ASTROLOGY–AN ANTIQUITY’S CLASSIC, NOT SHAM SCIENCE

While the modern intellectual mandate is against Astrology, however it should not be forgotten that this science was a product of it’s time and tried to define human destinies in fairly accurate terms keeping in  mind the prevailing socio-intellectual wisdom and the existing belief systems of those times.

Astrology stands for the movement of astronomical bodies and how they impact human destinies. Since the beginning of European Renaissance when modern Astronomy broke away from Astrology to create a more scientific and objective view of the heavenly bodies, many doubts have been raised about the authenticity of the fundamental basis of astrology. Scientists and rationalists have doubted whether extremely remote and inert planets can have any influence on the lives of living human beings. 

Scientists may have their ‘logical’ outlook and be chiefly concerned with the apparent and obvious, however the fact remains that things are not so straightforward. Just as only different models of sociology can handle the functioning of society, academically, so also not many things can be given to science and science alone. 

While astrology is not be accepted in it’s totality, however it should not be rejected outright as well. Astrology was born out of man’s need to control or at least manage his destiny. It used quite substantial infrastructure as it’s basis – the position of Sun, planets and (what we now call as) satellites. To say that Astrology is a sham science, is to assume that we already know a lot about human system and affairs. 

While it’s an error of the highest order to be superstitiously or blindly disposed towards Astrology, but at the same time one must appreciate the wonderful ancient human mind at action when it evolved this novel science. Astrology served as a prelude to Astronomy (The scientific study of heavenly bodies) for several centuries – the former being also associated with blind dogmas and superstition.

WHY ASTROLOGY SHOULD NOT BE REJECTED OUTRIGHT ?

Astrology is believed to be based on some ‘ancient principles’ of heavenly bodies and how they link to human destinies. While it is not clear whether they are right, but at the same time we can’t say with surety that these are wrong either. Ancient people have developed numerous systems to their credit  that form the basis of even the modern society –such as the Vedas and Buddhism in India, the philosophical system of Greek Philosophers like Socrates and Plato which have shaped European Renaissance and hence the modern world, and so on. 

So it is very difficult to say that the ancient principles of Astrology are all wrong. They too have been developed by experts and after exhaustive research work. To say that only scientific logic is right and other systems simply ‘foolish’ is to take gross risks. We have to be humble, accommodating, accepting and tolerant. 

Astrology also focuses on the time of the year and geographical location wherein one is born. The time and place of birth provides a unique identity to the person, besides people who are born in the same place and at nearly the same time share the climatic conditions prevailing at that time. 

CAUTION – ASTROLOGY MUST NOT BECOME AN ESCAPE ROUTE

The great Indian sage Yukteshwar – the Guru of the illustrious Yoganand says , “Our astrological maps (Horoscopes) are true in the sense that they predict to a great extent what destiny we have inherited from our karmas at the time of birth. However in this life we have to make our own karma and hence chart our own future. Man alone is the maker of his destiny.” 

Just like an expert Doctor can diagnose the disease correctly, so also a well qualified astrologer alone can interpret this ancient science in an appropriate manner.

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THE GOLDEN CHANCE FOR ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRACY

Given the current socio-political scenario in India, it is in the best interest of the nation that Team Anna forms a political party that contests elections and after becoming a force to reckon with influences legislations to the interest of the common masses of this country. 

Opinion polls predict huge support for Team Anna. According to a poll survey conducted by a leading magazine, if Anna were to form a party of his own and field candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, his party would sweep the elections across the nation. 

Although this may sound highly exaggerated and given the complex technicalities of India’s electoral super game, it is unlikely that this strong wave of support is going to translate into votes. However one thing is very clear – there is thundering approval to Anna’s mission from the masses. This strong swell of public opinion against corruption could be harnessed into a strong social movement that would not only onslaught corruption but also catapult India to new heights by engineering national and social consciousness among the masses. Corruption could be only one of the symbols to collect people – it would form the central core of the new social agenda. (Just like during the controversial Ayodhya Movement construction of a Ram Temple was only an instrument to proliferate the Hindutva ideology, so in this new and inclusive movement the issue of corruption could be used to achieve pan social change.)

THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRACY

We have seen over the last few months the rise of alternative democracy. This has happened because conventional democracy has failed to provide us with equality, justice, empowerment and good governance. The rise of Anna Hazare and his social movement represents this new strand of alternative democracy. They are neither doing anything illegal, nor are they violent or militant – they are asking for peoples’ due rights through fair and honest means.

People are by and large with Anna on his anti corruption crusade. However there is an urgent need for organizing this mass support into a well orchestrated and well planned peoples’ movement. Unless a well defined future course is not charted out, things are likely to fail miserably.  it is the best interest of the nation that Team Anna forms a political party, sets it’s manifesto and pursues an aggressive social agenda for the nation that includes elimination of corruption, return of politicians’ black money stashed into foreign banks, an overall strengthening of the public institutions, etc.  

REVOLUTIONS ACROSS THE WORLD HAVE MISSED THE MARK

We have seen the various recent Arab revolutions. These have either failed or missed the real mark. The reason is that these were not well planned out, focused, and the upsurge was not channelized by the leaders of these revolutions. However the uniqueness of the Indian movement is that it is completely non – violent and democratic. It’s a golden opportunity for the Indian nation – if it missed out things are likely to remain the same for generations. 

ONLY FORMING A PARTY WOULD HELP

Only when a political party is formed by team Anna and damn honest candidates are fielded by them after due scrutiny, then India will change. Only when they get real power or influence, can they get appropriate legislation effected. Otherwise the political parties would keep on playing games with them.

While there is already support base ready, what is needed is a plan and a vision. If Khomeini could revert Iran to Islamic idealism, Anna can certainly carry India to civilizational zenith.    

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CASTE SYSTEM AND IT’S MODERN AVATAAR  – REDEFINING INDIA AND IT’S SOCIAL PARADIGM

There is no Hindu who does not belong to a caste. For millennia, this four fold social structure has created a hierarchy that has been the basis of division of all social and political power. Today as a new India tries to break free from it’s past baggage, caste returns as the potent weapon of division – this type not as an ordained social ritual but as a criterion for achieving political and electoral success.

Caste dominates Indian socio-political landscape like no other thing. From the waning but still deeply entrenched vestiges of ‘Brahminical Order’ to the aggressively anti-upper caste and revengeful ‘cult of Ambedkar’ and from the rise of multitudes of regional OBC (Other Backward Classes) satraps – caste loving chieftains on the political map of India to the broad ideological consolidation of OBCs-Dalits-Minorities into a single voting group against the perceived ‘upper caste enemy’ – caste is what rules the hearts and minds of millions of Indians. 

Caste in it’s modern avatar is taking a toll on India’s development and progress. Caste politics is holding this country to ransom. Today caste is one of the most important criterion for winning elections. Numbers don’t come by development or governance, but by being able to create the right atmosphere wherein a ‘right combination of castes’ is formed as a result of which the respective political party or candidate can win the elections. Other things are completely subservient.  

Caste today is less of a hierarchy. Thus we have Dalits flaunting the ‘cult of Ambedkar’ and their glorious history of struggle against untouchability and oppression. The rise of BSP has given strength to Dalit activism but whether it has resulted in real growth for the downtrodden including Dalits is the million dollar question. SP and BSP claim to protect and further the interests of OBCs and Dalits but how far they carry on these principles without harming the interests of upper castes is open to disputation.    

Besides these parties do not have a bright track record as far as cleanliness in public life and good governance are concerned. Most of their candidates are involved in serious criminal cases and some of them are even alleged to be goons and mafias. You can’t sacrifice on everything just to further the interests of Dalits and OBCs. There has to be a balance somewhere. This country needs committed leaders – who focus on development of infrastructure and elimination of poverty. But the majority of Indian populace is so much blinded by their caste loyalty that they will vote none other than their own caste.

Caste based reservations are a social necessity in this country. But this issue is being exploited politically. The reservation policy has become like distribution of charity. All castes are demanding reservations. A community has to be judged based on it’s educational, social and economic backwardness. But it seems the number clout influences and guides the policies of government. Thus we see the powerful Jats getting reservations in several North India states. Now the rich Patels in Gujarat and the formidable Marathas in Maharashtra are clamouring for their own quotas. Reservation policy is not benefitting the Most Backward castes (MBCs) as forwards among the OBCs are cornering all the advantage of reservations. 

There is a need for relinquishing populism. Our political leaders must realize that reservation policy must really benefit the poor Dalits and OBCs. Laws must be framed to that effect. The hierarchy of caste system has to be demolished but this can happen only when opportunism and vote bank politics give way to public interest and a pan-social approach. 

India has to give up it’s obsession with caste system. It has to rise above these narrow confines if it has to grow into a formidable world power. Caste system was a need of society at a certain age, but to continue identifying with it today will lead to social backwardness and resultant economic stagnation. In certain respects, caste divisionism is worse than partition of the country as in the latter country bleeds only once, whereas in former country keeps on bleeding and becomes completely weak and inefficient. Only a caste free India can set her free from the shackles of backwardness and make her fly in the sky like a hero.

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SPIRITUALITY – AS IT IS  

 ‘Spirituality is the basis of all happiness, for it satisfies the inner core of man thereby providing him with eternal peace, ultimate bliss and the boon of immortality.’

Man has since time immemorial experimented with spirituality - devising different philosophies, constructing various religions and giving strength to powerful ideologies, schools of thoughts and differing modes of thinking.

 It has captured man’s most sublime and loftiest of imaginations. It has fired him with ideas and activities, suffused in him an awe for the unseen & unknown and explained to him the most subtle of all the truths through direct perception and experience. Spirituality is the mother of all curiosities – and it is also the solution key to all the complexities.

Spirituality is for the transformation of individual. It empowers him like none else. It is the end of all education. Religion is a small part of spirituality -  religion is enveloped into spirituality like sky is included in the universe. Religions have emerged out of man’s needs for achieving spiritual heights. Spirituality begins at the point where the dry and inert sermons of ‘religion’ begin to take deep, exciting dives into the oceanic treasures of ecstasy.

The implications of spirituality are oneness, selflessness, love, truth, non-violence, honesty and so on. However at the core of spirituality lies an understanding of oneself vis a vis the others and also a deep, clear insight into the functioning of fundamental laws that govern life, nature and the universe. One of the essential requirements of spirituality is sense of humility or not feeling unduly important as only overemphasis on certain things perceived to be important leads to problems of unjustified violence, arrogance, avarice and the inherent tendency to destroy or subjugate the other just because he is not like me or he does not agree with me.

THE CONCEPT OF GOD

The concept of GOD connotes reverence for the Universal Principle. A believer is one who respects creation in it’s various manifestations. He is not unduly or strongly anti or opposed to anything. Strong emotions connote disrespect to the sanctity of nature and they lead to extremist behaviours and sufferings.

The sense of GOD is best realized in the principle of ‘Live and Let Live’. GOD is in real sense being universal, balanced and proportionate. It is implied in love of nature, arts, music and other creative arts. It is however free of elements of obsessive possessiveness, exclusivist belongingness and a feeling of pseudo-ownership.

The GOD principle is beyond time and space. These two latter factors impose restrictions while GOD simply releases.

THE CONCEPT OF SOUL

Soul is unrealized GOD – it is GOD to become. Soul is GOD’s child – the crown prince in exile. It can become GOD, it has to become GOD. Only some efforts and time is required.

Soul is ordinary, it has to realize itself – only then it can become special. Soul is common man, GOD is the king. Like any man can become the King if he gets the desired conditions, so any soul can become GOD – he should get the right qualities.

Soul is immortal, but only if he realizes so, otherwise he keeps on dying.

A PLURAL WORLD

There are many categories – the common man and woman, the intellectual, the atheist, the believer, the knower, the ascetic, the ignorant, the renunciant, the materialist, the fatalist, the scientist and so on.

In the end, life can not have a common formula. Truths vary according to different experiences and ‘ways of life’. However one who respects plurality, revers the sanctity of creation and tries to imbibe the universal GOD principle is The Good Man.

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BUDDHA – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

In a general scenario, Buddha – the founder of Buddhism is often considered the most influential man that ever lived in Asia. However, in actual sense, Buddha can be conveniently called the Greatest Man that ever lived in the human history.

Buddha was not a mere man, he represents a force which by it’s sheer magnanimity could alter the socio-moral contours of several nationalities; he discovered the secret key to eternal happiness, and popularized it far and wide, thereby bringing radical changes in human intellectual development and which added plethora of wealth to culture, tradition and spirituality, so much so that his advent represents one of the most defining historical landmarks for much of the civilized world.  

Buddha personal life symbolizes the great victory of strong will over the trivialities of ignorance, ambivalence and ‘lower enjoyments and pleasures’ of body and mind. Born a prince, he renounced his family life around the age of thirty in search for the ultimate happiness. Dissatisfied with formalism of the Vedic Religion of his days, he set on a goal for himself and the world. He found it under a Peepal tree and thus he got enlightened and The Real Buddha was born. He resolved to share his ‘Grand Discovery’ with one and all.  

Buddha is much bigger than Buddhism, and his concept transcends the Buddhadom (the term is coined to refer to those geopolitical regions of the world, where Buddhism is the official or the dominant socio-cultural force). He is well above the narrow confines of race and religion. Buddha is very attractive to numerous Non-Buddhists, especially the westerners. Buddha, in some sense, towers above the semi-historical Krishna (who is shrouded in obscure histriocity) and the Prophetic Jesus (the religion he propounded in a typically stereotyped, semitic style proclaims the eventual end of the world and Jesus as the rescuer, and the Kingdom of Heaven as the aim ; and thus in this system logic and reason are not patronized generously).    

Unlike Jesus, Buddha did not promise an eternal place in the heaven. Rather, he envisioned ‘Nirvana’ (The Ultimate State) as the ending place of all sufferings.

Buddha considers the end of sufferings as the urgent, emergent, immediate and ultimate aim of human existence. He has developed a marvelous middle path, which is the golden mean between the extremes of austerities and sensualities, eternalism and nihilism, pessimism and optimism. Buddha was diplomatically silent on GOD and several of those philosophical and metaphysical issues which only created conflict and did nothing to remove human sufferings.

Buddha is indeed the Greatest Man to have ever lived on this planet. He is the acknowledged Super Hero of much of East and South East Asia (which includes the mighty China). Besides, he is also recognized as one of the greatest propounders/founders of religions by the giant India and strategic Nepal. Christianity could convert Europe, so it became the religion of colonizers and thus on that strength it spread far and wide. However the religion of Buddha is the most important religion of the Mighty Asia (where more than 60% of the world population lives), popularly referred to as the ‘Mother of All Continents’.  

Buddha was more a scientist than a mystic. He exhorted his followers not to adapt something out of blind faith or because someone was saying so, but to test it oneself by one’s own wisdom and experience, and when it passes that test, only then to accept it as a practice. Buddha’s radically scientific outlook even in those ancient days makes it stand out from other religions.

Buddha was dead against caste, and all such distinctions between human beings. That is why Buddhism became the favoured religion of Dr Ambedkar and his Dalit movement in India.  Buddha gave substantial equality to women, in sharp contrast to the prevailing trends. The religious order (Sangha) set up by him was the first one to have organized a women’s wing on such a large scale (i.e. the order of Bhikshunis or Buddhist nuns).

Even after over 2500 years, Buddha continues to influence mankind. Though many consider his religion to be an extension of Indian culture, that has conquered large parts of the world, however in reality Buddha belongs to India as much as he belongs to the entire humanity. Buddha did change the course of human history in the manner no one else could.

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GANDHI – IN HIS TIME AND OURS

"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood"

                                                              - (Albert Einstein on Gandhi)

The enigma of Gandhi transcends eons and geopolitical boundaries, and it symbolizes a force which envisioned the greatest social sublimity and a very high order of civility constructed on the foundation of a very profound, well researched, novel and radical philosophical-ethical value system of non-violence, truth, mutual respect and always a concern and care for ‘the other’.

Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi as he is popularly referred to as in India, can be very simply described as a great philosopher-saint, a pragmatic visionary, a master strategist, an astute statesman, a giant innovator of socio-economic schemes, propounder of alternative modernity, an interpreter of ‘different democracy’ and above all the father of modern India, who gave her independence and a new line of existence.

Gandhi in his times was a force which no one could ignore. He gave India her independence and showed to the world how to fight with the potent weapons of non-violence and truth. His vision for a harmonious and vibrant society was class apart, and his non-violent struggle has inspired many a movements in the world – the movement led by Martin Luther King Jr in the USA fighting for equal rights to African Americans in 1950s and 60s and the long drawn non-violent anti-apartheid struggle led by the illustrious African leader Nelson Mandela in South Africa - to name just a few.  

Gandhi laid the foundations of a value-based and ethical India. He tried his level best to free Indian society of it’s ugliest blot – untouchability, and toured the entire Indian subcontinent to teach people against the evils of this degraded and rotten social custom. He was also one of the greatest ambassadors of Hindu-Muslim unity, and promoted the cause of social and national integration through his speeches, writings, messages and way of life.

Gandhi initiated the famous Sarvodaya movement which emphasized ‘development and progress of all sections of society’. This was a unique experiment of inclusive growth and the precursor to a modern, welfare state.

The impact of Gandhi for decades influenced the lives of millions in India, and made people honest, truthful and committed to the cause of social and national good. The legacy of Gandhi continues to impact India and the world in myriads of ways. It has inspired the Bhoodan movement in past. The various pro-environment and anti-deforestation movements like the Chipko of the 70s and 80s had the element of non-violence and truth attached to them. The feminist anti-liquor movement which have once and again appeared in India, like recently in parts of rural Andhra Pradesh, draw their inspiration from Gandhi and his thinking. Gandhi’s autobiography ‘The Story of My experiments with Trutrh’ is a master piece and a great comprehensive manual for the individual and society, which even today inspires many youths.

Gandhi and his legacy have certainly shaped the destiny of modern India. The value-system of Gandhi continues to inspire India and the world, and his thinking forms the basis of the contemporary Indian socio-ethical framework. He influences India more than any other recent thinker.

Gandhi ji was assaisinated on 30^th January, 1948 in Delhi by Nathu Ram Godse, a fanatic who was aggrieved by the partition of India. Gandhi died but his legacy continues to influence, inspire and ignite the minds of people. There is enormous influence of Gandhi – rightly called the greatest Indian after Buddha.  

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IDENTITY POLITICS – IT’S UTILITY, MISUSE AND SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONTEMPORARY INDIAN SCENARIO

Identity politics which lies at the core of contemporary Indian political reality is neither all bad, nor all good. It provides a means to a change, as it engineers Dalit and OBC consciousness, and thus makes these communities more vigilant and assertive for their rights and clout. It is also a vent for man’s eternal psychological need for identification and association’, and thus takes out his negative energies in less destructive and more sophisticated manner. Though it hopelessly fragments India socially and politically, but at the same time it can also be seen as a necessary phase in the process of India’s social evolution.  

India is the land of conflicting diversities, which conciliate in an uneasy yet harmonious agreement, to form together a mosaic of marvelous, wondrous and bewildering social fabric – and it is an experiment which is miraculous, and an enigma, which has proved itself time and again, as and when the need has arisen. Amidst this amazing diversity, lies the issue of identity politics – the hallmark of current Indian political set up – a realism which has been enforced by the country’s socio-cultural diversity, in conjunction with the prevailing political opportunism and the by and large immature, emotive and tender psychological status of the Indian electorate.

However identity politics is a mixed blessing. While many argue against it’s need in an India, which has theoretically long ago abolished caste system and divisive regionalism, and adapted egalitarianism as the basis of it’s socio-economic philosophy.  There are still others who question the kind of secularism, which identity politics constructs, where religious-communal identities of individuals instead of dissolving become all the more important.

While these points have substantial levels of truths in them, but they miss out the essence of the story, the uniqueness of India’s social demography. India is a country not only with a maddening diversity, which the lawmakers and administrators have to manage, but also the home to one of the most ancient and widespread forms of hereditary social hierarchical order, which has over the millennia completely destroyed the functioning of egalitarianism, and hence created deep scars in society.

What has been wronged will get corrected. This is the natural law of social mechanism. Thus the social transformation we see happening in India (in terms of the rise of Dalits, tribals and OBCs), is a self-correction mechanism, being exercised by the society, which is being catalyzed by social democracy, consciousness among the people and by other ‘instruments of modernisation’. These changes will entail phases of reverse discrimination, rise of casteism, corruption becoming rampant (as the poor castes for the first time taste power, wealth and ways & means of civilization). But these are temporary glitches. These are the milestones on the royal highway to destination, which lie on the rougher side. These are building blocks to success and construction of a new society.

Similarly the so called stone-age secularism has it’s advantages. Since the majority community of India is largely secular and liberal, and usually does not give in to communal attitudes, so in this situation the votes of minority communities become important, and the government can never ever write them off. Although it has it’s negative fallout as well. Since among Muslims – the chief minority community of India – the clout of orthodoxy is still very strong, so at times government in order to garner minority votes legislate policies, which institute regressive secularism, and hence take the minorities backwards, into dogmatic laws and orthodoxy, which are not at all in tune with modern rational thinking.

Regionalism can also be healthy, if not blown out of proportion. The premise is, if you love the part, only then can you love the whole truly. So a person who loves his region or his province and also loves it as a part of the nation, is doing nothing which violates the principles of constitutional morality. Our social life begins from our homes, the most fundamental unit, and then goes up to neighbourhood, city/town/village, region, state and finally up to the nation level. It is the movement from basics to the higher ups, which is perfectly in tune with logical thinking.

Moreover, regional affiliation should be treated as a very legal and justified sub-national identity. Nation is too remote for most of the people, so their nationalism begins with their village, town, region or state.

As India moves deeper into the 21^st century, it has to dump out some of it’s past baggage. But this can not happen all at once. There will be a transitional phase, which would be painful, stressful and inconvenience- causing. So it is an inevitable part of the process, a necessary evil. It is for us to make this change as smooth as possible.

When the new order comes, it does not mean the end of problems. There will always be problems. Different types of problems, of different nature. But this fight, struggle has to go on. An individual’s life is about continuous confrontation with challenges and meeting them with boldness and combating them. The story of human civilization is not much different.  

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