A SOFT INDIA - UNLIMITED TOLERANCE TO PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING IS OUR MAJOR FAILING

India is a truly soft state. From the peoples’ by enlarge tepid response towards monstrous corruption to the soft pedaling on trans-national terrorism, and from the govt’s inaction (inability or unwillingness to act) during events of major communal riots to the general apathy to fight the menace of inflation - Indians exhibit an astounding ability to tolerate anything and everything, which perpetuates systematic inertia, energizes functional lethargy and and re-inforces our national sloth, leading us to a continuum of ‘no-change’ and eternalisation of ‘status-quo’ of pluralistic anarchy, diplomatic spinelessness and a natural tenderness and inability to fight what is wrong, undesired and objectionable.

Tolerance is the hall mark of Indian nationhood. We have immense patience and tolerance. Politicians and bureaucrats may siphon-off ‘lakhs of crores’ of peoples’ money into their pockets but most Indians would still be understanding and conciliatory with this blatant act of ‘nation’s sell out’. Cross-border terrorism is reaching a ‘boiling point’ but the notorious  act of the dreaded terrorist Afzal Guru, who dared to attack the sanctum-sanctorum of the world’s largest democracy – the Indian parliament - remains unpunished as his criminal case hangs in an air of uncertainty owing to the difficult dynamics of electoral arithmetic. 

Immediately after the assaisination of Mrs Indira Gandhi on 31^st October, 1984 the rule of law completely passed into total oblivion as fanatical mobs massacred hundreds of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other cities of northern India. 27 years have elapsed since then but the riot victims never got justice as the case got lost in various legal formalities, political pressures and peoples’ apathy owing largely to communal polarization.

On 6^th December, 1992 as tons of Hindu karsevaks destroyed Babri-mosque, the beleaguered Narasimha Rao government simply waited and watched. They kept on ‘swearing by secularism’ but did nothing to protect the disputed structure, which was a symbolic jolt to Indian secularism. The army was sent only when complete destruction had been carried out, and the karsevak groups had dispersed. Lack of toughness of action emboldened the communalists.  

The Indian mind is ever-satisfied, accepting, believing in status-quo and unconcerned about the issues which matter to the greater world. The gist of a common Indian voter’s (or citizen’s) psyche is simply stated in this age-old saying in the local language (dialect) – “Ke nrip hoee , hume kya haani ?” (Whosoever is (becomes) the king, how does that matter to us?). An average Indian is averse to change, forget revolution. This could be a functional product of Hinduism. Since Hinduism believes in peace, non-violence, order, adherence to authority and dutifulness, so, it can be said that Indians have developed this unusual tolerance, a submission to destiny, a variant of fatalism.

But it is a perverted, misunderstood phenomenon. Patience, tolerance have their utmost importance under the sun, but they can’t be used everywhere and anywhere.”Self-defence is the foremost duty”, wise men have repeatedly said. “Tolerating injustice is in some ways being party to it”, says Mahatma Gandhi.

India needs toughness. India needs a strong leader. Indian needs a stringent system. There is no problem, which does not have a solution. But we need strong action. In India, we didn’t have any revolution against govt’s excesses, except emergency, which itself was a big failure. We need more and more involvement of people, from all walks of life, into the national functioning. We need strong laws against terrorists and communalists, we should have system which discourages identity politics, we should have zero tolerance towards troublemakers.

We need a country which has a strong spine. Democracy should not become an excuse to inefficiency and lethargy, an affirmation to non-agreement, non-action and non-performance. We need a democracy which is not populist but which genuinely helps the people and delivers their interests.

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THE WAY OF THE JAINAS – AND IT’S IMPACT ON THE MODERN WORLD

Among all the ancient religio-spiritual traditions of India, Jainism – or the religion of the jains – can be considered to be highly scientific, rooted in sound philosophy and reason, easy to understand and based on perception and experience. Though followed by a mere about 5 million population today, mostly in India, it has a history that believedly almost co-incides with that of Hinduism, making it one of the oldest organized religions of the world.

Jainism, founded by a chain of 24 tirthankaras (prophets) - which began with Rishabh dev (also known as Adinath) and ends with Vardhmana the Mahavira, who for all practical purposes is considered it’s founder and strengthener - is a religion of non-violence, ascetism and austere simplicity. Jainism is the science of perfecting the soul.

Jainism teaches utmost concern for all other living beings, including plants and animals, and non-violence is the most emphasized principle of the religion. Killing even a tiny insect is a great sin. This shows the reverence of life in all it’s forms and to it’s greatest extent. Although it is non-theistic in the sense that it denies the premise that the universe was created by a divine Deity, but it divinizes the soul (the essence or consciousness of a person) to an extent where it becomes as powerful as GOD (Supreme Being) himself. It is rightly said that ‘Jiva’(Individual unique soul) of Jainism is much more powerful than ‘Parmatma’ (Supreme Cosmic Soul) of Hinduism. 

Soul or ‘Jiva ‘is very essential to Jainsim, and it is believed that this soul has infinite power, bliss, perception and knowledge. But it is weighed down by it’s karma and can not reach the heights it deserves. These karma are in the form of tiny, impure particles, which enter the soul and do not allow it to rise up.  The aim of life is to make the soul get rid of these impurities so that it again goes back to it’s home (the abode of absolute bliss).

These can be done in two steps – first the incoming matter can be stopped by following the three jewels of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct ; and then the already existing matter can be destroyed by following austerities and self mortification.

This is the way shown by the Jinas, or the Super Heroes who have conquered themselves. Thus Jainism gets it’s name from Jina. It can also be called the skill of conquering one’s passions, negativities and desires. It is the art and science of conquering oneself. Jainism is the way by which soul’s entanglement with the matter can be destroyed forever, and hence supreme peace achieved.

Jainism believes in an eternal universe, without a beginning or an end, which is composed of Jiva (Life) and Ajiva (Matter). Both the entities are independent of each other. Soul suffers because it is involved with matter.   

JAINISM’S CONTRIBUTION TO MODERN SOCIETY AND IT’S IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MODERN MAN

Jainism’s implications for the modern man are numerous. The virtues of non-violence and peace are being increasingly accorded as ‘symbols of civility’ and ‘marks of civilization’. It is one of the important aims of even the UNO to promote brotherhood and cordial relations between nations of the world.

Kindness towards animals is gaining acceptability among intellectuals and even the common masses. The whole range of animal activism and prevention of cruelty towards animals organizations, which are coming up across the world are it’s indicators.

Mahatma Gandhi faught for freedom through the potent weapons of truth and non-violence. Non-violence was an idea which he largely borrowed from Mahavira swami. He himself says Jainism made a deep impact in his life. Thus the old virtue of non-violence, which was discovered by the Jains, was repackaged and used by the Mahatma as a potent weapon in the struggle for Indian independence. The idea of Gandhi was later used in other parts of the world for non-violent struggles.

Jainism epitomized non-violence and made it the life force of Indian subcontinent. It institutionalized Ahimsa in the Indian set up and made it the integral part for all times to come. Animal sacrifice was abolished owing to strong resentment from the Jains. Today many Hindus may aver the idea of killing even an insect or cutting down a tree, this is largely a Jain impact.

The Jains and the Buddhists were the first to write down literature. We know more about those times today because of those literary records. It has indeed richened our history. The entire Jain history forms a glorius chapter in the life of Indian civilization. The life and teachings of Lord Mahavira and other Jain prophets have indeed inspired thinkers, intellectuals and men of thoughts and reason. The jain community though small in number but has an influence disproportionate to it’s strength and continues to influence the Indian thought, value system and way of life in various ways.

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SOCIO-CAPITALISM, CASTE DESTRUCTION AND STIFFER NATIONHOOD – THREE PILLS WHICH CAN CURE INDIA

SOCIO-CAPITALISM, CASTE DESTRUCTION AND STIFFER NATIONHOOD – THREE PILLS WHICH CAN CURE INDIA

India is growing - socially, economically and politically. However it has a long way to go before it can become a glaring example for the world or even for some of the developing countries. Here is a look, from a macro level, at what it needs to do -internally and externally  - to clean up it’s act and emerge as strong contendor for the super  power status.

Things which drag down India are - chronic poverty, which manifests itself in massive unemployment, hunger and malnutrition; high levels of corruption at all the institutional levels; divisiveness which usually takes the form of identity politics, mostly in terms of caste and region, but at times of religio-communal nature. And, externally,it’s confused and indecisive approach in countering external threats like terrorism and bullying tactics by it’s giant eastern neighbour.

India needs a far sighted approach to deal with these issues. The first and foremost, it needs a judicious blend of Socialism and Capitalism. We need the development and proliferation of the private sector in some non-priority areas. We need innovation and free growth.

But the prosperity so created should be encashed for public welfare. Government should get more and more money out of surging corporate tax and other direct and indirect tax collexctions. This wealth should be more and more spent on social infrastructure like health and education.

Income and prosperity should not merely percolate down to the lower levels. Rather such a comprehensive arrangement of transformation effected so that the entire national community gets involved, grows and prospers. We need various projects, massive in their size, differing in their nature and type of industry, but linked to each other in a co-ordinated manner, so that they reinforce and strengthen each other leading to a sound, deep and highly stable economic revolution.

But things will become pointless if the hydra headed demon of corruption is allowed to hold sway. We need a very honest man at the top, who selects his efficient and committed team, and they together overhaul the entire functional mechanism of our country. This sounds difficult, but is certainly attainable, if there is a will, and conditions are created in that manner.

Then there is the problem of social inequality as the ugly manifsetation of caste system of yore. Here too we need radical measures. The destruction of caste means destroying it’s inequalities and not necessarily caste itself. But it is clear, once caste inequalities are destroyed, caste will automatically cease to be the pet obsession of Indian masses.

Already we see caste equations changing in various Indian states like UP, Bihar, and others. The legislation of Mandal Commission has indeed empowered the backward castes like never before. However more changes at the grassroot levels need to be enforced. The selection of labours for various development projects like construction of national highways, and the recruitment to mills and factories, at the lower levels, must give preference to dalits, tribals, backward castes, poor among the minorities and upper castes.

Moreover, a massive movement and social crusade against voting for candidates of one’s own castes in the elections, and favouring only one’s own caste members, should be launched. Caste destruction should not merely mean ending inequalities but even purging casteist mentality from the minds of the people.

Finally we need a strong and firm India. In the recent wikileaks expose, it was discovered that US officials were calling India a spineless country, and were denigrating it’s response to terror threats from Pakistan as weak, indecisive and confused. India certainly needs a more pro-active policy towards both it’s western as well as eastern neighbour. India needs to be prepared for even a war with Pakistan and China. It must be well prepared for that, militarily and diplomatically. Fearing is not the right thing. We may be righteous and fair, but if we fear our neighbours of their bullying, we would be reckoned as cowards, which is worse than being an aggressor.

Only an India, which is equal, free, prosperous and fearless can do justice to it’s glorious heritage and it’s vastness, hugeness and greatness.

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CASTE BASED CENSUS – AN AFFIRMATION TO A PROCESS OF RADICAL CHANGE – LET US MAKE CASTE IMPORTANT TO ULTIMATELY OUTSHINE IT

CASTE BASED CENSUS – AN AFFIRMATION TO A PROCESS OF RADICAL CHANGE – LET US MAKE CASTE IMPORTANT TO ULTIMATELY OUTSHINE IT

The institution of caste continues to remain a formidable force in the Indian nation. Right from selection of ‘suitable’ candidates for the elections by political parties to      being the chief criterion for selection of suitable life partners in arranged marriages, caste continues to dominate the mind of rural and urban India, in varying but definitive ways.       

And rightfully so, it has been the basis of social reality in the Indian subcontinent, since thousands of years. And indeed, a stark and cruel reality for millions of ‘commoners’. However, according to several scholars, Caste system, historically, has been a mixed blessing. It has divisively fragmented India, but also effectively sustained it’s vast diversity ; it has ostracized millions into forced ghettos and sub-human living, but at the same time institutionalized division of labour and skills according to heredity and hierarchy, resulting into harmony and order. Caste system has prevented India from disintegrating socially in the events of foreign invasions, but also through it’s ugliest manifestation of untouchability completely destroyed the spirit of egalitarianism.       

Caste system has been a symbol of a well defined and largely inviolable hierarchal social order. We can’t deny this reality. Caste system, in it’s long career, has affected some manifestations. These ugly manifestations clearly are seen in the glaring income inequalities between Forwards Castes on the one side and Backwards Castes, Dalits and tribals, on the other. These manifestations need to be destroyed for the creation of a more egalitarian society.

It is here that we need a complete overhaul. Reservation policy, along with other measures of affirmative action, should be put in their proper perspective. Reservation bar of 50% can be raised, but only if it is genuinely needed. India is a land of unique inequality, it needs special measures to fight this disparity.

Thus this highlights the importance of caste based census. It would give us a much more accurate statistical input about the social and economic status of various castes. And accordingly, a new revised reservation and social justice policy can be effected.

In the last few decades, we have seen the increasing clout of ‘have not castes’. This , per se, is a healthy sign. Caste census will commence a new era, when elimination of social inequalities, will be addressed to, at a war footing. This might lead to a transitory, intermediate stage, where caste would get even more important. But soon this phase will be over, as vertical order gives way to horizontal order.

Thorn has be used to remove other thorns. Similarly caste criterion has to be used to ultimately diminish or even annihilate caste system. If we wish to remove poison from a snake bitten man, we will have to employ harsh methods, there will be pain. “All change is painful”, says Karl Marx. On the same lines, we need to cure society, so there will be some level of unease, disorder, but eventually would lead to equality and order.

The end of social inequality can bring real harmony. And a caste based census is the first concrete step in that direction.

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FOR A SOCIAL REVOLUTION

FOR A SOCIAL REVOLUTION

The attainment of independence and establishment of a democratic set up provisioned by a lofty constitution is not the final destination of human achievement. What we need is radical changes at the grass root level, by which all the knowledge, wisdom and good sense can be materialised into the establishment of an enlightened, rational and ethical society, where there is virtue, affluence and growth, with lesser levels of poverty and crime.

We had had enough of ‘isms’. Socialism, communism, capitalism, nationalism and now the beleivedly least maleovalent democracy. But each one of these succeeded only partly, trying to solve problems of humanity and make a better governed, happier society. They saw the things from their own ‘perspectives’, which was never all encompassing, striking at only part of the problem, or sometimes they turned out to be better theories rather than having any significant practical impact.

What is needed in reality is a society which is highly matured, sensitive, non-violent and happy. We need many many of these things together in an amalgamated manner, as an effective hotchpotch to cure and elevate the society. We need more and more Hindu/Muslim/Christian (etc.) sermons, to change the lives of people, but only to an extent by which they make people virtuous and not dogmatic. We need more and more lectures and influence of science and astronomy, so that people become rational, broadminded and realistic.

There should be a genuine government of the people, by the people and for the people. However that means at times going against the wishes of the majority. Ocassionally, mobocracy gets camaflouged in democracy, and hence people can not think correctly, objectively what is good for themselves and the community. A relevant example is events of major communal riots in India and ethnic and race tensions in the West.

We need a society which is deeply embeded in secularism and one which has the resources and the will to provide all the social security measures to the disadvantaged and affected groups. A stronger and more effective society would ideally ultimately mean lesser government. Religion is a matter of personal chioce. However religion - the first intellectual pursuit of man - would occupy a very prominent position in the lives of individuals. There must be strong laws against troublemakers, law breakers. However sense of discrimination should be applied in sentences to criminals, depending on their motive, intention, provocation, etc. We also need a strong pro-environmental policy to rebuild our strong relationship with nature, environment, etc.

What we see in the west is mostly materialistic wealth. Intellectual wisdom has not percolated down to the ‘lower’ levels there. Rights without duties, wealth without virtue, body without mind and actions without thinking about their consequences is not the way we can establish a healthy society.

We need a concerted action by the policymakers and all other active builders of society. They should have a vision to change the world. Man’s cultural evolution is on, it is for us to give it a definitive, appropriate direction. A society which is virtually based on religion, intellectually disposed towards science, committed to the cause of weak and the common man AND beleives in free creation of wealth through eneterprise and innovation is the need of our times. We need a framework of time over which to achieve these changes. It may take 100 or 200 years. But we have to make them happen.

Our society should have maximum middle class, many scientists/technocrats, large number of monks/sages/seers, judicious blend of tradition and modernity, of science and spirituality. We also need utmost environmental friendliness and association with our cultures. The civil society and the intellectual class should have the maximum influence. That is what we need. That is Ram Rajya in modern context.

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THE LONG AWAITED MUSLIM REVOLUTION

THE LONG AWAITED MUSLIM REVOLUTION

"….from the seed which we sow today there may spring up a mighty tree, whose branches, like those of the banyan of the soil shall in their turn strike firm roots into the earth , and themselves sent forth new and vigorous saplings; that this College may expand into a University, whose sons shall go forth throughout the length and breadth of the land to preach the gospel of free inquiry , of large-hearted toleration, and of pure morality."

                                                                       (Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan, the progressive Indian muslim leader)

 

A revolution within the muslim community is long overdue - a sea of massive movement led by the intellectuals and supported by many ‘seekers of change’ which is determined to redefine community lifestyles and their social values, giving a massive blow to blind dogmas, fundamentalism, polygamy, talaq system - thereby creating a society which is comparitively less obsessed with religion and that provides more equality to women.

Change is the only constant. In this context, nothing could be more meaninful than the change modern times have heralded in the lives of men and women of all classes, regions and nations. Industrial revolution which was born in England, the French revolution and the American revolution are the three greatest landmark events in the development of the hardware and software of modern civilization.

These have democratised technology and created a revolution in man’s thinking and activities. We now have the sublime ideals of equality of all citizens, freedom of speech expression and religion, the marvel of democracy - a government which is of the people, by the people and for the people ; and the universalisation and paramouncy of a welfare state as the goal of all national governments, whether democractic or non-democractic.

While these changes are happening the world over, large sections of muslim community seems to be living in a state of aloofness, despair and with a sense of hostility towards these new changes which it perceives as "unislamic, unholy and satanic". It is a grossly misperceived notion. Freedom and progressiveness can not be anti-religious, on the contrary they serve the very purpose of religion by making people better minded and ensuring them a more rational minded lives.

The reasons for this ‘closeness’ are not far to seek. A society that is historically strongly controlled and restricted by the Ulemas (Muslim clergy), with massive levels of illiteracy, a religion which inherits the legacy of one of the most ‘vigorous and strongly enforced’ traditions from it’s birthplace - Saudi Arabia. The past baggage continues to weigh down ‘the muslims’.

But the things need to change now. The advent of globalisation, the spread of liberalism, slow but gradual universalisation of modern education are the catalysts of this change. As the world grows, as the time goes, muslims are bound to change, it is inevitable and perhaps imminent.

There are several events which clearly indicate that, the falling birthrate of muslims across the world, the rise of liberal muslim organisations and NGOs in various regions of the world, the pan Arab revolution which is largely for democracy and clean systems with little or no emphasis on religion, and increasing interactions of muslims with non-muslims especially westerners.

While a few fundamentalists may continue to exist which may influence large sections in muslim countries, but their’s will be a temporary phase. But the need of time is something more radical. A massive revolution across different muslim countries, that tends to destroy or at least lessen injustices meted out towards liberals/non-muslims/women, redefine the islamic laws to suit the modern and rational times and to eventually minimise control of religion over society.

Europe had to fight for three four centuries to free itself from strong and repressive control of clergy. Let’s hope crescentdom (the Islamic World) doesn’t take that long.

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CLASH OF THE TITANS - PROSPECTIVE CONFLICT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US - FIGHT OF THE FUTURE

CLASH OF THE TITANS - PROSPECTIVE CONFLICT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US - FIGHT OF THE FUTURE

With each passing year the People’s Republic of China is burgeoning at a massive speed. It’s growing economically, expanding militarily, graduating to higher and higher scales as a political entity and broadening it’s diplomatic influence in the community of nations. Indeed, it’s an unprecendent event in the human history - the most massive nation that has ever existed so far in human history (in terms of population) transforing itself into unimaginable heights (from current parameters), swiftly and steadily.

China is already number two economy in the world after USA, (in both the parameters - PPP GDP and Nominal GDP). Recently IMF shocked the world community by stating that China would overtake USA as the largest economy of the world much sooner than expected - year 2016 will be a watershed year in world history as it would commence the end of American age.

The rise of China and the downfall of USA, which seems imminent now, will have significant implications for the two global giants and for some other countries of the world.

THE RISE OF CONFUCIOUS

These are not just two countries, they represent very different cultures, social values and potentially conflictual civilizations. While USA may let the world beleive that it has an open society, free press, and all sorts of political and social freedoms is enshrined to the people, which is almost completely lacking in the so called communist republic of China ; China always has a counter argument, or an alternative socio-political ideology - China doesn’t beleive in democracy in the manner US beleives, it has it’s own version, where diligence, dutifulness, adherence to central authority and collectivism are of paramount importance.

Many Chinese scholars stress that China is for collectivist mindset, where individual freedom is not that important, as nation is above citizen, unlike the ‘selfish individualism of the west’. China has created for itself a unique identity, where political structure is by enlarge maoist communist, economy is liberal capitalist and the cultural basis of new China is embedded in the noble, socially constructive teachings of it’s greatest saint-philosopher Confucious. The role of army is another important factor in China’s internal political dynamics, which keeps the country ambitious, confident and aggressive.

The rise of China could be dangerous for many nations of the world, and possibly for world peace. Whatever claims it may make, but China is not a responsible democracy. Once it becomes the premier country of the world, it may dictate terms to USA. A world led by dictator China is not something which most of us would want willingly. USA, with all it’s drawbacks, was a sound democracy, answerable to civil society, press and people.

China is unlikely to see a disintegtration like the erstwhile USSR anytime in the future. This is because it’s political structure more resembles unitarist Asian type unlike the former USSR’s federalist European type. Only a democratic revolution can contain China’s negative forces.

We also need the rise of other powers in future to have a multilateral world. Mutilateral world like multiparty democracy is always better, as often the great blocs/powers keep on neutralising each other. Thus European Union and India are the two countries/blocs which need to rise up in order to make a better and balanced world.

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