runs on elective connections of affection that become a solid and substantial as familial ties. + +88 +00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:35,000 +When it comes to arranged marriage, studies from Tulika Jaiswal, Indian Arranged marriages, a social psychological perspective shows that not even personal characteristics matter when it comes to deciding a partner. + +89 +00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:40,000 +Because in India, marriage is not about bringing two people together. + +90 +00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:46,000 +It's about reuniting the greater community, one couple at a time. + +91 +00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,000 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] + +92 +00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,000 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] + +93 +00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,000 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] + +94 +00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,000 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] + +95 +00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,000 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] + +96 +00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:14,360 +[MARKETPLACE CHATTER] \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/reli67 additional reading questions.docx b/reli67 additional reading questions.docx new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e908041 Binary files /dev/null and b/reli67 additional reading questions.docx differ diff --git a/rumaretiya_final_reading_questions.pdf b/rumaretiya_final_reading_questions.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4767fc Binary files /dev/null and b/rumaretiya_final_reading_questions.pdf differ