Theists follow different faiths. Faith may be crudely described as that attribute in an individual who believes in an Almighty who is omnipotent and omnipresent and rever and fear that super-power. Major faiths like Hinduism, Christianity,Budhism, Islam are in existence - some for thousands of years and some for hundreds. There have been later faiths like Sikhism, Jainism, etc. offshoots of existing faiths. Apart from these, there have been cults like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj,Puttaparti Saibaba Worship, Nirankari, etc. in India and many abroad, which cannot be classified as separate faiths. Many faiths and cults have come up due to the process of reformation that was attempted by enlightened souls and a few by certain charismatic individuals aggrandising themselves. These faiths/cults have not only been giving spiritual solace but also dictating the way of life - as an individul and as a part of society.
But, the question today is whether faith should continue to dictate the way of life in our changed times which changes were not foreseen by the 'seers' of yore. No doubt some acceptance to change has crept in like rejection of 'Varna Ashrama Dharma' in Hinduism, that the world is spherical and not flat in Christianity, etc. But there are innumerable aspects of our life, individually and collectively, in all faiths which are still dictated by faith quite irrationally and followed to letter.
Especially in the context of Secularism and Pluralism, where modern organs of State follow certain precepts which should ideally be sweepingly uniform irrespective of the faiths of individuals, which should reign supreme, the article of faith or the injunction of the State?
We have been and are facing religious intolerance. Not only between two religious but of intra-religious variety too. Examples could be between Vaishnavites and Saivites within Hinduism during medivial times, between Roman Catholics and Protestants, between Shias and Sunnis, etc. If we analyse the differences which cause this friction, we can easily discern that the reasons are certain practices or due to fight for hagaemony (of power and/or pelf). Rarely, they are for spiritual reasons.
Today the consequences of inter/intra-religious intolerance have reached disastrous proportions. It is time to ponder and separate way of life from faith because the most visible trigger is the way of life and and not the spiritual espousal. A person who has the spiritual wisdom and goes through the scriptures himself, will always accept pluralism. It is only those who impose their tyranny on the masses, with a particular way of life, which is the most visible symbol, do not accept pluralism. In a country like India, if pluralism is not inculcated and tolerated, we are doomed.
The State has a responsibility in this and should exercise its might in discharging this responsibility.
ponder...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Riddle of Yaksha
One of the significant episodes in Mahabharata is the 'Yaksha Prasna' where the question and answer session between Yama and Dharma Raja (father and son) is narrated. Yama queries as to what is the most astounding thing in this world, and Dharma Raja replies that persons grieving for the dead is the most astounding thing as death is inevitable and the person grieving has also to follow.
This may be relevant for those times, may be.
But today do we grieve a person's death? or the material loss it has created? In other words do we grieve one's absence or the absence of the comforts that used to accrue from the person's living?
People routinely say 'so and so's death is an irrepairable loss or the void cannot be filled. They may be literally true. If a pensioner dies, there is a permenent loss of income. If a grandparent dies, the loss is of an unpaid and dependable baby-sitter.
So today's grief may be more natural and truthful though for different reasons and since a reason valid is there, this grief may not be astounding anymore in our times. I don't know what will be Dharma Raja's answer will be today.
Ponder...
This may be relevant for those times, may be.
But today do we grieve a person's death? or the material loss it has created? In other words do we grieve one's absence or the absence of the comforts that used to accrue from the person's living?
People routinely say 'so and so's death is an irrepairable loss or the void cannot be filled. They may be literally true. If a pensioner dies, there is a permenent loss of income. If a grandparent dies, the loss is of an unpaid and dependable baby-sitter.
So today's grief may be more natural and truthful though for different reasons and since a reason valid is there, this grief may not be astounding anymore in our times. I don't know what will be Dharma Raja's answer will be today.
Ponder...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
LAND OF INDIRAMMA AND RAJIV GANDHI
Andhra Pradesh, or, the three pieces of it tenuously held together for the time being is truly a land of milk and honey. Free electricity, free houses, free land (thanks to Communists all it takes is wear a red shirt and plant a flag), abundance of land at prime places for SEZs for throw away prices, mega irrigation projects, plenty of rains (Varuna has joined Congress), Kubera is expected to join Congress. All this is due to the blessings showered on this land by Indiramma and Rajivayya.
All these achievements cause envy. Hence, reports like Gautami, Jegurupadu, Konaseema and Vemagiri sitting on top of gas reserves not being able to generate a single MW due to starvation of gas. Don't believe them. They are in cahoots with the opposition. They will be taken care by raids and demolitions; Courts can have thier own opinion.
Now we are going to have one more blessing. Rahul Gandhi! With his success in the Assembly elections in his home state under his belt, he is the Messiah who will further escalate the fortunes of the Congress and the State soon.
People say that there is only one Ordnance Factory at Yeddumailaram that too in a moribund state. Dont believe this also. All lies. This state has several Ordnance Factories. Go to Mecca Masjid or Laser Show or Gokul Chat for proof of existence.
Telugus have no history of their own. They have no heros. No icons. Dont despair. Indiramma and Rajivayya have made good this vacuum.
Ponder....
All these achievements cause envy. Hence, reports like Gautami, Jegurupadu, Konaseema and Vemagiri sitting on top of gas reserves not being able to generate a single MW due to starvation of gas. Don't believe them. They are in cahoots with the opposition. They will be taken care by raids and demolitions; Courts can have thier own opinion.
Now we are going to have one more blessing. Rahul Gandhi! With his success in the Assembly elections in his home state under his belt, he is the Messiah who will further escalate the fortunes of the Congress and the State soon.
People say that there is only one Ordnance Factory at Yeddumailaram that too in a moribund state. Dont believe this also. All lies. This state has several Ordnance Factories. Go to Mecca Masjid or Laser Show or Gokul Chat for proof of existence.
Telugus have no history of their own. They have no heros. No icons. Dont despair. Indiramma and Rajivayya have made good this vacuum.
Ponder....
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Don'ts for Media
The other day while I was passing on the tank bund, I saw a commotion. One shirtless youngman was rushing towards the railing trailed by a battery of video/still photographers. He then sat on the railing and was talking to the microphones. My vehicle moved on. Next day I saw a news-item with a good-sized photo in the papers that a person claiming to be the head of an outfitcalled Rahul Priyanka Brigade attempted suicide in protest against the behaviour of opposition parties. The photo showed two expert swimmers with lifebuoys holding our leader.
Now this was nothing but a fraud. The plunger, the rescuers, the mediamen all knew that what is being enacted is a drama and were willing participants whether under the influence of power or pelf.
I would suggest a few don'ts for the print as well as visual media:-
1) Do not participate in sham events.
2) Do not cover events which result in traffic chaos.
3) Do not cover events which are obscurant superstitions are depicted.
4) Do not cover events depicting violence especially on women and children; evev enacted ones.
5) Do not show visuals showing damaging of private/public property during the course of demonstrations/protests.
6) Do not show victims of violence or traffic accidents on close-ups in gory detail.
Our society has degenerated enough. Media should not accelerate the process.
...ponder
Now this was nothing but a fraud. The plunger, the rescuers, the mediamen all knew that what is being enacted is a drama and were willing participants whether under the influence of power or pelf.
I would suggest a few don'ts for the print as well as visual media:-
1) Do not participate in sham events.
2) Do not cover events which result in traffic chaos.
3) Do not cover events which are obscurant superstitions are depicted.
4) Do not cover events depicting violence especially on women and children; evev enacted ones.
5) Do not show visuals showing damaging of private/public property during the course of demonstrations/protests.
6) Do not show victims of violence or traffic accidents on close-ups in gory detail.
Our society has degenerated enough. Media should not accelerate the process.
...ponder
Friday, August 17, 2007
Responsible Media
About a month ago while passing on the Tank Bund, I noticed a sudden commotion. One bare chested youth was rushing towards the tank railing trailed by a battery of still and video photographers. He sat on the railing and was hectoring to the battery of mikes. By that time I moved out of the vision. Next day in the papers I saw a news item, accompanied by a good sized photo of his rescue from the lake by expert swimmers, that he was heading an organisation called Rahul Priyanka Brigade and that he tried to commit suicide in protest against the behaviour of the opposition parties towards the benign congress government.
His arrival with a battery of cameramen and next day's coverage in print and visual media tells its own story of this sham episode and the absymal depths to which the media has sunk. They have succumbed either to power or pelf.
I would request the media to indulge in some introspection. Covering such fraud is not only immoral but also diminishes their own credibility. They encourage innocent people into committing such acts without proper back up resulting in tragedy.
I would suggest a few don'ts to the media for overall good of the society:
1) Do not cover any rallies/marches/demonstrations that disrupt traffic.
2) Do not cover any gruesome crime in graphic detail; especially in enacted dramatisation. This is teaching impressionable to commit crimes.
3) Do not show graphic details of accident/crime victims.
4) Do not repeat the same footage in one single telecast; this is abnoxious and tiresome.
5) Do not cover pre-planned frauds as described earlier. News has to be necessary spontaneous and not contrived.
6) Do not cover demonstrations involving violence/destruction of property.
7) Coverage of any news story should not be one-sided. Space must be given for all shades of opinion.
8) Reporting should be even handed. No kid glove treatment for a certain party and hostile treatment for another.
9) Do not crawl when you are asked to bend.
These are but a few. Media is the fourth pillar of our democracy. Where as there are rules and regulations for the other three, media should not misuse its liberty.
...ponder
His arrival with a battery of cameramen and next day's coverage in print and visual media tells its own story of this sham episode and the absymal depths to which the media has sunk. They have succumbed either to power or pelf.
I would request the media to indulge in some introspection. Covering such fraud is not only immoral but also diminishes their own credibility. They encourage innocent people into committing such acts without proper back up resulting in tragedy.
I would suggest a few don'ts to the media for overall good of the society:
1) Do not cover any rallies/marches/demonstrations that disrupt traffic.
2) Do not cover any gruesome crime in graphic detail; especially in enacted dramatisation. This is teaching impressionable to commit crimes.
3) Do not show graphic details of accident/crime victims.
4) Do not repeat the same footage in one single telecast; this is abnoxious and tiresome.
5) Do not cover pre-planned frauds as described earlier. News has to be necessary spontaneous and not contrived.
6) Do not cover demonstrations involving violence/destruction of property.
7) Coverage of any news story should not be one-sided. Space must be given for all shades of opinion.
8) Reporting should be even handed. No kid glove treatment for a certain party and hostile treatment for another.
9) Do not crawl when you are asked to bend.
These are but a few. Media is the fourth pillar of our democracy. Where as there are rules and regulations for the other three, media should not misuse its liberty.
...ponder
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Dignity of High Office
This is the age of transparency and skeletons tumbling out sooner is better than later. Since the People, who are not the electors, are already inured to high offices being debased, dignity is a non-issue here.
Despite Article 74, there can be individuals or situations, when the President can be proactive. Just recollect how the President directly interacted with the American Ambassador and UK High Commissioner when the PM was busy defending his Defense Minister in 1962.
I am afraid undue expectations from the present hapless contestants, are being aroused which was not the case earlier. Only time will tell whether the eventual occupant will measure up to the call of duties or she/he is also a frail human being. Just to refresh the memory how some past individuals performed, let me give a very few critical examples.
One President swore in an individual as PM who was yet to be elected the leader of the majority party in Parliament. The icing on the cake was that he later unsuccessfully conspired to unseat him.
Another President signed proclamation of Emergency without a Cabinet resolution.
Yet another President dismissed a state Government in comfortable majority even without a Governor’s report.
If we diligently catalogue, the list will be very long indeed. So the future incumbent need not worry that only lofty precedents are to be lived up to though that would be ideal. Our country is resilient. Let us be happy and watch the fun like Laxman’s Common Man.
Despite Article 74, there can be individuals or situations, when the President can be proactive. Just recollect how the President directly interacted with the American Ambassador and UK High Commissioner when the PM was busy defending his Defense Minister in 1962.
I am afraid undue expectations from the present hapless contestants, are being aroused which was not the case earlier. Only time will tell whether the eventual occupant will measure up to the call of duties or she/he is also a frail human being. Just to refresh the memory how some past individuals performed, let me give a very few critical examples.
One President swore in an individual as PM who was yet to be elected the leader of the majority party in Parliament. The icing on the cake was that he later unsuccessfully conspired to unseat him.
Another President signed proclamation of Emergency without a Cabinet resolution.
Yet another President dismissed a state Government in comfortable majority even without a Governor’s report.
If we diligently catalogue, the list will be very long indeed. So the future incumbent need not worry that only lofty precedents are to be lived up to though that would be ideal. Our country is resilient. Let us be happy and watch the fun like Laxman’s Common Man.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Snehalata Reddy, Sanjay Dutt and Film Fraternity
Ever since Sanjay Dutt had been sentenced and sent away to jail, the film fraternity is acting as if some subversion of justice had occured and an innocent has been made a fall guy. There is a talk of candle light vigil, protests, support, appeals, etc. Those indulging in this shrill cacaphony include the 'patriotism monopolists' like Shatrughan Sinha and 'Champions of secularism' like Mahesh Bhatt.
In this context, I would like to refresh the memory of some of my age who had seen emergency days and enlighten youngsters, who were too young at that time or were not even born, to the persona of Late Mrs. Snehalata Reddy and what happened to her.
Snehalata Reddy was a very sensitive artiste and wife of a sensitive director late Mr.Pattabhirama Reddy. Both had acquired international fame with their movies like 'Samskara'. Basically they belonged to the upper crust of the society solely immersed in creativity of the highest order with thier own political beliefs.
Despite their political beliefs and association with people like George Fernandez and other socialists, both the Reddys were law abiding, did not dabble with terrorism or befriend objectionable and potential plotters of mayhem and assassins of the innocent.
During emergency, when fundamental rights were abrogated and the Hon'ble courts held that there is no right to life enshrined in the constitution, there was an arrest warrant pending against George Fernandez who was underground. On the mere suspicion that Snehalata Reddy sheltered Fernandez, she was arrested and put in jail. No formal case nor any trial.
Her health was frail. She was not a hardened criminal to take the vagaries of jail life in her stride. (It may be worthwhile to recollect here that the likes of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia and Maharani of Jaipur were kept in death row cells.) Such was the vindictiveness. Her health steadily deteriorated. She was released without a case almost on the day she breathed her last.
Now, let us juxtapose this episode in our national shame with that of Sanjay Dutt's. Sanjay Dutt had cases booked against him. He was afforded a long drawn trial during which time for nearly 90% of the time he went about his life nonchalently. He had a very fair and upright judge who was quite lenient to him. Even while sentensing him, the judge showed his sympathy due to a mis-guided but dangerous-to-society youth. Sanjay Dutt still has further avenue open to him. Due process of law has been ensured and is being ensursed. His crime is such that except for a Presidential pardon, he cannot be condoned without subverting the law.
What happened to Snehalata Reddy? No chargesheet. No trial. No bail. No privileges but an accelerated death given with the heavy hand of a tyrant. Where was the film fraternity then? Where were these secularists and apologists of criminals? Where are they even today? Do they recollect her name or are they too embarassed to be bothered? Will they hold a candle light vigil on her death day now?
Ponder...
In this context, I would like to refresh the memory of some of my age who had seen emergency days and enlighten youngsters, who were too young at that time or were not even born, to the persona of Late Mrs. Snehalata Reddy and what happened to her.
Snehalata Reddy was a very sensitive artiste and wife of a sensitive director late Mr.Pattabhirama Reddy. Both had acquired international fame with their movies like 'Samskara'. Basically they belonged to the upper crust of the society solely immersed in creativity of the highest order with thier own political beliefs.
Despite their political beliefs and association with people like George Fernandez and other socialists, both the Reddys were law abiding, did not dabble with terrorism or befriend objectionable and potential plotters of mayhem and assassins of the innocent.
During emergency, when fundamental rights were abrogated and the Hon'ble courts held that there is no right to life enshrined in the constitution, there was an arrest warrant pending against George Fernandez who was underground. On the mere suspicion that Snehalata Reddy sheltered Fernandez, she was arrested and put in jail. No formal case nor any trial.
Her health was frail. She was not a hardened criminal to take the vagaries of jail life in her stride. (It may be worthwhile to recollect here that the likes of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia and Maharani of Jaipur were kept in death row cells.) Such was the vindictiveness. Her health steadily deteriorated. She was released without a case almost on the day she breathed her last.
Now, let us juxtapose this episode in our national shame with that of Sanjay Dutt's. Sanjay Dutt had cases booked against him. He was afforded a long drawn trial during which time for nearly 90% of the time he went about his life nonchalently. He had a very fair and upright judge who was quite lenient to him. Even while sentensing him, the judge showed his sympathy due to a mis-guided but dangerous-to-society youth. Sanjay Dutt still has further avenue open to him. Due process of law has been ensured and is being ensursed. His crime is such that except for a Presidential pardon, he cannot be condoned without subverting the law.
What happened to Snehalata Reddy? No chargesheet. No trial. No bail. No privileges but an accelerated death given with the heavy hand of a tyrant. Where was the film fraternity then? Where were these secularists and apologists of criminals? Where are they even today? Do they recollect her name or are they too embarassed to be bothered? Will they hold a candle light vigil on her death day now?
Ponder...
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