Public opinion is not a matter of consideration in a Court of law, but it inexplicably determines the impact of the Court’s decision. If a verdict of the Court is not well received by the populace, it runs the risk of being disregarded.
The Supreme Court of India, in a Public Interest Litigation, issued directions restricting bursting of firecrackers all across India during Diwali and other festivals. The order was passed with a hope that the bursting of crackers would reduce and the pollution levels would not rise. The results were, however, not yielding as major cities across the nation registered hazardous or poor Air Quality Index post Diwali this year.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the 2015 seeking total ban on sale and / or bursting of firecrackers in New Delhi and NCR during Diwali. The PIL was filed keeping in mind the increasing pollution during Diwali each year. The Supreme Court (SC) initially passed an Order directing the Government to give wide publicity of the ill effects of air pollution caused by firecrackers. Thereafter, the SC passed Order dated 11.11.2016 directing the Central Government to suspend all licenses granted for sale of firecrackers. This Order was passed immediately after Diwali of 2016. The matter was kept pending and just before Diwali, 2017, the firecrackers manufacturers filed Intervention Applications (IAs) seeking modification of the order on the principal ground that without hearing them, order was passed to suspend their licenses, and thus their fundamental right to business was impinged. After hearing the parties, the SC passed an order dated 12.09.2017 (just before Diwali 2017) holding that suspension of licenses of manufacturers was too radical a step. The Delhi Police was directed to reduce the licenses to 50% of the licenses granted in 2016 and the number of licenses was capped at 500.
The wavering directions of the SC only led to confusion rather than solving the issue of pollution. You may read a detailed article regarding this, here.
This year, a batch of IAs was filed seeking a complete ban on bursting of firecrackers in New Delhi and NCR during Diwali. Directions were also sought to extend such ban to the whole of India. Prayers were made for ban on crop burning, which is admittedly a major cause for pollution in North India. Interestingly, the IAs were heard and Order dated 23.10.2018 was passed directing that firecrackers should be burst on Diwali only between 8 to 10 PM across India. Qua Delhi, the SC only permitted bursting of green crackers during the said window of 2 hours. This Order was modified on 30.10.2018 leaving it to the State Governments to determine timings of the 2 hour window for bursting of crackers on Diwali.
A better air quality was expected this Diwali following the SC Order. What followed was quite the opposite. The bursting of crackers was almost equivalent to the previous years and the pollution levels were proportionately high. What do we discern of this? Supreme Court’s Order was flouted by uncountable number of citizens. It is rare in our nation to find such cases, where directions of the Top Court are ignored by such a large section of people.
Whilst I personally agree with the general approach of the Supreme Court to gradually restrict bursting of firecrackers, I find certain flaws in passing of the Order.
Firstly, the PIL is restricted to Delhi and NCR. The material that is placed before the SC is that of Delhi and NCR. Other States are not even parties to the PIL. Under such circumstances, how can directions be issued upon the remaining States to permit 2 hour window for bursting of crackers? The scope of PILs is generally expanded in larger public interest, but this seems too far-fetched. Without impleading the State Governments, considering the pollution levels in each State, the population demographics, how can directions be issued upon them?
Secondly, the PIL is pending since 2015. Notably, each year, some interim Orders are passed just around Diwali. The issue of pollution concerns every person in the country. When an issue of this kind is being adjudicated, is it not wise to decide the matter without any haste, after hearing all parties, passing a reasoned Order and also preparing the State mechanism to deal with the flouting of such directions.
These issues formed a general public perception that the SC had overstepped and that it showed over-activism, which consequentially led to breach of the Order. Whilst SC is showing commendable judicial activism on the subject, the passing of last minute Orders is making the entire exercise redundant. Passing of the Order under such circumstances led to mass breach by the populace, which made the entire exercise look laughable.
As per the news reports, number of people have been arrested for flouting the SC directions on bursting of crackers. The arrests are made under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for disobedience of Order promulgated by public servant. If the matter was timely decided, the Governments could have been directed to make appropriate arrangements including enacting a law banning / restrictingmanufacture / sale / bursting of firecrackers and also providing for punishment of breach thereof. It is because of the last minute hasty decisions that no system is put in place to oversee the implementation of the Order.
It is hoped that now, considering the after effects of Diwali, 2018, the SC would timely decide the PIL finally at the earliest. Although the SC is yet to decide whether bursting of crackers is a part of the tradition for Diwali celebration, it can be safely said that the tradition can logically neither trace back to time immemorial nor can it be said to be compliant with the present day environment in the country. The SC may also be required to consider the aspect of lives of over 5 lakh families engaged in the business of manufacture / sale of firecrackers. Taking it all into consideration, the SC needs to decide the issue at the earliest.
17th November 2018 marks the sixth anniversary of the day when the death and funeral of Bal Thackeray brought Mumbai to a complete halt for two consecutive days. It was not the first time that this son of the soil had managed to bring all activity to cease, something that did not happen even when Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, passed away. The Tiger of Matoshree would roar no more, but such was his hold on this Megacity that no one dared to move out on normal business. How then should one define his legacy?
My first encounter with the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s outfit was sometime in 1973 on a day when his father died. Until then he was a minor chieftain, still trying to find his feet in the overcrowded political sphere of Mumbai and Maharashtra. But on that day, when his father died, he let loose his cadre on the hapless shopkeepers of Dadar and forced them to down their shutters. I happened to be in the market and saw how quickly the shopkeepers were intimidated into obedience. The Shiv Sena cadre consisted mainly of the Marathi speaking village folk that had come to Mumbai to eke out a marginalized existence working as daily-wage labourers in the city’s sweat shops. Balasaheb had cunningly used the son-of-the-soil stratagem successfully to give these rootless people an identity, while metamorphosing the non-Marathi speakers into demons who had wrongfully occupied their lands and deprived them of their rights on the jobs and in the economic activities of the city/state.
Soon, the Shiv Sena had grown into a potent political force catapulting its founder to a position where he could sup at the high table with the big guns of all the leading political parties of the time. All sought his party as an ally for he could deliver muscle to electoral campaigns that till then was provided by the underworld. Balasaheb also cleverly positioned himself as a champion of the Hindus when the Congress and the various parties left-of-the-centre began to woo minority votes following the failure of the Janata Party experiment in 1979. This, naturally, brought him closer to the BJP that rose phoenix-like from the ashes of the Jana Sangha. The slogan “Garv se kaho hum Hindu hain” found immediate resonance in the hearts of the Hindutva-wadis who were ready to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra.
However, for Balasaheb, Hindutva was only a step in the ladder to political power. Although he never deviated from his support to the Hindutva movement, the BJP would soon find out that his loyalties could not be taken for granted. Balasaheb would ditch them whenever it was convenient for him. Using his cadre to break into the labour movement in Mumbai, he gradually gained control over a very large number of workers’ unions. The murder of Datta Samant and the decline of George Fernandez as a Union leader would make him the sole arbiter on behalf of the millions of workers across Mumbai and its industrial suburbs. At the same time the underworld also lost a lot of its influence due to many encounter deaths, and inter-and-intra gang killings. Dawood Ibrahim with his assistants fled to Dubai and Karachi while Chhota Rajan and other gang lords too had to flee to safe havens outside India. I do not know how much the Shiv Sena benefited from the absence of these (un)worthies, but it would not be idle speculation to think that Ram Gopal Verma’s film “Sarkar” was not totally a work of fiction.
In the first week of January 1993 I happened to be in Chennai on business. However, I had planned to be in Mumbai on the 10th, an important date in my family’s calendar. While Chennai was quiet, Mumbai had been witnessing terrible communal violence in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya that happened on 6th December 1992. Curfew had been imposed at night, and my friends cautioned me against travelling to Mumbai in these fractious times. However, I took the chance and booked a seat on the Indian Airlines flight that landed at Mumbai Airport at about 10.30 p.m. There was no certainty of finding a taxi or any other kind of transport from the airport. One option was to book into the Centaur Hotel near the Airport and to spend the night there. Many of the business travelers on the flight did take that option. But the whole purpose of my trip was to be with the family. I came out to the taxi stand to look for a cab.
Surprisingly, there was a taxi looking for passengers. The driver asked for my destination, and on hearing from me asked me to sit in the back of his cab. He said he would charge me Rs. 150 (about 3 times the normal fare those days) for the journey. I readily accepted and got into the cab. Soon he picked up three more passengers on similar terms, and within ten minutes we were out of the airport. The roads were completely deserted, with not even a soul on the Western Express Highway. The driver began talking and we learnt that he was a retired airman from the Indian Air Force. He commented that the highway was so free that it felt like a runway. He said his name was Arun Patankar, and reassured us that we were safe with him in his little vehicle. The white uniform he was wearing signified that he was the owner of the taxi. In a trice we were at Mahim creek where two people on the road waved for us to stop. Arun kept his foot down on the accelerator and flew past them. We reached Kohinoor Mills, where the Shiv Sena has its Headquarters, without any incident, and without seeing any sign of life on the roads. Here a police party stopped us wanting to know where we were heading. Arun told the Inspector that he had picked up passengers from the airport, and was dropping them at their destinations. The Inspector told him that there was a rampaging Shiv Sena mob ahead, and advised Arun to lower the window glasses, to drive slowly, and to stop when asked. He said that in no case should he try to flee.
We moved ahead and, sure enough, were soon besieged by a mob armed with swords, hatchets, and staves. Arun waved to the mob, stopped the cab, leaned out, and shouted, “Jai Maharashtra”. The mob wanted to know who he and his passengers were. We told them that we had come from Chennai and were visitors to the city. One fellow wanted to see our boarding cards. I showed him mine, and on seeing my name on it he wanted to know the names of the other passengers. Two of them had Christian names, while the third was a Tamil Hindu. Satisfied, the mob let us move but warned that we could again be stopped and therefore should move very slowly. On the sides we could see the smouldering remains of vehicles that had been torched. Menace had a palpable, physical presence and dark figures loomed in the shadows. Another group of armed men stopped us and a similar exchange took place. We went past the Portuguese Church in Dadar and very soon were near Century Bazaar in Worli where the two Christian gentlemen got down. The third passenger was going up to an apartment complex in Prabhadevi. Apparently he lived in Chennai but some pressing business had made him to come to Mumbai in these dangerous times. His brother was residing in the complex and he looked forward to celebrating Pongal with him and his family. We reached the gates of the apartment complex where he got down and was kind enough to suggest that I too could stay in his brother’s flat and go home in the morning. I asked Arun how he felt about it. He said if I were willing to go, he would readily take me home. I thanked the last passenger and told Arun to turn around.
Suddenly, his car wouldn’t start, and for a moment I felt as if fate was telling me not to proceed any further. I was about to shout to the retreating figure of my co-passenger when the engine coughed into action. Arun drove away from the complex and was moving towards Dadar Bridge when another mob sprang from the shadows and shouted for him to stop. Arun stopped and repeated his slogan of “Jai Maharashtra”. One miscreant hit his taxi meter with an iron pipe asking him if he did not know that there was curfew in force and how he dared take his taxi out. Arun pleaded that he was only helping stranded passengers and actually doing a service to the public. The leader of the mob poked his head inside the cab and asked me my name. He wanted to see my passport since I claimed to have come from the airport. Fortunately, he accepted my explanation that I was a domestic traveler and did not insist on seeing my passport. He did not want to see my boarding card either, and waved to the mob to let the car pass. That encounter was really frightening, and but for the presence of mind and the confident manner of Arun Patankar, I may not have been alive to tell the tale. The mob was ever on an edge and one wrong word or move would have resulted in instant annihilation.
We crossed Dadar Bridge and at the roundabout found a police jeep patrolling the area. The police officer too wanted to know what we were doing on the road at that time when the city was under curfew. By then I had enough, and instead of replying, I asked the officer to tell me where he was going. He replied that his patrol jeep was on a round and would be going to Thane. I asked him to stay with our taxi and provide us escort till Ghatkopar. He signaled for us to follow him, and we were again on our way. With the patrol jeep ahead, we reached my apartment building without any further incident. By then it was past one a.m. I offered Arun more than the Rs 150 he had initially demanded and suggested that he could spend the night in my home. He thanked me, declining both the offers. His home was in Dadar area and he would rather go back to his family, as they would be worried about his welfare. I paid him the fare, said good-bye, and waited till the taillights of his cab went out of the compound.
I think Arun Patankar is a true hero of our times. To be concerned about total strangers, stranded by riots, not knowing how to get to their destinations, and to ply his taxi during such dangerous times, is an act of great courage and spirit. That he made a trifle more money than he would normally have made, does not take anything away from his bravery and public-spiritedness. He was putting his life and the means of his livelihood in extreme jeopardy just for the sake of ferrying totally unknown people to their destinations. I am sure he would have safely made it back to his family that night. People like Arun are very rare and they carry with them the blessings and good wishes of countless strangers.
What can one say about the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray? There can be no doubt that he created a powerful organization that could influence politics at the regional and national levels. Powerful industrialists, movie moguls, and politicians from all the parties sought his goodwill. He was Godfather to the large cadre of Shiv Sainiks who were ready to do his bidding without demur. He was able to bring India-Pakistan cricket to a complete halt, and neither the Central Government nor the powerful cricket baron Sharad Pawar could make him budge. He exercised the power to censor films, publications, and art if they offended his Maharashtrian or Hindutva sentiments. He could bring all activity to a full stop, as he did on the day of his death and on the following day of his cremation. Yet, for all the outpourings of grief by his followers and the paeans of praise sung by the media and the glitterati, one cannot but feel that their expressions were motivated more by fear than by any genuine love for the man. Perhaps the city of Mumbai was heaving a collective sigh of relief at the passing of this Tiger. Perhaps, it may be more appropriate to remember him as Mumbai’s ‘Tigger’! After all, wasn’t he a cartoonist before he became a politician? His son-and-political-heir Udhav does not possess the charisma of the father, nor does his nephew. Raj is a rabble-rouser without the sophistication of the uncle, and will remain a fringe player in Mumbai politics.
Udhav is trying to spread his wings again having announced his party will field candidates against the BJP in the coming MP, Rajasthan, and Chhatisgarh elections. He is testing the waters, so to say, before the General Elections. He is bound to cut into some BJP votes and that might tempt him to go alone or in alliance with the other dynasts. Whatever his decision, it will spell the end of the Sena’s blackmail politics. After 2019 the Sena will go the same way as other dynastic parties as they come to the end of their history.
I cannot see Raj Thackeray merging his MNS with the parent organization and playing second fiddle to Udhav. The Shiv Sena reached the peak of its power and is now inevitably on the decline. For how long will the memory of Bal Thackeray survive in the collective consciousness of the people of Maharashtra is anybody’s guess. The junior Thackeray, Aditya, is not even in the same league as an Akhilesh or a Tejaswi Yadav. Days of entitled dynasts are all but over. If they are still around, it is because their families have amassed huge personal fortunes with which they have bought their passage into legislatures.
Narendra Modi’s big win in 2014 has all but written the obituary of dynastic politics, and 2019 should see the end of the Thackerays, Gandhis, Yadavs, Scindias, Pilots, Abdullahs, etc., as powerful political families. Bal Thackeray, recognizing the decline of the Congress after the Emergency, seized his chance in the city of big bucks. He rode the wave with anyone who would contribute to his success, not like a Shivaji, but more like a Clive, immoral in alliances and implacable in hostilities. But, for me, it is Arun Patankar who truly symbolizes the Maratha spirit of Shivaji, and not the saffron-robed, Rudraksha-adorned Tigger of Matoshree, Bandra.
The forthcoming 2019 election is very special to India. The election is going to be the contest between governance and dynastic power, honesty versus corruption, merit versus nepotism, development of the nation versus the development of a dynasty and one family, Sab ka vikas versus Apna (अपना) Vikas.
In olden days, there used to be a Vidushak in most palaces. The job of the Vidushak is to entertain the kingdom and the vidushak is allowed to make fun of king but the only mandatory norm for the Vidushak is that he must always dress like a buffoon or fool. Under the garb of a buffoon, the Vidushak is allowed to utter anything about the king.
In Indian politics there are several Vidushak and are competitively entertaining the electorates from the political theatre during the election season. In palace, the vidushak cannot overtake the king and hence vidushak shall always remain as what they are. But in democracy sometime people may elect the Vidushak as king. Imagine the consequences to our nation if we elect a Vidushak as king?
Like a ghost in the society of Gods, the Vidushak in the political theatre are bound to sacrilege the political culture, merit, integrity and the office of Prime Minister of India. Today the Vidushak is engaged in abusing the most respected, visionary leader of India- PM Narendra Modi and his missions such as Swaach Bharat, Skill India, demonetization, New India, Sab ka vikas, Ache din etc.
The Vidushak can afford to do so because for the Vidushak, the position of prime minister-ship is an opportunity to enrich own bank account and but for Narendra Modi, the position of prime minister is meant to serve India, develop the country and achieve Sab ka vikas.
The question before our nation is that are we going to elect the Vidushak as our next prime minister? Are we going to make India a theatre of clowns and comedians? Are we going to cause instability and anarchy by the dynastic, power thirsty, self-appointed saviours of secularism and democracy?
All those Vidushak once cried that India’s secularism was in peril and to save secularism, they must be elected. Now secularism is safe according to all those Vidushak but democracy is in danger? No Indian is going to listen to all those negative forces.
To bring reform, the status quo must be questioned and not maintained or preserved like museum or archaeological artifact. PM Modi has questioned every department about their commitment, performance and result. In the name of autonomy institutions should not be allowed to escape from accountability to our nation is the political philosophy of Modi. Naturally those so called lutyens in administration finds it hard to meet the reality therefore are making noise by stating that they experience undue interference.
To save democracy and develop the nation, status quo must be questioned, nationalism must be kindled, the cultural identity of India- Hindutwa must be re-invented, accountability must be demanded and the results must be made visible and obvious. Prime Minister Modi is doing the right intervention that our nation needed the most.
The new theory of ‘democracy is in danger’ is the new ploy created by all those Vidushak in political theatre of India along with some lutyens in the government department who wants to hibernate and aestivate during their entire service period under the blanket of autonomy which the current Prime Minister is questioning.
Questioning the performance of various institutions by the elected government should not be seen as undue interference. Today such right and legitimate duty of the PM is described as threat to democracy by those fringe political parties.
If this dangerous ploy of all those Vidushak in Indian politics are not isolated and destroyed in the beginning, such poisonous ivy might kill our nation by establishing the rule of non-performance and nepotism. Democracy and secularism are safe and Modiji alone can ensure safety of democracy in India and not the party that had declared emergency and suppressed the freedom and voice of India.
Democracy gives people to elect the government of their choice to develop the state. Narendra Modi is the only Prime Minister of India in the recent times has focused on development and sab ka vikas. Modiji alone has fulfilled the desire of people that he is the Prime Minister of people and not of a family.
All those Vidushak have realized that secularism ploy has no takers so they have discovered new theology called democracy is in danger. It is not democracy or secularism is in danger but the real danger of our nation is all those Vidushak who wants to grab power to loot and not to develop the nation and achieve Sab ka vikas.
In the novel of Mark Twain, a pauper has become prince but nowhere in the history has a Vidushak (clown) been made king to rule the state or kingdom. Hope people of India will remember the danger of all those Vidushak again in 2019.
Any modern democratic country has four independent pillars that not only help one another but also do a check and balance to run the country properly viz. 1. The government 2. The judiciary 3. Parliament 4.The media.
For a country’s progress, these institutions are meant to be corruption and controversy free. Even if the rest aren’t quite so, the judiciary has no options for, if not, the country turns into a banana republic. In fact, being the final arbiter of the meaning of the sections of the constitution and the ethos of the country, and also the wielder of enormous power that transcends the parliament, SC judges are scrutinized heavily like it is happening in the US. ‘Spotless’ is the keyword and that is what US was looking for in Kavanaugh.
Prestige of the judiciary:
Not earning respect as an elected representative and not commanding it through arm’s fear like following a coup, SC’s respect and people’s faith in it are earned by its judges being descent (not impelled to hiding things), wise (having a holistic view), impartial and being a knower of country’s constitution, laws and ethos.
Yes Indian courts are busy and less funded, and the delayed verdict that follows, often shifts to the grandson/daughter’s time. The #metoo movement hasn’t helped it either. But, from the arguments narrated below, it will be clear that neither the Indian SC judges have earned respect to enhance people’s faith in the judiciary, nor their judgements (amazingly quick by comparison) have been according to what India is all about. In fact their decisions are destroying the very core of what India is.
a. The dirty linen wash:
In the day to day activities, like justice needs to be seen to be done, judiciary needs to be seen to be worthy of respect too. SC judges are descent but still fallible none the less, and since they must be seen to be worthy of respect, Indian judiciary has its internal problem solving mechanisms to maintain that dignity. In addition, revolutions never follow laws, so SC, the protector of the law, should be the last entity to revolt.
Sadly, that was not the case with the SC. In fact, in the freedom of expression used by the four dismayed SC judges while airing their grievances’ to the reporters, there were four blunders. They were, the disregard of that internal mechanism, the washing up of their dirty linen in the outside world, using the fourth pillar of the state to almost make both the message delivery and the grievances political/sensational and the cause of their vexation was not quite worthy of all that fuss.
The four ‘rebelled’ judges
The issue was simple; when the BJP dis-relished judge Loya, who was scheduled to judge BJP chief Amit Shah on a murder case, allegedly died of heart attack, the assignment of another judge by the Chief Justice Mr. Misra wasn’t palatable to the four. After airing ‘BJP killed Loya’, adding some uncomfortable past assignments and seeing Saha’s acquittal unpalatable revolution brew. Almost unknowingly the ‘CJ is BJP inclined’ by default made them ‘Congress inclined’. With all that, as never before, SC judges were seen as a bickering lot, who were only diminishing the prestige of the courts.
b. The impeachment:
For them, not SC but democracy itself was in danger – till of course the almost retiring Mr Misra stepped down as CJ and one of the four ascended up. It was easy because, unlike the killing spree in the previous revolutions the new revolution like that of the technical gadgets or votes simply needed a process called impeachment to eject the powerful supremo.
Though the attempt lacked guns, since Mr Mishra was retiring shortly anyway, the impeachment almost looked like a prestige struggle and a coup. Even if not, it displayed impatience, myopia and an acute need that was worthy of a power hungry mind alone. With all the above, India’s prestige was showing a bear graph and India as a whole almost became a banana republic.
The impeachment did not happen as the CJ, as expected, retired before it. What the SC judges did not only made them unfit for the CJ post but worthy of punishment too. However, far from it, one of them Mr Gogoi got elevated to that coveted post. Obviously, people aren’t happy and it has been challenged in the court.
SC’s bad decisions:
Almost parallel to the disarray mentioned above, SC’s decisions have not been good for India either.
1. On the Karnataka state government:
Having a federal structure, the governor of each state has certain rights and privileges that he/she is entitled to use. As argued here, the SC not only interfered in that privilege but almost acted as a government. Apart from making the government just a spectator, it opened the floodgates of future complaints to the already tired courts.
2. On the Urban Naxals issue:
While the Congress PM Mr Singh’s ‘Moist terrorism is the biggest threat to India’ should sound scary, the threat to the life of the much loved PM of India, Mr Modi, should have given shivers in the judges’ spines. With the constitution guaranteeing rights of all, while denying rights to the tribals become illegal and hence a police issue, denying local progress by the Urban Naxals to keep the tribals agitated denies the villagers those rights.
With opposition even freely calling Modi a thief & seized ones being only five – that too previously punished – and issue being as grave as a threat to the life of previously bombed PM of India, SC should have disregarded the, ’emergency like’, ‘absence of free speech’ and ‘threat to democracy’ associated appeal. In fact, giving credence to this but not to the rest can easily air, ‘some are more equal’, ‘victim of media talks’, ‘insensitive to the gravity’ or even ‘biased’.
3. On gay sex and the family:
Though, seeing family disunion the West delayed women’s franchise for 10 years, used to women deities, India honored women and gave them rights earlier. Family is important for humanity because in addition to sex, we desire to have progeny too, and that ideally needs a family. Also, unlike the animals, our babies take a much longer time to mature and need protection during that period. Family, therefore, becomes necessary for a society, and civilization asks for it.
In tune with that India even boasts an extended family, with all members doing their duties to make it work. Though it offers a no to sexual desires to God seekers (except for tantrics) and a no to student sex, it uneasily accepts prostitution in society. However, as if seeing women’s sexual power to destabilize family and society, it chooses to see purity in the fairer sex. Thus,while it deifies virgins, and offers powers and even salvation to married women who do not think of other men, it enlists 7 respected women, who actually did so. No wonder, British men dancing with other men’s wives made ‘immoral British’ to the eyes of the Indians – during the Raj.
Possibly being less heard of (no gay right movements then), while holy books are rather silent on them and some smrities ask for small punishments, the gay sex in sculptures could be a product of poetic imagination – like the depicted bestiality. Or just an ancient porn in the wrong place!
Indian ethos frowns both pre and extra marital sex, and preservation of family as a unit is paramount for the country. The sudden surge in extramarital sex in the last few decades has even made a frequently proposed Australian married to an Indian write ‘Indians are immoral’. Yes, this has been a feast for guys and for some girls but it has brought sadness to many women through the ongoing rape epidemic, unwanted proposals and loneliness. Wise Indians fear the trend of destruction of family unit.
In this instance, while legalization favoring gay sex but not their marriage would make it an extra marital sex by default, the myopic and unfocused abolition of penalty for women’s adultery would enhance extramarital sex- by men!! Almost parallel to the ‘have sex but with condom’ of sex education, this symbolically aids couples to be immoral. It enhances the ‘proposal harassment’ of married women as the Australian was tired of and mentioned in her blog. Saner women even ask ‘If for equality, why not penalize both and save family?’
Almost like doing a copy and paste in the making of the constitution, Indian Supreme Court is acting like SC of the US. And in doing so, it is destroying the family structure of India and trying to make it like that of the West. It’s amazing that while the government said no to ‘bhabi’ porn to save family, its SC is saying adultery isn’t illegal if bhabi wants it! With prince Charles eloping with his girlfriend, Camilla, while marrying Diana, testosterone in men crying out for a female and his instinct seeking a gene spread it is foolish to think that men seek adultery, when marriage is already at its ebb.
Civilizations, like nations aren’t formed out of rights that aids instincts fulfillment but out of duties. For social progress man’s instincts have to be restrained by the fears of the family, society, law and God. Enhancing men’s desire to make love with other people’s wives, the SC’s decision, sadly, also enhances the available pool of females. With this, while family will increasingly be meaningless and unstable, immorality and rapes will rise. Although designed to offer equality, like in the US it will bring sadness to women. The SC, cannot escape responsibility in making their lives measurable.
While centuries ago Chinese travelers have said Indians didn’t even lock doors at home, now in the new free and modern India, parents worry if their daughters will arrive home unmolested!
4. On the Sabarimala temple issue:
Striking a blow against the mosaic pattern’s beauty, Hinduism and the ways of civilization itself Indian SC allowed women to enter the Sabrimala temple.
The faith of the devotees is literally ‘crushed’ by the honorable SC
Seeing most mosques not allowing women although Hindus ask, ‘Why us?’, this judgment by SC was in response to a plea by a Muslim man!! Hindu man’s plea on Muslim’s issue is a different matter to the courts. In any case, the judgement was clearly an addition to the factors that caused a Hindu Revolution in 2014.
Actually, the practice in Sabarimala was not a gender injustice but a part of a beautiful mosaic pattern that is admired in the modern world like boys and girl schools or colleges, sports etc. For a start, deity isn’t God but an expect of God that has its own peculiarity.
If Hindu temples had only this peculiarity and restricted women (due to any reason) then that would be discriminatory and the SC would be right. But, the pluralistic faith offers other temples with their own peculiarities that deny men too. Thus, like boy’s school, lady’s hostel etc. that are a part of the Modern Civilization, in totality Hinduism offers a similar mosaic pattern, which is beautiful and multicultural.
Disregarding that pattern, the SC has expressed its paucity of thought similar to going to a boys school and screaming gender discrimination – oblivious to the girls school nearby.
Secondly, it is a civilized act to respect other people’s ways like not making noise when one is praying, not exposing food on a fasting month etc. The deity here isn’t male alone but a brahmachari (celibate) too. Civilization, therefore demands that like a male respecting the ways of a female brahmacharini, females should respect the celibate aspect of the male deity, and avoid going close to it. It is simply a part of being sensitive.
Thirdly, the idea of visiting a temple isn’t about sightseeing but pleasing the deity by offering things that the deity prefers e.g. special flowers, plants, fruits, vermilion etc and seeking its blessings. Obviously not displeasing it. If the deity is real and is displeased, almost reminding the ‘have sex but with condom’ advice bringing pain to girls, will the SC take responsibility for the pain caused to women by the wrong advice? Even if the deity isn’t real, while imprudence wise it is like the SC going to a boys school and screaming discrimination oblivious to the presence of girls school nearby as stated above, power wise it is destroying the beautiful mosaic culture and converting it to a boring mono-culture. Not only Hindu men but women’s resentment is clear.
The paucity of thought does not end there. Though Hindus helped build the first mosque outside Arabia, mosques don’t become holy places like temples for the Hindus. A mosque is only a preferred place and not essential for prayers (namaz). It can be demolished for the benefit of Islam. However, since ummah is sacrosanct mosques are an essential part of Islam as it helps ummah. It’s, therefore, clear that the SC’s judgment (1994) lacks understanding of the ways of the 2nd largest religion in the world!
It is quite clear from the above discussions that by ignorance or by design the decisions by the Supreme Court of India have been detrimental to India as a country and as a civilization. If Indian ethos are not but western ethos are the prime movers of the country, that too inadequately, then why not hire western SC judges like the hired economists? If that is not OK, why do a revolution for Swarajya against the British? Why not just ask for equality laws (the precursor of the independence movement) and remain under the British? Stretching it to the extreme, why not even beat the West in their own game of being liberal by giving thumbs up to consensual paedophilia and even bestiality for women, if not for men? India is India because it has got some shared peculiarities, for that matter every country has.
India wants its citizens to be happy and to spread that peculiarity to the world as a global leader in the future. India can beat the West in pluralism from society to God but it cannot beat the West in being liberal. It’s respected history is full of sacrifices (duties) not enjoying instinctual rights.
The so called voice of the suppressed and oppressed working class and that is how the communist party used to advertise or introduce itself is vanishing so rapidly from the world and soon the communist forces would disappear from Kerala. Both the CPI (M) and CPI have lost vision and have gone crazy and clueless. In the earlier days they opposed the congress party by calling the congress as party of the capitalist and later they supported congress from outside just to get eliminated permanently from West Bengal and Tripura.
To vanquish the communist forces from Kerala, a divine intervention is needed and Lord Ayyappa has come to rescue the land – Kerala which was created by Parasurama, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The left and many other political parties initially tried their best to milk a huge political mileage from the verdict of the Supreme Court of India granting permission to women of all age to enter Sabarimala temple.
Religious practices, tradition and spiritual faiths that are followed by our society for centuries of years, the left party and the party of the dynast want to demolish and demonize in the name of women’s right ploy failed miserably. But the left party did not understand the ground truth. However literate is the state of Kerala, the people are very traditional, religious and spiritual. Despite their political affiliations, Keralites would never allow the politicians to muddle their religious or spiritual belief systems. Similarly Keralites never allow the politicians to politicize temples although Keralites are yet to recognize that they are woven in the larger fabric of Hinduism and Hinduism alone can protect the rights and dignity of Hindus from the neo-liberals and predators of Hindu culture.
More than men, women devotees were the first to oppose the judgment that challenges the age old tradition. Thanks to the efforts of several spiritual masters, Hindu cultural and spiritual renaissance is taking place in Kerala which the left party never wants to take place. Left parties have been selling their political idea through creating confusion, fear and lie. Once the Hindu cultural and spiritual renaissance enters Kerala, the entire political landscape of Kerala shall change and the first causality of such change would be the left parties as they would thoroughly get exposed. Therefore the left parties engineered a ploy to destroy the larger fabric of India, the Hindu cultural unity and used the Sabarimala temple issue as the weapon to achieve their goal. Initially congress party supported them but soon they sensed the risk and dumbed the left to their peril.
Like how the left party got wiped out from West Bengal and Tripura for supporting the congress at the centre just to stop BJP, congress party cleverly pushed the left to the well to muddle and die so the congress can make the election in Kerala bipartisan between congress and BJP.
Police excess against thousands of Ayyappa devotees at the behest of left government cannot be forgiven and the police atrocity against the devotees in Sabarimala temple was worse than Jallianwala Bagh massacre of imperial rulers against freedom fighters. People of India in general and people of Kerala in particular must reply through ballot box towards the devilish atrocities of the left against Ayyappa devotes that too in the premises of Sabarimala temple.
Before implementing any big change, the ground must be prepared. The pros and cons must be analysed and the primary stake holders must be consulted. History must be dwelled, traditional practices must be analysed in details to understand why and how such practices have come into existence. But the left party was not interested in any of the above and wants to destroy the Hindu culture, belief system, Hindu tradition that is being followed for centuries and milk maximum political advantage was the sole aim of the left party.
The politics of left party to bleed and suck the blood of the ancient Hindu tradition that followed in Sabarimala temple by butchering the devotees through police excess has misfired. People of Kerala got shattered and shocked by the action of left party.
Rowdy-ism, Rough-ism and political terrorism against opponents were the common political strategies of the left party. During the left rule, fear and terror would rule the roost and murder was the punishment if anyone questions the left. Series of political murders by left workers is the proof for the above claim. This is the first in the history of Kerala where the left party has used the police force to massacre the devotion for Lord Ayyappa and the Hindu tradition that is being followed for centuries.
Today the left parties have proved their intent clear. Kerala is described as God’s own land but in the land of God, it is not just the devotees and the tradition must fear, even the God must fear as the state is being ruled by the left. Time has come the Keralites must do everything possible to save the state from left and congress.
Since the atrocities of the left party against Ayyappa devotees in Sabarimala temple premises was meant for political gain, people of Kerala must reward the left party politically in 2019 like how people of West Bengal and Tripura has done.
Kerala must develop and prosper. Kerala state should stop experimenting alternation of generation between congress and left and must welcome BJP to build New Kerala – the real God’s own land.
From Abusing Hindu God and Goddesses, to orchestrating anti-Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai feelings in Muslims, attributing under recruitment in the military to religious prejudice, counter-factually decrying the “injustice” of the Supreme Court’s decision to hang Yakub Memon, protesting against the Supreme Court’s decision on Triple Talaq issue, to fear-mongering within the Muslims Communities on several occasion, where he recent issued a statement stating, “BJP wants Muslim Free India.”
I still remember my school and college days, not long ago, living and enjoying a multicultural environment. Students and teachers, from all faiths including Muslim showed their National Pride by singing Vande Matarm and chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Unfortunately, I see a growing divide between the Muslim and Greater Indian Communities, on this issue today. Thanks, in large part to Owaisi brothers.
The duo of, Asaduddin Owaisi who is a Member of Parliament and the President of the All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeem (AIMIM) also known as Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and the younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, a Member of the State Legislative Assembly.
The brothers have repeatedly abused Hindu Culture, and its Gods and Goddesses.
In-spite of their existence for decades, this party never gained predominant national attention; they were basically limited to Hyderabad and certain parts of Andra Pradesh, which is now divided into Telangana and Andra Pradesh.
Until, they came in a spot light after Akbaruddin Owaisi’s violence inciting Anti-Hindu speech on December 24, 2012, while addressing the public at Nirmal Town of Adilabad District. He said, “The population of your Hindustan is 1 billion, while we Muslims are 200 million. Just remove the police for 15 minutes, Muslims of India would need only 15 minutes to show the Hindus of India who is more powerful.” Adding fuel to the fire and spewing further hate, he abused Lord Shri Ram and his mother, Kaushalya.
After this instance, there was a National Outrage in the Hindu Community, resulting in the Owaisi Brothers and AIMIM becoming front page news. With their vitriol, they gained the national attention, that their dynastic party was never successful attracting, in the past.
How greater do you want the Lord to be? Even after they insulted Lord Shri Ram, Owaisi gained what their ancestors were never able to achieve, just by uttering Lord Shri Ram’s name, they got national recognition. Imaging where they can reach, if they start worshiping Lord Ram.
Owaisis and the entire AIMIM should thank Lord Shri Ram and apologize for the abuse. They are, who they are because of Lord Shri Ram. These people supposedly are concerned about Muslims and their rights and safety. Muslims couldn’t be safer, anywhere in the world, than under Ram Rajya.
Once national attention was gained, a series of abuse to Hindu Gods and Goddess started in earnest to flow, from Akbaruddin.
Strategically, the younger brother Akbaruddin is used as a scapegoat (Bali Ka Bakra) by his elder brother Asaduddin. Whilst, the elder brother gains a national level platform, the younger brother was “thrown under the bus.” Akbaruddin is limited to regional politics due to his hate-mongering image. He is facing criminal charges and apparently will face the consequences, alone. On the other hand, Asaduddin continues to grow his national level political image and advances his strategic mission of pandering to the Muslim feeling of insecurity.
Full steam ahead, for the dividing politics of Asaduddin Owaisi. Several issues like, (but not limited to) where he created a false narrative that singing Vande Matarm and chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai is Anti-Islamic. Provoking several Muslims to take a stand against singing Vande Matarm and chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai. While many Muslims came out saying they did not believe him. Unfortunately, he was successful in persuading a big portion of the Muslim population, including many highly educated professionals and intellectuals.
Then he played his next Muslim card, of so-called unfair persecution. As a Lawyer, he is knowledgeable of the judicial process. He opposed the Supreme Court’s decision in Yakub Memon Case, who was convicted by the court for his involvement in the Mumbai Serial Bomb Blast Case, in 1993. Owaisi made an irresponsible statement, “Yakub Memon is hanged because he is a Muslim.” Creating dread within Muslim community, basically inculcating in their minds that people are being punished and not given fair trials as they are Muslims. His statement regarding the Memon Case, is at once bizarre and inaccurate.
Thus, pushing forward Owaisi’s agenda to further divide Indian, under the name of religion.
Now, because of his divisive agenda, the Muslims are starting to feel their country is bigoted towards them and they are imperil. He has convinced them that in order to ensure their safe, they must elect him, Owaisi and he will be their voice, protector and savior. I feel bad for the Muslims, who have fallen for his Makavellian Agenda, while he pulls the string of his followers, his puppets who will dance to his tunes.
Similarly in 2017, he steered another controversy, this time trying to divide Indian Armed Forces, based on religion. Linking religion to military jobs, he questioned the percentage of Muslims recruited in the military. If they were purposefully being under recruited, as undesired faith.
He spoke extensively against Supreme Courts decision on Triple Talaq (Triple Divorce), where a Muslim Men can divorce his wife just by saying Talaq (Divorce) three times. It can be done over the phone call, email or text. Supreme Court had declared this unconstitutional earlier this year. However, Owaisi use this opportunity to portray this issue as the Indian System interfering with Islamic Faith. In truth, Triple Talaq has much more to do with patriarchy than Islam. As a matter of fact, it is not practiced in several Islamic Countries. As a democracy, this informal style of divorce should not be practice in India.
His legacy of creating insecurity in Muslims, to strategically divide India continues. Recently, he made a preposterous statement, where he stated that BJP’s President, Amit Shah wants to alienate and expel Muslims from India.
India has the third largest Muslim Population, next to Indonesia and Pakistan. India is home to 10% of the World’s Muslim Population. India has approximately 172 million Muslims.
A country where, Indian Muslims believes, “Muslims cannot be safer in any other country than India.” A country, where if one Muslim dies in an unfortunate event, there is an outcry in the entire country. Owaisi, uses his “intelligence” and foresightedness to make this comment and his true motive is no secret.
If you analyze, his acts and statement, he has always use religion as a tool to misguide Muslims and divide Hindus and Muslims, jeopardize the harmony within the country by his provocative speeches and statements. Essentially, he is patronizing the Muslim community. Who in turn, will just learn hate and animosity, at his hands towards Hindus and India in general, their homeland. They are being strategically divided by Owaisi’s vicious politics.
घोटालों पर घोटाले कर अर्जित की जो धनराशि विपुल
क्या भोग नहीं करना उसका जो पड़ा हुआ है यूँ ढुलमुल?
कर याद स्वर्णयुग दल का जब था राज देश पर एकछत्र
जब नोटों के बण्डल घर में बिखरे रहते थे यत्र-तत्र।।
जब कोटा-परमिट-लाइसेंस का तन्त्र देश में चलता था
चीनी लेने के लिए आम आदमी जब नाक रगड़ता था।
अफसर से लेकर बाबू तक तेरी थी धाक जमी रहती
अपनी कुर्सी पर रहते वह जब तक तेरी मर्जी रहती।।
जब पत्रकार से लेकर जज तक तुझसे सहमे रहते थे
तुझको प्रसन्न रखने में ही वह अपना भला समझते थे।
जब दौरे खूब विदेशों के मनमाने लगते रहते थे
हर रात दिवाली होती थी जामों पर जाम छलकते थे।।
कर याद इमरजेंसी के दिन जनता करती थी त्राहि-त्राहि
पर तेरी चाँदी थी जज तक तुझसे कहते थे माम् पाहि।
युग रहा देवगौड़ा का हो या समय वाजपेयी का हो
क्या ऐसा कभी हुआ जब तेरा कोई काम हुआ ना हो?
सत्तर सालों तक खूब चला सिक्का गाँधी-नेहरू-घर का
तर गये चरणचुम्बी सारे भर गया खजाना घर भर का।
सब कुछ चल रहा ठीक ही था पर जाने किसकी हाय लगी
बन धूमकेतु मोदी आया मानो इस घर को आग लगी।।
कुछ दिन तो सदमे में बीते फिर धीरे-धीरे ज्ञान हुआ
कितना नुक्सान किया इसने इसका अब जाकर भान हुआ।
साधारण दुश्मन मान इसे काटे रो-रो कर चार साल
पर यह तो जम कर बैठ गया अब और चाहता पाँच साल।।
अब इसे हटाना ही होगा चाहे इसकी जो कीमत हो
सत्ता से दूर भले रह लें पर बचे रहें यह नीयत हो।
इस बार अगर चूके तो समझो गयी भैंस अब पानी में
जब कांग्रेस ही नहीं रहेगी फिर क्या रहा कहानी में?
माना दुश्मन है जबर मगर कुछ तो अब करना ही होगा
अपने नेता के एहसानों का कर्जा भरना ही होगा।।
उठ जा कांग्रेसी धूल झाड़ अब आया समय लड़ाई का
जी भर मोदी को दे गाली यह अवसर नहीं भलाई का।
चाचा नेहरु के चरण चूम, कर राहुलजी का मूत्रपान
बढ़ चल अब महासमर में लेकर अपनी सारी आन-बान।।
अपने नेता की बातों को तू मन्त्र मान सुन ध्यान लगा
उनको ही तू दुहराता चल उनसे जनगण में अलख जगा।
मत देख चुनाव कहाँ का है तू गाये जा राफ़ेल राग
श्रद्धा रख अपने नेता पर भड़काये जा हर जगह आग।।
Imagine your day scheduled according to natural phenomenon and synced with celestial movements that maximizes your productivity, increases creativity and keeps you in harmony with nature. Seems too idealistic and utopian?
Have you ever thought that host of daily and seasonal routines; from waking hours to morning rituals, from food habits to clothing pattern, from agriculture to festivities; from nutrition to health management and wellness all these aspects are directly related to the calendar which we follow?
Well, we Indians were following such calendar and routine, until British disrobed us through their imposed educational system. Unfortunately, after independence we did not try to reinstall the age old Vedic Calendar system (Hindu Calendar), which was more scientific, more intuitive and meaningful than dry and box cut English Calendar (Gregorian Calendar). On contrary, we tried to dissuade young minds to follow any Vedic practices, finding false solace in so called modern education, which derided our meaningful traditional practices for out of sync idiotic practices.
However, if we were to examine the Hindu (or Vedic) Calendar with number of parameters That serve the purpose of a calendar, it becomes aptly clear that Vedic calendar(s) are far more practical, meaningful and insightful than any other calendars (particularly the English or Gregorian Calendar). Nepal is the only country in the world which still uses Hindu calendar (Vikram Samvat) officially. The reason is aptly clear. Nepal was never colonized and thus has managed to preserve and use Hindu practices. However, increased influence on communists and western culture on one side and willful abandon of traditional practices on other side has led to rapid decline in practical use of Hindu calendar in Nepal also. Even if the official adoption of Hindu calendar in India can take some time (because of ‘seculars’), we as ‘woke’ people should start aligning ourselves with Vedic calendar for our own benefits. Even as Professor CK Raju, author of The Eleven Pictures of Time (Sage, 2003) makes a strong point on why Vedic calendar is more scientific and ‘secular’ than Gregorian Calendar, as the later only represents Christian beliefs and whims of a Priest and a King, while former is in sync with natural phenomenon.
Its high time we realize that we need not follow idiotic and mediocre practices of West in spite of having superior systems which suit our culture, habits and climate. The calendar is not only useful in time management but it practically can impact all aspects of our daily routine.
Here are some points which will compel you to think on adoption of Vedic calendar rather than Gregorian
a) Vedic calendar is in sync with Lunar and Solar Cycles which is better for time keeping and provides seasonal approach to our daily activities. The accuracy of time keeping is far more accurate in Vedic Calendar than Gregorian Calendar.
b) It takes into consideration geographic location, sidereal motion and tidal changes to give finer picture on micro climate which is very useful for agriculture and crop management.
c) Adoption of Vedic Calendar facilitates day light saving, thus increasing productivity and save consumable energy at work places.
d) Adoption of Vedic calendar facilitates eating habits as per seasonal changes and thus provide better options for nutrition management. It also provides insights on type of clothing changes required as per the seasonal variations. Thus it has direct impact on our health and well being.
e) Learning and teaching Vedic calendar to children helps them to understand and appreciate Maths (yes, the dreadful Maths..!) and Science (mainly astronomy, astrology, celestial science and climatology)
Of course there are several variations in Vedic calendar used in different parts of country. But by and large all these calendars are far superior than Grogerian Calendar and thus; as we see diversity in our festivals and culture, we can also have diversity in the calendars which we adopt regionally, but ultimately unified as Indian Calendar system.
We need a strong pitch to government to adopt Vedic Calendars officially in all our activities; but before that, let us align ourselves to this, practice it and appreciate it for its genius. A people’s movement towards this cause will compel the government to recognize our buried treasure and revive it for all practical and educational purposes. We can start with teaching this in the schools, at home to our kids and take this forward to other aspects of out life.
In a democracy pleasing the dedicated core-voters becomes an imperative for the elected leaders. The U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath is doing what all he could before the 2019 Parliamentary elections to boost the morale of his loyal voters. Since the Supreme Court declared that the Ayodhya-temple issue is not on its top priority-case to deal with, the disillusioned cadres are elevated by the moves which are within the capacity of the Chief Minister in any case, i.e. naming of Faizabad District into Ayodhya and building of a huge statue for Lord Ram as signpost for Ayodhya. Of course, illuminating Ayodhya in a grand scale on Diwali was possible because of Yogi of the BJP or otherwise no other secular-CM of U.P would have done.
The Centre also tried its best in getting the judgement out soon. However, the new Chief Justice of India made a new twist to the case. The Hon’ble Supreme Court’s hurried judgement on Sabarimala raised eye-brows of many, the procrastination on Ram Temple narrowed their brows in anguish. The prolongation on Ayodhya temple issue that is hanging on the head of the Centre like a sword of Damocles doesn’t augur well for the people country and for the party at the Centre. Without any clearance on Ram Mandir, the Centre cannot breathe easy.
The BJP, though came on development agenda on 2014, the party’s committed voters for the past 25-years have been stuck to the temple issue desiring for a clearance as their fave- party is in power. They didn’t mind whether the party kept it in back or front burners. Their worry is palpable. Development is an enticement for the floating first-time voters. For the core, it’s a bonus apart from the temple. The government at the Centre has a limited say right now unless the Apex-Court settles it. The general elections of 2019 are approaching with a tremendous speed. The BJP at the Centre is between the devil and the deep sea. It can neither expedite the Court nor able to convince time-honored commitment.
If the party, BJP wins 2019 elections with full majority as it had happened in 2014, a sigh relief for the age-old committed voters. If it falls short of majority, a coalition government with all secular parties would never allow it to happens. In the worst case scenario of the party not coming to power, it can never again raise the issue, for, the people are likely to come to the conclusion that after having power in full-time in majority for 5-years, if they are unable to achieve their objective how could they ever do? The stated propositions are all surmised because the Court judgements are always dicey. The whole point is, the Party BJP should not create a trust-defecit among its trusted voters.
All told on the temple-issue, the present moves by the UP CM are a kind of balm to the bruised feelings of Hindus. The CM’s changing of names of Allahabad to Prayagraj and Faizabad to Ayodhya may seem ridiculous to secularists. However, if we go by etymology, most of these names belong to the Moghul-period ones. For instance in Telangana state, it’s capital-Hyderabad, is a combination of Hyder+abad. In Urdu abadi means population. Hyder comes from Hyder Ali. Similarly, another district Nizamabad= Nizam +abad, another district Adilabad= Adil+abad, another Karimnagar =Karim+ nagar. In the same way, Aurangabad, Ahmadabad, now renamed one Allahabad = Allah+abad i.e. Prayagraj.
The list is unending. Throughout India there are many such names. Since the Muslims have become part and parcel of India, none objects and none goes into roots or details. Changing few names of cities that are dear to Hindus in Uttar Pradesh is desirable by the elected Hindu populace to have a connect with their moorings i.e. with their past history and pride of their place. Extension of the same logic for many places may raise questions. So, therefore, Yogi Adityanath by his bold decisions, has sent a positive signal/message to his core as to where his heart lies.
The general perception in India is that both Rama and Buddha are avatars of Lord Vishnu who came down with certain tasks to perform. But honestly saying, this perception is the Hindu perception that originated from Puranas.
There is another perception of Rama, which is of Buddhists, originated from Buddha’s talks. So how did Buddha look upon as Rama and what Rama means to a Buddhist?
The Jātaka, are huge volumes of Buddhist scriptures which records Buddha’s talks about his past lives. In the tale no. 461 of The Jātaka, Buddha made a surprising claim and said: “I myself was Rama-panḍita.”
The word panḍita should be read as “the wise”.
In fact, a tale no. 461 of The Jātaka, records Buddha narrating the popular story of Rāmāyaṇa and at last, claiming that he was Rāmā in his previous birth. Although there are few differences in the Buddhist Rāmāyaṇa [narrated by Buddha] and Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
Moreover, a Buddhist scripture — The Lankavatara Sutra, chapter 12, records that Buddha was recognised by many Indians as also Rāmā along with other Hindu gods.
Obviously, Buddhists don’t believe Rāmā to be God but at the same time, it should be understood that Buddhists don’t believe even Buddha to be God. It is so because Buddhist doctrine disbelieves in the existence of any external God.
But reading Buddhist scriptures makes it absolutely clear that Rāmā is definitely an honourable personality for Buddhists. And He is so honourable that even Buddha associated himself with Rāmā.
I wish a very happy Diwali to all the believers of Rāmā.
[Note: Wherever in this article, I used the term “ Buddhists”, it is meant to denote “traditional Buddhists” not “Neo-Buddhists”.]
