History will be made on 5th August, when PM Narendra Modi, along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath will attend the Bhumipujan of Shri Ram Temple at Ramjanma Bhumi, Ayodhya. Lal Krishna Advani is on the list of special invitees and will attend the Bhumi Pujan digitally. How much I wish circumstances should have been normal and he should have been there physically. Even then, there can not be a better acknowledgement of the contribution made by Advaniji towards the development of Hindu politics and making BJP a force it is today. To me, and millions of average Hindus living in this country, this is as important a moment as 15th August 1947, when India got its independence from unjust and exploiting British rule.
I am sure every Hindu (minus liberals) will celebrate the moment. But especially for those who are nearing forty and beyond, this Bhumi Pujan by Head of the state sounds like a personal victory. You see, today Courts can hog the credit for deciding the Ram Mandir in favour of Hindus. But it was the same judiciary which delayed the judgment till it became obvious that the majority has started to see these delays with suspicion. The pieces of evidence which were submitted to the Supreme Court in 2019, were presented many times before. But it was Judiciary’s pusillanimous which delayed the judgement by at least 70 years. Today if courts hands were forced, it’s only because there’s no Mosque standing. Actually Courts need to be hauled for delaying the Ram Mandir.
VHP/RSS were working for Ram Mandir for many years anyway, but it lost patience with Congress when Rajiv overturned the Shahbano judgement in 1985. For the next three to four years, RSS it went into public awareness overdrive on how Babri was built and why Ram Mandir was necessary. It gained further momentum when BJP led by Advaniji in June 1989 at Palampur convention, adopted the Ram Temple demand as a resolution. Famously known was Palampur Resolution.
Perhaps, Rajiv Gandhi allowing VHP to perform Shilanyas at Ramjanma Bhumi was a result of this political move by BJP. It was a display of naked opportunism on part of Congress to placate Hindus and stop the flight of votes. But Hindus saw through this and Congress lost 1989 General Election. By that time, RSS/VHP had upped the ante further and conducted Ram Shila Pujan in lakhs of localities, mainly across West, Central and North India.
But the real push came when Lal Krishna Advani, decided to take the situation by the scruff of the neck and started Rath Yatra on 25th September from Somnath, Gujarat. The Ram Rath Yatra was supposed to go through the cities and towns where Ram Shila-Pujan had evoked good response. Rath Yatra turned out to be a game-changer. Almost every city Advaniji took his Chariot (an SUV turned into a Rath) to, he was welcomed like a war hero and greeted with Jai Shri Ram and Mandir Wahi Banayenge by boisterous Ram Bhakts. Within a few weeks, from a rally, Rath Yatra turned into a movement. And Lal Krishna Advani into a national leader.
The scheduled stop of the Rath Yatra for Nagpur was 5th of October. I still remember, how the city was decorated. Every nook and corner was painted saffron with marigold flowers and strings of BJP/VHP flags. And towering over all this were massive cut-outs of Prabhu Ram. The Rath was supposed to reach the airport area at around 4 in the evening and end at Poddarshwer Ram Mandir in east Nagpur at around 7.30. But such was the enthusiasm and so huge was the crowd that the time table lost its meaning quickly. People just won’t allow the Yatra to proceed without either touching the Rath or at least showering flowers on Advaniji and Prabhu Ram Pratima. When I, along with many volunteers joined the Yatra it was already well past 6. And as we started moving with the Rath through the city, we were showered with flowers and many who could not touch the Chariot touched us. But as we moved towards the older part of the city, the behaviour of the Ram Bhakts turned frantic. I had not experienced anything closer to this in my life. Many from the crowd, mostly old men and women, touched our feet! I was embarrassed beyond words!
For an urban, educated young man, this was a humbling experience. Till then I had only heard faith can move mountains. That day I saw with my own eyes what being Hindu meant to people! And how much liberating Prabhu Ram’s birthplace was important to them. Finally, at 11 PM, when the Yatra reached Poddarshwer Ram Mandir and we were happily returning home, I was convinced. Convinced that sooner than later Mandir will be built at the very place, where Hindus believed Prabhu Ram was born.
Next day the Rath Yatra proceeded towards Ayodhya via Madhya Pradesh. Eventually, Advaniji was arrested on 23rd October at Samastipur by Bihar Government headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav. Notwithstanding which, lakhs of Kar Sevaks marched on towards Ramjanma Bhumi. Only to be stopped and fired at by Mulayam Singh Government. Which resulted in one of the bloodiest anti-Hindu riots, resulting in thousands of Kar Sevaks deaths. And though Seculars and Socialites were able to stop the demolition of the Mosque in 1990, they could not stop the inevitable. Within 2 years of this, another popular movement emerged and the Mosque was torn down.
Thirty years on, as we stand literally and metaphorically at the Dwar (Door) of the Ram Mandir, which will lead us to Ram Rajya, it’s important that credit should be given where due. BJP Government of the day, led by Modi-Shah deserve heartfelt thank you and lot of credit for making it impossible for courts to evade judgement any more. But for me, Shri Lal Krishna Advani remains the leader who stole the thunder from Congress by riding that Chariot of Fire. Had he not dared to break out of the ordinary and think beyond, we would not have seen the Ram Mandir being built at Ramjanma Bhumi. We also would not have seen BJP winning consecutive elections (2014 and 2019) and turning into the political hegemon it’s today. Not to forget lakhs of Kar Sevaks, who mind you, not once but twice (1990 and 1992) sacrificed their lives, livelihoods and careers to bring down one of the principal symbols of 1000 years of tyrannical foreign rule.
शत शत नमन to memories of those Kar-Servaks who lost their lives in Ramjanma Bhumi Movement!
Nelson Mandela rightly said, “Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world”. The current system based on the Macauley’s principle actually damaged our old and best Ancient Gurukul system. The current education system was established 34 years ago. The tragedy of current education system is that it is neither entrepreneurship and job oriented nor focused on creativity and innovation, even no emphasis on life management skills training that is essential part of everyone’s life.
The fallouts which we are noticing owing to our current education system are rise in unemployment, Brain drain, lack of innovation and creativity among youngsters in comparison with youngsters of developed nations, not in synchronous with latest science and technology changes, less risk taking ability to start up new enterprise, decrease in confidence and hope about future resulting in mental health issues and suicide..
It was essential to make radical changes in our education system to bring a good life for our future generations and stand firmly in a competitive world to uplift economy, develop new technologies by innovative and creative ideas utilising talent and skills of our youths.
The process began to change current education system 3 years back and later on committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr. K. Kasturirangan, ex chief of ISRO, around 2 lakh suggestions from different sections of society were discussed in detail to formulate the policy. The new beginning has commenced in our education system when it was announced and approved by Modi Government on 29th July 2020. How this new system is going to help our future generations? Let’s see…
New education system will focus more on experiential learning, skill development, knowledge enhancement, Sports integrated education, will develop creative and innovative ability. Ex. Vocational training from 6th class, 10 days bagless period and using some days of holidaying to improve knowledge and various skills to change the mindset and developing creative and innovative attitude.
Changes in higher studies aligned with industry, business or professional requirement in engineering, medical, law, etc. will help our students to develop themselves as job creators, will help them in seeking job easily, will generate huge numbers of innovators and creators to attract global investors and consumers.
Budget enhanced from 1.7% of GDP to 6 % of GDP on education to develop schools, colleges to international level and to match the prevailing market needs and overall development of a child. It will help to create “India a Global Knowledge Superpower”.
No board exams for 10th and 12th class, it will ease parents and children from unwarranted pressure causing many health issues and, in few cases, suicidal tendency or suicide. Children can focus more on competitive exam studies.
Local language also helps a country to grow culturally and economically. If we see top 20 nations in terms of GDP, we will notice that many nations give priority to their local language. This approach will definitely help us to achieve more economically and grow culturally concurrently using English as communication language on global platform.
Appointment of social worker and Counselor in each school will help in overall development and handling specific issues of a child. Life skill training will help in overall personality development.
Sanskrit language is again given prominence, which is vital culturally, scientifically and developing memory and intellect. Many universities across globe has started teaching Sanskrit owing to it’s benefits on memory and intellect…
There are numerous changes and benefits that we are going to see in future, can’t mention each one here, you can visit government website to see all the changes…
Let’s encourage our children/students/youngsters for their bright future. This change won’t take place in a day or two however it will be implemented gradually in coming months/years.
“Nothing makes one so vain as being told that one is a sinner.” ― Oscar Wilde
The last few months of our lives have seen what we never saw or ever could have even imagined to witness. The world has turned upside down with chaos and sinister ruling worldwide. Whether it’s China, US, EU nations, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey all are doing one thing or the other which has a negative outlook.
Plan of being the only superpower- China
As reported by a senior intelligence officer of the US, the Chinese have made a plan to rule the world and use each and every possible technique in the book to achieve this goal. Their current activities are proving to be coinciding with the officer’s words. China has brought numerous countries of the globe under their debt trap and is forcing them to work under their orders and even to give up their lands or businesses. This technique was adopted by the British when they ruled hundreds of years back.
China wants to be the world’s biggest business model and run all kinds of businesses throughout the globe. It has started the Belt and Road Initiative which has spread to countries like Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh. They want their control on all the air, rail and water routes and to achieve that they are not even afraid to use their military. To have their way in the Galvan Valley to connect the route to the CPEC they resorted to military action which took the lives of numerous soldiers on both the sides. To take control on the train routes in Iran they trapped the Iran government under their debt jargon and now will be involved in the railway projects which is helpful for their BRI and to top it off now they have resorted to fund the Arakan army of Myanmar to sabotage the joint development projects of India and Myanmar along the Mizoram border because these projects are coming in the way of a CPEC like project which China and Myanmar had planned to build under the BRI to connect China with Bangladesh through Myanmar.
Map depicting China’s road expansion where in it wants to reach as far as possible, geographically.
Sri Lanka, another debt trapped and politically controlled Indian neighbour by China just like Nepal, has given its Hambantota port for 99 years to China to save it self from some debt money. The Chinese are using military and diplomatic techniques against the countries who are against them like India, USA, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and on the other hand the debt trapping ways are being used with those nations who are loyal to them or who are in need of help.
The port of Sri Lanka leased out to China for 99 years, being in debt with China!
The USA and China are having a diplomatic war going on by ordering closure of each other’s consulates on espionage allegations. China is sabre rattling Taiwan by violating their airspace on weekly basis by their military jets. Hong Kong has lost its autonomy by the new security law imposed by China which even prohibits the people to protest against mainland China, as a result many protesters have left the country or have been arrested. China has taken ports and lands around India to keep up pressure on India and use these stations during any military action if ever happens in future.
The dragon has also been accused of stealing information through its mobile applications and hacking attacks. India has banned numerous useless dangerous Chinese applications who were stealing information and providing the same to the Chinese government as per the Chinese laws. The USA and EU countries are also mulling about banning such applications.
Profit from the pandemic-
The world economies are going down the drain and are at their worst. Booming economies like that of Japan, UK and the US are all below 2009 recession levels. Lakhs of people have lost their jobs or have resorted to jobs which are much below their qualifications. But all this has not stopped the sinister business houses or the sinful governments to make profits.
China who manufactured and supplied the COVID-19 virus to the world has also made and supplied numerous masses, ventilators, PPE kits and test kits throughout the world and made huge profits.They’re even keeping a close eye on the vaccine tests going in other nations and even trying to steal their data to make future profits through vaccines.
The Western nations are not far behind in the profit making race. The USA, UK and EU nations have given advance orders of vaccines much more than their population to pharma companies like Pfizer and Moderna. The same thing happened with the swine flu vaccines earlier which reached the developed world much before they reached the rest of the globe. These countries are planning to make huge profits in future by selling the procured vaccines to other nations at higher costs.There have been reports of insider trading since March when the business of pharma companies started booming. Many have made profits and are even planning to make more. In the times when nations need each other’s support and compassion the world is running towards the money. It’s nothing but another face of the year 2020.
India is fighting its own battle with the virus by trying to reduce the daily number of cases and the death rate. On the positive side, India as it is considered to be the world’s biggest pharma manufacturing ground is receiving advance orders to manufacture vaccines.The Oxford made vaccine Astra Zeneca is being manufactured by the Serum Institute situated in Pune and will be making billions of doses of the vaccine. India has also made its own vaccine – Covaxin invented by Bharat Biotech which is at the phase of human trials and will hopefully pass all the tests.
China did what it had to do and now it’s time for the world to react in a ‘non – Chinese’ manner. The world needs to develop a sense of compassion instead of being selfish.
Hindu’s across the world has set an example of patience and respect for the rule of law for the entire world. There had been a long legal struggle for the reclamation of the Shree Ramjanma Bhoomi site for the reconstruction of glorious and grand Ram Mandir. This once in a history moment will finally illuminated our lives on 5th of August, 2020 by the Silanyas and Vastu Pujan Ceremony.
It is unfortunate for all of us that we won’t be able to witness this epoch making sacrament with our physical presence at the Ayodhya due to obvious reason of Chinese Corona Virus. But we all know that this universe belongs to him. Hence, the Hindu IT Cell has come up with the unique of celebration.
Hindu IT Cell, a prime volunteer driven organisation for the cyber clean up of Hinduphobes and anti-nationals, has come up with a unique way of celebration with group recitals of Hanuman Chalisa with Ram Bhakts across India. So far over night since opening of the registration lines, in an overwhelming response more than two hundreds devotee have encouraged this pious initiative.
In today’s difficult times digital mode has come as bright light at the end of a cave bringing rays of hope and bliss to the face of the worshipers. Every life on earth is celebrating in own ways for their love towards the supreme authority of universe, Shree Ram. Wish you all happiness for the upcoming Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan. Jay Shree Ram.
इस वर्ष रक्षाबंधन अवर्णनीय आनन्द का वाहक बन कर आया है। आज से श्री रामजन्मभूमि पर आगामी 5 अगस्त 2020 को होने वाले भूमि पूजन सम्बन्धी अनुष्ठान और पूजा कार्यक्रम प्रारंभ हो गए है। उत्तर से दक्षिण और पूर्व से पश्चिम तक सम्पूर्ण भारत वर्ष में उल्लासऔर उत्सव का प्रकाश है।
आह्लाद के इन क्षणों में जन्मभूमि आन्दोलन की अनेकानेक स्मृतियाँ उभर रही हैं।
विश्व हिन्दू परिषद आन्दोलन के केंद्र में था किन्तु संस्कार भारती से लेकर दुर्गा वाहिनी तक प्रत्येक शाखा की सचेष्ट भागीदारी थी। सब एक ही दिशा, एक ही मंतव्य, एक ही ध्येय से एक पथ पर चल रहे थे। स्वयंसेवक परिवार होने के नाते अन्यान्य कार्यक्रमों में हमारा कुछ न कुछ नियमित उत्तरदायित्व होता था।
व्यक्तिगत बात करूँ तो उस समय मेरे लिए ये एक पारिवारिक दायित्व जैसा था, भावनाओं का जुड़ाव न इससे कम न इससे अधिक।
इसी काल में संघ के एक रक्षा बंधन उत्सव ने अंतर्मन में बहुत कुछ बदल दिया। वर्ष ठीक से स्मरण नहीं आ रहा संभवतः 1989 रहा होगा। लखनऊ के डी.ए.वी. कॉलेज मैदान में आयोजित वृहद रक्षा बंधन उत्सव में श्रद्धेय अशोक सिंघल जी मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में पधारे – चमत्कारिक उद्बोधन था, जैसे किसी ने झकझोर के नींद से जगा दिया हो। उस रक्षा बंधन उत्सव में अशोक जी की सशक्त कलाई पर राखी बांधकर स्वयं को धन्य अनुभव करते हुए अपने आप को ही वचन दिया था, श्री राम जन्मभूमि आन्दोलन के यज्ञ में सामर्थ्य भर समिधा डालने का।
आन्दोलन में समाज के प्रत्येक परिवार की भूमिका सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कितने छोटे –बड़े कार्यक्रम कितने व्यवस्थित रूप से संचालित हुए, कितने सूक्ष्म स्तर पर कितनी स्पष्ट योजना बनी और तमाम राजनैतिक अवरोधों और उतार चढ़ाव के मध्य उसका क्रियान्वयन सुनिश्चित हुआ ये प्रबंधन विशेषज्ञों के लिए अध्ययन का विषय होना चाहिए।
1990 में उसी डी.ए.वी. कॉलेज मैदान में साध्वी ऋतंभरा की सभा का आयोजन था। मुलायम सिंह जी की सरकार अपने निहित राजनैतिक स्वार्थ के कारण आन्दोलन को कुचलने में लगी थी। आन्दोलन के प्रमुख नेतृत्व कर्ता अपनी सभाओं में पहुँच पाएंगे उसमें असमंजस रहता था। उस दिन भी ऐसा ही था। अपराह्न 3.00 बजे सभा होनी थी। उस समय तक हम 5-6 कार्यकर्ता ही वहां पहुँच सके थे। माइक- लाउड स्पीकर पहले ही लग चुके थे। हमारे पास इतनी ही सूचना थी कि ऋतंभरा जी अपने गुरुदेव के साथ आ रही है। शाम का लगभग 4.00 बज गया न श्रोता थे न वक्ता, हमें लगा सभा निरस्त हो गयी होगी किन्तु ऊपर से ऐसी कोई सूचना भी नहीं आ रही थी। तभी धीरे धीरे जन सामान्य मैदान में आना प्रारंभ हुआ और देखते ही देखते पूरा भर गया। अब प्रतीक्षा थी तो बस ऋतंभरा जी की।
1990 की ऋतंभरा- आनन पर दैवीय आभा वाली वल्कल धारिणी एक तरुणी।
जय श्रीराम के गगन भेदी उच्चारण के साथ जो वक्तव्य प्रारंभ हुआ उसमें जोश नहीं था वरन भारत, भारतीय संस्कृति और इसके प्रतीक श्री राम के प्रति श्रद्धा और समर्पण का एक ज्वार था जो जनमानस को बहाकर अपने साथ ले जाने में समर्थ था।
कालांतर में मीडिया, कुछ राजनैतिक दलों और वामपंथ के झंडाबरदारों ने जिस तरह श्री रामजन्मभूमि आन्दोलन या मुक्ति यज्ञ को मंदिर की लड़ाई कहकर न्यून करने का प्रयास किया (आज भी कर रहे हैं) उन्हें ऋतंभरा जी सहित आन्दोलन के सभी प्रमुख महानुभावों – अशोक सिंघल जी, लाल कृष्ण अडवाणी जी, उमा श्री भारती जी आदि के उस समय के वक्तव्य सुनकर यह समझना चाहिए कि यह किसी मंदिर की लड़ाई नहीं थी वरन श्री रामजन्मभूमि मुक्ति का महायज्ञ था और साथ ही ये कि भारत की राष्ट्रीय एकता के लिए यह क्यों अनिवार्य था।
1990 में मुलायम सिंह यादव द्वारा अयोध्या में कराए गए कार सेवकों के नर संहार ने हमें अन्दर तक हिला दिया था। कितने मरे, कितने घायल, कितने गायब, कितने दफ़न और कितने सरयू में बह गए ये आज भी किसी को सही सही नहीं पता। हमारे परिवारों में आक्रोश और दुःख के सिवा मानों कुछ शेष नहीं रहा था।
1991 में राष्ट्रधर्म के सहसंपादक स्मृति शेष श्री राम नारायण त्रिपाठी, पर्यटक जी के साथ, आन्दोलन के शलाका पुरुष दिगंबर अखाड़े के महंत परमहंस रामचंद्र दास जी से भेंट का सुयोग बना। पर्यटक जी पत्रिका के लिए उनका साक्षात्कार करने गए थे। अखाड़े सहित अयोध्या के प्रमुख मार्गों पर गोलियों के निशान तब भी वैसे ही थे।
अपने रामभक्त योद्धाओं की नृशंस हत्या से आहत उस महामानव के सजल नेत्र मुलायम के क्रूर कर्मों की गवाही थे। श्रद्धेय अशोक सिंघल जी का नाम लेकर उन्होंने कहा था, “अपना अशोक बहुत भोला है, उसको राजनीति नहीं आती। उससे कहा था मैंने, ये (मुलायम) कुछ भी करवा सकता है। अपने बच्चों को भी कम से कम लाठी लेकर जाने दो लेकिन वो नीति से नहीं भटका”।
उस शून्य में, जब लगने लगा था कि अब कौन जायेगा कारसेवा करने? आन्दोलन फिर उठ खड़ा हुआ।
छुप छुप कर, कई बार तो जीवन हथेली पर रखकर 1990 की क्रूरता के कैसेट्स, घर घर दिखाए जाते थे। दो गुने जोश से कारसेवक तैयार हो रहे थे।
अंततः श्री रामजन्मभूमि की मुक्ति का ऐतिहासिक क्षण आ ही गया। मेरे विचार में भाजपा अध्यक्ष के रूप में लाल कृष्ण अडवाणी जी के आन्दोलन को राजनैतिक समर्थन का निर्णय और 6 दिसंबर 1992 के विवादित निर्माण ध्वंस की घटना इस मुक्ति यज्ञ के दो निर्णायक मोड़ थे जिन्होंने हमें आज ये सौभाग्य प्रदान किया है।
The departure of people pretending to be stand-up comedy from the social media and public space in India has left nobody crying for them. Barring some random people from South Delhi and South Mumbai, they never really had a constituency of viewers anyway, and most of the social media echo chamber was built around fake followers.
In addition, people had already seen through their tired repertoire of one-sided religious and political one-liners, whilst paid performances were few if at all after the December 2019 anti-India riots in Delhi where many of them performed as paid agent provocateurs.
So where does comedy in India go from here? Will we ever return to the days of, for example, the Tepa Sammelan of Ujjain? And are we going to see proper comedy of the sort seen in movies and theatres till about 30 years ago?
Comedy is not dead. It is still very much alive. Comedy just stays clear of politics and religion now, because both have become so strongly inter-linked, that it is better that way. And here is why.
Many decades ago, I used to work on merchant cargo ships, and landed up being posted to a ship training cadets for a particular foreign country which had just been through a seriously violent freedom revolution. The ship was also a regular cargo ship, working a regular global route, built to the highest standards of equipment and design. State of the art, a joy to work on – and unlike on most other ships being built then, with capacity onboard for almost a hundred people.
Since the country in question was in a hurry to rid itself of their colonial trappings, they had employed people from all over the world, different nationalities and different religions. As Indians, we were the largest number of ex-pats on that ship, and at one time we had 13 different nationalities on board – including some from countries that were certainly not friendly with each other.
The Master (Captain, Commander) of this ship was a very elderly and wise old German, who had been on ships since he was 13 years old, and was now into his 70s. Right in the beginning he laid down a simple rule towards a happy ship – in the working and common areas, there would be no discussions on religions and politics. This was implemented voluntarily by all and it kept the ship happy and laughing and working well all the time.
So over a few beers, some of us asked him what was the logic of the zero tolerance on political and religious jokes? And he said – look, apart from safety in mixed environments, it teaches you to think that there is a whole world out there which is if you look with eyes and mind open, very funny. The best comedy, he told us, was to learn to laugh at yourself.
Which made so much sense, actually, as we looked around us. Think about the old funny movies, the comedians, the topic they covered, and similar? On ships, with so much of the power of nature around us, it was so easy to see humour even while watching the seagulls dive and play behind the ship, for hours, when you thought about it. Another great topic for comedy was, what else, gender relationships. Even the equipment in the engine room provided enough opportunities for comedy.
Sure, there were the Shankar’s Weeklies and then there was Punch – but these were magazines that you enjoyed on your own steam, and not something that was the end all and be all of existence for specific types of propaganda?
Actually, more people are laughing about the stand-up comedians now, than laughing with them. And that’s the sad truth about how specific political and religious attacks disguised as comedy have come to an end.
Let’s bring back comedy into our lives and let’s try to keep religion and politics out of it.
वैशविक परिदृश्य में कुछ घटनाक्रम ऐसे होते हैं जो अलग अलग स्थान और अलग अलग समय पर घटित होते हैं लेकिन कालांतर में अगर उन तथ्यों की कड़ियाँ जोड़कर उन्हें समझने की कोशिश की जाए तो गहरे षड्यंत्र सामने आते हैं। इन तथ्यों से इतना तो कहा ही जा सकता है कि सामान्य से लगने वाले ये घटनाक्रम असाधारण नतीजे देने वाले होते हैं। क्योंकि इस प्रक्रिया में संबंधित समूह स्थान या जाति के इतिहास से छेड़ छाड़ करके उस समूह स्थान या जाति का भविष्य बदलने की चेष्टा की जाती है। आइए पहले ऐसे ही कुछ घटनाक्रमों पर नज़र डालते हैं।
घटनाक्रम 1.
2018, स्थान राखीगढ़ी,
लगभग 6500 साल पुराने एक कंकाल के डी.एन.ए के अध्य्यन से यह बात वैज्ञानिक रूप से सिद्ध हो गई कि आर्य बाहर से नहीं आए थे।बल्कि वे भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप के स्थानीय अथवा मूलनिवासी थे। यहीं उन्होंने धीरे धीरे प्रगति की, जीवन को उन्नत बनाया और फिर इधर उधर फैलते गए। इस शोध को देश विदेश के 30 वैज्ञानिकों की टीम ने अंजाम दिया था जिसका दावा है कि अफगानिस्तान से लेकर बंगाल और कश्मीर से लेकर अंडमान तक के लोगों के जीन एक ही वंश के थे।
घटनाक्रम 2.
19 वीं शताब्दी 1850 में आर्य आक्रमण सिद्धांत दिया गया जिसमें कहा गया कि आर्य भारत में बाहर से आए थे (कहाँ से आए इसका कोई स्पष्ट जवाब किसी के पास नहीं है। कोई मध्य एशिया, कोई साइबेरिया,कोई मंगोलिया तो कोई ट्रांस कोकेशिया कहता है) और इन्होंने भारत पर आक्रमण करके यहाँ के मूलनिवासियों (जनजातियों) को अपना दास बनाया था। यानी आज भारत में रहने वाले लोग यहाँ के मूलनिवासी नहीं हैं केवल यहाँ की जनजातियाँ यहाँ की मूलनिवासी हैं।
घटनाक्रम 3.
15 वीं शताब्दी 1492 में कोलम्बस भारत की खोज में निकला और अमेरिका पहुंच कर उसी को भारत समझ बैठा। वहां उसे अमेरिका के स्थानीय निवासी मिले जिनका रंग लाल था। चूंकि वो उस धरती को भारत समझ रहा था उसने उन्हें “रेड इंडियन” नाम दिया। असल में यही रेड इंडियन अमेरिका के मूल निवासी हैं। लूट के इरादे से आए कोलम्बस ने उनपर खूब अत्याचार किए। धीरे धीरे यूरोप के अन्य देशों को भी अमेरिका के बारे में पता चला और कालांतर में स्पेन, फ्रांस और ब्रिटेन ने भी अमेरिका पर कब्जा कर लिया। ब्रिटेन ने तो वहाँ अपनी 13 कॉलोनियाँ स्थापित कर ली थीं। 1776 से लेकर 1783 तक अमेरिका के मूलनिवासियों ने अपनी आजादी की लड़ाई लड़ी जिसके बाद ये 13 कॉलोनियाँ आज का संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका बना।
घटनाक्रम 3
कुछ संगठनों द्वारा 1992 में कोलम्बस के अमरीका में आने के 500 वर्ष पूर्ण होने के उपलक्ष्य में वहाँ एक बड़ा जश्न मनाने की तैयारी की जा रही थी। लेकिन अमेरिका के मूलनिवासियों द्वारा कोलम्बस के उनपर किए गए अत्याचारों के कारण इस आयोजन का विरोध किया गया।
घटनाक्रम 4.
इसी के चलते 1994 में 9 अगस्त को आदिवासी दिवस अथवा “ट्राइबल डे” अथवा मूलनिवासी दिवस मनाने की शुरूआत हुई। इसका लक्ष्य था ऐसे प्रदेश या देश के मूलनिवासियों को उनके अधिकार दिलाना जिन्हें अपने ही देश में दूसरे दर्जे की नागरिकता प्राप्त हो।सरल शब्दों में आक्रांताओं द्वारा उनपर किए गए अत्याचारों के कारण उनकी दयनीय स्थिति में सुधार लाने के कदम उठाना।
घटनाक्रम 5.
भारत के आदिवासी इलाकों में आदिवासियों का उनके सामाजिक उत्थान और कल्याण के नाम पर धर्मांतरण की घटनाओं का इजाफा होना। कुछ तथ्य, 1951 में अरुणाचल प्रदेश में एक भी ईसाई नहीं था, 2011 की जनगणना के मुताबिक अब अरुणाचल प्रदेश में 30% से ज्यादा ईसाई हैं। मेघालय में 75% मिज़ोरम में 87% नागालैंड में 90% सिक्किम में 9.9% , त्रिपुरा में 4.3% और केरल में 18.38% ईसाई आबादी है जो धीरे धीरे बढ़ रही है।
ये घटनाएं विश्व के इतिहास की सामान्य घटनाएं प्रतीत हो सकती हैं लेकिन अगर इनके परिणामों पर दृष्टि डालें तो लगता है कि यह सामान्य नहीं हो सकती।
क्योंकि आज जब भारत के झारखंड, ओडिशा, पश्चिम बंगाल, छत्तीसगढ़ एवं मध्यप्रदेश जैसे आदिवासी बहुल प्रदेशों में कुछ संगठनों द्वारा जोर शोर से आदिवासी दिवस को मनाने की परंपरा शुरू कर दी गई है तो यह विषय गम्भीर हो जाता है। खास तौर पर तब जब ऐसे आयोजनों के बहाने इस देश की जनजातियों से उनके अधिकार दिलाने की बड़ी बड़ी बातें की जाती हों और एक सुनियोजित तरीके से उनके अंतर्मन में सरकार के प्रति असंतोष का बीज बोने का षड्यंत्र रचा जाता हो। क्योंकि ऐसे तथ्य सामने आए हैं जब इन जनजातियों की समस्याओं के नाम पर एक ऐसे आंदोलन की रूपरेखा तैयार की जाती है जिसके परिणामस्वरूप यह “असंतोष” केवल किसी जनजाति का सरकार के प्रति विद्रोह तक ही सीमित नहीं रहता बल्कि कहीं कहीं यह सामाजिक आंदोलन का रूप ले लेता है तो कहीं यह असंतोष धर्मांतरण और अलगाववाद का कारण बन जाता है। कहा जा सकता है कि आदिवासी अथवा जनजातियों को उनके अधिकार दिलाने की मुहिम दिखने वाला “आदिवासी दिवस” नाम का यह आयोजन ऊपर से जितना सामान्य और साधारण दिखाई देता है वो उससे कहीं अधिक उलझा हुआ है। क्योंकि भारत का इस विषय में यह मानना है कि भारत में रहने वाले सभी लोग भारत के मूलनिवासी हैं और इनमें से कुछ समुदायों को “अनुसूचित” या चिन्हित किया गया है जिन्हें सामाजिक, आर्थिक, न्यायिक और राजनैतिक समानता दिलाने के लिए संविधान में विशेष प्रावधान किए गए हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त मूलनिवासियों के जिन अधिकारों की बात की जा रही है, वो अधिकार भारत का संविधान भारत के हर नागरिक को प्रदान करता है इसलिए भारत के संदर्भ में किसी आदिवासी दिवस का कोई औचित्य नहीं है। इसके बावजूद भारत में इस दिवस को विशेष महत्व देने का प्रयास किया जा रहा है।
इसी क्रम में कुछ संगठन प्रधानमंत्री से इस दिन पर अवकाश की घोषणा करने की अपील भी कर रहे हैं। इस प्रकार के कृत्य निःसंदेह उनके उद्देश्य के प्रति संदेह उत्पन्न करते हैं। क्योंकि भारत जैसे देश में आदि काल से ही जनजाति और गैर जनजाति समाज स्नेह पूर्वक सामाजिक संरचना में एक दूसरे के पूरक बनकर मिलजुल कर रहते थे इसके अनेक ऐतिहासिक और पौराणिक प्रमाण उपलब्ध हैं। रामायण में केवट की प्रभु राम के प्रति भक्ति और प्रभु राम का केवट पर स्नेह। वनवास के दौरान निषादराज के यहाँ प्रभु श्री राम का रात्रि विश्राम और उन्हें अपना मित्र बना लेना, यहाँ तक कि अपने राज्याभिषेक और अपने अश्वमेध यज्ञ में उन्हें अतिथि रूप में आमंत्रित करना। शबरी के हाथों उसके झूठे बेर खाना।
ये तीनों केवट, निषाद और शबरी जो कि आदिवासी थे उनको एक राजवंशी द्वारा यथोचित मान सम्मान आदर और प्रेम देना भारतीय संस्कृति में सामाजिक समरसता का इससे बेहतर उदाहरण और क्या हो सकता है? इसी प्रकार अरुणाचल प्रदेश की 54 जनजातियों में से एक मिजोमिश्मी जनजाति खुद को भगवान कृष्ण की पटरानी रूक्मिणी का वंशज मानती है। इसी प्रकार नागालैंड के शहर डीमापुर को कभी हिडिंबापुर के नाम से जाना जाता था।यहाँ रहने वाली डिमाशा जनजाति खुद को भीम की पत्नी हिडिम्बा का वंशज मानती है। ये सभी तथ्य इस बात का प्रमाण हैं कि भारत की जनजातियाँ भारतीय समाज का सम्मानित हिस्सा थीं। लेकिन कालांतर में आक्रमणकारियों के अत्याचारों से इस सुव्यवस्थित भारतीय समाज में सामाजिक भेदभाव की नींव पड़ी। इसलिए आज आवश्यकता है कि जनजातियों के बहाने भारत की संप्रभुता के खिलाफ चलने वाले षड्यंत्र को समझ कर उसे विफल करने के लिए सरकार की और से ठोस कदम उठाये जाएँ।
The Corridor which never existed for the sake of paper clarity is set to end with the recent China-Iran deal. India’s bet on Chabahar port project to reduce the importance of Gwadar has worked, although in some other way. China’s insistence on participating in rail project from Iran to Afghanistan means the Wakhan Corridor at its border with Afghanistan can substitute usage of POK. While the proposed Kish island and / or Bandar-e-Jask port project in Iran can become an option to Gwadar. In effect, the starting point of CPEC & the end-point, are both replaceable now for Beijing. The Corridor now literally goes nowhere!
This time History will repeat itself more cruelly for Pakistan. About half of CPEC highway was historically built by the Chinese leadership several decades back and upon non-payment was gifted to Pakistan. It was then ruined as it remained worthless for transit sense. Same with Gwadar, it was dumped by a Singapore company which tried to engage with the port project as a viable investment. To add to this, the media shouts of China’s investment in the project were also a total lie. Loans to Pakistan from China was portrayed as investments for all these years. A Corridor by definition opens on all four sides. How can an economic corridor be proposed when a country has locked itself east & west, from Iran, Afghanistan & India? I do not see how most of the Chinese loans being routed back as payments for Chinese labor, machinery & material will be paid by a financially bankrupt Pakistan.
What was the purpose of CPEC?
Most analysts knew from the beginning that there was no economic seriousness in the project at least from the Pakistan’s side. Terror groups would have now and then re-negotiated their cake from whatever little trade that would have happened on the route. The Baluchi freedom fighters have unleashed themselves on the Chinese assets, workers and Pakistan army on the route. With almost zero trade east-west, Pakistan calms itself by exporting donkeys and dogs to China. China on the other hand has got access to a whole new market to dump inexpensive Chinese goods. Like all Chinese projects in non-viable areas of poor countries which are in cash-starving position, this blank cheque diplomacy will exploit sovereignty. Upon non-payment of pending dues, Beijing is known for taking up lands, transport units, utility and mining projects, ports, colonies, markets, media & public assets as ownership or on 99 years lease. This, along with debt to equity conversions of strategic assets of national importance, subsequent arm-twisting of foreign and trade policies of the host nations is a warning bell for the World.
Does re-payments include Women?
In Africa, China is alleged to have accepted forceful marriages of local women as payment of debts in covert agreements with the establishment. It is noted several times that Beijing releases criminals from jails in BRI countries as workers. China is suffering from a severely adverse sex ratio, and with millions of adult men without women to marry these projects come handy. Africa is among the only geographies which has more women than men. In BRI countries where women deny to marry a Chinese man, China is letting loose funding for mandarin newspapers, schools, Chinese restaurants and libraries to acquaint them to Chinese lifestyle. Several videos are circulating about free mandarin classes in Nepal and Pakistan. Few Pakistani media persons are seen publicly asking reasons to women for not marrying a Chinese man in street-videos. This enforced cultural infusion facilitates smooth marriages with local women of these countries with Chinese men.
What is the Future of CPEC?
Pakistan’s economy is ailing and more so after CPEC debts. The country is troubled from jihad to worldly isolation. With China-Iran deal the little economic value that CPEC had is also washed away. In this scenario, it will have to give away huge chunks of projects to China for equity ownership. There is no possibility of Malacca strait being choked for China until Beijing itself does any mischief there. With last 30 years of crude oil and gas stock remaining with the World, the completion of CPEC project looks almost doubtful. This creates a danger of Gwadar turning as a base for the PLA navy, a threat which Delhi expected since the beginning of this project. CPEC will be like a lively Chinese market of cheap products and goods to be consumed by Pakistani citizens who will be later cornered in their own country with massive flow of Chinese population ready to flood their colonies.
There could be more Chinese on streets of many cities than Pakistanis, if Beijing has its way. The domestic businesses will not be able to stand Chinese predatory pricing and face a complete shutdown. There is no wisdom in expecting Chinese bosses to behave differently with local Pakistani employees and citizens inside Pakistan than how they treat Uighur Muslims in China. Some of the recent allegations state that the Arab world is a big importer of “halal” organs stolen by Chinese authorities from bodies of Uighur citizens.
One of the rarest CPEC possibility could be a Pakistan enriching itself by booming trade with Iran, India & Afghanistan. The completion of CPEC project is a threat to Pakistan establishment as Beijing would then at some point demand opening up the gates for trade with India for profitability. This sounds like a dream because entities like Pakistan army do not entertain in-depth people to people contact with any democracies, lest they learn about democratic rights & freedoms. Majority of the establishment and generals of Pakistan army carry dual-citizenship. They also have their children, properties and illicit money deposited in US & UK banks. It now looks all prepared for the day of complete collapse. The country is hardly sustaining in absence of blank cheques from the US government. UAE-Saudi loans are pending too. The only diplomatic friend Turkey is also reeling under economic pressures.
In this scenario, China’s deal with Iran is a signal of in-principle surrender of POK to India. The Imran Khan leadership is hungry for more and more loans, while the people are left to pay for their karma of life-long jihad to serve Pakistan as a rented war zone for the world powers. This over-play with biggies for 70 years without a strong economic base being set will cost dear to Pakistan. The threat of IMF triggering unbearable inflation is looming over the poor citizens, while India is visibly readying lethal weapons to take back its occupied territory.
Last year, a bill was introduced in New York Senate to mandate compulsory education in all schools to the “meanings of swastika,” a symbol of ‘hate.’ Swastika was bundled with noose, “a symbol of racism and intimidation’’ in the bill. The bill attempts to bind the ‘”meaning of the swastika as the emblem of Nazi Germany.’’[1] Many legislative acts in the West are already in place, which though well-intentioned, link swastika to terrors of Nazism, and bind its meaning to horror and thus ban its use.
There is no let-up in this association. Last month, Finland’s air Force quietly dropped their 102 years old emblem that featured Swastika.[2] In public imagination too, swastika has, in a way, become onomatopoeic with the horrors of Nazism. In this article, I will examine how come the symbol came to be associated with Nazism, and whether the use of the word Swastika is appropriate to designate a symbol that was, in first place, called as Hakenkreuz by no less than Hitler himself.
The earliest known use of word “svastika” or “swastika” is found in the 6th century BC Sanskrit philologist Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.[3] Considered as great grandfather of linguistics, Panini used swastika to illustrate a particular sound of letter a. The fact that it was used to explain a certain grammar rule more than 2500 years ago, demonstrates that the symbol was well assimilated and widely known and used in Ancient India. In Indian sub-continent, it can be located from pre-Harappan times to the date. The use of svastika symbol however predates its name, and was not limited to Indian subcontinent alone. It has been found from Scandivania to Africa, Paraguay to America. The earliest known symbol appears on Palaeolithic carvings on mammoth ivory from the Ukraine, dated circa 12,000 BC.[4]
Of all symbols, Indian Swastika is the most adopted, most adapted and most pleasing to eye. Swastika is easy to draw, can be moulded in many other shapes with artistic creativity and is exquisitely graceful. It is a sign of good fortune, peace, prosperity, benediction and blessing, and all thoughts and deeds noble–a sign of Arya (meaning noble). Maybe, a symbolic representation of the Rigveda’s Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah (meaning: Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions). Swastika can also be viewed as a combination of male (Shiva) and female principles (Shakti) glued into one. In the Ramayana, the ships that Guha arranges had the insignia of Swastika onto them[5], and so did modern-day India’s oldest shipping company, The Scindia Steam Navigation Company. [6] It is auspicious for other Indic religions too.
The absence of sun from the recognised symbols of 24 tirthankaras has led to assumption that the swastika symbol of 7th tirthankar actually denotes sun.[7] In Buddhism, the swastika is considered to symbolize the auspicious footprints of the Buddha. Ornamental and secular representation of Swastika are equally common in India. The third most populous state of India, Bihar, has two swastikas on its emblem along with the name of the state in Urdu which is often seen as a language of Muslims. [8] A number of Swastikas has been found in sites of Indus Valley Civilization, the most extensive of ancient civilizations of the world as well as on the oldest coinage of India.[9]
Swastika (स्वस्तिक) literally means ‘let there be good’ (su “good” and asti “let it be”), or simply ‘good it is’ implying total surrender to paramatma and acceptance of the fruits of karma. In one sense, it is also equivalent of ‘amen.’ With various meanings, Swastika is still more than sum of all its meanings. Swastika can be interpreted in many ways but can itself not be defined or fully decoded, rendering it an enthralling sign.
In the West, it was known as fylfot or Gammadion before name swastika became popular. Rational nomenclature demanded that a name with a history of thousands of years be assigned to the symbol. [10] Various recognised similar symbols with varying significance were termed as swastika. And thus many forms of crosses including dreaded hakencreuz came to be known as swastika. Max Muller protested against the word Swastika being applied generally to a variety of similar symbols as it was a word of Indian origin with a definite meaning in India.
18th century Europe witnessed a growing fascination towards Sanskrit, Indic cultures and anything Indian. Voltaire, for instance, was convinced that everything that is important for civilization like astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis, etc. had originated from the banks of the Ganges. Friedrich Schlegel’s book On the Language and Wisdom of the Indians firmly accredited to India the origin of European languages and indeed civilizations. [11] Common English words like dental, ginger, candy, zen, man, mind, rice, mandarin, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, and their other equivalents in other European languages came to be seen as having derived from Sanskrit or a proto-Sanskrit language. It led to Indo-Aryanism and a belief in the superiority of Aryan race. The words Arya or Aryan come from the Vedas and Avesta scriptures to designate Indo-Aryan people. Arya itself means a noble one. [12] The old name of India is Aryavart and gives rise to name Iran. Amidst all Indophilia and Swastik mania, many other countries and institutions started adopting the symbol. From a laundry company to a shipping company; from a national air force to a war committee, swastika was ubiquitous much before Hitler was even born.
One school however posited that Indo-Aryan was more properly a racial identity, not a linguistic one, which originated in ancient Germany or Scandavania. This thought of school was very popular in Germany, and gained quite academic respectability after the defeat of Germany in World War I. The centrality of India in Indo-European discourse gave way to the centrality of Europe and more particularly, German. In this narrative, North European “Aryans” had migrated across the world and founded all major civilizations, but eventually lost their purity and potency through racial mixing (miscegenation) with non-Aryans.[13] Brahmins of India too were a sub-group of these Aryans who invaded and destroyed Indus Valley Civilization before dominating local Dravidians by conquests.
Amidst all this theorizing, an archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann had chanced upon the ancient fabled city of Troy, mentioned in Homer’s Greek classic Iliad, at Hissarlik. Large-scale destruction and treasures left behind there had a parallel theme with Vedic battles of the Aryas. Significantly, around 1800 symbols similar to swastika were found on excavated objects there. Theory met evidence. The ubiquitous and immemorial Swastika was now both a proof and sign of a superior Aryan race [14]; its simple yet je ne sais quoi design, of the race’s superiority. Soon, these symbols “swastikas” became the symbol of a German-Aryan identity. The swastika became the symbol par excellence of the Aryan, or in anthropological terms, the White Race. The narrative had pro-Christianity and anti-Semitic elements as well. Emile Burnouf, the key person responsible for the adoption of Swastika as an Aryan symbol, claimed that Christianity derived from Aryan panthesim while Judaism, a monotheistic religion, was the religion of a lesser race. Jesus Christ, an Aryan, was crucified on Swastika in fact.[15]
Hitler’s ascent to power took the belief in racial supremacism to a new level. Hakenkreuz, the symbol par excellence of superiority of German master race was pushed still further to symbolize German nationalistic pride. Hakenkreuz was a black “Hooked Cross” rotated 45 degrees on a white circle on a red background. This insignia was everywhere–on the party’s flag, badge, armband. Hitler himself finalized this insignia. In his own words, in the Hakenkreuz lay the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man.[16] Aryanisation, or say Nazification of an Indic symbol was complete. The deracinated symbol was now an Aryan symbol to assert Aryan (anti-Semitic) racial superiority and to suppress perceived non-Aryan people.
To cut a long story short, Swastika which began life as an auspicious symbol in Indic religions, found itself associated to various other similar non-Indic symbols consequent to Schliemann’s discovery of lost city of Troy in 1871. Subsequently, Swastika became an Aryan symbol when Aryan had already become a racial category. German nationalists believed it was a uniquely Aryan-German symbol ignoring any archaeological or contemporary evidence.
Amidst all clamour of Aryo-German superiority, there were a few saner voices but were generally sidelined amidst chauvinistic cacophony. Norman Brown, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Pennsylvania, declaimed in his pamphlet, The Swastika, a Study of Nazi Claims of its Aryan Origin: The present Nazi claims are untenable. Just as their theory of Aryan racial purity is fanciful, so, too, their use of the swastika as an Aryo-Christian symbol, with aspects of anti-Judaism, anti-pacifism and anti-Marxism, is entirely arbitrary.[17]
Deracination and misusing of an otherwise auspicious and ornamental symbol has caused affront to more than 1.70 billion people adhering to Indic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In popular imagination of the contemporary West, the image of Swastika evokes horrors of Nazism. Anti-Nazism is at fault too by perpetuating this misplaced and pre-conceived notion by constantly linking the symbol with Nazism. It is time to remember the warning of Max Muller so as to bring to an end this mindless association:
I do not like the use of the word Svastika outside India. It is a word of Indian origin, and has its history and definite meaning in India. I know the temptation is great to transfer names, with which we are familiar, to similar objects which come before us in the course of our researches. But it is a temptation which the true student ought to resist, except, it may be, for the sake of illustration. The mischief arising from the promiscuous use of technical terms is very great. [18]
What will a beggar do if he happens to get a car? He will use it for begging, of course, goes an Indian joke. Similarly, what could a hate monger like Hitler do or could have done with a ubiquitous and exquisitely graceful symbol that was open to interpretations? The answer is self-evident. He made it a symbol of hate. And anti-Nazis and many other well-intentioned individuals are perpetuating this notion. Both Nazis and anti-Nazis are intent on not taking Nazism out of the symbol. The symbol in Western world today is arguably the most hated one. It is easier to hate than understand. Ask Nazis!
Germany has been de-nazified but when will the symbol be? When will the symbol be contextualized back into the history of tradition with right connotations? Why to bind swastika symbol with a single, monochromatic interpretation when it has been termed as the ‘symbol with the most varied interpretations’ (Goblet D’Alveiella) and why to make its evocation appear simplistic when Max Muller termed it as a ‘troublesome puzzle’? [19] Why not to call a spade a spade? Hitler himself used the term Hakenkreuz for that dreaded symbol of hate which happened to have similarity with swastika. Why does Google Translation translate hakenkreuz as swastika in German-English translation, and vice versa? Theory of Aryan invasion and a common homeland of Aryans is long discredited, however, the association lingers on. It is time not to move on.
The word “Nepotism” is something that the nation is widely discussing and talking about currently. For someone who doesn’t know about nepotism, it means people who have the power or the influence to give favors, especially in the form of jobs, to their loved ones or to someone from their family. The “jobs” mentioned can come under any sector; Business, IT, Banking, Law, entertainment or any other industry that exists. Now the question that arises is when did nepotism build its concrete base in India? From time immemorial we have been hearing about family businesses and how its future generations are “destined” to do it for the rest of their life. There still exist many Indian television serials in which they show a family and how their young handsome sons take on the business of the family. Maybe this is where everything started.
Then later on the circumstances on which the job was taken changed. If a boy or a girl in the family is academically poor or if they want to do “something different” in their lives, then they are forced to do a job in their family business. Let’s make this scenario clear here, not every family forces their children and not every children are uncurious about joining it. But the above circumstance does still exist in India. And in the present modern context, nepotism conveys something really different from all of the above. Now, it is like a form of corruption in which actual talent gets ridiculed and only the family members get to fancy the best from the business. Now let’s be pragmatic here. If a person “A” opens a startup and wants to expand it, they would keep an interview to select the best talent as their personnel. But if “B”, A’s sister, an MBA graduate, is looking for a job and approaches her, then definitely A would not think any further. But it is here where people have to alter their minds. In this context, A might find B to be the best and the most efficient at work, but there is always a chance of getting a better talent, a chance for a more efficient person to do something they actually love and ultimately a chance to earn more profit.
In this 21st Century, Nepotism has expanded and fixed its roots throughout every sector. But a coin always has its two sides. Looking at the positive approach of nepotism, the competition will be really less and there will always be a source of guidance throughout the career. And yes, along with that, comes easy promotions, salary hikes and also recommendations to senior workers. The negatives definitely swamp the positives. Let’s take an example from India. We have reputed colleges and universities that accept students via entrances and via recommendations. Here what is the difference between students getting seats with all their hard work and students entering only on the basis of a recommendation letter? The hard work goes in vain and they won’t feel that they’ve earned it. And that is because there is always a bunch of students getting through this only because of recommendations which no other ordinary student would have the privilege of. In many cases the real talent gets ruled out, the real struggle is never seen and the real passion is annulled.
Nepotism has fixed its root deep and its proliferating growth is something no one can control. This virus has spread widely in the society and no vaccines are still found. No masks, sanitizers or home quarantine is of help. Social distancing will definitely favor the growth of the virus more. The origin of this virus is undetected and a remedy for this is still not found. This is the “new normal”.
