When PY meets PY: Political Yogi meets Paramahansa Yogananda

On 27^th September 2014 when Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he espoused the idea of celebrating International Yoga Day, besides focusing on many other critical issues relevant for all in today’s interconnected world. Now, mention of Yoga at a global geopolitical event could have sounded a bit out of sync to some cynics but for Indians who pride themselves on their Indian-ness, it was music to their ears. What better message could the prime minister of India give to the world than talking about Yoga, India’s biggest gift to the humanity!

And the setting was perfect! The concept was of Yoga. The countries involved were India and America – world’s largest and oldest democracy respectively. As the history chronicles, there has always been a divine connection between these two powerful and functional democracies of the world, set and strengthened around Yoga. The person propagating the message of Yoga was himself a yogi – a political one albeit. 

  

Whenever mention of Yoga is made anywhere in the world, one remembers two most revered spiritual Gurus from India - Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda. PM Modi mentions his namesake’s – Narendra Nath Datta alias Vivekananda – contribution in spread of Yoga worldwide but so far he hasn’t talked about the Yogi from whom the world learnt to practice Yoga and meditation i.e. Yoganandaji. Not his fault entirely because still many Indians aren’t fully aware of this most famous Indian abroad, besides Mahatma Gandhi, and his monumental works in the field of Spirituality and Yoga. For the world population, Paramahansa Yogananda is synonymous with Yoga.

I am sure that when our respected prime minister initiates his International Yoga Day celebrations, he will revolve his concept around the teachings of Yoganandaji as well and involve the disciples from his spiritual headquarters in America – SRF-YSS in Los Angeles, California – and spearhead the mission worldwide.    

It’s been 120 years since Swami Vivekananda swept America off its feet! The date was 9/11 – 11^th September, 1893. The city was Chicago. The venue was the Arts Institute of Chicago. The event was the opening day of the Parliament of the World’s Religions. And sitting on the dais was a young turbaned Hindu Monk whose holy handsomeness defied his deep spiritual stature. India, a predominantly Hindu nation, was still under the British rule.

The world had a strong sense of India as a wealthy nation and thus the desire for every explorer-voyager to discover it for its treasures and thus had inspired Christopher Columbus earlier and then Vasco da Gama to set sail for Indian shores from Spain and Portugal respectively in different points in time. As we know, Columbus instead ended up discovering the US; da Gama was fortunate to set his foot on the beaches of Calicut in southern India. India’s invasions were continued by Muslims and Mughals and then came the Britishers. Britain decided to deceive India into becoming its richest colony because of its ‘Golden Bird’ image. When we look into the history book pages, we realize that all these plunderers remained poor in spite of looting Indian wealth. The fact that they could not learn from the vast spiritual heritage of India is testimony to their almost blind-like vision and mindset. And therefore we see that when Vivekananda was chosen to represent India at Chicago World Congress, the world had very little idea about the most ancient and the complete religion of the humans i.e. Hinduism.

Swami Vivekananda got up from his chair and overcame his nervousness by inwardly bowing to Goddess Saraswati and began his talk: “Brothers and Sisters of America!” The entire arena burst into loud applause! Never before had any preacher got this kind of reception in the world convention on religions. After two minutes of rapturous and heart-warming response, Vivekananda resumed speaking. And as they say, the world got its first and full glimpse into the Hinduism. The audience was mesmerised by the divine knowledge of spirituality flowing from the spell-binding oratory of the Hindu Monk! After familiarizing the rapt spectators with the cornerstones of Hinduism and Vedic Philosophy, he talked about Yoga, and for the first time in their life the West became aware about this concept – the focal point of Spirituality – and about which they were to learn more from another Hindu Monk twenty seven years from then – in 1920 – who was to devote his life in the Divine Duty of teaching and spreading Yoga to the Western Populace, from his base in America. This seer was Paramahansa Yogananda.

In fact, on the 11^th September of 1893 when Swami Vivekananda was speaking at the Parliament of World’s Religions at the Arts Institute of Chicago, back home in India in Gorakhpur, an 8 month old infant by name of Mukunda Lal Ghosh had already been predicted by his parents’ Guru Lahiri Mahasaya as the Divinely destined Yogi to undertake the Divine Mission of teaching and spreading Kriya Yoga beyond the shores of the country. This Divine Design had been told to Lahiri Mahasaya by his Guru, the deathless Babaji, who had been living in the Himalayas for almost 2000 years and had chosen the advanced soul of Mukunda based on the request of Jesus Christ. Unbelievable? Yes, it could be so for the ignorants but not for the spiritually conscious souls.

Therefore, as predicted by Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya in 1893, twenty seven years later on 3^rd August in 1920, another Hindu Monk left the shores of India from the city of Calcutta via Bombay on the ship City of Sparta as an Indian delegate at the International Congress of Religious Liberals being held in the city of Boston.

The scene of 1893 was repeating itself. The date was 10/6 – 6^th October, 1920. The city was Boston. The venue was the Unity House in Boston. The event was the opening day of the International Congress of Religious Liberals. And sitting on the dais was a young turbaned Hindu Monk whose holy handsomeness defied his deep spiritual stature. India, a predominantly Hindu nation, was still under the British rule.

Swami Yogananda got up from his chair and got over his nervousness by inwardly sending prayers to his Guru and Mother Divine to help him sail through his maiden speech in America in English. The reception to his talk on ‘The Science of Religion’ can be gauged by the comments of the secretary of the American Unitarian Association: ‘Swami Yogananda, delegate from the Brahmacharya Ashram of Ranchi, …In fluent English and with a forceful delivery he gave an address of a philosophical character … which has been printed in pamphlet form for a wider distribution. …’ Soon after, his talk was published in a book under the same title.

And as was destined and divinely designed for him, Paramahansa Yogananda remained in America for the rest of his years and dedicated his life in dissemination of timeless teachings of ancient Hindu Philosophy and God Realization through the practice of scientific method of Kriya Yoga.

His Boston lecture was so enthusiastically received that soon he became the most sought after speaker in the country! He gave public lectures, conducted Kriya Yoga classes and wrote a book of poems ‘Songs of the Soul’. As was said by Sri Yukteswar, Yoganandaji’s Guru, his words on yoga were being heard in the West by thousands of thronging seekers! Babaji’s prophecy was coming true: ‘Kriya Yoga, the scientific technique of God Realization, will ultimately spread in all lands, and aid in harmonizing the nations through man’s personal, transcendental perception of the Infinite Father.’

Under the divine guidance, Paramahansa Yogananda made America his base and established SRF-YSS – Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsang Society – headquartered in Los Angeles, California. There residing in one of his SRF-YSS centers at Encinitas in 1946 he penned down his Autobiography of a Yogi, the book which is credited as ‘the book which changed the lives of millions’ and became the best-selling book on spirituality and autobiography globally and has remained so since then. Paramahansa Yogananda’s spiritual brilliance earned him many celebrity followers, a few noted ones being the Beatles, Mark Twain’s daughter Clara Clemens, nobel botanist Luther Burbank, soprano Amelita Galli-Curci, tenor Vladimir Rosing, and the sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar. Mahatma Gandhi took initiation in the liberating techniques of Kriya Yoga from Yoganandaji when he visited him at his Wardha Ashram in August of 1935. Yoganandaji took Mahasamadhi on 7^th March, 1952. His spiritual legacy has since been shining all over the world and has transformed the lives of millions of humans and continues to do so.

The modern age celebrity follower of Paramahansa Yogananda was the legendary Steve Jobs whose entire spiritual mooring was centered on the Autobiography of a Yogi, the only download he had on his iPad and the book which had inspired him in his early quest for spirituality and the book which continued to guide him even later – in his super successful days as the CEO of the iconic Apple; he used to read the Autobiography once every year.

Therefore, if India of today has to stake its claim to its rich heritage of Spirituality and Yoga for the world population, it has to do so through Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings because then only the world will be able to connect with this noble initiative wholeheartedly.

  

Mr. Prime Minister, may God and Gurus bless you and guide you in your International Yoga Day mission … 

The Mahatma and The Yogi

As the luck would have it, i got the opportunity to attend the book launch event of the eminent Indian historian Ramchandra Guha's 'Gandhi Before India' and while listening to his ever-engaging talk on his book and Gandhiji, a thought crossed my mind. 

When Gandhiji was being hailed all across the world as the Mahatma - the Great Soul, there was another Indian being heralded globally for his Yoga teachings and was acknowledged as the Yogi - the saint - Paramahansa Yogananda! And both shared deep mutual admiration and reverence. Yoganandaji got to meet the Mahatma in 1936 during his trip to India when he was invited by Gandhiji to his Wardha Ashram. The divine meeting of the two God-blessed souls is historic; if one was admired as the Political Master then the younger one was acclaimed as the Spiritual Master! And these two have been clearly the best Indian gifts to the world! If Gandhiji gave the principles of Non-violence and Truth as tools towards any struggle, then Yoganandaji taught the ancient vedic Yoga to the humanity! How i wish i were born in their times ... :) 

Here i share a tribute to the Mahatma by the Yogi, which he wrote much before meeting his spiritually-political idol.

Mahatma Gandhi
by Swami Yogananda East-West, April, 1932

At Gethsemane, out of that perishable confinement of the body of Jesus, they let loose His spirit so that it could be free to roam in the hearts of many people, and kindle their ignorance, dispelling the night as they awakened.

Oh, Gandhi! The prison walls have become a temple by Thy Presence!! And Thou art more dangerously eloquent by Thy Silence!! Thy physical voice is muffled ‘neath the prison vaults, but Thy silent voice of Spirit is loosened, and is beating the drums of universal sympathy and attention, to rouse the races slumbering in hatred, in political selfishness, in greed for possession, in mutual deceptions, and in brother making war preparations against brother.

Gandhi! Politically crucified, Thou art not only the savior of a race, of India, but also of all the selfish, hatred-stricken races of the world. And now there comes Thy prison, like a Judas, to take Thee away from us, but Thy prison shall be Thy best message bearer, the greatest preacher of Thy truth for all times, and Thy supreme slave to build a mansion of love for Thy truth and Thee in the heart of each race.

Gandhi! Thy Bible, all the warriors of futurity will read and follow, and therein learn to combat, not their brothers, but the Satan of Ignorance and all his army.

Gandhi! Thy saintliness, and the fragrance of the unfading flower of Thy determination, will charm the menacing fire of cannon, until they sing instead the Freedom of India through Peace.

Gandhi! Thy flute of peace will tune the wild beasts of political misunderstandings in the race! Just as God did not choose to use His miraculous powers to discipline man, but chose love instead, so Thou has chosen the path of love, not force, that mightiest love to free India. For Thy love will awaken love, will melt gunpowder, selfishness, political strife, hatred, wars, fighting airplanes, bombs, machine guns, and armies into the consistency of All-Freeing Love.

Oh Gandhi! Thy Love will build the United States of the World, and Thy seal will be in every heart!

...........

*(1) “The Self shines forth like a sun in those who have banished ignorance by wisdom.”—Bhagavad Gita V

Mr. Buyer, please return Mahatma Gandhi's blood

At the outset, I thank you, Arnab, for bringing to our notice the most absurd auction to have ever taken place on this earth. Otherwise, our great country wouldn’t have come to know that today Mahatma Gandhi’s blood soaked soil along with a few blades of grass gathered from the site of his assassination by someone with ‘real foresight’ was bought over by a buyer with ‘equal futuristic vision’. As I had mentioned in my sms, it is the most undignified and an utterly greedy attempt to commoditize a great soul and in the process desecrate a Mahatma’s body.

India, as usual, could not prevent this most insensitive display of commercial sense in London.

I know that all things belonging to Gandhiji are immensely valuable because of the legacy attached; and because he did not possess many material things, thus, whatever little items he had on and around him, keep getting propped up at various high value auctions around the globe and sold to the highest bidder. But auctioning Mahatma’s blood soaked soil is so macabre and mindless that I took a couple of seconds to comprehend the entire issue.

The irony of the situation is that the anonymous buyer could own a piece – literally – of Mahatma Gandhi for less than 12,000 pounds! If only his intact body was preserved and now available for auction, I wonder what price the world would be ready to pay for his various body parts. Or, instead of getting a Hindu funeral by his body being consigned to fire, if Gandhiji were buried post his murder, I am sure that some “fellow with real foresight” would have dug his body out, pulled his skeleton out of his decaying muscles and hung it in a biology laboratory, and auctioned every possible piece of his body to a few enthusiastic buyers at the highest offered price! The buyers in turn could preserve their bought possessions for a few more years and get maximum returns on their thoughtful investments through auctions.

No wonder, Mahatma Gandhi is so valuable to the humanity!

But why is Mahatma Gandhi not so valuable to India? Why has India failed to preserve things related to the Mahatma? That too in spite of having legislated a law in this regard only a few years back. India for sure has adequate resources to bring back these treasures and respectfully preserve them for the future generations to see them, feel them and get inspired by them. It is time India started valuing its own heritage. Because then only the world will value India.

Gandhiji is universal in his appeal and relevance as is proven by the fact that he and his principles have inspired all the great world leaders of the contemporary times. But the same intensity of reverence is lacking amongst his own country folks and that is really unfortunate. This aspect got firmly established and exposed to the world when it took a Richard Attenborough to dedicate his film to Mahatma Gandhi; interestingly the former was a British against whose country’s rule Gandhiji had led a peaceful movement and got India its much due Independence.

A few crazy people have the argument that if we could not preserve Gandhiji and his principles in our hearts and life, what is the point lamenting the loss of his belongings including his blood in auctions. Well, to those people’s twisted sense of argument my counterpoint is that his blood cannot be grouped under his memorabilia. Why only Gandhiji’s blood, any person’s blood for that matter, or any part of the body post death has to be consecrated with full dignity and respect. In Mahatma’s case, as opined by his great granddaughter, the blood soaked soil should be bought back by the Government of India from the buyer by paying him his price – 12,000 pounds – and immersed either in an ocean or in a river.

Till then Gandhiji would keep wondering from up above the sky so high and saying in his heart, “Thanks, Arnab!” J …

Fan-tastic!

Below illustrated is the ‘anatomy of an admirer’.

Sounds like a biology class! At least it is not a lesson in “postmortem” as the admirer is still alive! …

Before you start wondering, I would like to narrate a recent incident. I was in Bhopal having dinner at the Jehan Numa Palace’s famed restaurant “Under The Mango Tree” when I saw Jaya Bachchan walk in with a few friends & relatives. Obviously all heads turned in her direction including mine but there was no pandemonium. She sat at the next table, ordered food & drinks and they started having peaceful conversations. Once the dinner was over I decided to go and talk to her which I did. I congratulated Jaya aunty for becoming a grand mother and reminded her of my previous meeting with her at the Delhi airport when she was with Amitabh uncle, Abhishek and Anil Ambani – all returning to Bombay in Anil’s private jet post her (and Anil’s) oath in the Rajya Sabha – which she, of course, did not remember but seemed to be happy talking about – and I genuinely complimented on her still maintained elegance and charm! She thanked me profusely and then I requested for a photograph with her. Jaya aunty very sweetly declined saying “it is an extremely private dinner; there are so many people around who too would like to do the same; hope you will understand and not mind … God bless you.” I understood of course and did not mind also! Three days later when I was returning to Delhi, I again saw her walk inside the airport wearing a beautiful dress looking every inch a “Guddi”! She had a bit of harried expression around her. Had she spent a few minutes around, I would have gone to her again, requesting her to pose for a picture with me – this time at a public place, giving her no opportunity to refuse! … Her departure started a discussion about this entire phenomenon called “celebrity-admirer” relationship. And I decided to pen down my thoughts. So, here I am …

Watching Jaya aunty board the aircraft to Bombay I got reminded of an article by a celebrated journalist more than half a decade back in one of the national dailies in which he (a hint!) lamented the species called “admirers” – a “fan” in popular parlance – and labeling them to be “Goodwill Hunters”! Well, he must have had his own reasons (very flimsy from his account in the piece though) but it hurt me immensely. Because I am also a fan of a very few but have never indulged into “goodwill hunting” – so far!

The “Goodwill Hunting” term hurt me because as an active person with interest in various fields I have met many a celebrities, have interacted with them, taken snaps with a few but I do not think that being a non-celebrity, I have ever tried to “hunt them down for any goodwill”! No way.

Of course, there many people who are real fanatics (fan comes from fanatics!) in their hero-worship but this kind of frenzied behavior is reserved for a select few and that too at select places – few film stars and few cricketers being amongst this coveted club! General public otherwise is so ignorant about most of the things that people – celebrities – in most of the fields other than film and cricket are not even known, forget about being recognized! Thus, the bizarre attitude of a few little known names/faces is so offending that you actually wonder at their fantasy about their own self!

Here is the disclaimer: I admire/respect many celebrities/achievers but am a “fan” of very few; they being authors (Orhan Pamuk, Shashi Tharoor), anchor (Arnab Goswami), industrialist (Ratan Tata), social leader (Anna Hazare), film star (Amitabh Bachchan), journalists (Karan Thapar, Vir Sanghvi), politicians (Rajiv Gandhi, Barack Obama), cricketers (MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar), sports (Michael Schumacher, Boris Becker) and my ultimate favorite Mahatma Gandhi! And I have never ever tried “goodwill hunting” with any of them! …

Only a couple of months back I was watching Ranbir Kapoor talk about ‘fans’ on “Frankly Speaking” on Times Now and I found his thoughts to be refreshing! He mentioned about his father’s haughty behavior towards the “approaching fans” and thus his determination as a young kid that if ever he became a celebrity he would always respect his fans because it is because of the fans that a film star is born and sustained! He sounded noble and “hat-ke” though in reality if he really practices it is yet to be confirmed…

I also find one more aspect very odd about many of the celebrities. That if you correspond with famous people (not because you want to trespass/harass but only to share your opinion on certain issues and the celebrity in question need not be from ‘your set of favorites’), they will not respond; or if they do ‘oblige’, most of the time they will not address the person with his/her name. And if they do, they will not use the expression “dear” before the name. Now, prefixing “dear” is just a civilized way of writing/replying; no fool (recipient/fan) will ever believe that he/she has become a “dear” of the personality!

Not that I blame them entirely for their strange attitude. Sometimes admirers can be really rude and unforgiving and crazy but generally they are supportive and understanding. I also realize that they are so hard pressed for time that taking time out for responding to each and every email/letter could become hugely challenging (by the way, how many such personalities would be there in this world?!). I also buy the argument that they are humans too and thus need personal space in their ever-crowded environment in which every person is out there hungry for a piece of him/her! In many instances, their own insecurities and personal troubles could be so overwhelming that they live cocooned and seldom bother to look around and savor the privileges bestowed upon them by virtue of being successful/known in their chosen field! Nevertheless, what I also understand from all this is that they clearly fail to understand the favorite-fan relationship.

This celebrity-fan relationship is very interesting. And divine. Though friends of a celebrity are often because of his/her fame, but fans are like stars in the universe: shining for him/her with ‘moral support & well-wishes’ from afar but never crossing their paths to cause eclipses like ‘planets and satellites’! This relationship is absolutely one-sided, without any kind of expectation from the more blessed one, though the latter get taken-for-granted often in this divinely unbalanced equation. And there is no “goodwill hunting”, for God’s sake!

Nevertheless, I remain a fan, forever … J

I am Anna !

Standing there at Ramlila Ground, seeing him sit straight on the stage with his trademark Anna topi, looking lovingly into the massive crowd gathered there, a thought stayed with me: how would he be feeling “being Anna”? …

It had been weighing on my conscience since Aug 16 for not being able to make it to the Ramlila Ground and pledge my support to Anna in person; I had this strong feeling of guilt that in spite of being a proponent of anti-corruption movement, I had not contributed to it in real terms. The reasons were numerous but though none being an “excuse’, I decided to do my bit. Therefore, today – 27^th Aug – I went to Ramlila Ground in the afternoon.

The moment I made the decision, a strange feeling engulfed me; I found myself very uncomfortable with the thought of being amidst that huge crowd. Even my parents were uneasy. They advised me to strictly maintain my cool unless provoked to “that” extent. I assured them that I would as I didn’t want to become a “breaking news” in front of the Indian media fraternity!

There were people all around. Getting inside the Ground took almost 20 minutes. But the security personnel were managing the queues well. People were of all age groups, with males obviously hugely dominating in numbers. There was a separate allocated space for females. People were in groups, with family members including aged parents and children, singles - from all classes and strata of society. The energy of the gathered public was amazing! Chants of Anna were being heard all over, in fact from a couple of kilometers away. Loudspeakers were blaring speeches and songs. ‘Main Anna Hoon’ – I am Anna – caps and badges were seen on almost everybody; many wearing tri-colored wrist bands and waving Indian Tri-color in numerous sizes. The mood was of extreme eagerness but of absolute hope at the same time. The reverence for Anna was palpable. The Ground resembled a place of pilgrimage!

After having stood in the “mixed” queue for almost 20 minutes, I gained entry into the Ground. My first instinct was to look for Anna! He was sitting on a raised podium at a distance. Automatically I started walking in that direction but keeping myself away from the crowd –walking at the periphery of the gathering. However, barely I had covered a few meters that suddenly I got caught in a huge sea of people, all having come inside “suddenly” – that is what it seemed then! – crushing me virtually from all sides. The scene resembled an impending stampede! And I got alert and concerned about my physical safety. But to my surprise, people – all male crowd – behaved extremely decently! No even a single person tried to show his ‘basic instincts’. And, perhaps, for the first time in my life I felt proud of my countrymen who otherwise exhibit such pathetic attitude towards women that you cannot help but hate them. To me it seemed to be the reflection of Anna in every male present there!

Another distinct feature of the Ground was the presence of media. Never before I had seen such a huge congregation of press for any event! The OB vans were parked all around the ground; television cameras and other broadcast paraphernalia were mounted inside the ground. Television channel reporters were busy reporting. I watched them work – and work hard non-stop! – with high amount of respect. If Anna could drive home his point in otherwise not-so-courageous Indian hearts, a great degree of credit goes to the Indian media which stood by him throughout and ensured that Anna’s people’s movement became stronger with every passing day. In this one name which stands out is of Arnab Goswami and his team at Times Now – Team Arnab! - they set a record of non-stop coverage of close to 300 hours (13 days) and made sure that all relevant points regarding the Jan Lokpal Bill – including doubts, concerns raised by genuine people as well as detractors – were debated with utmost sincerity and honesty with the sole purpose of putting the truth before public. And if many felt he could be rechristened as Arnab Hazare or Anna Goswami, I think that says it all! Continue your crusade, Bengali Babu Moshai J … (as called by parliamentarians!).

Parliamentary discussions were on; India’s elected representatives were meeting and debating the ‘3’ points put forth by Anna for inclusion in the Jan Lokpal Bill draft for discussion. The passing of parliamentary resolution was awaited anxiously as Anna had entered his 12^th Day of fasting. Everyone shared a deep concern for his falling health; everyone wanted the government to relent so that Anna could break his fast.

However, what was incredible was Anna’s energy level! He looked strong enough sitting there and lovingly staring into the crowd, considering the length of his non-stop fast. I tried to take a few pictures of him, and did so as well, but the sheer distance between him and me ensured I did not get any “good” photograph. However, I could get myself clicked with Anna on stage and people all around in the background and guaranteed that I had a souvenir!

I called up my parents and gave them a running commentary of the happenings at the Ground till it was announced that the parliament had passed the resolution as per Anna’s demands on the pending Jan Lokpal Bill. And the crowd erupted with ecstasy! What a moment it was! I felt blessed being a part of the history being made! My regret of not being born in the times of Mahatma Gandhi felt like regressing to a large extent! I was witnessing a watershed!

Anna with support of his team member got up and waved happily to the crowd which was now loudly cheering and chanting his name! It was a victory and it was unprecedented! Never before since the time of India’s independence, people’s power had been acknowledged in the arrogant corridors of political power! The democracy in all its essence was on display! And it was an extremely proud moment for India!

Anna proved to the world once again that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of peaceful protests were alive and relevant even in today’s 21^st century! And he showed to the people that collectively they could bring about desired changes in society and polity of the nation! Indians looked transformed!

Words fail me to describe the event in its entirety. It was an experience of my lifetime! I kept watching the happenings both on and off the stage for some more time, soaking in the fervor and festivity! There was hope floating all around coupled with confidence about a corruption free future for all! This was in fact the “game changing” moment in Anna’s crusade against corruption! And I was simply happy to be a part of this soon-to-be-seen change!

…………

28-08-11: Anna has broken his fast today. After a couple of days in hospital (Thanks, Dr. Naresh Trehan, for looking after Anna’s health for past 13 days; please continue to take care of him even beyond his discharge from your Medanta Medicity!) he would be again on his mission for a strong Jan Lokapl Bill. As he said: the battle is only 50% won! To think that the task towards achieving the other 50% would be smooth now, as the political class has “woken up” to the reality that India needs change, is a bit naïve. Anna will have to continue his protest and sustain his self-led India Against Corruption fight along with his esteemed Team Anna and his millions of supporters – Annas! - all over the country and abroad. But one thing is clear: This time India will ensure that the Change comes - and fast! Else, Anna will fast again! ;)

I don’t have to be Paul The Octopus to predict this: if Indian politicians still fail to see the change in public mood towards them, they are going to become irrelevant soon. The foolishly arrogant attitude that they demonstrated so shamelessly for so long will have to be shed. Hubris will not take them far anymore. If they do not embrace the desired Change, then they would get changed. But the process of Change will not stop; in fact the Catalyst for Change has just got activated …

Anna, Gandhiji is smiling up there J

.……….

Baba Ramdev and his 5-star Satyagraha!

The setting was perfect: Ramlila Ground, therefore, it had to be high drama by the protagonist along with his protesters! …

The desire for a pie in the Anti-Corruption Movement was so intense inBaba Ramdev that no sooner Anna Hazare wound up at Jantar Mantar, the politically ambitious Baba Ramdev announced his “fast-unto-death” campaign against black money. It was bound to be interesting to see theYoga guru add another chapter to India’s crusade against corruption. There was never any doubt about his ability to mobilize his supporters - he has them in abundance - to force the Indian government to enact laws to bring back the massive amount of ill gotten money stashed away in foreign banks and tax havens abroad. Like Anna, he too was bound to get relentless media coverage. Interesting, however, was also the probable response of the Indian public to a new episode of Dharna-in-Delhi; also important was to see the handling capabilities of the government. (The issue, nevertheless, is that a stubbornly arrogant Indian government does not relent till it is forced to do so – like Anna did.) And the outcome of Baba’s so-called fast turned out to be exactly what I had envisaged!

With great difficulty Anna Hazare had succeeded in waking up the perennially sleeping Indians to stand up for their country; in my living memory it was for the first time that Indians had come out in full force to fight against corruption. It was heartening to see an average Indian - who has been otherwise quite comfortable with his/her corruption surrounded existence – adopt the word“crusade” in his/her vocabulary of daily living.

Then came Baba with a clear mission to hijack people’s platform in order to further his political aspirations – though he vehemently denies this charge. And thus the country witnessed a new look crusade being staged in an air-conditioned ambiance – all with public money snatched forcibly by Baba’s menin name of providing comforts to the congregating protesters in a “hot” Delhi!

More bizarre was the manner in which the government of India attempted to tackle it. First it tried to woo Baba by rushing senior ministers – including the finance minister! - as soon he alighted from his private jet at the Delhi airport. It seemed of be greatly wary of the sheer number of his followers. When the placating policy failed, it tried to strike a secret deal with him in the setting of a plush 5-star hotel and succeeded in getting a hand written assurance from him to stop his agitation. Baba, not satisfied with the attention he had got so far, tried to garner as much political mileage out of the event as possible and thus took au-turn on his words and decided to continue his protest. In response, when the government tried to convince the country of the patch-up by waving his letter in a press conference, Baba levied charges on the government and called it a “liar”which, as we all know by now, did not go down too well with it. Police was sent to chase away the protesters with a midnight crackdown. The scene became hugely chaotic with Media broadcasting live the mayhem. Sleeping people were forcefully evicted and even Baba was forced to flee the ground in disguise. The political theater, famously called the Theatre of the Absurds, was at it best!

By using force on peaceful protesters – though no one was injured with mild lathi-charge and tear gas shells – the government with its highly unimaginative move has inadvertently relinquished its grace and moral rights to be a proponent of aam-aadmi, and has allowed Baba to seize the opportunity to garner unwarranted credence for his campaign. And the scene of drama has shifted to Haridwar for now, with his followers openly supporting “the person” and not “the cause”. In addition, the saffron brigade hooking onto the bandwagon and trying to give it a communal hue is the most disturbing aspect. If left unchecked, it has the potential to scuttle Anna’s movement and provide chances to unscrupulous to gain undue advantages by exploiting gullible population’s sentiments.

Though in a country where corruption had long back ceased to make any“news” till Team Anna shook them up from their siesta, a hugely popular figure like Baba Ramdev taking up the cause of corruption could have strengthened civil society’s crusade, if only his intentions were genuine. On the contrary, Baba’s 5-star campaign has in fact rendered the term impotent, though temporarily. The legitimacy of the agitation has become doubtful. The seriousness of the purpose which is always the driving force behind all such movements looks to have got diluted in Baba’s case completely.

To say the least, I am happy at the developments.

I was never comfortable with Baba Ramdev’s foray into the “movement” area because his credibility as a serious campaigner for country’s cause was always a big question mark. To me he seemed to be an opportunist who wanted to ride the wave of public support and garner a footing in the political landscape of the country. I never believed him when ever he tried to proclaim his so-called detachment to politics in spite of floating a political party, his so-called philanthropic effort to cleanse the country of corruption. His claim to the cause as a co-crusader seemed illegitimate as he is known to have amassed massive wealth the sources of which are still unknown. And then his attempt at redefining the way to conduct a campaign: 5-star Satyagraha! I am sure Mahatma Gandhi must be amused up there!

The contrast between Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev could not have been starker!

Though I do not believe in public display of sentiments, nevertheless, I pledge my full support to Team Anna and promise to be on fast in solidarity – at home and in office due to professional compulsions – the next time they embark on their fast protest for the Lokpal Bill. …

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P.S.: Let’s not forget that in today’s times of crusades, the one entity which deserves the maximum credit for initializing it in India is the Media, especiallyArnab Goswami at Times Now who with his courageous campaigns against corruption forced the government to relent and act and inspired the activists like Anna Hazare! …

Egypt "Live" : March like an Egyptian ...

No astrologer could have “predicted” that 2011 was destined to be the Year of Revolution! Of Change! The uprising – “Jasmine Revolution” - which started in Tunisia in late Dec’10, has spread far and wide and is slated to be the watershed in world politics. After ousting Ben Ali from his 23 years of unopposed iron fisted rule over Tunisians, Egyptians Revolution is the most courageous manifestation of people’s power and desire for democracy: liberty and dignity in life!

2 weeks have passed since the protests erupted on the streets of Cairo and got congregated to the central part of the city that is Tahrir Square but the determination of the people of Egypt has remains undiminished. Their sustenance of energy and enthusiasm amidst strong government erected barriers – figuratively and actually – is a testimony to the burning desire of Egyptians to comprehensively reject autocratic form of governance practiced by a firmly established Hosni Mubarak. To watch Mubarak cling to his presidency in face of massive public outcry is almost pitiable. He has to realize fast that he will not be able to withstand the winds of change blowing in Egypt. He will have to go. It is only a matter of days. No amount of manipulations – his last straw - in the name of the so-called “orderly transition” will ‘fool’ Egyptians anymore. Hosni Mubarak will have to go. Period.

Egyptians’ “Million Man March” – March of Million - to Tahrir Square marked the reinforcement of Mahatma Gandhi’s universally applicable – and still relevant - peaceful principles towards pursuit of freedom. This also marked a new beginning in rewriting global politics especially in the Arab and African parts of the globe. All the ongoing revolts narrate the same story for and of Change. The challenge is to keep “marching”.

To the people of the world, I say: If you need a life of liberty and dignity, then, march like an Egyptian! …

And, to Hosni Mubarak and all the autocrats of the world, I say: Go, go, go …

………………….

The entire world is focused on the unfolding events in Egypt and elsewhere. The global media – BBC, CNN and ABC in particular – has played an incredible role in taking the boiling revolution to billions’ household! “History-in-making” is being watched “live” which is unprecedented! The “history-in-making” is also in making the whole world unite as world citizens! …

India Poised for Revolution??? It's High Time ...

I was flying back to Delhi on 25^th evening and was looking out of window as the aircraft was on its descent. The approaching land of Delhi looked beautiful. It was a great relief from the feeling of suffocation I was experiencing as a result of having to sit in a ‘window’ seat sandwiched between the aircraft body on one side and a human’s body on the other side (in the middle seat)!

(It was the second time in a row that I couldn’t manage an aisle seat on my way back to the city. I can’t even remember the last time I had flown sitting at a window. I have to remember to Net check-in from next time onwards…)

My mind was engrossed in numerous thoughts which were taking me far and wide: from earth to moon and back to earth! I imagined myself as an alien about to touch down on the planet earth! And also about Neil Armstrong’s landing on the Moon! Humanity at large also crossed my mind. And the feeling I got was similar to what I get whenever I see a cute little child: what kind of a human he/she will grow to be? (Why do people behave the way they do???) Simultaneously I was trying to make out the popular landmarks on Delhi’s beautifully lit landmass. Suddenly I remembered and wondered how spectacular the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium would have looked from up above the sky so high on the day of the inauguration and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games. And then all those unearthed scams and scamsters came flooding to my mind! The city which looked so tranquil from thousands of miles in the sky suddenly seemed ugly. And I became aware of the presence of corrupt and cruel people – politicians and bureaucrats and police and mafias and criminals – walking the earth below.

I thought about India and the Indians. And also about the Republic Day the next day and the Padma awards and if Arnab Goswami had made to the final list (I had no time to abreast myself with the News throughout the day in Bombay). I was also very keen to know if Dr. Binayak Sen had been granted bail. Then my thoughts took me thousands of miles away to Tunisia. From Arnab to Media to Tunisia and back to India, my mind was racing fast! India’s struggle for independence and its leaders and freedom fighters came flashing. And then a thought solidified – being there on my mind since a few days, since the Tunisian revolution – that why is India not witnessing any revolution anymore? Because the prevailing state of affairs in India is immensely ugly and brutal for majority and which can be corrected only by a revolution. How long can India act deaf and dumb?

A “slap” saw Tunisia get into a revolutionary mode, ousting its dictator with sheer show of public anger and power. Tunisia’s uprising inspired similar protests in neighboring African and Middle-Eastern states. It could turn out to be a watershed moment – movement – when the world looks at it a few years from now.

India has a lot to learn from Tunisia. In spite of the so-called story about India being “poised”, our country needs major reforms in all walks of life. Democracy is often the most confused position; democracy is abused by many to manipulate systems to suit personal gains. In India, ordinary citizens – famously called as aam-aadmi - are put under illusory state of being powerful and free whereas the reality is mostly opposite. The “ballot power” is the most exaggerated form of public power.

2010 saw the Indian Media emerge as a strong crusader with its relentless and impactful activism. The Indian establishment, which is otherwise immune to public pressure or public anger, was forced to act in many cases relentlessly pursued by the Indian Media. India saw its Media acting as the “fourth” pillar in the real sense of the term. A Media in its “Change Agent” avatar could have easily started a mutiny if same level of reportage had happened in any other country. But not in India.

India kept its “poise” even in an environment intense with exposes about utter levels of corruption and blatant use of office and power - and public money! We did not see even a single protest by Indian public against the exposed scams and scamsters. Indians seemed to be least affected by billions of country’s money being looted by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and officials. Rather we found many advocating against the Media for bringing to light monumental corruption in many areas. This was especially witnessed just before the start of the Common Wealth Games. “Corruption is nothing new; let the Games carry on!” was how majority reacted initially. Instead of feeling let down by the sheer scale of scam, Indians targeted the Media. It was crazy!

CWG scam led to strings of bigger scams but India kept sleeping. How long are we going to behave like ostriches and believe that “all is well”? Till the sting of corruption hurts us directly and individually? When will we come together and protest against the gross and grotesque manipulations by the Indian establishment – government and everybody else in power? When are we Indians going to start a revolt and free India from the corrupt tentacles of its hugely tainted politicians and bureaucrats and police? We see people – public – coming out in streets protesting trivial issues – again politically motivated suiting narrow gains – but never ever do we witness Indians coming out together and demonstrating for the right to a manipulation & corruption free life.

India is an incredible country – no doubt. But it has an equally incredible legacy of remaining under “foreign” rule for several centuries. If Mahatma Gandhi hadn’t happened to India, we would probably have remained under British rule for many more decades.

Today, India is supposed to be “poised” - for bigger things on the global stage. It is an emerging economy and has created wealth for many. There is a sense of overall prosperity all around – but restricted to cities only. In addition, as more than 70% of Indians are under the age of 35, thus, India can claim to be a “young nation”. But where is exuberance and enthusiasm of a typical youth? Where is confidence and rebellion so characteristic of youth? Why our youths do not revolt against wrongs and injustices and discriminations witnessed so often in our country and which have the potential to wreck havoc with life? Why is our youth comfortable with corruption gnawing at the country’s foundation? Why do Indians – fortunate ones in cities – have this “I-don’t-care-as-long-as-it-doesn’t-affect-me-directly”??? … Or, is our youth busy enjoying bliss by playing with amazing “apps” available on a cell phone?

Tunisia started the fire which has spread to its neighbouring countries and where the mantle of revolution has been taken up by their youths. Indian youth needs to wake up to shake up the corrupt Indian establishment and bring about radical political and social upheaval and reclaim our India of yesteryears when it was hailed as “Sone ki Chidiya” and where Ram-Rajya prevailed! …

Are we too waiting to be “slapped” out of our slumber??? … It is high time India saw a revolution … Remember, we have a fundamental right to revolt!

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The aircraft landed with a slight jerk and I landed in my real India. …

Happy Republic Day J , belatedly!

Don't drag Ratan Tata into 2G Scam; he defines Integrity.

Manu Joseph of Open Magazine and Vinod Mehta of Outlook know too well: Ratan Tata defines terms like Integrity, Trust, Respect and, of course, Courage besides all superlatives used to describe character of somebody as extraordinary as Ratan Tata! Therefore, dragging Ratan Tata into the ongoing 2G Scam by publishing his conversations with Niira Radia is a deliberate attempt to deflect the focus from the main culprits i.e. the hordes of politicians without forgetting A. Raja and a bunch of bureaucrats involved in looting country coffers of more than 176,000,000 crores.

Ratan Tata’s taped talks with Niira Radia, his colleague, suggest nothing which could be of any harm to the nation or its citizens or a plot to subvert laws and policies in his favour. The conversations are between two citizens and private – absolutely nobody else’s business to intrude upon it.

I solidly support Ratan Tata’s standpoint that if the government agencies wanted to record Niira Radia’s phone conversations for “a particular” purpose, then they should have ensured that they remained – and used – for “that particular” purpose only, and nothing else. Yet the government agencies failed to protect them against theft. By letting it get “leaked” – along with Niira’s talks with other personalities including some media heavyweights – and get published online and in a magazine is a clear intrusion of his privacy.

Ratan Tata is a man of incorruptible character and doubting him is like “pot & kettle calling Gold black”! If there is one – and only - Indian who commands respect and admiration beyond Indian borders like Mahatma Gandhi that is Ratan Tata. He has built his persona on fundamentals which an ideal human personality is made of. His stature in public minds and hearts is beyond reach. Ratan Tata is the only living Indian worthy of being a real Bharat Ratan. Maligning his reputation is a huge injustice to him - and the country as well.

I am sure the apex court will do justice to Ratan Tata and order punishment for all involved in purposefully planning and plotting to assassinate his character. Supreme Court will not disappoint him - and India as well.

I have a Question for Editors of both Open Magazine and Outlook: Have the guts to expose the “real” culprits. Do not try a deliberate diversionary tactic to divert nation’s attention from the core issue. Do not use Rata Tata to titillate public and get eyeballs and readership. Be a man; do not act like a comprehensively challenged human.

(I wonder if somebody taped both Manu Joseph’s and Vinod Mehta’stelephone conversations, will they come out squeaky clean and politically correct persons? It is anybody’s guess! … Now, will both of you publicly apologize to Rata Tata?)

Barack Obama and India-US relationship

Barack Obama shares an old connection with India which goes back to 1981 when he had come visiting families of his friends from India. (Not much is known though about ‘those’ friends or their families.) Those were young Obama’s Occidental College (Los Angeles) days before his shifting to Columbia University in New York.

And that is the reason why “dal” (pulses) remains one of his favorite dishes which he can cook as well!

Nevertheless, India’s influence on Barack Obama goes much beyond “dal”. India’s biggest ‘gift’ to him has been ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ who gained entry into his impressionable mind through his idol Martin Luther King Jr.; the latter had based his Civil Rights movement on MG’s philosophies of non-violence and truth. As the world knows, President Obama has Mahatma’s photograph in his office for his daily dose of motivation and guidance! Needless to say, Barack Obama has fashioned his politics on Gandhiji’s teachings.

The fact that his “inner core” of support staff comprises of many Indian-Americans is not a mere coincidence. Also, President Obama complimenting Manmohan Singh by saying “when he speaks, the world listens” reflects his genuine admiration for the prime minister of India.

Nevertheless, since the confirmation of him becoming the 44^th President of the United States of America, the view started doing rounds in the diplomatic circles that the US-India relationship will undergo major shift under Obama administration because he was never seen to be pursuing India in his presidential campaign, unlike his predecessor. We all know that George W. Bush has been the biggest American advocate of India in the global arena. If India today is on the verge of becoming a member of the elite nuclear club, the sole credit goes to the fruition of the Indo-US civil nuclear treaty in his tenure, for which he fought the other world powers. And it is no wonder that India’s prime minister Manmohan Singh calls him a “friend” ("India loves you," that's what our PM proclaimed!?)!

What is perplexing is that in spite of being influenced by India and Indians hugely both at personal and political fronts, President Obama has kept India at bay in geopolitical matters. Whether it was marginalizing India in the skewed Af-Pak strategy or pointing against “job-outsourcing” to India or sidelining India for a permanent UNSC seat or not giving adequate support to India against Pak-sponsored terrorism, Barack Obama has displayed a contradictory image as far as relations with India goes.

President Obama should have known that US’ win in Afghan War could be ascertained only by engaging the biggest regional power that is India which is enormously involved in economic and political developments in Afghanistan anyway as an ally. Then his constant rumbling against “job-outsourcing” - mainly to India - is also clouded as the ongoing economic crises in US have myriad factors to blame of which “out-sourcing” makes a miniscule fraction. Moreover, a democratic India’s inclusion in the select set of permanent members of the United Nations Security Council could have further boosted US’ position in that caucus. Also, America letting go its reluctance to take Pakistan head-on in its war on terror - including in India - would have ensured the US sustained its leadership position in South Asia’s politics, closing almost all doors for China in this immensely important space for political leadership.

For India, whether it is being left out of the Af-Pak policy or America’s unfounded concern on job-outsourcing or US being non-committal on the UNSC seat, these things though very important but they certainly do not threaten the country’s existence. The most disturbing – rather disappointing – aspect of the Indo-US relationship has been America’s unwillingness to contain Pakistan on terror fronts against India. In fact, many a times the US has seemed to be doing ‘double-talks’ with India.

For me, a self-proclaimed fan of Barack Obama, this “duality” is a bit difficult to digest. For me, Barack Obama is my hero, God’s blessing to the world! He is amongst those rare personalities in history who have “not been” politicians but have been “genuine” leaders. As an ardent admirer I have been following his dramatic ascent into the world of politics since 2004 when he made his remarkable keynote speech at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. His “Race in America” speech in March of 2008 in Philadelphia cemented my space in his universe of admirers. The never-seen-before gathering at Tiergarten, Berlin in July 2008 to hear him – a presidential candidate from a foreign state – proved his emergence as a global leader. The joy-with-tears exhibited by the world during his Grant Park, Chicago “Victory Speech” on November the 4^th in 2008 announced that indeed he had a universal appeal. His 20^th January 2009 Presidential Inauguration on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. saw the entire world glued to television sets for witnessing the historic transition of Barack Obama into the 44^th President of the United States of America; a beautiful metamorphosis of an African-American into the President of America. Life indeed had come full circle!

I am sure President Obama will treat his historical and much awaited India visit as an important occasion – an opportunity - to forge a lasting bond with India (and he will not listen anymore to his misguiding advisers; instead he will listen to his inner voice). Because, it is in mutual benefits of both the nations that the oldest and the largest democracies come together and do “not compete” but “complement” each other. Together, India and America can reshape global geopolitics and economic scene and make world a much better place to live in!

Yes, Together We Can! ...

Welcome to India, Mr. President and the First Lady! I am sure you and Michelle will cherish your stay in Bombay and Delhi! I know for sure that soon you two would be back to my country with Malia and Sasha and Bo! I wish I could meet you in person whom I place only after Mahatma Gandhi in my list of select “favorites”! … Wish we Indians too had our own Barack Obama!

Happy Diwali J

Indian School for Study of World Religions, Ayodhya

I vividly remember the morning of 7^th of December in 1992. I had just got down from the train and had felt a bit uneasy seeing the unusual quietness around. It was very unlike Bombay VT! Soon the mystery was dispelled as I stepped out of the station. There were numerous Muslim families, their members sitting on large luggage with extreme fear written on face. And suddenly it struck me that it was the first day after 6^th December, the day on which the BJP et al had planned to demolish the disputed Babri Masjid. “So they have succeeded in their unholy mission!” I said almost loudly. As in those days there was no means to keep oneself updated on news while on move, I had missed the happenings of the previous day.

It was clear that riots had broken across the country expectedly post the madness at Ayodhya. But what was shocking was to see it happening in Bombay! Because, the city of Bombay had historically been miles ahead in cosmopolitism when compared to other metropolis of India. Bombay’s fabric had always been so well knit that to see it being tattered in this cruel manner was absolutely appalling.

Now the problem was to get a taxi and reach the destination fast which was the IIT Bombay’s hostels where I and a few fellow Institute mates were to stay for a day before proceeding to Pune for attending an academic seminar.

Our ride through the unusually hushed roads of Bombay was hassle-free but then we did not know how to coordinate with other members of the group reaching Bombay from other parts of the country. Telephone lines had been shut – cut? – and we were left high and dry. We could not even contact our family who could have been going through extreme mental agony with us trapped in a riotous Bombay!

A couple of us summoned our courage and decided to go to Bombay VT and meet the seniors as they could not be contacted otherwise. We boarded a Local at Kanjurmarg but couldn’t go beyond Kurla as the train was stopped by rioters. I distinctly remember the scene around me. We were in a ladies coupe and as soon as the firings started a male constable got into our compartment and shut the door. And then started the pandemonium! Ladies started wailing and suddenly the place resembled an assembly of mourners. The constable constantly pleaded with them to keep quiet. Standing in a corner taking support of the compartment wall, I calmly admired the cop’s dignified handling of the utter surrounding chaos. After about half an hour of being stationary, the train started to move backwards. And in a few minutes we were back in Kanjurmarg, having no other option but to retreat to our safe haven which was the IIT hostels.

With shops closed the hostels could hold on for two days in serving proper meals. But from day three, we had to survive on khichri 3 times a day! …

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1992 altered my view about Bombay. Though it still remains my most favourite Indian city, but the bond (seemed to have) snapped that day. The carnage engulfing the city fatally also seemed to swallow within itself rationale mind and heart of its dwellers. The damage was apparently irreversible. And it was sad.

I also lost a great deal of connection with my India. The era of Mandir-Masjid-Mandal was the major culprit. Suddenly the nation was scampering for restoring its God in its rightful abode! Secularism seemed to have vanished amongst lengthening shadows of religious fundamentalism. Bizarrely India’s 82% Hindus in majority had started to feel threatened by the so-called growing tentacles of Islam. And it was in retaliation to this insecurity that a handful of politically misguided citizens had decided to pull down the 4 centuries old mosque built by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, disrupting harmony and peace and harming India’s image globally. And Hinduism, the most advanced religion, looked so medieval and vulnerable! The demolition of the Babri Masjid remains one of the ugliest sights witnessed by our society.

What bothered me most was the madness exhibited by even the so-called educated class. Once a private matter, religion had become a topic of general discussion. Never before I had heard youth talk about religion in such damaging tones. As a child, in spite of occasionally attending church mass at school, I remember never having been taught anything about any God in particular (Jesus Christ could have been the preferred choice in a catholic set-up). The only teachings we received were on Moral Science. “Unity-in-Diversity” was a normal aspect of Life! At home, of course, it was a truly democratic and secular setting, reflecting the fundamentals of the Constitution of India!

This new disruptive trend was hugely discomforting and I was pretty vocal in making my displeasure clear against prejudiced religious talks. And it was precisely the reason that I was congratulated by family, friends and colleagues on BJP’s defeat in 2004 and again in 2009.

……………

After letting it languish in legal domain for 60 years, on 30^th September 2010 the Allahabad High Court delivered its landmark verdict in the Masjid-Mandir case. (And we thought the dispute had started in ’92?) In its balanced-yet-split ruling, the courts decided to divide the disputed land in three equal parts, one portion each for its three claimants. The country which was waiting with bated breath was enormously relieved to see the general public taking the judgement in its stride. India of today looked much more matured than 18 years ago.

In fact India’s ‘preparedness’ to deal with any (imminent?!) untoward incident post verdict was a bit absurd! Because if we believed the country had moved on then we should have known that citizens of today’s India would not react in the manic manner manifested previously (in ’92). The relevance of Mandir-Masjid apparently has got lost completely. (Will we respond in a similar manner to Mandal caste based rules getting revoked?)

Nevertheless, the ‘precautionary measure’ exercised by professional establishments and people alike to stay away from roads was quite amusing! (Actually I thanked each one of the absentees as I could reach home in time in spite of leaving office late!)

Here, however, I want to deliberate on one more point. In my opinion, the judgement could have been better if it had handed over the disputed landmass to the GOI with instructions to construct “Indian School for Study of World Religions” with a central common space dedicated for display of Gods(!), holy books, religious symbols, etc. representing all faiths. Because I firmly believe that in matters relating to religion, we – Indians and all fellow humans worldwide – are yet to graduate from prehistoric stage of beliefs.

Court’s ‘divisive’ decision could fail to ensure lasting reconciliation. With Mandir and Masjid built adjacent to each other having separate entry and exit will not serve the purpose of religious integration. Rather it could mean we live with Ayodhya becoming a flash point for ever.

Please think: Can we build a common shrine for both Ram and Rahim and both Hindus and Muslims (women included) coming to offer prayers together? …

Another thought to ponder: Can we incarcerate God in Mandir or Masjid? …

Humans have come far ahead from their cave-days but we are yet to get over our caveman’s mentality! In those pre-historic years we were not evolved enough to apply our brain to comprehend nuances of higher human behaviours. Seeing the world getting fragmented due to divisive thoughts in 21^st century is hugely disappointing.

We need proper understanding of religions and their importance in our life. We have to realize that ‘tolerance’ towards other religions is inadequate; we need to ‘respect’ each set of beliefs which in anyway mean the same. And we should appreciate that whatever may be the number of religions in this world, in actuality there is only One God!

“Gods” by term itself is beyond comprehension! How can there be more than one God? There is just one Super Power who is the chief architect and the administrator of the Universe!

Before signing off, I would like to mention the matured role of Media in Ayodhya Verdict coverage. The self-restraint and sensitivity shown by the Indian Media is appreciable. (Also commendable is the secular stance taken by communal political entities like the BJP.) The positivity espoused in their debates and reportage is especially remarkable! Times Now’s “India First” campaign needs a special referring. My compliments to Arnab Goswami!

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Gandhiji, I am sure you would have felt your mental peace being restored seeing social fabric of your nation remain intact post the Ayodhya Verdict! … Happy Birthday J

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By the way, Indian School for Study of World Religions could be abbreviated as ISSWR - phonetically similar to Ishwar which is God in Hindi!