FANATICISM, EXPLOITATION, TERRORISM AND SOCIETY

Today the trade, commerce and industry have brought nations closer to one another. But human society is being haunted by fanaticism, superstition and exploitation. I was once confronted by some religious fanatics.

A small organization invited me to hoist national flag on an independence day. After hoisting the flag, all of us sang our national anthem. I commanded for a salute with a slogan "Jai Hind" (This slogan reminds us of the war launched by Subhash Chandra Bose against the British rulers). Somebody in the group shouted "Vande Matharam".

I smiled at him and said, "We regularly sang 'Vande Matharam' after flag hoisting during our struggle for independence". But the young man argued with me claiming that our national anthem "Janagana Mana" should be replaced by "Vande Mataram", as Hindus are a majority in our country. This prompted me to say a few words about Hindu ways during my speech in a hall after flag hoisting. I said, "Hindus believe that the Great Veda Vyasa Maharshi who wrote Maha Bharatha, is yet alive. He will be present in every meeting where a person addresses a huge gathering. He expects the speaker to impress the audience that they are living in a happy world where people are mutual admirers and interdependent. The speaker has no right to provoke mutual suspicion, fear, hatred, violence or intolerance".

I concluded my speech with Gandhiji's invocation "Sab ko sanmati de bhagawan", which means "O God, grant good thoughts to everybody".

All in a sudden there was a rush of young men and women entering the hall through all doors. They began distributing a small piece of red thread and offered to tie it around my left wrist. When I said that I could help myself, one of them turned towards the audience and began to address them in a loud voice. He began saying, "Hindus will have no place in India. Muslims are going to capture lands belonging to holy places like Amarnath. Hindus must unite and fight Muslims".

I did not want him to continue his speech of hatred. I got up and asked him to sit down. He stopped speaking, but did not sit down. I reminded the audience what I had told in my speech that Vyasa maharshi does not like people who instigate fear, hatred or violence. I also told them that when I lost my father when I was just nine years old and my mother left the village and came to a town with six children, it was a Muslim who helped in all our needs, so that my mother could send us to schools.

The organizer proposed vote of thanks and I was almost hustled out of the hall though it looked like their reminding of my programme elsewhere while leading me to the vehicle waiting outside.

Demolition of Babri Masjid is an example of exploiting the simple faith in a common man for achieving political command. Common man was made to believe that "Lord Rama was born in the place where Babri Masjid stands. Muslims constructed a Mosque there, against the wishes of Hindus. This wrong deed done long back needs to be corrected. It is the duty of every Hindu to volunteer for Kar-Seva (service by hands)". The Masjid was demolished.

As a proud Hindu, I feel deeply hurt when I see some people disturbing peace in society in the name of protecting Hinduism. These people do not bother to look into the real strength of this ancient religion, 'Hinduism'. This is a religion that expects every individual to feel VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (The whole world is my family), SARVA DEVA NAMASKARAM KESHAVAM PRATHI GACCHATI (Worship of all Gods reaches the Supreme Power whom we call 'Keshava) and SARVE JANAH SUKHINO BHAVANTHU (Let all people be happy).

International terrorism had its evil influence on some Hindu Enthusiasts also. A suicide bomber from Srilanka killed herself while assassinating a popular and most beloved Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi. Peace loving Indian society was thrown into inconsolable grief over this unforeseen dreadful horror. Apart from this, terrorist acts in the name of religion killing innocent people added fuel to the fire of disturbed Hindus.

Maoists and Naxalites are other groups taking pride in cowardly acts of causing death of innocent people and loss of public property. Government of India has not yet used its muscle power to put down Naxalites and other such organizations. It wants the leaders of such organizations to come forward and explain their aims so that the Government can help them in serving those people for whose sake they are wasting their energy on criminal acts.

Religions and socio-economic theories suffer many changes at the hands of clerics and other self styled guardians of the pride of a religion or a theory. Al-queda, which is against the spread of influence of western ways over Islam, has resorted to terrorism as a means of warning people.Taliban is strictly against freedom for women. Their anti-women laws are not just limited to enforce Muslim women to wear 'Burkha' (a dress which covers womans's body from head to toe). It also restricts them from going out for work.

There was a heartening report that a Muslim lady asked Muslim women the world over to "kill silence for liberty". She was celebrating 'International Women's day'.

Both Al-queda and Taliban made border region of Pakistan their safe haven, after being hunted out of Afghanistan.

Pakistan which took birth as an Islamic country and which nursed its own terrorist activities, is now facing countless terrorist activities by Taliban. The latest attack killed hundreds of Ahmedias, whom Taliban brands as 'incomplete Muslims'.

The world now has a two-fold immediate responsibility. One is to unite and fight terrorism of any kind, anywhere in the world. Second is to organize a world wide net-work to educate people to rise above all sorts of divisive forces and work for the welfare of society, while improving personal living condition.

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Basaveshwara, the great proponent

Learned scholars often grow arrogant and quarrel with one another in the name of God. Bhakthi margis (those in spiritual path), who experienced the presence of God around them had shown that scholarship was not the only way to please God. This had led common man who has no idea of deep devotion to go in for superstitious practices. From time to time, the need arises for social reform, that could help man live in a harmonious society.

Let’s understand the master Basavanna’s philosophy, most needed at that time and even now:

Veera Shaivism became acceptable to masses of Karnataka – India, through a rebel leader, who has born at Bagevadi in Bijapur district (Karnataka), to a Shaiva Brahmin couple (Madiraja and Madamba) in 12th century.

The boy was named Basava and was brought up in the Vedic tradition of Brahmins. The boy could not reconcile himself to many customs of Vedic tradition like sacrificing animals in Yagnyas. He could not tolerate the injustice being heaped upon the lower caste of people by the upper class. The ignorance and superstition of the down trodden had created many bad spirits which were to be pacified by ridiculous practices. Women in general were always treated as inferior to men. Brahmanas were highly educated. They wielded enormous power both in political field and in the social set up. Young Basava had a natural urge towards equality of the human race. Basava was quick to assimilate whatever he was taught. Parents celebrated his Upanayanam, a ceremony which promotes a boy to learn advanced brahminical knowledge, wearing Yagnopaveetha (a holy thread). Basava did not enjoy the ceremony which pushes him to cultivate a feeling of superiority over other castes. His unusual powers of comprehension helped him to learn fast and have good education. His view about the social condition around has invited bitterness between him and his parents, and also elders of the society, of the that day.

His parents passed away leaving him an orphan. The sorrow of parents' death brought him even the freedom, to come out of the clutches of brahminical orthodoxy. He tore off the Yagnopaveetha (sacred thread), and went to Kappadi Sangama, a holy place at the confluence of the rivers Malaprabha and Krishna. A holy man named Shivaguru gave him shelter. Basava devoted himself in the worship of the Shivalinga there. He lived there for many years. Once Shiva appeared in his dream and commanded him to go to Mangaliveda and meet the King Bijjala. It was not easy for Basava to decide to leave Shivalinga and move far away from it. But it was Shiva himself who appeared in his dream and commanded him to go.

Bijjala of Kalachuri race was a governor of Chalukyas. He had gradually grown in power and had usurped the Chalukya kingdom during the period 1157-62 AD. Bijjala was impressed by the appearance of Basava and appointed him as an employee in the treasury under Siddha Dandadhipa. After the demise of Dandadhipa, Basava, now called Basaveswara, took over as the chief of treasury. He married Gangadevi and Neelalochana, daughters of two high ranking officers.

Wealth, power and even happily married life could not hold Basaveswara from worship of Shiva and serve Shiva Bhaktas. He served Jangamas and Shiva Sharanas (Jangamas are those who carry the message of Shiva Bhakthi to masses, and Shiva Sharanas are those who devote their whole life on worship of Shiva). Basaveswara’s generosity and hospitality attracted many people around him. All and sundry came to his house in the guise of Shiva Bhaktas. Basaveswara exercised a lot of patience in serving even them as real Shiva Bhaktas.

After some time, Basaveswara shifted to Kalyan, the capital of Bijjala. There he founded an institution called Shivanubhava mantapa (a house where people experience the grace of Lord Shiva). This Mantapa brought about great social revolution. Caste was not a barrier for becoming member of this mantapa. Women enjoyed equal status, while honest physical labour was an integral part of religious or spiritual life. Shivanubhava mantapa was the birth place of Veera Shaivism of today.

Vachanas or poetic prose of Basaveswara and his followers guided people to lead a life which pleased Shiva. His philosophy of life was taught through Kannada Vachanas which could be easily followed by common man.

For Example let us see his most popular Vachana, which conveys great philosophy in simplest language:

Steal not, kill not,

Never utter untruth.

Boast not, malign not.

Never feel disgust at others

This is how you clean

Your inner self and

This is your external cleanliness

This is the way to

Gain the favour of God

For those who aspire for divine abode, he said ‘Kaayakave Kailasa’ which means honest physical labour is itself the abode of God (Kailash).

Shivanubhava Mantapa, organized by Basaveswara and presided over by Allama Prabhu, became a nucleus round in which people of all ranks and professions gathered. Women also took part in the discussions that ranged from great spiritual truths to social problems. The popularity of Shivanubhava Mantapa and the great social revolution brought about by it could not be tolerated by people, who were inimical to Basaveswara. They plotted to ruin the relationship of Bijjala with Basaveswara, whose honest work and efficiency were well established. They complained to the king that Basaveswara misused the state funds for entertaining his personal guests. Though Bijjala did not heed to the complaints in the beginning, rumours floated by harmful people were so bad as to gradually sour his relationship with Basaveswara.

The social revolution initiated by the movement had developed into gigantic waves resulting in the marriage of a Brahmin girl to a harijan (untouchable) boy, since both families had embraced the Veerasaiva cult. The commotion and social unrest was so bitter, as to force Bijjala to pluck out the eyes of the fathers of the boy and the girl. The followers of Basaveswara could not digest the cruel act of Bijjala. As a reaction they attacked Bijjala and assassinated him. In the melee that resulted, Basaveswara escaped to Kappadi Sangama, but the cruelty of Bijjala and that of his followers bitterly haunted his thoughts. He voluntarily drowned himself at the confluence of the rivers there.

Basaveswara, as a young man had a natural urge towards social equality. He came out of the clutches of caste superiority and went to Kappadi Sangama. His devotion to Koodala Sangama Deva made him rise to saintly heights. He used every thing he had, wealth, power, good name in the service of his Lord and his devotees. But the caste system of the day caused his decision to end his life. His Vachanas in common languages of the masses, dealing with deepest philosophical thoughts and also simple ethics of day to day life, are yet a class of Kannada literature which elevates man to live an ideal life.

Basaveswara's teachings were carried on by more than 300 saints like Allama Prabhu, Channa Basavanna and Akka Maha Devi. Veerashaivas or Lingayats believe Shiva as the supreme God. Linga is the sole emblem of Shiva. Panchakshari Manthra ‘Namasshivaya’ is the spiritual formula.

The social revolution part of the movement has gradually fizzled out, due to rigidity of caste system that has still a way over Hindu society. But its religio-philosophical system has enriched Hinduism.

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Opinion

[31/07, 15:08] C T Joshi: Basavanna (also known as Basaveshvara) was from 12th century, but even after nine decades  he is relevant. Showing a  great revolutionary.   

A rare person, he was four-dimensional -- a true religionist, spiritual leader, social reformer and a literary man of the masses. In fact he lived beyond his times and would have naturally fitted into the 20th or 21st century.

 As usual, Varaaha Murthy has done well to write about such an outstanding person. As usual it is simple, lucid and easily readable.

But let me express my own views, verified thoroughly, about some points referred to by Varaaha Murthy.

There was no doubt large social discrimination and persecution in India of by-gone days. But it is wrong to link them to Vedas. These latter never prescribed or supported them. They were themselves simple, natural outpourings of man unsophisticated as his present-day successor is. There are many prejudices and wrong notions about Vedas and Vedic religion.

Similarly it is wrong to propagate that Brahmanism is responsible for all that is bad in Hindu society. There were other higher castes too. A large section of Brahmins certainly practised social discrimination but not ALL Brahmins. This section has had it's just desserts.

Basavanna was a superb literary man who founded an important branch of  literature in Kannada, his mother tongue. The significance of Vachana literature is that it goes straight into common man's heart, not stopping at his brain and that it is about a universal, eternal and fulfilling way of life. It would have been better if Varaaha Murthy had dwelt at a greater length on it. He would have then done full justice to this universal man of all times.

 Also if Varaaha Murthy had written a whole, separate essay on Basavanna's entire movement itself, it would have been a significant addition to his outstanding literary output.

Understand the Generation Gap

Since days unknown, a powerful invisible force is bringing about change in human behaviors and their ways of life. It is TIME that is marching ahead with powerful steps silently unhindered. History can just take us back to the time when tribes living in a small area crossed their limited borders and confronted other people belonging to different faiths and languages. They fought to establish their supremacy over the other tribe. Kingdoms were founded. War weapons were improved.

Humans fought in the name of religion. There were crusades and Jihads. Religious institutions dictated terms to kings or rulers. The power of religion over society was once so great as to burn a girl (Joan of Arc) alive, because she pleaded that saints spoke to her.

Time went on making changes in human behavior. Man was busy in finding new methods of enforcing his superiority over people of newly captured lands. Helpless humans were sold as slaves.

Great men taught masses that all humans were born to enjoy self respect. Slaves were liberated. There were world wars; highly powerful war weapons of mass destruction were developed. Man learnt to fly and drop bombs to destroy a whole city. Wars went on till the worst kind of weapon of mass destruction, Atom Bomb was dropped on Japan.

Time allows man to think and act in his own way. Man felt it futile to spend resources, time and energy in waging wars. Nations united to work for liberty, equality and dignity of human beings. Major wars ended. Enlightened leaders had thought of communism, socialism and democracy as political means to bring peace and joy to mankind. Industry, commerce and trade created wealth and prosperity to nations.

Today, amidst the reports of suicide bombers killing many innocent people, newly married young couple are being killed in the name of Honor Killing, because their marriage was against the traditional customs. Moral police is harassing young people who have assembled to celebrate a happy occasion. I received two marriage invitation cards which roused my attention towards the great changes, that time has brought about.

One of the invitation cards was exactly in the traditional form followed by orthodox Brahmans. But the contents were far from orthodox ways. The tradition dictates orthodox Brahmans to select a suitable boy from a dignified family of another orthodox Brahman of the same sub sect, and hand over their girl in marriage with the selected boy. But the invitation was for the marriage of a Brahman girl with a non Brahman boy, which is a daring deviation from orthodox customs. The most touching part in the invitation was that the parents of both boy and girl had requested us to be present without fail.

My wife and I made it a point to attend the marriage. The huge crowd in the marriage hall consisted of people belonging to all castes of Hindus and many from other communities. The rituals of the marriage began exactly according to the custom of Brahmans. The custom of non Brahmans followed this. May be, this prolonged rituals caused a lot of physical strain to the bride and the groom. They looked a bit tired. The dinner was the most enjoyable one. People of different castes sat together exchanging joyful conversation. We were wondering whether there was any barrier of caste or religion in our country.

The other invitation card was a blatant disregard to our tradition. It was in the form of a photograph of the boy and the girl seen close to each other, at the top of which names of parents and a few words of invitation were printed. We could not attend this marriage. But people who attended the marriage reported that there was no warmth of people participation and the lunch was also peculiar. A menu card was issued to each person and one had to select an item which may please him. This marriage was between a boy and a girl belonging to the same caste. The marriage was totally a show of economic status of the families of the bride and groom.

When time could bring about a great change in human relationship so that an inter-caste marriage in India could be celebrated in a grand manner, there are yet people who cannot come out of the clutches of old customs and tradition. If such marriage was to happen in an area where people feel themselves protectors of tradition, the newly married couple would be killed in the name of Honor Killing, and the supporters would be banished.

France has banned Burqa. This brings back to our memory that an Islamic organization in India has banned Jeans, and use of cell phones for girls. We also remember that some film artists and politicians have silently rejected Burqa. A women’s organization could force the in-laws of two women to take back the daughters-in-law, who were decreed by Mullahs with Talaq.

There is a shocking news from Aliah University, West Bengal, which follows the guidelines of U.G.C which does not mention any dress code. Here a woman has a right to choose a face veil. But Sirin Middya, a lady guest lecturer was thrown out for refusing to wear Burqa, inside the class room. Abdus Sattar, Minister for Higher Education and Minority, instructed the university to reinstate her. The force of students’ council was so strong, that the university could not abide by the instructions of the department or the minister. Female students began to wear Burqa. Students’ council wants the university to strictly enforce the Islamic dress code for women. This is another instance where a rigid custom is being thrust upon unwilling people.

These are the days when women cannot live confined to religious restrictions. Men and women have to work together in this enlightened society.

Violent enforcement of rigid customs of the past is now being silently and forcefully rejected by the society. The economic trend of the world has changed the structure of families. Today young men and women go out to work for nearly fourteen hours a day. They cannot spare time for the needs of elders and children at home. They can make arrangements for child care and other needs of children. Of course the elders at home are there, ready to take responsibilities. But these elders also need better attention at home. They feel that they are not properly cared. In some countries, there are reports that robots take care of the elderly people at home. Such arrangements lack the warmth of relationship which the elders need most.

There are other points which haunt the old people. Retired people remember their bright old days when their wishes were implicitly materialized in society and also within their family. Retirement has taken away all thier power and authority. The discipline which once ruled the family is today outdated. Children who came up under their strict guidance and care, find no time to speak to them. Old people feel that they cannot understand our views about society and family. Younger people also cannot really guess why their beloved parents are not able to understand them. They work hard and earn enough money to equip their houses with all kinds of modern equipment. But these things cannot bring their old parents closer to their hearts.

The wide gulf of understanding between the old generation and the new one is termed as Generation Gap. Time has its own way of bridging this gap. Old age homes cannot infuse the warmth of a family life, where grand-parents and grand children together bring about a heavenly joy, and the young people feel themselves free to spend holidays as joyfully as they can. Accepting the changes in social order leads to understanding one another. We are marching towards a world order, with happy families contributing for the human race to enjoy tranquility.

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Opinion

[28/07, 08:13] C T Joshi: This essay is one more illustration to Varaaha Murthy's deep insight and understanding of the society and human relationships. That is if  illustration is indeed needed, because these qualities have been coming out practically in each one of  his writings.

 

As usual it is not just theorizing he does. His contentions are backed by concrete examples and experiences of life.

 

Again as usual language is simple and goes right in to reader's heart.

But unlike most of his writings this one is a bit rambling. It is a bit out of focus. The beginning itself confuses the reader as to where he is being lead.

Still it is a piece, which is enjoyable, realistic and extremely relevant these days of torn society and torn human relationships.