tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55809169617343771352024-02-08T08:18:39.479+05:30Dr.Satya Pal SinghDr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-61475605210240387652011-01-11T17:29:00.001+05:302011-01-11T17:29:43.491+05:3011.01.2011<span xmlns=''><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:20pt; text-decoration:underline'>Vedic Philosophy and Holistic Human Development<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify; margin-left: 288pt'><span style='font-size:16pt'>Dr. Satyapal Singh<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>According to millions of years old and most ancient Vedic lore, the structure of the universe is perfect, from the human body to the revolving planets. Modern science has also come to the same conclusion that the universe is orderly, beautiful, purposeful and purely scientific. No scientist can ever improve the constitution of human body. This is why scientists are engaged in unfolding the mysteries (intrinsic laws) of nature. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>What is the purpose of creation? For what is the human created? The Vedic philosophy states that the world was created for the manifestation of not only God's powers but also of nature, in an artistic, myriad way as well as for rendering the justice of one's actions and the realization of the ultimate goal i.e. (salvation) of souls. There can not be any other purpose of the world being created. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>To undergo the consequences of our own acts honorably without any tension and moving forward to our well-cherished aim of getting liberated, we - the human beings - require guidance and the lessons in true knowledge. This true knowledge, a divine revelation is called 'Veda'. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt'><span style='font-size:14pt'>It has been the unanimous opinion of all the seers and sages of India that the Vedas were revealed by the Omniscient, Almighty and Almerciful God in the beginning of the universe, for guiding mankind. It is like a manual of knowledge, variantly called the Noor of Allah (Quran), the first word of God (Bible) and the beacon of light. Not accepting it is akin to a foolish father/mother with a large business empire sending their young child into the jungle to live with the beasts till he attains adulthood and comes back to take care of business. Our Vedic seers have traditionally maintained that the Vedas are the source of all knowledge, all religions and the past, present and future all are illuminated through the Vedas. Vedas form the bed rock of culture. Their authority is supreme, self-evident and final.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> In recent times Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati had emphatically echoed, among the Ten Commandments of Arya Samaj, that God is the source of all true knowledge and all the material known through different sciences. And Vedas are the revealed books of all true sciences. There have been many scholars who have been unbiased in their approach like Prof. Heeren who said "the Vedas stand alone in their solitary splendor standing as beacons of divine light for onward march of humanity".<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Therefore, every minute and meaningful knowledge of the Universe, guidance or instructions for individuals, domestic, social, national or international harmonious, sustainable and holistic development is provided in the Vedas in seed forms. No aspect of human activity and no sphere of world knowledge (Apara and Para vidyas – material and spiritual knowledge) are beyond the confines of the Vedas. The holy books of four Vedas( Rigved, Yajurved, Samved, Atharvaved), four Up-Vedas (Ayurved, Dhanurved, Gandharvaved and Arthaved), six Vedangs (Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chhanda, Jyotisha), six Shastras (Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Mimansa and Vedanta) and many other Brahamans, Aryanyakas, Upnishadas have detailed knowledge about education; arts and crafts (Dance, Drama, Music, Paintings) health and humanities, agriculture, science, technology, aeroplanes and satellites etc. Vedas are encoded with scientific and technological insights, experiments and riddles.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> As Veda is eternal and true, its religion, its philosophy is also true. The foundation of man's true happiness is Dharma. Vedic Philosophy defines Dharma (religion) as the means and measures which provide man an all round development in this world and ensures his salvation thereafter. Vedic Philosophy underscores the importance of simultaneous worldly and spiritual development of man.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> The holistic development of man starts from even before its birth. What precautions and rules the parents must observe to have the best progeny is detailed in Vedic scriptures. The vitality and wisdom of scrupulously following the sixteen sacraments (Samskaars) from conception to cremation, for macro and micro development of man and his environs cannot be over emphasized. The four Ashrams (Phases of life) –Bramhacharya (studenthood), grihastha (married life), Vaanprastha (retired life) and Sanyas (life of renunciation) – is not only for individual betterment and contentment but for the larger social benefits. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Student phase is the formative stage to acquire the capacity and build capabilities for physical and intellectual well being to successfully face the world. The Vedic education has four pillars in Gyan (knowledge), Sabhyata (civilization), Dharmikata (righteousness) and Jitendriyata (self-restraint and control of mind). <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The householder phase is to repay the three debts (social obligations), every human being is born with. Marriage is not only for recreation and procreation but for the ultimate satiation of all desires for material pleasures and progress so that one advances spiritually in later life and secures the break from the endless cycle of birth and death. Earning wealth and its enjoyment and charity for good cause is also a part of married life. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Vaanprastha is retired life for guiding the family and society with one's knowledge and experience and slowly moving away from the bonding of familial ties and attachment to the material world. The last and the optional phase of life – Sanyas – is to work for the society without any prejudice of any caste, class, creed, community or country and also to focus on one's inner illumination.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> All the problems in the world can only be because of four reasons either in their individual capacity or the combination of them. They are Agyaan (ignorance), Anyay(injustice), Abhava (deprivation) and Aalasya (lethargy). To challenge and redress these problems, the Vedic philosophy classified the society into 4 Varnas (classes) – Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra – for it could be the best division of labour. The varnas are classified on the basis of one's ability, nature, profession and deeds and not based on the house of their birth. Varnas are changeable and they provide scope for social mobility. Shudras are not untouchable or a despicable class as depicted in medieval and modern India. They were an integral part of society in ancient time just like the legs in human body. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Simultaneously, the Vedic philosophy states that there are 4 ingredients of Dharma viz. (truth, compassion, charity and dignity of labour). And to protect these pillars, the concept of 4 Varnas was divinely ordained. The Brahman (intellectual) will protect the 'truth' through his study; Kshatriya (warrior) will ensure 'compassion' through fairness and justice; Vaishya (businessman) will keep the tradition of 'charity' alive through earning wealth and Shudra will provide sustenance to the dignity of labour.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> The acceptance of Vedic version of Classes would have ended the fragmentation and fracture of society and the world at large in the name of thousands of castes, sub-castes and scores of religious beliefs. Vedic wisdom believes in only one religion and one caste of humanity.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The five Yamas (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-covetousness) and five Niyamas (cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study and surrender to God) of 8 fold path of Yogic system are the moral codes of conduct for social harmony, well being and individual spiritual upliftment ( macrocosm and microcosm development). <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Fourfold goals of life (Purusharth) – Dharma( Righteousness), Artha (Wealth, acquiring material goods), Kaam (Desires, Pleasures, Enjoyment etc.) and Moksha (Liberation) are also aimed to inspire and drive the man to make the fullest use of this life, enjoy without attachment, achieve an internal state of balance and harmony and earn an almost permanent bliss here and after. Sometimes it is also called a Pancha koshi Yatra (5 miles spiritual journey) from Annamaya kosha to Anandmaya kosha.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Vedic philosophy propounds the principle of Karma (action) and its inevitable consequences based on Cause and Effect law and conservation of energy. Man is free to act the way one likes but is bound to face the result of its actions without any option. Therefore it puts a deterrence on wrong doings. A dip in holy river or pond, the worship of any god or goddess or a faith in any lord or prophet can't absolve a person from the fruits of its deeds.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Vedic philosophy, though universal in teaching, has also emphasized on nationalistic spirit and patriotism. Vayam Rashtre ... let us be vigilant about our nation. We should conduct ourselves in nation's interests. Satyam Brihat Ritam Ugram--- to build a strong nation through quality education, military prowess, righteous judicial system, commitment and sacrifices, science, technology and experiments and common well being.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> For keeping the environment (air, water and soil) clean and pure vedic philosophy preached the preservation of eco-system through vegetarianism, tree plantations (raising the status of trees to sacred levels) and daily mandatory individual and periodic community Yagnyas. The problems of pollution and global warming would never occur in such a culture. The Vedic philosophy does not subscribe to the dictum of Darwin that the fittest and strongest only has the right to survive. It believes in the spirit of cooperation, co-existence and ensures the protection to the weakest. It is firmly for the sustainable development without harming the environment.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Vedic being a divine philosophy – (it cannot be improved but expanded with human efforts) – has to be universal in its applications. It cannot be confined to any caste, colour, creed or country. It always emphasized on one earth and one humanity. In this age of one chemistry, one physics one maths, one architecture, one medicine – how can we have more than one Dharma or philosophy of life? Vedic philosophy believes in one omniscient supreme power (God) as the parent of all beings and therefore inspires universal brotherhood.Vedas preach "matrah bhoomi putroaham prathivya"– "earth is my mother and I am her son; the whole world is like a nest (which is better than the modern global village concept); the whole earth is my family and let us see every being (not just human) with the eyes of a friend."<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> At last, I would like to quote and appreciate what even a highly distinguished but biased scholar, one of the best European indologists, Professor Max Mueller had to write in his famous book "India, What can it teach us that " in order to make our (inner) life more perfect, more comprehensive, more universal, in fact more truly human, a life not for this life only, but a transfigured and eternal life—again I should point to India…"<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The Vedic seers thus proclaim "Pashya Devashya ….---" see and follow the sweet poetry (Veda) of God which neither dies or decays". There is no philosophy even worth the comparison. All streams of thoughts in the world started from this but with the passage of time got polluted on their journeys. Let us give a clarion call to all the people to learn from the time tested, divine and universal wisdom if we want to have an all round development from individual to society level; from family to global community and get rid of all the simmering discontent, discords, tension, criminal acts, communal riots and the depredations of terrorism in the world. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p> E mail address<span style='font-size:14pt'>: <strong>allsatya@gmail.com</strong></span></p></span>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-43401727146664579622011-01-11T17:24:00.001+05:302011-01-11T17:24:48.704+05:3011.01.2011<span xmlns=''><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-size:20pt; text-decoration:underline'>Vedic Philosophy and Holistic Human Development<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify; margin-left: 288pt'><span style='font-size:16pt'>Dr. Satyapal Singh<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>According to millions of years old and most ancient Vedic lore, the structure of the universe is perfect, from the human body to the revolving planets. Modern science has also come to the same conclusion that the universe is orderly, beautiful, purposeful and purely scientific. No scientist can ever improve the constitution of human body. This is why scientists are engaged in unfolding the mysteries (intrinsic laws) of nature. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>What is the purpose of creation? For what is the human created? The Vedic philosophy states that the world was created for the manifestation of not only God's powers but also of nature, in an artistic, myriad way as well as for rendering the justice of one's actions and the realization of the ultimate goal i.e. (salvation) of souls. There can not be any other purpose of the world being created. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>To undergo the consequences of our own acts honorably without any tension and moving forward to our well-cherished aim of getting liberated, we - the human beings - require guidance and the lessons in true knowledge. This true knowledge, a divine revelation is called 'Veda'. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt'><span style='font-size:14pt'>It has been the unanimous opinion of all the seers and sages of India that the Vedas were revealed by the Omniscient, Almighty and Almerciful God in the beginning of the universe, for guiding mankind. It is like a manual of knowledge, variantly called the Noor of Allah (Quran), the first word of God (Bible) and the beacon of light. Not accepting it is akin to a foolish father/mother with a large business empire sending their young child into the jungle to live with the beasts till he attains adulthood and comes back to take care of business. Our Vedic seers have traditionally maintained that the Vedas are the source of all knowledge, all religions and the past, present and future all are illuminated through the Vedas. Vedas form the bed rock of culture. Their authority is supreme, self-evident and final.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> In recent times Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati had emphatically echoed, among the Ten Commandments of Arya Samaj, that God is the source of all true knowledge and all the material known through different sciences. And Vedas are the revealed books of all true sciences. There have been many scholars who have been unbiased in their approach like Prof. Heeren who said "the Vedas stand alone in their solitary splendor standing as beacons of divine light for onward march of humanity".<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Therefore, every minute and meaningful knowledge of the Universe, guidance or instructions for individuals, domestic, social, national or international harmonious, sustainable and holistic development is provided in the Vedas in seed forms. No aspect of human activity and no sphere of world knowledge (Apara and Para vidyas – material and spiritual knowledge) are beyond the confines of the Vedas. The holy books of four Vedas( Rigved, Yajurved, Samved, Atharvaved), four Up-Vedas (Ayurved, Dhanurved, Gandharvaved and Arthaved), six Vedangs (Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chhanda, Jyotisha), six Shastras (Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshik, Mimansa and Vedanta) and many other Brahamans, Aryanyakas, Upnishadas have detailed knowledge about education; arts and crafts (Dance, Drama, Music, Paintings) health and humanities, agriculture, science, technology, aeroplanes and satellites etc. Vedas are encoded with scientific and technological insights, experiments and riddles.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> As Veda is eternal and true, its religion, its philosophy is also true. The foundation of man's true happiness is Dharma. Vedic Philosophy defines Dharma (religion) as the means and measures which provide man an all round development in this world and ensures his salvation thereafter. Vedic Philosophy underscores the importance of simultaneous worldly and spiritual development of man.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> The holistic development of man starts from even before its birth. What precautions and rules the parents must observe to have the best progeny is detailed in Vedic scriptures. The vitality and wisdom of scrupulously following the sixteen sacraments (Samskaars) from conception to cremation, for macro and micro development of man and his environs cannot be over emphasized. The four Ashrams (Phases of life) –Bramhacharya (studenthood), grihastha (married life), Vaanprastha (retired life) and Sanyas (life of renunciation) – is not only for individual betterment and contentment but for the larger social benefits. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Student phase is the formative stage to acquire the capacity and build capabilities for physical and intellectual well being to successfully face the world. The Vedic education has four pillars in Gyan (knowledge), Sabhyata (civilization), Dharmikata (righteousness) and Jitendriyata (self-restraint and control of mind). <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The householder phase is to repay the three debts (social obligations), every human being is born with. Marriage is not only for recreation and procreation but for the ultimate satiation of all desires for material pleasures and progress so that one advances spiritually in later life and secures the break from the endless cycle of birth and death. Earning wealth and its enjoyment and charity for good cause is also a part of married life. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Vaanprastha is retired life for guiding the family and society with one's knowledge and experience and slowly moving away from the bonding of familial ties and attachment to the material world. The last and the optional phase of life – Sanyas – is to work for the society without any prejudice of any caste, class, creed, community or country and also to focus on one's inner illumination.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> All the problems in the world can only be because of four reasons either in their individual capacity or the combination of them. They are Agyaan (ignorance), Anyay(injustice), Abhava (deprivation) and Aalasya (lethargy). To challenge and redress these problems, the Vedic philosophy classified the society into 4 Varnas (classes) – Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra – for it could be the best division of labour. The varnas are classified on the basis of one's ability, nature, profession and deeds and not based on the house of their birth. Varnas are changeable and they provide scope for social mobility. Shudras are not untouchable or a despicable class as depicted in medieval and modern India. They were an integral part of society in ancient time just like the legs in human body. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Simultaneously, the Vedic philosophy states that there are 4 ingredients of Dharma viz. (truth, compassion, charity and dignity of labour). And to protect these pillars, the concept of 4 Varnas was divinely ordained. The Brahman (intellectual) will protect the 'truth' through his study; Kshatriya (warrior) will ensure 'compassion' through fairness and justice; Vaishya (businessman) will keep the tradition of 'charity' alive through earning wealth and Shudra will provide sustenance to the dignity of labour.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> The acceptance of Vedic version of Classes would have ended the fragmentation and fracture of society and the world at large in the name of thousands of castes, sub-castes and scores of religious beliefs. Vedic wisdom believes in only one religion and one caste of humanity.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The five Yamas (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-covetousness) and five Niyamas (cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study and surrender to God) of 8 fold path of Yogic system are the moral codes of conduct for social harmony, well being and individual spiritual upliftment ( macrocosm and microcosm development). <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Fourfold goals of life (Purusharth) – Dharma( Righteousness), Artha (Wealth, acquiring material goods), Kaam (Desires, Pleasures, Enjoyment etc.) and Moksha (Liberation) are also aimed to inspire and drive the man to make the fullest use of this life, enjoy without attachment, achieve an internal state of balance and harmony and earn an almost permanent bliss here and after. Sometimes it is also called a Pancha koshi Yatra (5 miles spiritual journey) from Annamaya kosha to Anandmaya kosha.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>Vedic philosophy propounds the principle of Karma (action) and its inevitable consequences based on Cause and Effect law and conservation of energy. Man is free to act the way one likes but is bound to face the result of its actions without any option. Therefore it puts a deterrence on wrong doings. A dip in holy river or pond, the worship of any god or goddess or a faith in any lord or prophet can't absolve a person from the fruits of its deeds.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Vedic philosophy, though universal in teaching, has also emphasized on nationalistic spirit and patriotism. Vayam Rashtre ... let us be vigilant about our nation. We should conduct ourselves in nation's interests. Satyam Brihat Ritam Ugram--- to build a strong nation through quality education, military prowess, righteous judicial system, commitment and sacrifices, science, technology and experiments and common well being.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> For keeping the environment (air, water and soil) clean and pure vedic philosophy preached the preservation of eco-system through vegetarianism, tree plantations (raising the status of trees to sacred levels) and daily mandatory individual and periodic community Yagnyas. The problems of pollution and global warming would never occur in such a culture. The Vedic philosophy does not subscribe to the dictum of Darwin that the fittest and strongest only has the right to survive. It believes in the spirit of cooperation, co-existence and ensures the protection to the weakest. It is firmly for the sustainable development without harming the environment.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> Vedic being a divine philosophy – (it cannot be improved but expanded with human efforts) – has to be universal in its applications. It cannot be confined to any caste, colour, creed or country. It always emphasized on one earth and one humanity. In this age of one chemistry, one physics one maths, one architecture, one medicine – how can we have more than one Dharma or philosophy of life? Vedic philosophy believes in one omniscient supreme power (God) as the parent of all beings and therefore inspires universal brotherhood.Vedas preach "matrah bhoomi putroaham prathivya"– "earth is my mother and I am her son; the whole world is like a nest (which is better than the modern global village concept); the whole earth is my family and let us see every being (not just human) with the eyes of a friend."<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'> At last, I would like to quote and appreciate what even a highly distinguished but biased scholar, one of the best European indologists, Professor Max Mueller had to write in his famous book "India, What can it teach us that " in order to make our (inner) life more perfect, more comprehensive, more universal, in fact more truly human, a life not for this life only, but a transfigured and eternal life—again I should point to India…"<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:14pt'>The Vedic seers thus proclaim "Pashya Devashya ….---" see and follow the sweet poetry (Veda) of God which neither dies or decays". There is no philosophy even worth the comparison. All streams of thoughts in the world started from this but with the passage of time got polluted on their journeys. Let us give a clarion call to all the people to learn from the time tested, divine and universal wisdom if we want to have an all round development from individual to society level; from family to global community and get rid of all the simmering discontent, discords, tension, criminal acts, communal riots and the depredations of terrorism in the world. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p> E mail address<span style='font-size:14pt'>: <strong>allsatya@gmail.com</strong></span></p></span>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-4117085475521699622011-01-11T17:19:00.001+05:302011-01-11T17:19:22.087+05:3011.01.2011<span xmlns=''><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:16pt; text-decoration:underline'>Vedas : The Divine Order for World Peace<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt'> Dr. Satyapal Singh<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'> </span>allsatya@gmail.com<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'> </span><span style='font-family:Arial'>In this age of knowledge explosion, commun</span></span><span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='color:#0c080f'>i</span><span style='color:#010004'>cations' super highways, and proliferation of religions, peace has become a distant dream. Individual stress, family tension, communal/racial riots, and terrorist strikes, have shattered even the semblance of World Peace.<br /></span></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'> Almost every religion claims to have a divine origin and was to be started</span><span style='color:#acabae'>. </span><span style='color:#010004'>for social solidarity, communal co-existence and global peace and bliss. But today, despite the plurality of religions, we a</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>r</span><span style='color:#010004'>e in an age of conflict and confusion, discords and disputes, bickering and battles among various communities an</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>d </span><span style='color:#010004'>co</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>u</span><span style='color:#010004'>ntries. In the name of religion so much blood has been shed in the wor</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>l</span><span style='color:#010004'>d that all wars put together could not devour so many lives and properties, Many caste and class leaders and religious preachers and missionaries have tu</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>r</span><span style='color:#010004'>ned, at least covertly, into merchants of hate. Many acts of terrorism and suicide bombings are also taking place in the name of religion. Global peace has become a far cry for world leaders.<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'> The peace depends on individual happiness and co-existence. Co-existence implies two things – diversities and mutual love. It is unfortunate, as Maxim Gorky has mentioned, that man has learnt how to fly in the sky, how to sail on the sea but not learnt how to live together on earth.</span><br /> </span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'> Any religious order which can ensure individual holistic development, foster mutual coexistence and </span><span style='color:#0c080f'>l</span><span style='color:#010004'>ead to world peace must satisfy 3 acid tests</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>. </span><span style='color:#010004'>It has (i)to be </span><strong><span style='color:#0c080f'>di</span><span style='color:#010004'>vi</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>n</span></strong><span style='color:#010004'><strong>e </strong>in nature, (ii) <strong>equal </strong>in behaviour and (iii) <strong>dete</strong></span><strong><span style='color:#0c080f'>r</span><span style='color:#010004'>ren</span></strong><span style='color:#0c080f'><strong>t </strong>i</span><span style='color:#010004'>n character.<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#dddcde; font-family:Arial; font-size:3pt'><em>I <br /></em></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#010004'><strong>A</strong></span><span style='color:#0c080f'><strong>.</strong><br /> </span><strong><span style='color:#010004'>Divi</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>n</span><span style='color:#010004'>e Nature</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>:<br /></span></strong></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#0c080f'><strong> </strong></span><span style='color:#010004'>In fact, the </span><strong><span style='color:#0c080f'>pe</span><span style='color:#010004'>a</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>ce resid</span><span style='color:#010004'>es </span><span style='color:#0c080f'>in d</span><span style='color:#010004'>iv</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>in</span><span style='color:#010004'>i</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>ty</span></strong><span style='color:#010004'><strong>. </strong>Indiv</span><span style='color:#0c080f'>i</span><span style='color:#010004'>dual peace is achieved when one realizes his/her divine nature and the world peace will be possible only when most of the intellectuals would believe in divine common or cosmic consciousness<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> I have no intention here to analyze the different religions in the world, but it would be necessary to understand the characteristics of anything called divine. There are many things in the world like air, earth, sun, water and other acts/arts of nature, which are considered to be of divine origin. Divine creation is a product of choice and not of chance, <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>as many people believe.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><ol style='margin-left: 54pt'><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>The divine things are generally beyond the concept of time and space. It is given in the beginning of creation.<br /></span></div></li><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>Anything having divine origin is pure and perfect, different and distinct, serene and scientific.We cannot improve it or find fault with it. e.g. human body. About 7 billion people (world population), having 70 billion fingers and none matching another.<br /></span></div></li><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>Any material of divine origin has multiple and multifarious utilities (like stone, sugar cane, flower) while a man-made material has limited uses (like brick, sugar, scent).<br /></span></div></li><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>The deletion of a name or contribution of any historical personality is not material to a divine religion.<br /></span></div></li><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>Any divine origin/thing will necessarily have an Universal appeal irrespective of caste, class, colour, community or country. It cannot afford to be sectarian or sectoral/regional.<br /></span></div></li><li><div style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>A divine religion must give a plan for harmonious development of man from conception to cremation or from birth to burial.<br /></span></div></li></ol><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><strong>B.Test of Equality</strong>:<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> In God's domain, everything is pure, perfect, beautiful and purposeful. One creation cannot be belittled in comparison to other. The thread of equality runs through the whole creation. For growth and peace, no one should be dubbed as inferior or junior and all should be given equal importance and opportunities. A few religious denominations do not embrace equality even between the co-religionist man and woman. The origin of their philosophy stems from the misconceived belief that inherently a woman is soulless and sinful. In medieval ages, even Hinduism also harboured such notions.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> A true religion must talk about love, harmony and co-existence in the environment. It has no place for competition or violence but co-operation, collaboration and co-existence. The Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest has no place or support here. On the contrary, it must ensure the survival of the weakest.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> In the matter of faith, tolerance must rule supreme. Harbouring hate towards non-believers runs contrary to the spirit of co-existence and peace. Compassion, love and help for the weak and small are the essential ingredients of equality and co-existence. <br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> The sacred places of prayers, worships, rewards, bilss, heaven or salvation of a true religion cannot be discriminatory or partial for men and women; so called higher or lower categories of human beings based on birth, wealth and status.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Such religions, which do not believe and practice equality, tolerance and compassion towards others, can not foster co-existence and world peace though overtly they might pretend to profess and preach to do so.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'><strong>C. Factor of Deterrence</strong>:<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Why do have people tensions or disputes? May be due to some lurking fear in their minds. Why do some people commit crime? Either due to extreme poverty, or greed, selfish-material pursuits, carnal, communal or religious motives. We have two types of religions in the world – one believing only in one human life and the concept of faith and forgiveness. If one has committed many crimes and sins, but has complete faith in his/her prophet or local lord/deity he/she will be forgiven, all sins washed away and heaven rewarded. Similar are the beliefs about a dip in holy water and worships, prayers in temples, mosques, churches, mazars or japs by others.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> The other cagtegories of religions believe in the theory of Karma (action) and transmigration of soul. The theory of Karma dictates the inevitable and unavoidable consequences of one's actions – whether wrong or right and no pardon. One has to face the consequences sometime immediately or later either in this life or the next one. This is the insurmountable law of divine justice everywhere. This kind of religion acts as a deterrent for wrongdoing.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> The religion of faith and forgiveness indirectly induces one to violate the principles of humanity, the rules of co-existences, norms of good civilized society and ideals of peace.If a Court/Judge starts forgiving criminals the whole society will be chaotic and unsafe. Who would not like people to be subjected to laws of land? If all people of world embrace the religions of faith and forgiveness, the world would be full of crimes, sins and disturbances.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Based on the above 3 criteria, the claims of most of the religions that they exist and work for co-existence and peace get non-starter. There is only one religion called Vedic Dharma, which can stand to these tests. The 3 tests of divinity, equality and deterrence also amply prove that Vedic religion only is the true religion of humanity - irrespective of Caste, Class, Creed, Community or Country. It must be emphasized that all the religions have some elements of truth in them but no religion is perfect. The commonality of different religions, where they all agree meaning the essence/core of all religions is called Dharma – the true vedic religion.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Vedas are eternal and their appeal universal. Nowhere in Vedic literature, it is mentioned that this knowledge is meant only for Bharat / India or to a particular Caste or Class. Vedas talk about equality, universal brotherhood, harmonious development of life and a rational thinking. Its teachings are eternally relevant and capable of ensuring world peace. That is why our seers and Vedic scholars of yore announced - Vedas are source of true religion. A true religion sustains the world, preserves the humanity and binds the society together. As Yogi Aurobindo has stated "experiences of the seers and experiments of the scientists are two pillars of world peace".<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Vedas form the bed rock of culture. Their authority is supreme, self-evident and final. The Vedas have been regarded as divine revelation to humanity since time immemorial. The truth seekers and truth personified seers of yore never doubted this basic premise. In fact, they presented irrefutable arguments to satisfy the anxious minds. The many modern 19th 20th and 21st Century) Sanskrit, Archaeology, language and history scholars who tried to find holes in this claim have worked with preconceived notions and prejudiced minds. Fact is that most of them are not even qualified to understand the Vedic language and philosophy.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> In July, 2007 one book titled "Invading the Sacred: An Analysis of Hinduism studies in America" edited by Krishana Ramaswamy, Antonio de Nicolas and Aditi Banerjee was released in Mumbai. The book has stated, "Unlike in India, the academic study of religion is an important undertaking for intellectuals in America and a few hundred scholars study Hinduism and other Indian religions. Many of them have continued to perpetuate myths and biases about Indian culture and religion through misinterpretation and mistranslations. These are in line with the colonial and missionary caricature of India." The book is the product of a multi-year research project that uncovered shoddy and biased scholarship driven by certain power cartels, its authors said.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:12pt'> <span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial'>I pose a question to all the distinguished scholars and the other intellectuals of world. Should we believe our seers and forefathers, who always practiced and preached truth. Satyam Vad Dharm Char" was the life breath for them. Or should we believe the modern scholars and professors many of whom work for publicity or money, mortgage their talents, sell their conditioned and borrowed knowledge like other professionals, and carry out biased, selfish or sponsored research.<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='color:#010004; font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> "To understand the Vedas", in the words of Pandit Gurudutt Vidyarthi - one of the most profound Vedic Scholars of 19<sup>th</sup> Century, "one must be a complete master of the science of morals, the science of poetry, and the sciences of geology and astronomy; he must be well-versed in the philosophy of Dharma, the philosophy of characteristics, the doctrines of logic or the science of evidence, the philosophy of essential existences, the philosophy of yoga, and the philosophy of Vedanta; he must be a master of all these and much more before he can lay claims to a rational interpretation of the Vedas. Such then, should be our Vedic scholars though adepts in science and philosophy, unprejudiced and impartial judges and seekers after truth. But if impartiality be supplanted by prejudice, science and philosophy by quasi-knowledge and superstition, and integrity by motive, whereas predetermination takes the place of honest inquiry, truth is either disguised or altogether suppressed." (The Terminology of the Vedas and European Scholars, page, 29-30).<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-size:12pt'> <span style='font-family:Arial'>Vedic religion has always stood for peace from individual enduring happiness and eternal bliss to world peace. Vedic seers have, therefore, laid greater emphasis on education, justice, prosperity and physical/mental alertness to defeat the four eternal enemies of peace (i)ignorance (ii)injustice (iii)insufficiency/deprivation (iv)lethargy/ complacency. All these four singly and conjointly disturb the mind, prompt one to feel fearful or unconcerned, harbor hate, commit crime, kill others and endanger the local and global peace.<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> In the words of Swami Dayanand, "The learned men among the followers of every religion should free themselves from prejudice and believe in a religion based on universal and all embracing principles……… Such religion based on truth and all embracing principles can only be the primeval eternal Vedic religion. There is no other way of elevating the human race and building world peace."<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> I would like to sum up as all Vedic rites and rituals end with prayer for peace. Even daily prayers end with invocation to Almighty for peace and only peace, not for self or one creed, community or country but for the entire humanity.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:APS-C-DV-Priyanka'><span style='font-size:12pt'> </span><span style='font-size:16pt'>²ããõ: Íããã䶦㶦ããèãäÀàã½ãáÍããã䶦ã<br /></span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:APS-C-DV-Priyanka; font-size:16pt'> ¹ãðãä©ãÌããèÍããã䶦ãÀã¹ã:Íããã䶦ãÀãñÓã£ã¾ã:Íããã䶦ã ý<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:APS-C-DV-Priyanka; font-size:16pt'> Ìã¶ãÔ¹ã¦ã¾ã:Íããã䶦ããäÌãÃÏÌñãªñÌãã:Íããã䶦ãºãÆÃÙ½ãÍããã䶦ã:<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:APS-C-DV-Priyanka'><span style='font-size:16pt'> ÔãÌãýãá Íããã䶦ã:Íããã䶦ãÀñÌãÍããã䶦ã:Ôãã½ããÍããã䶦ãÀñãä£ã</span><span style='font-size:12pt'> ýý </span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:Times New Roman'>(Yaj 36.17)</span><span style='font-family:Arial'><br /> </span></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'>May the celestial regions, the firmament, the earth, the waters, herbs and vegetables, the divine powers, the infinite cosmos – all grant us peace. May there be peace and only peace.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> A child get the highest happiness, joy and peace in the lap of his /her mother. So let us sit in the lap of divine mother Veda to attain harmonious development and ensure peace in the environment.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> Let us all behold the divine poetry of the Lord which is beyond decay and death.<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Arial; font-size:12pt'> </span><span style='font-family:APS-C-DV-Priyanka'><span style='font-size:16pt'>ªñÌãԾ㠹ã;㠇ãŠã̾ã⠶㠽ã½ããÀ ¶ã •ããè¾ãÃãä¦ã</span><span style='font-size:12pt'><br /> </span></span><span style='font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt'>(Atharva 10.8.32)<br /></span></p><p style='text-align: justify'><br /> </p><p style='text-align: justify'><span style='font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt'><br /> </span> </p></span>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-86780300435019580562009-11-10T12:48:00.002+05:302009-11-10T12:48:27.742+05:30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHjKn5ijIHrCmG9u2oMjzN_pfoyIr2L-odUINkUfqydZBYVlvquiGig_OKaaN3e-Yk9kesQ3ZGdoYW6GzY_xOlJ4CGxkAyvznoF_QHnSA8DkZtnKd5hwLsDfr-tfNB6WIIH3OtLOBkt4/s1600-h/scan0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHjKn5ijIHrCmG9u2oMjzN_pfoyIr2L-odUINkUfqydZBYVlvquiGig_OKaaN3e-Yk9kesQ3ZGdoYW6GzY_xOlJ4CGxkAyvznoF_QHnSA8DkZtnKd5hwLsDfr-tfNB6WIIH3OtLOBkt4/s320/scan0018.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-51392703835457897212009-09-04T16:38:00.004+05:302009-09-04T16:45:26.626+05:30Yoga - A way of life<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yoga - A way of life<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dr. Satya Pal Singh<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The word Yoga means to join, to yoke, to combine together or to bring together. And hence the term Yoga conveys a sense of union. But union to whom ? It is linking of an individual self to the Higher universal self or the infinite God, which is the source of all the goodness, all bliss and all the knowledge. He is supreme and absolute. But, unless we recognise ourselves - the inner self, how is it possible to go in the closest proximity of God ? Yoga also means connecting the individual consciousness with the common, collective or cosmic consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">YOGA is all pervasive in every part of the world. Starting from human body to the ever extending and expanding universe, where there is Yoga, there is addition, there is union, there is bonding, there is birth and a beautiful creation. Where there is no Yoga meaning there is a Viyoga,(separation), there is death and there is dissolution of the universe. But, this is not an occasion to discuss and deliberate on such a comprehensive Yoga, but I will be sharing my ideas, my understanding of the aspect we are generally aware of. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As we all know Yoga is a system dealing with the Science of mental behaviors and control of mind. There are many systems in this country of Yoga. But the Rajyoga expounded by Patanjali stands supreme. In Patanjali' s Yoga Sutras, Yoga has been defined as a <i>Nirodh</i> (inhibition) of the <i>Vrutti</i> (functions) of the <i>Chitta</i> (mind), brought about by practice (abhayasa) and freedom from attachment (vairagya), but English renderings of the technical terms are not very suitable. (</span><span style="font-family: DV-TTYogesh; font-size: 16pt;">ªÉÉäMɶSÉ ÊSÉiiÉ ´ÉÞÎiiÉ ÊxÉ®úÉävÉ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Yogashcha Chitta Vritti Nirodha) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yoga is a science basically related to inner world. There appears to be so much of tension in our day-to-day life because internally and externally we are not the same. There is no harmony as such. What we teach we don't practice, what we expect from others we do not do to others. We expect others to be honest and spiritual, but inside we are dishonest and much away from spirituality. It gives tension to us and leading to all kinds of bodily and mental disorders. It is the cause of communal disharmony in the society. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As I stated earlier, Yoga is a science of inner world, though it is formally connected to our day-to-day mundane life. It is a science dealing with intangibles and so it is subtle and much more difficult to comprehend. The subject of Yoga is getting increasingly popular and that is not always without risk as it tends to become cheap. So it is absolutely necessary to return to the basics or the fundamentals of the system. Many people claim and complain that they have been practicing Yoga, doing meditation for last many years, but they are yet to have the experience of bliss, or to have the much sought after self-realization. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yoga is an extremely difficult and profound science to understand and practice. At the same time, the result of the practicing Yoga is unparalleled, the highest attainment, the highest sublimation and the highest achievement. It is a discovery of self. It is self-realization - realizing one's pure self and nature. Who ever does it, he enjoys it but cannot explain it to others. It is an indescribable feat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: DV-TTYogesh; font-size: 16pt;">VÉÉä =ºÉä ºÉ¨ÉZɱÉäiÉÉ ½èþ ´É½þ ºÉ¨ÉZÉÉ xɽþÓ ºÉEòiÉÉ *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: DV-TTYogesh; font-size: 16pt;">VÉÉä ´É½þÉÄ {ɽÖÄþSÉ VÉÉiÉÉ ½èþ ´É½þ JÉɨÉÉä¶É ®ú½þiÉÉ ½èþ *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Whoever reaches this height the knots of his heart is loosened; all doubts are cut off, all actions cease. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As Mundak Upanishad says- <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DV-TTYogesh; font-size: 16pt;">ʦÉtiÉä ¾þnùªÉ OÉÎxlɶSÉ, ÊqùnùxiÉä ºÉ´ÉÇ ºÉƶɪÉÉ :*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DV-TTYogesh; font-size: 16pt;">IÉÒªÉxiÉä SÉɺªÉ Eò¨ÉÉÇÊhÉ, iÉκ¨ÉxÉ où¹]äõ {É®úÉ´É®ú :*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bhidate Hridaya Grinthisch, Chhidante Sarva Sansayaa<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kshiyante Chaasya karmani, tasmin driste praavare : <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Such a science is beyond the reach of modem science, beyond the frontiers of measuring fetters and beyond the graduates of today’s education. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To realize such a state is not an easy task. Unfortunately, now-a-days hundreds and thousands of Yoga teachers are available in India alone. But that is why it has become necessary to be doubly cautious to understand the basics. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One can be a scientist of a very high repute without necessarily being a theist or a man of morals. one can be a musician, a professor or a poet either without believing in God and without adhering to His moral code. Similarly, one can be an engineer or architect of eminence without following the social moralities, but to be a Yogi, the first essential requirement is to follow a moral code. Therefore, the Yoga of Patanjali prerequisites for an ethical conduct in personal or social life, It also takes note of all human shortcomings and weaknesses, but the system is based on the higher moral values. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let us follow the practice of Yoga in our day-to-day life and remember that there are no short cuts. The first step in the ladder to meditation and super consciousness are Yamas and Niyams. As many would know there are five Yamas. Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya ( Control of senses), Apariagraha (non-avarice). We can call these five Yamas as Mahavratas, or great vows or obligatory pledges. They are not be violated under any conditions or circumstances. These are the universal code of conduct and compulsory and obligatory under all circumstances. They constitute the social code or the social discipline for human beings. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Patanjali also enumerates the five Niyamas (rules) or auxiliary virtues. As- <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sauch (internal and external cleanliness or purity) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Santosh or contentment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tapas or austerity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Svadhyaya or self-study and self-evaluation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Iswara Pranidhana or surrendering and dedication to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After the Yama-Niyams, Patanjali makes it obligatory that one should practice Assans (meditational, comfortable postures), Pranayam or control of breathing, then Pratyahara or chanelisation of mental activities which leads to Dharana or concentration of mind, then to Dhyan (contemplation) and lastly Samadhi the transcendental super consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Without this ethical or moral code nobody can progress in the line of Yoga. We have to become Upayogi (useful) for becoming a Yogi. When one becomes Upa-Mantri, chances are there one would become Mantri. When one is Vice President, chances are that he/she would have an opportunity to become a President. So before becoming a Yogi, we must try to become Upayogi (useful). Not just for ourselves, but for the society. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Constructing a building on the ground is far easier and cheaper as compared to constructing a building underground. Digging a hill is easier than unearthing the underground mining. Similarly, building a ship is far more easier than building a sub-marine which operates under the water. Therefore, it is very very difficult to discipline oneself than building a disciplined system outside. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Suppose you go to meet the Prime Minister of India and now you are standing at the Reception, with 100% surety that you would be called any moment to have an audience. It is a period of thrill on one hand and anxiety on the other. You will take care of your clothes, you would require to be well dressed, you will comb your hair. You would be afraid that none of your weaknesses is revealed to the Prime minister. If you have one you would like to cover it with many excuses. You would be rehearsing in your own mind how to start a dialogue and put up things across. But when you have just five minutes to meet him you would try to be at Your best. Preparation is started a few days before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We know that water flows always to a lower level. Suppose a farmer wants to irrigate his field, water is already there in the canal. The farmer has just merely to open the gates and remove the obstacles, water will automatically flow. Similarly, if we remove obstacles between us and the higher self, the spirituality will automatically flow. How to do away these obstacles, these perturbations, these vices, these stances, how to be humble and pure. Since centuries our seers have practiced and preached that if you want to realize peace and happiness in life, try to realize yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We have also to remember that for an aircraft taking off is difficult, but once it is at a comfortable height, the navigation is smooth and easier. Similarly, the space craft, a satellite, has first to make all efforts to go beyond the earth's gravitational domain but once it goes out of the earth's gravity, its journey becomes for easier. Now it is subjected to the Moon's or Mars gravity wherever it is directed, which in most natural course draws it to the Moon's / Mar's surface. On the same analogy if we want to get in the closest proximity of the God, if we want to realize ourself, we have to break the barriers of bad habits nurtured so far. Once we are pure, we are close to God. There will be automatic attraction and automatic realization. But to become pure and remaining pure we have to keep on doing dusting off and washing ourselves every day and every time like an idol or statue, kept in open, has to be cleaned every day. In other words, Yoga is the process and practice of purifying ourselves. Any purity reflects automatically scattering light and bliss all around. <b><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in"><span style="color: black;">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-21444460151828545652009-08-31T18:17:00.002+05:302009-08-31T18:17:42.114+05:30Vision for A Universal Religion<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Vision for A Universal Religion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- Dr. Satya Pal Singh<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Vision is the ability to see beyond the present. It is the foresight to see clearly through walls of years, decades and sometimes even centuries. It is an attribute, not just to predict, but to lay ahead a map of the future. Can we have such a vision for a universal religion? All the technologies and knowledge in the world are converging. Today we have a single Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Astronomy for ourselves. How can then one humanity have different religions? During 2001, the U.N. convened a conference for World Peace - a congregation of World religious leaders. More than a dozen of major religions were represented, leave aside hundreds of sects and personalised cults. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> It raises one basic question - being mooted for more than hundred years. Are these different religions, sects and cults opposed to each other? If the answer is in affirmative then to have World Peace through religions is hoping against hope. But if these religions are not against each other and equal in all aspects, especially the welfare of man, then what is the need of so many religions? The fact is that all these religions echoe almost the same righteous conduct - truth, nonviolence, non-stealing, etc. but differ belligerently in their rituals. Rituals are unfortunately being given the real face or the core of present day religions. Our dress, mode of worship and the language of rituals have become the symbols of our purity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The common experience of all people is the foundation of our knowledge. The basic instincts and requirements of man are the same throughout the world. Hunger, fear, sex, sleep, etc. are common to all. So is the penchant for honesty, and fraternity. The code of conduct for progress and peace underlies the importance of patience, tolerance, control of mind and senses, non-stealing, purity, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, truth, non-anger, non-violence for entire human society professing any religious belief. This is the core of all religions. This core is called Dharma. Dharma is pure religion bereft of any rituals. It is the essence of human progress. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> There are four essential attributes for a universal religion. Equality, universal brotherhood, harmonious development and scientific base. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Equality means treating everyone equally and good behaviour with others without any fear or favour. This principle of equality removes the barriers based on age, community, gender, area and the country in all matters, temporal or terrestrial. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> In the field of religions, the "tenet of equality" flows continuously, breaking all barriers of time. The Universal Religion begins with the very inception of human race on this earth. It is co-existensive and contemporary with the birth of the first human on this planet. This religion cannot originate hundreds or thousands of years later, with the advent of a 'great man', incarnation, Rasul or Paigambar (God's Messenger). If it being so, then there could be only two reasons for it. Either, the God has not acted with equality (or equity). He has done injustice to all those millions and billions of people who were born, lived and died, before its inception. Or in the beginning God was not mature or knowledgeable enough. Like a worldly man, He was gaining experience to launch His religion. God can never be thought of as being partial and unjust to millions of people. Secondly, looking into this perfectly designed world, only an insane person can think about the inexperience or lack of knowledge of God. In a similar manner, the religion preaching equality, cannot be partial to some particular countries, people or places. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The religion, accepting Universal Brotherhood, instructs everyone in the world to interact with others with a feeling of amity, fraternity and affinity, as amongst brothers and sisters. It cannot selectively provide education and instructions and divine messages to some and not to others. The religion, following this principle cannot be partisan, by calling some people of its own, and insult and denigrate others by calling them atheists and nonbelievers or inferiors or calling them criminals and hence saying that they deserve punishment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The third golden speciality of Universal Religion is Hannonious Development. It desires an all round progress and flourishing of the entire humanity. Such a growth must be in equilibrium and tune with the powers and forces of nature. "It means harmony in development and development in harmony". It speaks of the necessity for a well-developed life science, which can produce harmony among the body, the mind and the soul, and can provide a long, full and healthy span of life. A religion that can stand this third test will lay down a code of division of labour, depending on the physical and mental capabilities of a person irrespective of birth or race. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The last criterion of a Universal Religion is its scientific basis. In all its principles, beliefs and tenets and practical working procedures, scientific temper or attitude must pervade. None of its beliefs and preachings should be contrary to the laws of nature. All its sacred God-given books and tenets must be in harmony with the universally accepted scientific principles. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The aforesaid elaboration proves that there is a common thread linking all four tests together, and there is a mutual interdependence or symbiotic relationship. These tests cannot be shut away in isolated and separate compartments. In each of these unique specialties, the other three are inseparably linked and one embraces the other three. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Such a Universal Religion alone can be the Religion of the present technological era. Thus, Universal Religion and Scientific Religion cannot be distinct from each other. Acceptance of such a religion will ensure the end of all kinds of racial and religious conflicts. Will the leaders, saints and intellectuals of all major religions come forward, by shedding their egos and interests, for universal peace and progress ? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in"><span style="color: black;">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></div>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-78997978700414165102009-08-29T20:03:00.004+05:302009-08-31T18:16:14.428+05:30Lord Ganesha<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lord Ganesha<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The foremost presiding Godhead<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> -Dr. Satya Pal Singh<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Almost all the religions, all over the world have faith in the very existence of the God and have accepted Him as the creator, controller and also the dissolver of the universe. The Supreme Power has been designated or addressed with various names. However, in the history of the world, in the ancient most literary document or literary record, the poetic sacred text, the <i>Vedas, </i>the central or prime name assigned to the Godhead is said to be <i>Om</i>. All the seers and sages, the wise men since thousands, nay millions of years, have been reciting and repeating the same. All the scriptures, philosophies say <i>Upnishads</i>, and the like begin with <i>Om </i>or the sacred pharse “ <i>atha</i>” (let now, henceforth). The <i>Om </i>of the <i>Vedic, </i>people, later<i> </i>of Hindus turned into <i>Amen</i> in Christians, <i>Amin</i> in Islamic people. Origin of speech or language, according to <i>Skanda Purana, </i>is <i>om </i>as the root syllable (<i>akshara</i> – undecayable i.e. eternal). In <b><i>Om (Aum) </i></b>the combination of <b><i>akāra, ukāra, makāra</i></b> and half unit of nasal sound make the speech – world (lingual creation) accomplished. A is the first letter of <b><i>Om</i></b><i>,</i>( AUM ). In the <b><i>akāra</i></b><i>, </i>the whole speech (the language) is accomplished as – <b><i>akāra</i></b> indeed is all the speech (<b><i>Taittiriya – Aranyaka</i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Since about 2000 years in the past the tradition of creating idols has begun. Thereafter, it has taken even the concrete form of the temples. It was easy to carve idols of incarnations, leaders of the ages (<i>Yugapurush</i>a), the great personalities, simply due to the details available about them in the histories, <i>puranas</i> and stories – their physical, physiognomical information to some measures. But when it came to formulate the image or idol of that divine personality who is the controller of the universe, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient but formless, then our great thinkers, great intellectuals – the sculturers, on the basis of prime name <i>Om</i> of the lord, visualizing its form carved the idol – whose name was kept as <i>Ganesha</i> – Ganaraya – that too, undoubtedly for the sake of concrete form – that of Ganapati – conceived as the most worshipworthy Godhead. Untoubtedly, he was accepted as a symbol, a mark, a token. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> He was regarded as the bestower of knowledge and intellect, because whole knowledge of the universe, including the speech, the language and its words and meaning - all have been issued forth from the Supreme godhead. According to Yoga Shashtra “ he is the Guru, of all the ancient (teachers) not being obstructed by the Time.” The Lord indeed is, thus, the teacher of teachers – the first and foremost of the man.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> He is reckoned also as <i>Ganesha</i> and <i>Ganapati</i> because the word, is the noun and is derived from the root <i>Gan</i> – in the sense of counting, grouping, categorizing that forms the word <i>Gan. Ganesha</i> and <i>Ganapati</i> means he who is the master (owner) of all animate and inanimate in the creation. Also the controller, the guardian of all. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Ganesha</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> is the creator of happiness and is the destroyer of unhappiness and misery. The divine Lord, who, for the welfare of human race, has offered a beautiful, coherent, full of noble intention a scientific universe, fully equipped in every respect - also granted us the knowledge for knowing it and has provided freedom to carry out our actions. Who could indeed then be superior to Him as the creator of happiness and destroyer of pain and afflictions ?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <i>Ganapati,</i> is the remover of all the obstacles and hindrances. Therefore, His scientific image or idol echoes the grand one message – Oh ! people of the world, if you wish to remove obstructions, then behold me, look at me, stare at my bright, shining, open eyes, those see far far in the distance; look into the big ears that can hear from a pretty long distance; also have a glance at my amazing nose whose smelling power is simply extra ordinary – not only can it smell the present but also the future. In fact it has already smelt it. My memory ! is just like that of the elephant, is rather comparable to the Computer itself. My big belly ! is the symbol of justice, equality and unity. It is also the storehouse of information which is sent to concerned on need to know basic. My knowledge is also like that of millions of the suns.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Dear devotees of the Lord <i>Ganesha </i>! Walk on the ideals of the Lord <i>Ganapati</i>, acquire the knowledge, and increase your memory by proper, adequate and sumptuous diet and capacity to carry out all the activities and behaviour. Keep healthy your eyes, ears and nose all the while and keep them open all the time. Keep walking on the path of justice, equality and unity – the hindrances would wither away. And above all the society would certainly remain cultured, beautiful and also would be maintained well guarded or protected. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <i>--drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-14976499879515563712009-08-27T18:23:00.003+05:302009-08-29T20:19:42.462+05:30De-stressing the Mind<meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Ctungar%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><smallfrac m:val="off"></smallfrac><dispdef></dispdef><lmargin m:val="0"></lmargin><rmargin m:val="0"></rmargin><defjc m:val="centerGroup"></defjc><wrapindent m:val="1440"></wrapindent><intlim m:val="subSup"></intlim><narylim m:val="undOvr"></narylim><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">De-stressing the Mind<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dr. Satya Pal Singh<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The disease of stress has become the biggest killer of modern times. The psychosomatic disorders and diseases are spreading around and taking a heavy toll of valuable human lives every day. The medical doctors, the clinical scientists, and the psychologists are trying their best to stem this menacing trend. However, as the adage goes the manifold attempts have made the disease hydra-headed. Here are some of the tips gleaned from the time tested treasures accumulated over many millenniums. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Start loving yourself</b>: Let us know that the human being is the greatest and the final creation of Almighty God. Our body is the embodiment of 7 seers and 8 chakras (energy circles) and a seat of gods. How can we desecrate or spoil it? Would we neglect the best gem or diamond, we have in our possession? Body is more precious than the most precious gem in the world. If a man does not love himself, how can he love others? Also, one cannot be healthy without caring for oneself. Even if an unhealthy person claims to love others, it is all temporary and myopic as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Believe in God - the Almighty Just and Kind</b> - The God is the most powerful (omnipotent,yet without any physical attributes ), all knowledge (omniscient) and all Bliss and beatitude. We believe in God but do not know about Him so it is must to know the real form of formless God. Let us know that any thing in physical form is subject to birth, decay and death. Secondly, physical things are mostly visible and visible things are run and controlled by the invisible which is more pervasive and powerful. See the amazing power of invisible mind and intellect. The unflinching faith in the eternal, omnipresent, omniscient and all bliss God is the most potent stress reliever<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Believe in the justice of God -</b> If we believe in God, we have to believe in His domain of justice. This world is governed by eternal and immutable laws. And whoever violates these laws is bound to suffer the consequences. Whatever we get is the fruit of our actions. Result or consequence of our actions is inevitable and unavoidable. But we expect so much. Many of us believe more in gambling rather than in right actions. So get worries, get frustrated and disappointed. We get treatment from a famous doctor, purchase the best medicines and use them but derive no relief. Sometimes then start disbelieving the doctor and likewise. Consequently we get stress and further damage our body and psyche. Many a times man proposes and God disposes. The consequences of our past deeds is called destiny and we know it also plays a significant role in day to day life. We have to cultivate a habit of never to curse God and his forces during the phases of our misfortune and extreme griefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Prayer, Meditation and Upasana</b> – We profusely thank others even for small obligations but hardly remembers and thank God for his unmatchable gifts of life and inexhaustible means to sustain us. Try to be near God, thank him daily and always for His abundance, for all the happiness and pleasure he has given to us - a beautiful world, nice family and perfect human body – unique in all respects and only the golden opportunity when we can acquire knowledge and try final emancipation. Whom we love and respect, we imbibe his/her attributes, follow his examples and obey his instructions. Let us be fair, just and kind to all beings as the God Himself. We can not become true devotees unless we follow and internalize His qualities in our thoughts and actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">5.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Be spiritual</b>: All human beings are alike. As Rousseau had said, ‘According to the order of nature, men being equal, their common vocation is the profession of humanity. It matters little to me whether my people is a soldier, a lawyer or a divine. Let him first be a man”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> “Treat others - the way we would like to be treated by others” is the core of spiritualism. It believes in the uncountable finite eternal souls and one Universal Soul who oversees the deeds of finite souls. A spiritual person links his or her individuality to collective consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6. View the world through the eyes of a child</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> – Believe in the adage that Child is the father of man. Child only graduates to become an adult. A child lives in present—neither in past nor in the future. Frequent falls or failures do not make a child fearful or frustrated. He enjoys equally the efforts made and achievement fulfilled. Then why to get disenchantment and disappointment in life on small and trivial setbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Children are thrilled when they are taken out of home. They keenly observe and experience the uniqueness, the wonder and beauty in every thing. They are eager and curious to know more and enjoy the sight and melodious sounds. Let us look at every tree, flower, sun, star, sea, cloud and human being as a child would and we will be in a regular state of wonder, joy, surprise, learning and enlightenment. Eternity speaks but no one listens - thus had lamented Yogi Aurobindo. Let us listen to the silent sound of mother nature, it will fill us up with ecstasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 7.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Develop and nurture a hobby :-</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Depending on one’s nature, inclination, opportunities and facilities available one must develop and nurture a hobby distinct from his/her profession or occupation. It could be anything from reading books, writing one’s thoughts, any faculty of art, craft, or fine arts (music, singing, dance, drama, painting, sculpture, carpentry or pottery etc.), tourism or travel, some kind of social work. Hobby has to be absorbing the mind. It must give satisfaction or fulfillment. Hobby should satiate the unquenchable thirst of man. Taking recourse to drink and drugs has not helped anybody permanently to have mental satisfaction or peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">8.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>Practice gratitude and appreciations</b>: People and the Society around us have given us so much, we can’t repay it during our life time. Had there been no parents – we would not have come into being. Had there been no schools or teachers, farmers or doctors- what would have happened to our day to day existence? <b> Pick up the gems even from the mud. : </b>Looking into the faults, the lapses, the shortcomings or evils in others, criticizing them, without any valid reasons, create negative impulses, vibrations and energy in our mind and body leading to unconscious stress. Practice to see the qualities and positive attributes in others, we come across. Who would not like to pick up a shining diamond lying in a dirty mud? Seeing the weaknesses in others is indicative of a weak character. Let us not criticize or condemn any person or organization or a concept unless we are well versed in it<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 9. Internal and external personality should be close to each other</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. When they are alike - it indicates a state of light, love, consciousness and pure peace. Let us try to be same on both fronts. If we want to be happy, let us make others happy. We want ourselves to be dishonest but expect others to be honest. We know that we are telling lies, still claiming to be truthful. Outwardly sometimes we show to be close and loving to someone but inside we are so jealous to him or her. Such split and dual personality and hypocritical behaviour leads to great stress in life. As far as possible let us be truthful in our thoughts and avoid any act which is to be done clandestinely or openly and may bring us shame, fear or tension. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">10. Douse the fire of anger:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The worldly fire burns anything which comes in its lap. The fire, the flames or the fumes of anger inside us would certainly scorch our inner self. It irreparably damages the neurons in brain leading to steady decline in our memory and analytical capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Getting angry unnecessarily<b> </b>on trivial things creates heavy stress in mind. “Those whom the gods would destroy they first make them angry” is a Greek saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">11</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. <b>Physically also one has to be healthy:</b> An unhealthy and sickly person is prone to get more stress and tension.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Eat simple and natural food, do take daily exercise and have proper sleep. Practice Yoga Asanas and Pranayaam - the best bodily and mental exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">12</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. <b>Control of Mind</b> - It is the most important requirement for de-stressing the mind and control the environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Mind (Mana) should be cleansed first. If we want to give a new coat / painting to a wall we first wash it out, remove the old colour / paint, put primer or white, then only new paint is applied. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The field we want to cultivate and raise crop is to be first ploughed, dug and made fertile then only sowing could be done.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> When Swami Dayanand approached Swami Vrijanandji for learning and discovering himself, the later had asked Dayanand “Go to the Yamuna river and throw all your books you are carrying. Also forget everything you have learnt so far. Then only I will start teaching you. Then only the Aarsha knowledge (the knowledge of seers, the visionaries) will be absorbed in your mind and give the spark of life.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> So the first requirement is to cleanse the mind from all the impurities, hates, intrigues, evils, vices etc. One has to practice truth in thoughts, speech and deeds, Mana satyen shudhyate Mind is purified by truthfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> And if we practice satya --the truthfulness, speak truth in our day to day conduct and behavior with others, we don’t need to remember what did we speak yesterday or day before. We have to manage our mind if we indulge in falsehood and hypocrisy. .<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Now control of mind. According to scriptures and the ground breaking revelation of our visionary forefathers, our body is just like a chariot, the sense motor/action organs are its horses, the mind is the chains controlling the horses. The intellect is the driver (charioteer-saarathi) having mind (chains) in his hands. The soul is the real charioteer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Life, in fact, is the combination of 4 entities – body, mind, intellect and soul. Kahtopanishad says very correctly “ Atmanam rathinam vidhi shariram rathmevacha, budhi tu sarathi vidhhi man pragramevcha .<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> If we want to control the mind, (the reins of horses), it can be done only by the driver (sarathi) - the intellect. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Therefore, to cleanse and control the mind we have to take recourse to intellect (Buddhi). And intellect would be capable to control and cleanse the mind only if intellect itself is clean and clear. That’s why the seers declared “Buddhi gyanen shudhayati” the intellect is purified through knowledge only. This learning is not provided by our modern schools and colleges . It requires right knowledge, scientific temper and miles away from superstitious beliefs and rituals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> And then comes the techniques of controlling mind as contemplated ,/documented and given to world by the great seer Patanjali – the techniques/ the eight-fold path of Yoga are known as the Yama- Niyamas Asanas, pranayaams, pratyaharr ,(withdrawal of senses from its subjects), dharana (contemplation), dhayan (concentration) and Samaadhi ( state of super consciousness) . However, the most significant is the practice of Pranayaam. It is said that by controlling the praana (breath) , we can control the mind. The praana is the link between animate and inanimate world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The task is arduous and much challenging. It takes years of regular practice with a sense of dispassion,. It is a learning we may equate with post-doctorate classes and research. Not everyone is eligible to graduate to this high standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">13</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. <b>Live each day as though it were our last</b>. Then we will be living in a state of light, love and unconditional contribution. What would we say to the people we care about. The story of saint Eknath is quite revealing and enlightening. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> During the stay in a village, the saint Eknath used to traverse the same path everyday while gong out of the village. Everyday a man would ask him, “Guruji, tell me something special so that I could be at peace.” The saint was ignoring him for many days but one day he ultimately told the man, you would be going to die on the 8<sup>th</sup> day from today, A true saint‘s statement is a gospel truth. The man believed it would happen. All of a sudden he changed completely from an angry, abusive, unloving husband and father to a more sober, sweet, serene and loving husband and father. Next day when he was going to the market to buy vegetables for family, he paid salutations to his neighbours and asked them if he could bring something for them from the market. The neighbours were astonished at his changed nature. All seven days passed like this. The call and fear of death irreversibly transformed a devil into angel. On eighth day saint Eknath, knocked his door and asked his wife how had he spent the last seven days. The wife said, she saw a miracle happening, and narrated the unbelievable transformation in her husband’s behavior. The man died as destined.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Can anyone of us say when, where and how the death will ring its bell? The death is the greatest certainty but is uncertain and so unpredictable. It defies the greatest minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> If we remember that the time of death can come any day, any time and anywhere, then we would not, no longer, indulge in intrigues and evils. The fountain of love will sprout from within. Where there is love, there is peace and stress will vanish for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in<o:p></o:p></span></div>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-30173298121683027152009-08-20T14:29:00.001+05:302009-08-28T19:53:13.994+05:30Growing Literacy, Falling EducationAnti-Darwinian Development-<br />
Growing Literacy, Falling Education –<br />
Dr. Satyapal Singh *<br />
* Commissioner of Police Pune, ( Maharashtra ) <a href="mailto:EMail-%20%20drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">mailto:EMail-%20%20drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a><br />
The simple concept of human development has been lost to the sophisticated vanity and complicated language of economic planners. The education and health-the acquisition of knowledge and the bodily strength have always been considered the building blocks of human personality. The harmonious development of a human society, according to me, must encompass the six but inseparable activities. Education and experiments, safety and security, health and environment, economic prosperity, entertainment and the last, but not the least is the harmony and hope in the society.<br />
Out of the above six parameters of development, the education and experiments constitute the core of human development. Starting from individual growth to social sustenance and national progress or the global peace all are dependant on quality education. The Indian seers and visionaries of yore regarded education as the purifier and the first and foremost attribute (of Purushartha Chatustaya) of human being. The education alone separates him from the animal-species and elevates him on a higher pedestal. The Indian National Policy on Education, 1986 reverberated the same thought by stating that education is the foundation and an investment not only for socio-economic progress but for human development also. In today's world of global competitiveness knowledge is the key resource and the harbinger of human-progress.<br />
Achievements:<br />
In India, after independence, there have been major achievements in the field of education as outlined by Dr. Vedprakash (2006)1.<br />
· A considerable expansion in the number and spread of educational institutions.<br />
· Incremental expansion in the number of teachers.<br />
· Rise in enrolment at all levels of education.<br />
· Decline in dropout rates.<br />
· A move towards gender parity.<br />
· Reduction of regional disparities in literacy level.<br />
· Social mobilization generated by literacy campaigns which impacted other sectors like women's empowerment, health and environmental awareness.<br />
· Expenditure on education shows a continuous upward trend since independence.<br />
· Trend registered a sharp increase after education was brought on the concurrent list of the Indian Constitution.<br />
· Expenditure on overall education increased from 0.68% of GDP in 1951-52 to 3.86% of GDP in 2004-05.<br />
· Expenditure on secondary education has increased from 0.13% in 1951-52 to 0.89% in 2004-05<br />
· Indian professionals working abroad in the fields of computer, engineering, medicine and science have made the country proud.<br />
<br />
Inadequacy of the System<br />
However, despite official recognition by the Govt. of India that education constitutes a crucial investment for national survival, the pattern of allocation of resources to education remains far from satisfactory, if judged in terms of adequacy, efficiency and equity - infrastructure, quality and socio-economic equality. According to the Human Development Report (2001)2 India ranks 104th among the 143 countries of the world on which data are available about the share of public expenditure on education in GNP. India is spending about 3.5% of her GNP to education. In comparison, a large number of countries have been spending more than 6%, some more than 8% and a few more than 10%. Some of the countries which spend more than 4% of GNP on education include countries which are economically poorer than India (Tilak, 2005)3. The Indian government had set a long time ago a target of 6% of the GNP to be spent on education. However, this target is not yet achieved and may continue to elude in the future. In fact amongst the countries with a population of 100 million or more, India figures at the bottom except Bangladesh.<br />
According to the experts, a country has to cross the thresfold level of 20% access to higher education if she wants to become a developed nation. Unfortunately in India the access to higher education is about 9%. What to talk about the higher education when 46 million children in India do not have even access to primary schools. About 20 million children are working as child labourers in ghetoo-industries. And for the children attending schools, the dropout rates from 1st to 5th standard are 35%, from 1st to 8th standard is 53% and from 1st to 10th it is 62% (NIEPA)4. It means that about 38% students only pass out 10th. Out of around 260 million students who pass out 12th standard, about 20% do not even get admission in colleges due to inadequacy of infrastructure (number of seats, class rooms etc.). We really do not know how many years it will take for India to become a developed country and reach the thresfold level of 20% access to higher education.<br />
According to a study conducted by the Indian Merchants' Chamber, Mumbai5 the portfolio of Education has been devalued both at the level of Centre and the States. As a result, literacy in the country has been limping at around 65%.<br />
There is a shortage of trained manpower. The current educational system is woefully inadequate to train our youth to become qualified human resources. This shortage is likely to worsen as systemic initiatives to address such a serious issue are absent.<br />
There is a lack of synchronization between what the industry requires and the kind of education that is offered by the system.<br />
A few key statistics can illustrate the major ills that are prevailing in our present system.<br />
· Drop-out rate in schools from KG to 10+2 ranges from 90 to 94%.<br />
· China has about 1.80 million schools as compared to India's 0.95 million schools.<br />
· About 7 to 8% of the youth who finish the 10+2 stage enter the 17,600 colleges of India. Most of the so called graduates are not employable.<br />
· China has about 900 Universities, Japan 4,000 while India has only 354 Universities.<br />
· The coaching business is getting bigger than the education business.<br />
· While 75 to 85% of the youth in developed and developing countries learn a skill or competence or trade between the ages of 14 to 35 through vocational education and training, in India the vocational training hardly covers 3 to 5% of the population.<br />
· India has about 5000 ITIs (Ministry of Labour) and 7,000 vocational schools (Ministry of HRD) as compared to China's about 5,00,000 senior secondary vocational schools.<br />
· India has 300 million able bodied people between the ages of 18 to 50 but are bereft of skill sets and are, therefore, not employable.<br />
· Only 1 in 4 Indian graduation is deemed as employable.<br />
The above mentioned scenario has unfortunately emerged at a time when India is on<br />
the threshold of carving a highly prominent niche for itself in the global arena.<br />
Presently India is the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing Power, next to USA, China and Japan. By 2010, India will emerge as the third Largest economy overtaking Japan.<br />
With the 21st century economy being largely knowledge driven, India has the potential to carve a prominent niche for herself in knowledge and service industries.<br />
This is a serious situation when we look at the national scenario on quantitative plane.<br />
Education is getting devalued<br />
(i) Modem education system only guarantees the degrees by collecting fees. It is commercialized like mere shops or industries. So, it has been vulnerable to all kinds of unfair means in Examination, leaking of question-papers, manipulation of marks etc.<br />
(ii) Sole reliance on degrees/diplomas for employment has led to a different breed of crime- fake marksheets, degrees, mushrooming of shady/unrecognised colleges and universities.<br />
(iii) There is a big question mark on the quality and relevance of our higher education. In the survey of world's top educational institutions, conducted in year 2004, only our two IITs figured in top 500 institutions, that also quite below in the list.<br />
(iv) Emphasis is on bookish knowledge alone, not to build the health or character of a student. Hardly or no input about life values, morality and enduring happiness.<br />
(v) Modern education's emphasis is on money and materialism and pleasure<br />
hunting. Educated people are becoming more and more self-centered.<br />
Enjoyment, not knowledge and peace, is becoming objective and leading to all sorts of deviant behaviour. Among girls prostitution, call-girls, live in relationships, unwed mothers are emerging as a serious concern for social stability.<br />
(vi) More education has led many to frustration and tension. The number of rising suicides among youth prove it; diseases like B.P." diabetes" heart-attacks are now assailing the younger generation.<br />
(vii) Modern education is leading to more crimes. Commercial/financial/<br />
complicated crimes are committed by highly educated people. This country is being looted by educated and rich; more damaging to national economy and security. Comparison of tribal and developed societies prove it.<br />
(viii) Modern education has created some wrong notions - Man and Women are equal. They are not equal. Woman, in fact, is more important and superior. A mother is the builder of the family and nation; she is the cradle of culture. A father can be replaced by a simple injection now - in the 21st century.<br />
(ix) This erroneous concept of man-woman equality has led to irreparable damage to society. Same kind of education is being imparted to both boys and girls. A girl may or may not become engineer, doctor, C.A., bureaucrat, scientist; police officer or a business-woman but almost everyone would become a wife and mother. Are we teaching our girls to become good wives and better mothers?<br />
<br />
Other Challenges:<br />
The Indian education system faces a lot more other challenges ahead like:<br />
· Universalization of elementary education.<br />
· Bridging the gap in resources provided to urban and rural institutions.<br />
· Focus on gender and equity - and how to cope up with reservations in higher and technical education.<br />
· Operationalization of 86th Constitutional Amendment-Right to Education Bill, 2005 and the recent Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill (2009).<br />
· Challenges of moving towards universal secondary education.<br />
· Promotion of alternative delivery system to respond to the needs of children with diverse background.<br />
· Bridging the knowledge gap between English medium, computer equipped urban schools and rural school-madarsas.<br />
· Unity in diversity and respect for all.<br />
· Institutionalization of work and education interface.<br />
· Reinventing school curricula to meet emerging challenges. Also to stop the falling graph of life values.<br />
· Increased role of NGOs.<br />
· Public spending in education to be raised to 6% of the GDP.<br />
· Teacher development - key to quality.<br />
· Quality education-relevant to industries and development needs.<br />
· Corporate partnership with social responsibility.<br />
· International collaboration in developing professional institutions.<br />
<br />
Need of the Hour<br />
If social thinkers, development-planners, educationalists and political masters wish to make a real contribution and make education as the key to human development then we will have to<br />
(1) Redefine the role of education. We have to return to the basics:<br />
What is education? A seer answers<br />
lk f’k{kk ;k foeqDr;s Saa Shiksha yaa vimuktaye.<br />
Education is that which liberates us - from all kinds of ignorance, injustices and deprivations. It solves all difficulties, cures all diseases and dispels all distress. In fact, the former Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi while speaking to the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education, asserted the centrality of education to the Indian heritage. "Pursuit of integral knowledge and liberation, which has been a constant endeavour of Indian culture, is also the central objective of education," Joshi told the conference (1998)6, He further addressed the connection between education and the preservation of culture:<br />
<br />
"Education is also visualized as an evolutionary force so that each individual is enabled to evolve from purely material consciousness towards superior planes of intellectual and spiritual consciousness. Education is also perceived as a bridge between the past, present, and the future and as a means by which the best of the heritage is transmitted to the generations for its further progression (Joshi, 1998)."<br />
Education- a real education must teach 4 things or we can say that the entire educational edifice is based on the following four premises :.<br />
<br />
(i) ( Vidya ) Knowledge - bookish knowledge starting from earth and bio sciences to<br />
space science; from self consciousness to universal consciousness; from individual growth to social progress and world peace- all have to be the part of bookish knowledge.<br />
(ii) (Sabhayata) Civilization - control of nature external-through use of technology<br />
and engineering; to control the forces of nature for common weal and sustained development. Education (knowledge) must lead to experiments. Knowledge is proved and patented only through experiments. Our civilization-infrastructure developments - application of technology and engineering - the trains, planes, medicine, surgery etc. all are the products of experiments. Where experiments cease, knowledge dwindles and becomes a burden and not a benedictor. Experiments involve the society, invigorate its members, infuse harmony and improve the capacity of all participants. <br />
(iii) (Dharmikta) Righteousness moral conduct and courage to follow the truth.<br />
Individual purity and social discipline (Truth, non-violence, non-stealing, non-hoarding etc.) Spiritualism treating others like our own self.<br />
(iv) ( Jitendriyata ) Control of mind & senses - a balanced and healthy life style;<br />
controlling anger, passions, greed; faithfulness between husband and wife and so on.<br />
(2) Design new curriculum incorporating therein compulsory courses which are vital<br />
for human health, happiness and social development. Dr. Radhakrishnan- our philosopher President had said "the future of India will be shaped in her classrooms.”<br />
(3) Planning of human being should be our focus - so the role of mother is crucial. A woman has to be placed on higher pedestal. Education of girls must be of paramount importance. The first teacher and inspiration for a child is always his/her mother. Therefore, the first step in the arduous journey of human development must focus on girl child education, health and preparation for motherhood. What kind of major and subsidiary courses should be there for girls - we have to think seriously.<br />
(4) Girl-students should be persuaded, inspired to join innovative,<br />
creative programmes (not conventional courses as is the case now). Innovative courses are like Mass media, Biotechnology, Ayurveda, bio-chemistry, Astrophysics, MBAs, Maths, Architecture etc.<br />
<br />
The 21st Century needs visionary leaders in the crucial sectors of education. A school/college teacher has traditionally been a manager managing class and a status-quoist. 21st century needs teachers who can bring out change, foster change, innovate and lead. Such minds only can give a clear vision, transform a society and create a better world. There is an urgent need to stem the rot in the field of education. Literacy and education must go hand in hand and so should be the case with knowledge and life values Knowledge without moral values is not an education at all.<br />
True education combines the qualities of head, heart and the hands. It is logical, rational and in tune with the laws of nature. It has the feelings of compassion, love and respect not only for other human beings but also for other non-claimant stake holders. True education teaches the dignity of labour and strongly opposed to the exploitation of man by his stronger counterpart. Let our education be rooted in culture and oriented to development. Let us remember, in a globalised world today-one good model of education will be followed up throughout the globe. The whole world is watching .<br />
References<br />
1. Dr. Vedprakash, "Education in India Achievements & Challenges” <br />
22nd March, 2006. NIEPA, New Delhi.<br />
2. Human Development Report, 2001 (UN).<br />
3. Tilak J.B.G. “ Financing Education in India ” (2005); NIEPA, New Delhi.<br />
4. Dr. Vedprakash, (2006), NIEPA, New Delhi.<br />
5. “ Education – empowering the youths ” address by Shri NayanPatel, President, Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Mumbai (July 18, 2006).<br />
6. World Education Encyclopedia, Page 596.Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-27861827083969021942009-08-20T14:12:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:00:31.268+05:30BUILDING A FEARLESS SOCIETYBUILDING A FEARLESS SOCIETY<br />
<br />
<br />
Fear is the root of nearly all problems we face in life. Fear leads to hate and violence. Most of the acts of crime are committed because of fear or greed embedded inside an individual or a community. To build a fearless and crimefree society, the members of public and all sections of the society should become the shareholders and partners of the company we call “SAFE SOCIETY ". There are 5 basic steps to build a fearless society.<br />
<br />
<br />
1. DETERMINATION:- Determination is the first and foremost step everyone has to take to succeed in his or her life. If we want to be safe and build a fearless society, it is vital to inculcate this positive feeling. If we take a firm decision that we will be safe, we will be fearless we will become so. The police personnel have also to take the firm decision that they will make this society fearless. It is their onerous responsibility too. Otherwise, as great Kautilya had ordained "if the policeman in whose area crime is committed and he is not able to retrieve the stolen property or solve the case within the prescribed time limit, he will be held personally accountable to pay the price". In medieval time the King Sher Shah Suri had made the village head accountable for any crime committed in his village jurisdiction. Many enquiry commissions probing communal riots had also suggested to impose collective fine on a particular locality in a city or village unable to maintain communal harmony.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. BOLDNESS:- The second step for a fearless society is that every member of the society as well as Police must be fearless. From every day example we know that if we are scared of a dog standing nearby, the dog will bark and chase us but if we are fearless, our vibrations will also affect the dog. We all know that in more than 85 % snakebite cases the victims die not because of poison but of fear. If we are fearless we have confidence. More crime are reported from an area showing signs of fear. Criminals also know that when they strike no neighbour will come out because of fear and this emboldens them to commit more crime. In extortion cases rich people, scared inside, pay money to gangsters sitting abroad. Those who are feared are targeted more. The message that we will fight must go round.<br />
<br />
3. ALERTNESS:- Alertness must be our motto and religion. Fearlessness does not mean complacency or lethargy. It means we have to keep our ears and eyes open, keep our physical fitness and mental alertness at a peak whether we are at home or in business outside. We should not take even a supposedly weak enemy lightly. Whenever we happen to spot suspicious person(s) walking or moving in vehicle; abandoned or parked vehicles for long, unclaimed items attractive or alluring – we must be concerned. We must inform others, nearby police station or phone up the Police Control room. For the sake of our own safety, safety of our fellow citizens or beloved city – let us be ready to devote some time, let us not mind facing some inconvenience. <br />
<br />
4. SELF DEFENCE:- Police cannot be present everywhere. Though God is everywhere we cannot expect Him to give us protection if we ourselves are fearful and not alert.<br />
<br />
Jamee par apni hifajat khud karo.<br />
Khuda to yaro aasmano mei hai.<br />
Meaning that friends! let us protect ourselves on earth as God lives in heavens only.<br />
<br />
No doctor can keep us healthy if we do not follow the norms and rules of a healthy living. Our home and belongings must be secured as per our requirements. In self-defense we may go for an arms license if necessary. All the members of the public must know that they have the legal right to chase the criminals up to the extent of killing them in case of certain body offences and property offences.<br />
Section 100 of Indian Penal Code gives the right of private defence of the body extending it to a voluntary causing of death or any other harm to the assailant especially in cases of grievous hurt, rape, kidnapping, abduction etc.<br />
Similarly, Section 103 of the Indian Penal Code gives right to save property of the society to the extent of causing voluntary death or any other harm to the wrong doer for committing robbery, house breaking by night, mischief of fire etc.<br />
<br />
5. UNITY:- Society does not mean the Housing Society where the atmosphere remains anonymous and we generally do not know each other. Society means unity, togetherness in pleasure and pain, in moments of happiness and sadness. Most of the crimes are committed in society because we are not united. Communal riots, cases of Bomb Blasts etc. have taken place because of society's split on the lines of caste and creed. It is in everyone's interest that we are one for building a fearless society.<br />
<a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-81502632098534794432009-08-20T14:11:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:00:57.943+05:30Reinventing Youth PowerReinventing Youth Power<br />
Dr. Satya Pal Singh<br />
<br />
Technological and telecommunications advancements have today revolutionized our lives and in the 3rd millennium we are in the throes of a world-wide change of cultures, a tectonic shifts of habits and dreams. It has really become a borderless world as the Japanese thinker Kinichi Ohmae puts it. As in The Tale of Two Cities authored by Charles Dickens, he says it is the best of times, it is the worst of times. On one hand we are unfolding unknown mysteries and secrets of nature and approaching the origin of human configuration. On the other, most of our people still believe in superstitions, stars, horoscopes etc. and direction in which our house faces. On one hand, we have achieved unparalleled material progress, searching for extra-terrestrial life hundreds of light years away. On the other, we have millions and millions of people starving, naked, illiterate and deceived. All sorts of crimes and contradictions, cultural decadence and moral degeneration are causing the mother earth to bleed everyday. Number of youth committing suicides is much more than the number of people murdered. Millions of youth are disenchanted and are destroying their lives in drinks, drugs, permissive behaviour and organized crime syndicates. Families are breaking and this beautiful world is becoming unsafe and insecure.<br />
The root cause of this malaise is not the culture of wealth and pleasure but our wrong direction, faulty traditional ethos, misconceived attitudes and incorrect priorities in life. Achievement have always been the privilege of a few. Most youngsters drift along with the swift current of life unconcerned or unable to stop and look at the current itself. The youth are an emerging generation. The are full of energy. They are enthusiastic. They constantly search for values that can make a success of life. In this endeavour they encounter the adult world, often only to be disillusioned and disappointed. The biggest attraction for modern youth is to enjoy life –eat, drink and make merry and so he or she likes to go after money and pleasure. There is nothing wrong in enjoyment and money. Indra – the king of gods and goddesses is the epitome of wealth and pleasure. Laksmi always accompanies Lord Vishnu. Chankaya says “Dharmshaya Moolam Aartha” i.e. means and money is the root of righteousness. In olden days India attracted the entire world mainly because of two things-knowledge and wealth.<br />
Youth are the foundations of the New World order. They are the movers, makers and torchbearers of history, culture and technology. They need direction to bind them into a moral force, to creatively utllise their youthful energies, to sustain their idealism, to keep them striving and enkindle hope for a better social, economic and political order. “Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of young men, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the next generation.” said Edmund Burke, the English orator and statesman, in the 18th Century. Youth energy is just like water, which flows automatically downwards, unlike fire.<br />
Like water to tap the potential of youth, we require lots of conscious efforts, resources and time to channelise their energy in the right direction to make it productive and blossomed. The litmus test for the right direction is that it offers opportunities for individual harmonious development alongwith the larger well-being and sustained advancement of society.<br />
For reinventing the dissipated youth power, I believe the following ways and means are required:<br />
(1) Planning Human Beings :<br />
Increasing individualism and menacing materialism are throttling humanism. Humanity is bleeding and the youth is getting bewildered. We plan for houses, roads, schools, hospitals etc. but not for human beings. Children are born out of permissiveness. Producing noble and virtuous citizens warrant elaborate planning, best education and sacraments. Recent medical and sociological studies are almost conclusively signalling that the fetus is the father of man. The seer of Rigveda realized it much before and exhorted “Manurbhav janya daivyam janam” – be human and plan for angels”. There is a Chinese proverb too.<br />
“If you want to plan for a year, grow corn.<br />
If you want to plan for thirty years plant trees<br />
But if you want to plan for 100 years plan human beings”.<br />
<br />
Planning of human beings starts with the parents in a family, with teachers in schools and colleges and with contemporary leaders in the country. Parents to build up the core of culture, teachers to chisel the statue out of raw stones and leaders to influence the course and contents of eventful eventual national life.<br />
<br />
(2) Scientific Ethos :<br />
<br />
A blind addiction to ancestral ways retards growth of a society or a nation. There is an urgent need of scientific temper or approach to be imbibed by our youth to successfully face the challenges of the present and the future. The world power is divided in three sectors :- agrarian nations in the bottom, industrial countries in between and knowledge – based economies on top. Unless the youth have scientific knowledge – driven approach, their energy will remain dissipated in following the beliefs in the endless sects, stars and superstitions and criticizing the cultural assault from developed countries. We have to remember that history provides lessons about the pyramids and pitfalls of tradition. But whoever follows the practices of the past, copy contemporaries without recourse to reason and the sustained application of laws of nature finds himself a prisoner of the past and perishes in the black hole of oblivion.<br />
<br />
(3) Youth and Politics :<br />
<br />
The unproductive diversion of the youth’s mind from the age of 18 in youth and general politics requires to be checked. Unions and elections in colleges and Universities should be banned and the voting age should be increased to 25 so that till the completion of education, his/her attention is not diverted to politics at all.<br />
<br />
(4) Maturity with Responsibility :<br />
<br />
To instill maturity among the youth, they need to be given responsibilities. Result – oriented tasks in education and productive work have to be emphasized. Youth have to be self – dependent and must find ways to get settled in life on their own. Every village, town or city should have good libraries, institutions or organizations in the field of adventure, sports, technical and professional know – how, spiritualism etc, so that the youth is self – employed or self – dependent and is left with no spare energy to indulge in destructive things.<br />
<br />
(5) Communal Harmony :<br />
<br />
There is a need to emphasise upon the youth, in the midst of plethora of religions, that the truth is only one, as the one human race itself. “Yatha pinde tatha Brahmande” means that what is in microcosm (body), same is reflected in macrocosm (universe). The health of the body gets disturbed with just one injured or diseased organ. Similarly, the well – being and advancement of a society or nation runs into peril because of cross – cultural and deviant behaviours. The sum-substance of all religions and revelations is to impart love to others as we expect from others.<br />
<br />
(6) Discipline in life :<br />
<br />
For enjoying the pleasures on earth we require a long life, sound health, family and friends, power and prestige. Make money and enjoy pleasures but not at the cost of our lives; at the cost of our health, at the cost of our family and friends; certainly not at the cost of our name, fame and reputation. If we can do this we will be happy, happier in days to come and closer to self – realization. The seer of eternal vision has prayed to God “Aayur Praanam Prajaam phashum keertim darvinam brahmvarchasam mhyam datva brijat brahmlokam.” If we do not bother about it now, we have to repent for generations to come<br />
“Lamho ne khata kee thee<br />
Sadiyo ne saja paaye”.<br />
<br />
(7) Walk around and Learn :<br />
<br />
“Eternity speaks none understands its word” thus observed Sri Aurbindo in his famous treatise ‘Savitri’ . Today’s youth is so much lost in leisure’s and luxuries or so much disappointed and disenchanted for lack of it that he or she may go wild or wicked to acquire them. We do not listen to the call of the body and drive ourselves to diseases and decay by indulging in merry making. We do not bother to listen to the voice of our soul and engage ourselves in vices and crimes. We, at many times, do not take any lesson from the animate and inanimate world around us . Every molecule of a matter, every leaf of a tree and every tissue of the biological world speaks of some orderliness, purpose, beauty and power.<br />
Whoever listens to this melody of creation, who ever realizes about the purpose of life turns into a leader, a seer or a great man. History is created by those, its golden chapters are written by those who have discarded the treaded path and discovered new ways. Life is an essence of growth. It must grow with time like a tree.<br />
<br />
(8) Pain precedes pleasure :<br />
<br />
Last but not the least, I would like to state that every youth would like to be welcomed with a presentation of flowers and lighting of lamps. But this world worships only those who engage themselves in dispelling the darkness of ignorance and whoever is prepared to get sacrificed like a blossomed flower. Indian national Hindi poet Shri Dinkar had sung :<br />
<br />
Jo jeeven bhar andhiyaro se ladte hai<br />
Duniya unke charano mai deep jaalati hai<br />
Phoolo jaisi Jharne kee jinkee tayyari hai<br />
Khusbu unke maathe par tilak lagaati hai.<br />
<br />
Lord Krishna had said to Arjun after explaining to him the gist of knowledge and life.<br />
“Vimrsayai tad assesena yathecchasi tatha kuru”<br />
“Reflect over what I have said fully and then do what you wish”. Bertrend Russell has echoed the same feelings when he said – “Civilization only begins when man says I believe, but I may be wrong. It ends when man says, I know the truth, I know what you ought to do, and it is my mission and duty to see that you do it.” <br />
<br />
Commissioner of Police<br />
Pune<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
drsinghsp@ yahoo.co.inDr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-22996842518123992262009-08-20T14:05:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:01:17.056+05:30Tackling Terrorism – Counter Its IdeologyTackling Terrorism – Counter Its Ideology<br />
<br />
Dr Satya Pal Singh*<br />
The 26/11 Terror attacks in Mumbai exposed the systemic failure of the administration. It not only brought on fore the weaknesses and pitfalls of police, other security services and intelligence agencies, it also expressed the deep crisis of confidence in the polity of the nation.<br />
Today, - terrorism has become a hydra – headed monster, a contagious dreaded disease and a dangerous virus. It has no preference for any caste or creed, race or religion, country or community. While most nations are serious about fighting this scourge, the sting of terrorism has not been blunted.<br />
The roots of terrorism lie in the mind, in the feelings of fear and insecurity, in hatred and intolerance. The extreme manifestation of hate reflects in violence and acts of terrorism. The radical ideology creates extremists, radical groups and terrorist organizations.<br />
The major source of spreading terror in India and elsewhere are the preachers of radical ideology. Their members might not be large, but they keep moving from one place to another in different guises and groups. Their network is being effectively coordinated through internet and mobile telephony.<br />
These radical organizations and groups morphing in name and form may be deceptive having camouflages of educational, social or cultural tags. The terrorist organizations have global reach and have no dearth of financiers, contributors, fund-raisers and disgruntled teachers of technology. No one knows how many terrorist sleeper cells or modules are operating in our towns and cities.<br />
The radical ideology is being applied to subvert young impressionable minds in our educational institutions because the proponents of terrorism know that students and youngsters are highly energetic and if convinced about a cause, they can even be molded to conduct suicide attacks.<br />
The biggest myth associated with terrorism is that terrorism is rooted in injustice, frustrations, poverty and social economic backwardness. Scholars like Alan Krueger and Jitka Maleckova, have shown that the terrorists are not poor people nor they are from poor societies. Poverty does not cause terrorism and prosperity does not cure it. We all know that Osama bin Laden and Dawood Ibrahim, the world's most wanted terrorists, are billionaires. The terrorists come from places which have a concentration of radical preachers.<br />
The first and foremost requirement to tackle terrorism is to counter this radical/jihadi ideology. Unless the radical ideology and their preachers are neutralized or effectively countered the respective crop of terrorists will keep on resurfacing and growing.<br />
How to impact the minds of the youth to divert them from the path of hate, intolerance and violence, how to demotivate the believers from the clutches of false dreams of an all-blissful paradise are some of the vital questions which require the urgent attention of psychologists, educationists, strategists, parents, politicians and planners<br />
The plurality of religions are creating contradictions and conflict in society. If all religions lead to peace and happiness, then what is the need for variety ? And if they are different and contradictory, then how can they lead to harmony and peace ? The truth is that only the common concepts and practices in all religions are scientific, beneficial and true. This commonality and this core of religions is called Dharma. <br />
Intellectuals, not religious teachers, of the world have to come on a single platform and declare that religion means only one thing the courage to follow righteousness or right conduct in life. The core of religion is what we expect of others, we must do to others<br />
Similarly, we have to debunk the Clash of Civilizations theory advocated by Samuel Huntington. A true civilization does not divide the humanity into colours, race, religion or region. How can we divide physics, chemistry, mathematics, medical science, psychology etc into Christian, Muslim or Hindu sciences? The educationists and planners must rethink the role and design of our education system. There is a need to introduce a comparative study of all religions in our schools and colleges.<br />
The advanced science of today has not found any fourth or seventh sky, heaven or paradise in any part of the universe. Hell or heaven is part of this earth and the result of our doing. Misleading the youth and believers in the name of heaven or jannat is against the tenets of truth and humanity.<br />
Today, the messiahs of hate are using Internet to spread hate and violence. There are hundreds of Internet sites providing terrorist manuals, encyclopedia of violence, techniques of bomb-making etc.. Can't we think of some strategy to ban such sites or to punish persons misusing the medium for sowing the seeds of hate and violence in society ?<br />
Similarly, we have hundreds of books available in the market and being taught in different ashrams, madrasas and seminaries which generate hate against other sections of society, and help spread the fire of violence. We should have the courage to ban such books too. <br />
Most of the radical preachers are generally committed people who are unwilling to accept any compromise, nor are they open to dialogue or discussion. They should be tackled with the policy of ‘ Iron fists in velvet gloves ‘ – surrender or suffer.<br />
Our positive ideology has to be much more powerful to counter the radical ideology of all hues and colours. It must appeal to the hearts and minds of people, especially the youth. The publicity and information department in government establishments has to be revisited, strengthened and made more professional and accountable. <br />
Our educational institutions, social clubs and platforms; our films, television and media have to put their heads together to create and sustain a campaign against any kind of extremist or terrorist ideology or act. Let us remember that half-hearted measures are destined to defeat.<br />
- <a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-40324514483921111022009-08-20T13:54:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:02:51.764+05:30Yoga for Communal Harmony and World PeaceYoga for Communal Harmony and World Peace<br />
Dr. Satya Pal Singh*<br />
* Commissioner of Police, Pune City E-mail <a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahood.co.in">drsinghsp@yahood.co.in</a><br />
<br />
The term ‘yoga’ has become ubiquitous and universal in the present era. Its literal meaning is to yoke, to add, to unite, to grow or to merge. It presupposes the separate existence of ‘Jiva’ (the individual self) and ‘Ishwar’ (the Universal Self). The ways and means of their communion have been the most preferred expositions and endeavours of our yogins and vedic seers. Yoga is the science of spirituality or a subject matter of ‘scientific spirituality’. It is the profound science of inner world of illuminating the subtle domains of self-knowledge, self-evaluation, self-evolvement and self-elevation. The beginning of yogic science starts with ‘self-discipline’ and its culmination ends with ‘self-liberation and a stage of blissful existence’.<br />
The most scientific and holistic school of yoga was developed by the great Rishi (seer) Patanjali. Most of the variations in the present day yoga sprouted from his basics. His eight fold path of Yoga teaches us the unfailing & time-tested techniques to control one’s mind and to establish a perfect harmony between one’s body, mind and soul. It is said that Patanjali made a seminal contribution in the fields of Yoga, Grammar and medicine as per the often quoted Sanskrit verse:<br />
Yogena Cittasya padena vaacham malam<br />
Sharirasya cha vaidyakena<br />
Yo paakarottam pravaram muninaam<br />
Patanjalim praanjalir aanatoasmi.<br />
‘I salute Patanjali, the great sage, who gave us yoga to purify the mind, grammar to sharpen the speech, and the Ayurveda to cure the body.’<br />
<strong>Disharmony in Society</strong><br />
The present day communal disharmony in the society and the threat to the global peace stems in the disturbed and intolerant minds. Sheer intolerance or aversion (Dvesa) erupts into mental or verbal hatred (Ghruna). And deep hatred manifests into physical violence and the extreme violence results into riots and wanton acts of terrorism.<br />
Almost all the simmering discontent, discords, tension, criminal acts, communal riots and the depredations of terrorism in the world have their genesis mainly into <strong>the following reasons</strong> :<br />
1. False statements, rumour mongerings and non-adherence to truth.<br />
2. Intolerance, aversion and hatred of minds; threat of or indulging in violence verbally and physically.<br />
3. Theft, dispossession or looting of property; disputes on property matters (land, building, religious places, cremation/burial grounds).<br />
4. Love/sexual affairs, eve teasing of girls/women – may be inter caste/community or religious denominations sometimes.<br />
5. Greed, hoarding, monopolistic tendencies leading to economic/financial crimes and which provide impulse to traditional crimes because of glaring disparities in the distribution of wealth.<br />
Non-adherence to truth, intolerance and hatred of minds among the common-folk have been mainly because of selfish religious, sectarian and political leaders. So many sects, beliefs and religious denominations have surfaced on the face of one earth, from time to time, that a simplistic soul has either been rendered as a prisoner of his/her parents/society’s beliefs or totally confused about the truth. The truth which leads to true happiness has become the first casualty of inter and intra bickerings of religious heads and political agents.<br />
<strong>Concepts of Communal Harmony:</strong><br />
Harmony does not mean dissolving the individual existence or identity and becoming one like 7 different colors of light or river water mixing with sea. The best and commonly visible and understood example of perfect harmony is the human body. Where every invidividual orgon does its work (duties), without interfering into others’ sphere and everyone ultimately leading to keep the body hale and healthy. Similarly, a society has harmony when its members observe the sanctity of social norms so that society is made strong and progressive. The welfare of society is supreme to one or two family’s interests e.g. widening of roads may require the demolitions of one’s home or shop.<br />
In the same way, the Communal harmony is a stage or an environment when different religious, ethnic or linguistic communities shed their non-essential rituals or differences to create an environment of amity and brotherhood. When ultimate aim of every community is the same – to progress in all directions physically, mentally and socially. When everyone thinks and prays for the overall well being of others and society as a whole. Sarve bhavantu sukhine – let every one be happy and blissful.<br />
<strong>Patanjali’s yoga believes, inter alia, in the following principles:</strong><br />
1. There is one Supreme Lord (Ishwar) who is all pervasive and unaffected by Afflictions, Actions, Fruition and Dispositions (I.24)<br />
2. The Lord is the greatest teacher of even the earliest ones, being unconditioned by time. (I.26)<br />
3. There is always fruition of one’s actions and transmigration of souls (II.13)<br />
4. Entire human race is one – irrespective of different colours, creeds, places or languages (I.20)<br />
5. Basic nature of every individual soul is same.<br />
6. The road to ultimate aim is also one.<br />
7. The steps in 8-fold path spiritual ladder can not be skipped but have to climbed/achieved in succession. (II.29)<br />
8. The first limb (yamas) is the foundation of yoga. They are the great vows and constitute the universal code of conduct. (II-30, 31). Some steps can be practiced simultaneously.<br />
According to Patanjali, one can not be a yogi, unless one believes in God. And it would be meaningless being a theist, unless one follows a Divine Moral Code. The first two steps (limbs) in the 8-fold path of yoga constitute this moral code. They are called Yamas and Niyamas. The five yamas are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-covetousness (Ahimsa Satyas Asteya Brahmacharya Aprigraha yamas II-30). The five Niyamas are cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study and surrender to God (Shaucha Santosh Tapa Svadhyay-Ishwarpranidhana II-32).<br />
The above five yamas are the 5 restraints. They are the death bells for 5 root-reasons creating disharmony in society. These 5 restraints, if observed, are the cardinal principles of communal harmony. They attack at the roots of disharmony, divergence and disputes. They are the foundations of a progressive, vibrant and spiritual society. They are non-sectarian and essentials to all the faiths of the world.<br />
In fact the first and foremost step on the path of yoga or the first yama is referred as Ahimsa – the practice of benevolence and non-violence. The violence has to be given up not only in physical forms but in speech and thoughts also. Even the thought of violence, harm or hatred to any living being, not just of human being, is an impediment in ascending the way to yoga. The ahimsa of yoga is not just a negative concept- refraining from harming or hurting any one but it is a positive assimilation of virtues- to love all without having an iota of ill will or malice towards anyone.<br />
<strong>The five yamas</strong> – Ahimsa, Satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aprigriha are to be observed in thoughts, speech and actions. They are the five great universal vows (mahavratams II-31) and can not be compromised or abandoned because of some personal status (jati) or place (desa), age or time (kala) or cirucstances (samaya). This leaves no trace of doubt in the mind of a yoga-practitioner. Irrespective of caste, creed, colour, country or community – they have to be practiced.<br />
And if the citizens of world just embrace the first limb (step) in the spiritual journey of self, the world will shun all kinds of disputes, riots and violence. It will not just a simple communal harmony – harmony or unity between the communities, it would bring in lasting happiness and enduring world peace.<br />
The sage Ved Vyasa, who gave an outstanding commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras also wrote Mahabharata, as we all know. In Gita, in the words of Vyasa, the Lord Krishna says that the highest yogi is one who feels the pains and pleasures of others as intimately as if they were his own. And his vision is universal.<br />
atmaupamyena sarvatra<br />
samam pasyati yo ‘rjuna<br />
sukham va yadi va duhkham<br />
sa yogi paramo matah<br />
<br />
This is what the often quoted ethical rule prescribes, “Do unto others as you would like them to unto you.”<br />
If this definition of a perfect yogi is accepted, preached and practiced by all the teachers and students of yoga, the world peace is ensured.<br />
<strong>Popularising the Yoga :</strong><br />
Yoga was part and parcel of daily life in ancient India. In middle ages and until the recent past in was forgotten or ignored by a vast majority, only a few kept the tradition alive. For the last 4-5 decades, some great preachers of yoga, like Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Kuvalyanand, Swami Sivanandji, made sincere and systematic efforts to popularise the yoga. For the last 4-5 years Swami Ramdev has almost revolutionized the concept and practice of yoga at a mass scale. There is a need to study the methodology and strategy being adopted by Swami Ramdevji. Only improvement the yoga teachers and preachers have to make is that they have to emphasise on the observance of Yamas and Niyamas by the students and practitioners of yoga. Without following this divine moral code, we will not be able to reap the entire benefits of yoga practice.<br />
We have to institutionalize the practice of yoga in our day to day life through incorporating it in school and college syllabi. Universities and institutions should conduct research on the different facets of yoga. The hospitals have to adopt it as a routine for their patients. Let us convince the government that the practice of yoga by a large number of population will give it healthy bodies, focused mind and sharpened intellects. It will greatly reduce the burden on State exchequer of providing health care to the burgeoning sick humanity. At individual level, the practice of yoga brings in harmony in one’s body, mind and soul. With the institutionalized practice of yoga at a community, country or global level we can have dreams of ushering in a crimeless (at least a much reduced crime rate), harmonious and progressive society. The first outcome would be perponderance of morality, sense of equality and feelings of love and fraternity. The communal harmony will prosper, the money spent for maintenance of law and order; on detection, investigations and prosecution of offences will be better used for development of various facets of human life. The nation propagating the practice of yoga will reap the rich dividends of a healthy, creative and sharp human resource.<br />
There is no other comparable philosophy or strategy as the kriya yoga propounded by seer Patanjali for self-elevation, co-existence, communal harmony and the world peace. The more we practice, the more we gain.Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-40065819465109533172009-08-19T14:37:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:01:35.270+05:30Tackling Maoist ViolenceTackling Maoist Violence<br />
Dr. Satya Pal Singh*<br />
<br />
The Communist Rural Insurgency in various parts of the world is generally known as Left Wing Extremism or Naxalism in India and Maoism in Nepal. It has proliferated on a phenomenal scale in its ideology, logistics and areas since the Naxalbari uprising of 1967 in Darzling district of the West Bengal province in India. Union and State Governments’ efforts to contain and curb it have not borne the desired fruits. The divergence and different perceptions in diagnosing the problem and regional political compulsions in tackling it, have in fact help moved the left-extremist movement ahead. A few years ago in the 'CBI Bulletin' (July, 1993) of India, I had emphatically mentioned that half-hearted measures are destined for defeat. Recently, the murders of many ministers and public representatives by use of automatic weapons and land mines and the string of systematic kidnappings and fatal attacks on police personnel and damage to the private and public property in different parts of the country and neighbouring Nepal have given a jolt to the authorities for realising the urgency of initiating effective counter-measures.<br />
<br />
The students of Communism know that Comrade Mao - the mentor and torch-bearer of the left-wing extremism had said, " War is politics with bloodshed and politics is war without bloodshed". Left-wing extremists are engaged in a political war - a struggle which might go on for hundreds of years. The ups and downs are the accepted phases of this political-social revolution (or revolutionary war, as extremists call it). Every small or big contribution and every martyrdom is a ladder taking them forward. Any defeat or set back is an experience to learn and rectify its mistakes in the long march to the have-nots' power.<br />
I What is Naxalism / Maoism ?<br />
Inspired by the leftist ideology of (Marx, Lenin and Mao), it is a politico-socio-economic movement manifesting in law and order problem, threatening or capable of threatening the very foundation of a democratic society.<br />
II Extent of Problem:<br />
Since its inception in 1967 in West Bengal, the Maoist movement has split into more than two dozens of groups of different names and slightly varied ideological moorings. The movement in India has now spread its tentacles in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh., Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh., Tamil.Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka provinces. The problem in Bihar, Orissa , Madhy Pradesh., Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh has assumed serious law and order problems. In the last few years, Nepal has become a new killing field for Maoist militants and they are beginning to gain the upper hand as compared to the police. The Maoists have in fact captured the power in Nepal in alliance with other political parties.<br />
<br />
Among the major naxal groups, CPI-ML Peoples War ( better known as PWG) has emerged as the most violent and powerful, orchestrating a new offensive against police and persons coming in its way. CPI-ML-Party Unity - a powerful group of Bihar has merged with it in 1998. Efforts are being made to achieve unity with MCC (Maoist Communist Centre) - again an ambitious militant outfit in Bihar and West Bengal.<br />
The Maoist militants have also developed links with other terrorist groups operating in North-East, Jammu & Kashmir and Communitst Party of Nepal (Maoist). There are unconfirmed reports that PWG cadres were trained in techniques of laying landmines and other uses of explosives by the LTTE of Sri Lanka. Also, over the years the movement, despite its splintered character, has received encouragement and support from various Maoist and Communist organisations operating in different parts of the world.<br />
<br />
The problem is quite serious. What we see on the surface is the tip of the iceberg. Every visionary person would know that it is a battlefield out there. According to the naxalites themselves, it is a Peoples' War , a beginning of armed revolution for a true democratic society. The security forces are fighting a dynamic unconventional war against a very intelligent enemy in jungles, hills and sparsely populated terrains.<br />
III Strategy of Maoists<br />
Maoist militants are using a double-edged weapon of allurement and intimidation to create a mass base in the villages. They are building up village level cells among the youth, farmers, labourers, women, students and children and cultivating and influencing the intellectuals in the cities. They are equipped with simple as well as sophisticated weaponry, almost mastering the techniques of laying landmines and using explosives in different myriad ways. They have well-established channels of printing and circulating their clandestine literature. Even our electronic and print media has not been unkind to them. Their aim is to make the Government administration totally ineffective and discredited and turning the masses in their favour through tactics and armed revolution to ultimately carve out a Dandakaranya State in the Central India and so-called democratic-republic in Nepal to capture political power.<br />
IV) Strength of Maoists<br />
Before taking about the Strategy of solution for Maoist violence in the region we must know what are the pillars of their strength in the affected areas. According to me, if we generalise, there are only three:<br />
1 Support of Locals:<br />
Rightly or wrongly whether under fear or for favour the vast majority of weaker sections of society (tribals, dalits, marginalised farmers etc.) are either supportive to the Maoists or totally neutral to the administration. Local people provide recruits, food, shelter and intelligence network to Maoists and are lured into their village level cells whether of farmers, labours, students, women and children. Majority of the locals see the Maoists as their benefactors.<br />
2. Source of Easy Funds<br />
Maoist Cadres are collecting huge amount of funds from their areas of active operation. According to the police's rough estimate - it runs into more than Rs.100 millions a year from the state of Maharashtra alone, where the districts of Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Bhandara (now Gondia) are badly affected. With this money , these Maoists purchase their weapons, ammunitions and provisions; organise training camps, build a net-work of informants and run secret dens in cities etc. Money is coming mainly from Tendu leaves (used for making beedis for smoking –a natural version of cigarettes) contractors, Paper Mill Owners and Contractors working for forest, other developmental agencies as well as other small sources. The major chunk of this money is not through extortion but is what we call protection money. Most of the Contractors and delinquent public servants have developed the modus vivendi - a kind of strange relations with Maoists where both parties share the exploits of these undeveloped areas. Of course, Maoists try to maintain their clean image as ills are inflicted on the heads of contractors and corrupt government officials.<br />
3. Synergy of Hills, Jungles and Inter-State Borders<br />
Forest and hilly terrains and contiguous inter-State borders are being used as training ground and safe sanctuaries by Maoist militants. Vast tracts of jungles and inter- State borders have become big barriers for smooth police operations. Jungles are a great equaliser of force and if I quote one British Commander Lt.Colonel S.M.Mans who commanded the operations against Communist insurgents (other name of Maoists) in Malaya in 1950s that because of jungles, "Never in the history of warfare have so few been chased so much by so many for such a long time". Therefore , it is a daunting and debilitating task and not simply a policing job for any law and order problem. Non-apprehension of the sandal-wood smuggler , Veerappan, by the combined Special Task Force of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu States underscores the synergical advantage of jungle terrains to the activists of extremism and insurgency.<br />
V. A Strategy of Success<br />
Such a complicated and serious problem defies easy solutions. It warrants a multi-disciplinary and multi-departmental approach. The police alone can just fight the fringe of the problem. It cannot tackle the deep-seated malaise, and the history of the last 30 years has proved it.<br />
<br />
Such an unconventional problem cannot be solved through usual bureaucratic means. We have to demolish the pillars of strength of the Maoist movement. Many may not agree, but it requires the same strategy that is being employed by the extremists themselves, with only one difference - we have to put the gears of their strategy in reverse. Following are the measures for maiming the moorings of Maoists movement.<br />
1. "Winning the minds and hearts of Local People"<br />
This is the most important requirement for the state administration to be successful against this unconventional warfare.<br />
How is it possible?<br />
Every human society wants its progress. Tribals and locals are no exception to it. So, creating a stake of locals in their own development is the foremost requirement. Some people have an erroneous assumption that along with the development of an area, the Maoist problem will automatically vanish. This is not true, as insurgencies have occurred at all levels of economic development except at the highest or the mass consumption level. Interestingly, in Latin America insurgency has occurred in countries with high levels of development as Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia. One of the few comprehensive studies on the relationship between economic factors and insurgencies found a curvilinear relationship between gross national product (GNP) per capita and political violence. It suggested that there is no simple relationship between economic factors and the outbreak of violence.<br />
Recently, the study of 24 insurgencies since 1946 in different parts of the world, as quoted by Jerry Tinkar revealed that the level of economic development of a country provides no immunity to insurgency. There may, however, be some relationship between GNP per capita and the level of violence. The study also found that insurgency is not restricted to countries with rural low-density population or having low adult literacy. <br />
The most pertinent question is; "Can anyone say that after pumping about hundreds of millions of rupees in the affected area in India, the Maoist problem has lessened or the locals have become favourable to the administration ?" My answer to these questions is a big 'No' Then what does it portray and convey?<br />
The message is clear. The locals are not with the administration and we should admit it. Even their passive neutrality is advantageous to the Maoist militants and an obstacle for the security agencies. Building up roads, bridges and the electrification of villages, where our 70-80% buget is being spent, has shown little improvement in the quality of life of the local people. We, in administration perceive roads, bridges, electrification and telephone as symbols of development but the tribals and locals feel otherwise.<br />
Unless we involve the locals, create a stake of theirs in their own development, much is not going to change. And for creating a stake of locals in the process of their own development, we require the gearing up of the entire administrative machinery and not just the police alone. Today, the coordination amongst different government departments hardly exists, or even if it does, it exists mainly on paper, as far as anti-Maoist strategy is concerned.<br />
It may be accomplished simply by implementing the Central legislation -Extension to the Scheduled Areas Panchayats Act, 1996 (implementation of 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution) which was passed in the year 1996 unanimously by the Indian Parliament . All the State governments were directed to enact their own local Acts keeping the core of Central legislation intact within a year or they shall have no option but to implement the Central Act. The directives have been clear and compelling. Many States brought their Acts keeping in mind the local ethos and variations.<br />
According to the Central Act, every village shall have a Gram Sabha which shall be competent to safeguard and preserve the tradition(s) and customs of the people, their cultural identity, community resources and customary mode of dispute resolving. Panchayats shall also be vested with the powers to approve the programmes and projects for social and economic development, as also identification of the beneficiaries under the Poverty Alleviation Programmes. Every Panchayat at the village level shall be required to obtain from the Gram Sabha a certification of utilisation of funds by the panchayats for plans and projects.<br />
Case of Maharashtra :- The State of Maharashtra also passed the act - The Maharashtra Panchayats in Scheduled Areas for self-government, 1997. Unfortunately, the implementation of the Act has hardly seen the light of the day, barring one or two provisions and that too at a few places. The Act has not found favour with policy planners and other field bureaucrats. They do not want to give up their privileges and powers to local people. The cry of social activists has fallen on deaf ears.<br />
Gadchiroli - the worst affected district in the State with naxalite problem presents an ideal example of ground realities. The naxalite problem started there approximately 20 years back. Certainly, it was and still is, the most backward district of the State. About 7000 million rupees have been pumped in the district for development activities by the government so far. Signs of area development in the form of roads, bridges, schools, hospital, panchayat-buildings are clearly visible. But for the local tribal people there has been hardly any change. Their children have better literacy and more government works to earn wages. But they feel deprived of the privileges and powers they used to enjoy before political independence of 1947 and certainly before British clamped their controls in these areas in late 19th century. The alienation is alarming.<br />
Gadchiroli district gets about Rs.600 millions in Tribal Sub Plan annually. In return, this district, rich in natural resources, provides about Rs.400 millions revenue to the State exchequer. Much of this revenue stems from the sale of Tendu leaves and bamboos. As I mentioned earlier, in the last 20 years, around Rs. 7000 millions have been allocated, used and misused in this district but quality of life of the tribals have marginally changed and the naxal problem continues unabated. <br />
Path we missed<br />
Where have we gone wrong ? The policy makers have not yet reviewed it honestly and comprehensively. Only the police department is asked to explain about the continuity of such a complex phenomenon. The secretaries of concerned departments have hardly bothered about it or were ever asked to explain the negligible return on huge investments in their fields.<br />
Very recently, while reviewing the nation-wide poverty alleviation programmes, the Planning Commission of India has stated with great anguish and sadness that had the money been sent to the beneficiaries directly through money orders instead of bureaucratic machinery, their economic condition would have been much improved. The story of Tribal and Agency Areas Development programmes is the same irrespective of the names of different schemes in various States. And the same might be true about our immediate neighbour Nepal..<br />
One is never too late to embark upon the path of progress. There are two workable options. First, we may distribute the budget to the village panchayats, and let the Gram Sabha decide what plans and programmes they would like to execute, as per the provisions of new Act. Let the bureaucrats help and not dictate the whole village community or panchayat in this endeavour. Let us encourage them to become contractors, businessmen, government servants etc. so that the locals become a part and parcel of the development process.<br />
The second option is, again within the unambiguous provisions of the Village Panchayat Act of 1996, the locals should be given the total ownership over the local resources - the minor forest produce and minerals. But some of the States have not included the major revenue earning items like tendu-leaves and bamboos in the category of minor forest produces as happened in the State of Maharashtra. However, the Act clearly provides for it.<br />
The often advocated bureaucratic logic of scientific management of forest for tendu-leaves collection or bamboo cutting cuts no ice, because even in the present system of tendu-collection, the Forest department gives in hardly any technical or scientific input. Contractors do it (plucking, drying, storing) or for that matter the tribals who work for paper mills in cutting the bomboos.<br />
Now the locals and tribals are cutting the forest, encroaching upon its land because it does belong to the government. In the changed scenario it will belong to the people. These simple but historical decisions on the part of the respective Governments will create a stake for development in the minds of the locals as it will be:<br />
¨ their own forest (property of Gram Sabha and not of individuals)<br />
¨ their own roads, bridges, schools, hospitals etc.<br />
¨ their own Panchayat system of dispute resolution.<br />
<br />
One of the major irritants the tribal society is facing is our criminal justice system. There is no need to elaborate on it. Indian Criminal Justice System has already collapsed under its own mounting weight. Justice is a far cry especially for the poor. Today the standard of justice, as written by the Greek historian Thucydides about 2,400 years ago, depends on the power to compel. The strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept. The Supreme Court of India recently said that the law enforcing agencies and prosecution have become the engines of oppression. This is one of the main reasons that the Maoists have adopted to holding people's Courts - Jan Adalats as one of their important tactical tools. They dispense rough and ready justice and becoming popular. This forum of Jan Adalat is being used by these militants for dissemination of ideology, programmes and collection of funds as well as discrediting the government system.<br />
<br />
The powerful anti-dote against the above problem has to be in consonance with local ethos and traditions. We must revive the customary village elderly panchayats, encourage and reorganise them for dispensation of justice at least in all civil and non-serious criminal cases. Now the Supreme Court is also advocating for adoption of Lok Adalats - the alternative mode of dispute resolution instead of approaching the courts every time. Justice S.K.Sardana of Chandigarh has done miracles in resolving more than 20,000 cases in a year through conciliation and mediation. Now Lok Adalats are in existence in most of the States but are not very active. Why don't we bring them in insurgency - affected areas? Let the locals be given authority to manage their village affairs as they used to do it in pre-independence days. A least governed State is the best administered.<br />
The above measures will make the locals proud of their self-reliant and peaceful orderly society. They will prosper very soon as they will be able to decide their wages, their plans, their progress and be the masters of their own destiny. Spoon-feeding and subsidies give no self-esteem and provide no sustainable development anywhere in the world. Development prerequisites a sense of pride for any society. Today's tailored and stereotyped schemes have undermined the confidence and competence of our tribals and created dependency.<br />
<br />
Besides, Government must go all out to wage a psychological warfare through propaganda and publicity using mass media and all the Government departments to turn the masses against the Maoists. It should be done by the Publicity department by creating an exclusive cell for this purpose.<br />
We have to mobilise all sections of the society - farmers, labours, students, women, youth and children by creating different cells and organisations for each of them. We have to fight the Maoists, as mentioned earlier, with their own strategy simply by putting the gears in reverse. Effective organisation is must to thwart the systematic and meticulous infiltration of Maoist cadres in village and city life.<br />
<br />
2. Cutting the Source of Funds<br />
Regular flow of funds is the fuel for any organisational machinery. Arresting or eliminating a few cadres or leaders does not tackle the problem because new cadres take over the leadership immediately. Hence, cutting the regular source of money is of paramount importance. In the extremist - affected Central India, the contractual system of tendu-leaves collection is the main villain. The collection of Tendu-leaves is the most important economic activity in the area giving employment to tens of thousands of people, though only for a short-span of 15-20 days. In Gadchiroli district alone, about Rs. 500-600 millions are disbursed as wages to labourers. It also contributes about Rs. 300 millions to State coffers as royalty. The naxalites collect around Rs. 100 millions as protection money from the contractors and one-day wages, as contribution, from the labourers.<br />
In all the areas and activities of contractors' operations whether collection of tendu-leaves or construction of roads or government buildings or cutting of forest timber, the Maoist cadres have compelled the contractors to pay much higher wages to labourers as compared to government rates. The Maoists are happy, because of the huge fund they extract and so are the labourers, for having got higher rates of wages because of the militants. Contractors , forest and other development-related bureaucracy are also happy for obvious reasons. In extremist -infested areas the floor-rates for tenders are hiked at least by 20 percent on the premise that contractors are not readily available. For some of the works, it is true also. But mostly an artificial phobia has been generated. In the Contractor system, police is also happy in day to day affairs as it has no hassles. However, the State is the biggest loser, as the State has to put in millions of rupees in the area for strengthening the law and order machinery for fighting an enemy which has been made stronger by our own faulty policies.<br />
In late 1980s, the Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had switched over to departmental collection of tendu-leaves under pressure from security agencies. Border Road Organisation (BRO) was brought in the area for the construction of roads and bridges basically to eliminate the source of funds to Maoists emanating from private contractors. But we have messed up the whole set-up by reverting back to contractual collection of tendu-leaves after a few years, much to the chagrin of the law and order machinery. Thanks to the well entrenched vital vested interests in the region and in the corridors of power.<br />
The best solution lies in giving the ownership of tendu leaves, along with other forest produce , to local Gram Sabhas. Government will continue getting its royalty. The Forest department can help in marketing the tendu-leaves, which is not a big problem. Maoists cannot extract the money from Gram Panchayats for fear of losing the people's support and thereby getting their flow of fund dried up with the passage of time.<br />
The Second solution but a somewhat less effective one would be the collection of tendu-leaves through the department (Forest) only. The Contractor system is also a dying phenomenon because every year, rate of wages to labourers is increasing (much more in naxal-affected areas); money has to be paid to naxals and the Forest Department can't sell all the Tendu-units (an earmarked forest area) below the offset price of last year. When this would become non-profitable, the contractors won't come forward to purchase. The number of Tendu-units not being sold because of the quoted (tendered) price being less than the offset price, is increasing year after year and the Forest Department itself has to get it organised and tendu-leaves collected.<br />
Even if both the above suggestions are not acceptable to policy makers (but non-acceptance will help the Maoists) at least the State Governments, may come up with an administrative order envisaging that after giving fixed royalty per tendu-unit the tender quoting the maximum wages to labours will be accepted. At least if not in the entire region, this kind of Government Resolution. could be implemented in naxal-affected areas. Then the credit for increasing the wages of labours would go to the Government and not to the naxalites. It will help wean away the locals from the fold of Maoists.<br />
Similarly , let bamboos be auctioned or sold by the Gram Sabhas to the Paper Mills operating in the region. Money will go to the villagers. The loading of trucks and maintaining the supply at depots should remain to be the responsibility of the Gram Sabhas. The Government , of course, will keep on getting its royalty as of now. In the new scenario, the Maoists cannot force the paper mills to pay protection money because, if they do not pay, the Maoists may not be able to stop cutting of bamboos or setting the bamboo depots on fire- ( a usual trick played now-a-days). If the Maoists do this, the sufferers will be the villagers. Also, harassing the villagers will be counter-productive for Maoists. Again, the ownership of Gram Sabha over bamboos will remove the long-standing irritant between the locals and the administration, that the government is selling the bamboos to locals for customary requirements at a rate about ten times higher what the Paper Mills are required to pay.<br />
Thus, we will be able to cut the mass base and source of funds to Maoists to a great extent . There will be hardly any recruits for them. These two measurers will bring Maoists on their knees. About 70 to 80% of the problem of naxalism /maoism would disappear.<br />
<br />
3. Breaking the Barriers of Terrain: The Police Response<br />
Promoting disorder is the objective of the Maoists, which is cheap to create and very costly to prevent. They may attack a lonely police post or station in the jungle or in an isolated area and thus all the police posts and stations are to be protected, so on and so forth. It is a war where the extremists need so little to achieve so much, and the police need so much to achieve so little.<br />
Unfortunately, almost in all the States facing extremist problems much emphasis is on increasing the manpower rather than enhancing the effectiveness of the police force already in place. Andhra Pradesh has done extremely well in raising and training a speciliased police unit called 'Grey Hounds' for anti-naxal operations. Besides , physical fitness, weapon training, field-craft; the most important ingredient for stamping success is the mental attitude of the officers and men deployed for the purpose. From the practical field experience, it can be stated that in manpower, training, weaponry, fire power and logistics the police force is far more superior. In fact, there is no comparison to the extremist cadres. But we are way behind and miserably failing as far as commitment to the cause is concerned. The Maoist cadres , whatever we say for them - the lumpen elements, frustrated, distorted or criminals-- majority of them have one superior quality, an attitude of mind to do or die, a will to become a revolutionary or a martyr , a dogged determination to achieve results. Otherwise, how many will take to jungles, suffering starvation and sleeplessness, facing snakes, malaria and typhoid and always on the run facing the risk of losing their life. When motivation goes down or frustration sets in - they leave the organisation or surrender to the Government . The strategy of success for police , according to me, revolves on the acceptance of following three principles<br />
1. 1st principle : First movers are the winners<br />
In this competitive world, those who start first are likely to be the winners. This principle is equally applicable to the domain of corporate world as well as to the strategic frontiers of insurgency and counter-insurgency. If we want to win the war against the Maoists, we have to make the first move in every aspect, as opposed to them. Whether it is a case of <br />
- effective coordination and cooperation among the affected nations, states, districts or teams<br />
- better weaponry and logistics<br />
- Collection and timely use of operative intelligence.<br />
- Laying ambushes<br />
- Wooing the locals and weaning them away from the Maoists fold through a policy of all-out friendship and all-out force or with an iron hand in a velvet glove.<br />
- establishing village level cells for all the sections of society.<br />
2. 2nd principle: "God is on the sides of best shots"<br />
The famous French political thinker, Voltaire, had said , ‘God is on the sides of not heavy battalions but of best shots" . It underscores the pre-eminence of training and training- a meticulous sustained practice for excellence. Whether it is a case of<br />
- courage, commitment and loyalty to the cause we<br />
are supposed to farther.<br />
- physical endurance and mental alertness.<br />
- training in field craft.<br />
- team-spirit and empathy,<br />
Training and more training in all aspects of jungle warfare and counter-insurgency will be the harbinger of success. Like in the demanding world of aeronautics, every part and component - however minute it may sound - is tested and approved before launching and every time, without fail, before any aeroplane takes off. The same type of preparedness and perseverance is required in the fight against Maoist militants.<br />
3. 3rd principle: "The Snake in a home is to be searched and killed."<br />
This principle may sound to some as violative of animal or human rights. But for our own survival , in our every day life, almost everyone, except the sickly and coward, believes in it. The Maoist militants have declared a war against the State. Every member of the security agencies is an enemy to them. They don military uniform, are always armed with illegal and sophisticated weapons and in search of targeting policemen. They do not believe in the constitution or in a democratic system. Violence is their guru - mantra. They have maimed and killed thousands of innocent people and brutally attacked policemen. Vehicles of security agencies and public representatives have been blasted by the use of land mines. Should the security agencies wait for their attack or should it go all out in search of them? When there is a question of killing or be killed, who would prefer to be killed instead of taking the other's life? Let us face the reality instead of believing in the rhetoric.<br />
At the end, I would like to reiterate again, that serious, well-coordinated and unconventional decisions are the need of the hour as half-hearted measures are destined for defeat.Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-73173380632466004572009-08-19T14:20:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:01:54.963+05:30Tackling Terror – Some Key IssuesTackling Terror – Some Key Issues<br />
<br />
Dr Satya Pal Singh*<br />
<br />
Abstract :- Repeated serial bomb-blasts and terror-attacks in the country have brought into focus the inadequacies in our legal and administrative supportive system. Is our counter-strategy faulty and weak ? What is the genesis of terrorism ? What is the extent of terror network ? Are there some myths associated with the acts of terrorism and adversely affecting our thinking ? Are we aware about what really dwells in the minds of perpetrators ? What could be an effective strategy to counter the hydra headed monster of terrorism ? These are some of the questions which have been addressed in this article.<br />
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The 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and the earlier serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Malegaon have again brought into focus the serious implications of unchecked terrorism.<br />
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The 26/11 Terror attacks in Mumbai exposed the systemic failure of the administration. It not only brought on fore the weaknesses and pitfalls of police, other security services and intelligence agencies, it also expressed the deep crisis of confidence in the polity of the nation. The police remained largely unscathed not because it has not faltered or committed no lapses but for the supreme sacrifices made by its brave officers and men in the line of duty. The terror attacks also brought into focus the over-enthusiasm and untactical overdoings of the media. It also compelled the government to think to have some checks on the unfettered freedom of the T.V. channels.<br />
However, the anger and anguish of the people; the stirrings of intellectuals and the frustration and heightened activity of security forces usually get subdued within a few days or weeks.<br />
For the past four decades, particularly after the suicide attacks on the US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 in which 241 US Marines died, the international community has been really concerned about the dangers posed by the religious or ideological terrorism.<br />
In India, we faced terrorism in Punjab for over a decade, and now encounter the onslaughts of the terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country almost every day. In the last few years, thousands of innocent people – including women and children – have lost their lives in various terror attacks across the country. Today, - terrorism has become a hydra – headed monster, a contagious dreaded disease and a dangerous virus. It has no preference for any caste or creed, race or religion, country or community. It is detrimental to all. While most nations are serious about fighting this scourge, and their intelligence and security forces are working overtime -- the sting of terrorism has not been blunted.<br />
<br />
* Presently as the Commissioner of Police, Pune (Maharashtra)<br />
<br />
Is there a flaw somewhere in our thinking, in our strategy? Are we failing to comprehend the problem in its entirety? What immediate measures can we initiate, and what should be our long-term strategy to contain and curb the menace of terrorism? These are some of the questions I would try to address in this article.<br />
The genesis :- The roots of terrorism lie in the mind, in the feelings of fear and insecurity, in hatred and intolerance. Hatred is the outcome of fear and the fear stems from the realization of duality-the feeling that we are different or unlike others . The extreme manifestation of hate reflects in violence and acts of terrorism. And hate, like love, begets and stays in the mind. The merchants of hate preach like,<br />
'Besides us - the believers, all else are impure, ugly and threat to our existence and enhancement. We only are the right, our beliefs are unassailable and our religion is only revealed and divine. It is our bounden duty to spread it around. Reward is almost instantaneous for martyrs. The heaven, paradise or Jannat and its inmates are waiting for us with their beauties and bounties. This is the kind of religious rhetoric being used to brainwash our youth.<br />
This dogmatism or fundamentalism leads to fanaticism, extremism and ultimately to terrorism.<br />
The Arab-Israel conflict and the collapse of Soviet Union gave impetus to terrorist organizations allegedly claiming adherence to Islam.<br />
The terror network : The dragnet of terrorists has spread far and wide. Though it is a global problem, South East Asia is emerging as the hotbed of terrorism. The situation is worse in India, which is a secular nation. The international borders of India are almost seized by anti-national elements who support and sympathize with radicals.<br />
Gujarat, Rajasthan, J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and other northeastern states, as well as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu all suffer from the upsurge of radical ideology.<br />
Some coastal parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra and from Bhatkal in Karnataka to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, in fact the entire western coast is afflicted with this kind of jihadi ideology. These organizations and groups morphing in name and form may be different and deceptive having camouflages of educational, social or cultural tags. <br />
Big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Indore and Ahmedabad are the primary targets. No one knows how many terrorist sleeper cells or modules are operating in our towns and cities.<br />
The major source of spreading terror in India and elsewhere are the preachers of radical ideology. Their members might not be large, but they keep moving from one place to another in different guises and groups. Their network is being effectively coordinated through internet and mobile telephony.<br />
This radical ideology is creating terrorists and their strategy is creating chaos – by killing innocents with a mindless brutality, building communal disharmony, derailing the economy and destabilizing and subverting the political structure.<br />
Jammu and Kashmir, once one of the most peaceful and egalitarian states of India, fell prey to this ideology when the schools and madrassas in the Kashmir valley were subverted and the young boys studying in the institutions were brainwashed in the 1960s and early 1970s. We are harvesting the crop now. The same was the case in Punjab -- the most prosperous state in India.<br />
It happened in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. It happened with the Chechens in Russia, the Basques of Spain and this list can easily be lengthened.<br />
The same strategy is being applied to subvert young impressionable minds in our educational institutions because the proponents of terrorism know that students and youngsters are highly energetic and if convinced about a cause, they can even be moulded to conduct suicide attacks. There is a report that the SIMI has clandestinely floated a new group codenamed ‘ The White Falcon ‘. Their job is to recruit and indoctrinate children aged between five and 10 years for the Jihadi movement. <br />
Because of the revolution in computer and communications technology, the terrorist organizations have global reach and have no dearth of financiers, contributors, fund-raisers and disgruntled teachers of technology. We all have to realise that there is no place for radical ideology in today's borderless world.<br />
Exploding the myths :-<br />
There are some myths associated with terrorism and if we are really serious about finding a solution to this problem, we must explode and demolish them.<br />
The first myth is that terrorism is rooted in injustice, frustrations, poverty and social economic backwardness. Scholars and experts, especially Alan Krueger and Jitka Maleckova, have shown that the terrorists are not poor people nor they are from poor societies. Poverty does not cause terrorism and prosperity does not cure it. We all know that Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted terrorist, is a billionaire. And the same can be told about our fugitive Dawood Ibrahim.<br />
The study of terrorism in Punjab and J & K in India has also shown the same results. The terrorists come from the places which have a concentration of radical preachers.<br />
The second myth, specially in India, is that the terrorist activities are a reaction to the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya. Security experts know this is not correct.<br />
The <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/godhra.html" target="new">Gujarat riots</a> began on February 28, 2002. But many major acts of terrorism, like the <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2001/oct/01kash1.htm" target="new">attack</a> on the J & K assembly (October 1, 2001), on <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/pattack.htm" target="new">Parliament</a> (December 13, 2001), in Poonch district (January 20, 2002) happened before this. Also, in May-July 2000 there was a series of bomb blasts from Hyderabad to Bangalore and Goa <br />
Similarly, Jalees Ansari, a government doctor, and Salim Ansari, an engineer working at the Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai, were <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/28blast.htm" target="new">responsible</a> for more than 50 blasts in Mumbai, at gurdwaras, police stations, public places and aboard trains between 1989 and 1990 much before Babri mosque demolition.<br />
The third myth is that many uneducated and unemployed youth and young men are attracted towards radical ideology or terrorism. This is also not correct as many of the terrorists are highly educated -- doctors, engineers, pilots, management graduates and technologically savvy.<br />
The fourth myth: that more Hindus are being killed in terrorist violence, and Muslims are responsible for it. A look at terrorist victims worldwide show that more Muslims are losing their lives. In Pakistan and Afganistan the terrorists are killing their own co-religionists. It shows that terrorism has no direct connection with any religion. <br />
The fifth myth or half-truth is that most of the time, for every major terrorist attack we start accusing our adversary the neighboring nation. Let us admit the fact that we have new homegrown indigenous terrorist outfits. And we have plenty of sleeper cells, extremist groups and a large number of people with subversive fanatic thinking. <br />
No religious or social community can embrace or afford to be a terrorist outfit. The terrorists are a miniscule minority. Terrorism like criminality cannot be confined only to any caste, creed or religion. Recently, a few persons professing Hinduism have also been arrested for carrying out blasts in Malegaon (Maharashtra). Therefore, the administration and more importantly the community has to isolate and starve them of all direct or indirect material, manpower or mental help.<br />
Strategy to counter terror :-<br />
How do we counter and curb this hydra-headed monster called terrorism?<br />
An act of terrorism is the result or consequence of the combination of four factors:<br />
Radical ideology<br />
Perpetrators or terrorists<br />
Contributors, collaborators and sympathisers and<br />
Material (arms, explosives etc.)<br />
The first and foremost requirement is to counter this radical/jihadi ideology. Unless the radical ideology and their preachers are neutralized or effectively countered the respective crop of terrorists will keep on resurfacing and growing.<br />
How to impact the minds of the young, how to divert them from the path of hate, intolerance and violence, how to demotivate the believers from the clutches of false dreams of an all-blissful paradise, how to inspire the generation to seek true happiness and peace of mind are some of the vital questions which require the urgent attention of psychologists, educationists, strategists, parents, politicians and planners.<br />
The modern society is a knowledge society. Knowledge has always been the harbinger of progress and peace. Today, knowledge is universally available and - accessible. Ideas create knowledge and so ideas rule the world. Therefore, we have to plan how to deactivate and attack the bad kind of ideas, which foster hate and violence. Some possible measures:<br />
The various streams and plurality of religions are creating contradictions and conflict in society. If all religions lead to truth, peace and happiness, then what is the need for so many religions? Such populism must stop. If different religions are all the same and non-contradictory why is there this variety? And if they are different and contradictory, then how can they lead to harmony and peace in society? Let us admit that all religions have some good concepts and rituals. In fact, the truth is that the common concepts and practices in all religions are scientific, spiritual, beneficial and true. This commonality and this core of religions is called Dharma. <br />
Intellectuals, not religious teachers, of the world have to come on a single platform and declare that religion means only one thing the courage to follow righteousness or right conduct in life. The core of religion is the conduct that what we expect of others, we must do to others. Religion is not just something private, something individualistic, but must be regarded as a social phenomenon; or norms for universal acceptance. The dictum of spiritualism is “ If we want peace, let us not disturb the peace of others “.<br />
Similarly, we have to debunk the Clash of Civilizations theory advocated by Professor Samuel Huntington. A true civilization does not divide the humanity into colours, race, religion or region.<br />
How can we divide physics, chemistry, mathematics, medical science, psychology etc into Christian, Muslim or Hindu sciences? The educationists and planners must rethink the role and design of our education system. There is a need to introduce a comparative study of all religions in our schools and colleges. Let a pupil choose which one is the best for him/her. Why do we want to chain a human being -- who is born free -- like a pet animal to fixed religious rituals or beliefs? <br />
Such education would liberate man from dogma, pangs of fanaticism and acts of terrorism.<br />
The advanced science and technology of today has not found any fourth or seventh sky, heaven or paradise in any part of the universe. Hell or heaven is part of this earth and the result of our doing. Misleading the youth and believers in the name of heaven or jannat is against the tenets of truth and humanity.<br />
Today because of Internet, there is an explosion of knowledge. But the messiahs of hate are using this medium to spread hate and violence. There are hundreds of Internet sites providing terrorist manuals, encyclopedia of violence, techniques of bomb-making and other details and training of strategic field craft. To hide their identity and communication, the terrorists are misusing the cyber space through the techniques called pshishing, hacking, spoofing, stegano- graphy etc. Cyber terrorism will be much more menacing. <br />
Can't we think of some strategy to ban such sites or to punish persons misusing the medium for sowing the seeds of hate and violence in impressionable minds?<br />
We have umpteen number of instances where social, religious and political groups demand -- and succeed -- banning books which have some unpalatable lines or paragraphs. But we have hundreds of books available in the market and being taught in different schools, madrasas and seminaries which generate hate against other sections of society, and help spread the fire of violence. We should have the courage to ban such books too. <br />
Let us not sacrifice our national priorities and international commitments, and the peace of our present and future generations, for temporary electoral or political interests. Many of our policies are dividing the society -- in the name of caste, creed and community. Many of our educational institutions are organized and run on ethnic, linguistic and religious denominations.<br />
If we wish to stem the growth of radical ideology, the administration has irrevocably to develop and enforce the concept of zero tolerance.<br />
Our ideology has to be much more powerful to counter the radical ideology of all hues and colours. It must appeal to the hearts and minds of people, especially the youth.<br />
Will the jihadi elements listen to the meaning of 'jihad in life' in the words of the great poet Allama Iqbal ? He had sung the couplet :<br />
Yakeen muhakam amal paiham,<br />
Muhabbat fateh -e-aalam.<br />
Jehad-e-Jindgani me Yahi hai mardo ki shamshire<br />
Meaning that In a man's jihad (crusade) in life, the weapons, has he conviction that the cause is just, resolution to strive till eternity, and compassion that embraces all humanity. (As translated by Khushwant Singh)<br />
The second most important constituent of terrorism is its perpetrators. How do we deal with the terrorists?<br />
Most of them are generally brainwashed and committed people who are unwilling to accept any compromise, nor are they open to dialogue or discussion. Al Qaeda Manual says “ These young men (Jihadies) realized that an Islamic government would never be established except by the bomb and rifle. Islam does not coincide or make a truce with unbelief, but rather confronts it. The confrontation that Islam calls for with these godless and apostate regimes does not know Socratic debates, Platonic ideas nor Aristotelian diplomacy. But it knows the dialogue of bullets, the ideals of assassination, bombing and destruction and the diplomacy of the cannon and machine gun ,” They are ready to die or kill. You cannot change them. The solution is to arrest or eliminate them. People who kill innocent people, women and children deserve no human rights. For less committed or people on the fringe should be tackled with the policy of ‘ Iron fists in velvet gloves ‘ – surrender or suffer. <br />
We should learn a lesson from the US, where no defence counsel came forward to defend the terrorists of the 9/11 terror attacks.<br />
Thirdly the police too must go beyond the 'body-arms-kg' count approach -- like number of arrests, seizure of arms and ammunitions or quantity of explosives. The intelligence and security agencies as well as the citizens have to take on the collaborators, supporters, contributors, sympathizers who fund, recruit, train and shelter terrorists. Police and related agencies have to be extra careful, vigilant, impartial, fair and just in picking up or apprehending the alleged terrorists. Arrests of wrong or innocent persons under political or public pressure and to produce quick results have always been proved counter productive. However, no one should directly or indirectly defend them in the name of community or creed. It is a virus worse than the HIV.<br />
Fourthly, the intelligence and security agencies as well as dealers and users of ingredients which can be used for explosives have to tighten their grip on the movement of explosives, arms and ammunition, satellite phones, foreign SIMs, GPS systems etc. Effective check on the movement of these facilitators is of utmost importance.<br />
Forensic experts should play a major role in the evaluation of intelligence regarding the new modus operandi in forgeries, travel documents, motor driving licenses, ration cards, use of weapons and explosives and remote control and detection techniques.<br />
If we want peace, harmony and progress, we have to inculcate peace and security consciousness amongst our countrymen. Alertness must become our religion. Our initiative of launching Mission Mrityunjaya (victory over death) – an anti-terror students Front in Nagpur and Pune have become quite popular and spreading to more and more educational institutions. This movement among the students is generating adequate consciousness about the dangers of radical ideology and acts of terrorism. It is impacting the young minds with positive ideas of communal harmony, patriotism and unitedly stand against the evil designs of the merchants of hate and violence.<br />
As our former President APJ Abdul Kalam had advised, India needs a national campaign for the eradication of terrorism, for which the entire government machinery needs to be geared up. As a special measure taken by France government in 1986, there is a need to bring in a legislation to ensure that every government department has a counterterrorism wing to understand its philosophy and danger. They have to wholeheartedly support the intelligence and security agencies in this regard.<br />
We must also repose more faith in the police machinery, mainly by amending Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act which renders the police unreliable in courts of law. We have to equip the police and other constituents of CJS (Criminal Justice System) with sound legal and administrative supportive logistics. After 26/11 attack, the Govt. of India has considered the adequate amendments in the UAPA 1967 (amended version 2004) <br />
The publicity and information department in government establishments has to be revisited, strengthened and made more professional and accountable. <br />
Our schools, colleges, universities and institutions, our social clubs, our platforms of art, craft and culture, our films, television and media have to put their heads together to create and sustain a campaign against any kind of extremist or terrorist ideology or act.<br />
If we want harmony, peace and progress we have to work wholeheartedly for it. We have to invest first before reaping rich dividends later. Cosmetic efforts, ceremonial lectures on communal harmony, half-hearted measures and half-baked police reforms are destined to defeat.<br />
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- <a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-19949428382553261392009-08-19T14:12:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:02:26.761+05:30Three Core Values for Public ServiceThree Core Values for Public Service<br />
<br />
Dr.Satya Pal Singh<br />
<br />
I define ‘value’ as an attribute, which has necessarily two characteristics. Firstly, it is an intangible quality, which is good and beneficial in someone’s personal life. And secondly, for its relevance and commonweal character, it is valued, respected and revered in society. Values can be further classified into two categories (i) Personal values - like purity, contentment, austerity and God-fearing ness and (ii) Social values - like truthfulness, non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy and non-accumulation. Anyone who values the ‘values’ in his or her personal and social (public) life, is valued by the society. The collective name of these values was given to be ‘Dharma’ by our visionary forefathers. Dharma is something higher and deeper to religion. Religion is a mixture of values, beliefs and rituals. Dharma is global, while religion is local in character. <br />
Public service is a service to the society. It may be localised or globalised. Man is considered to be a social being (not an animal, as a few sociologists and anthropologists tried to paint him to be). Because of his acquired knowledge, skill and attitude, man is certainly a class apart, for which Darwin also got confused in his over-enthusiasm for evolving an all-permeating theory.<br />
Public service is a non-profit activity. It caters to the requirements of upholding the principles of equality, unity and justice in the public domain. Generally, all the government functionaries are there to discharge this onerous responsibility. Starting from the village-level (panchayat) functionaries to the Prime Minister (or the President), all are public servants. Revenue, police, medical, education, judiciary, banking, social-welfare etc. all are maintenance and welfare-oriented public services.<br />
In this paper, I would like to emphasize upon those core values, which make a public servant a highly successful and satisfied soul. Values, which carve out order in the midst of chaos. I believe that the following three values i.e. (i) Confidence (ii) Commitment and (iii) Communication are the foundations of an elegant public-service mansion.<br />
(i) Confidence<br />
General public in India, slowly but steadily, is losing confidence in its public services. Public servants are more to be blamed for this state of affairs. Their credibility is deteriorating quite rapidly. A public servant must be confident himself and he must be able to inspire confidence in his or her working environment. Only a physically fit, mentally alert and well-trained public servant can possess self-confidence. A sickly, shabbily dressed and short-tempered person cannot be termed confident. ‘Outbursts of anger’ at trivial things are an indication of a weak-mind and lack of confidence. A pot-belly police officer or a pan/tobacco chewing and drink–loving public servant not only exhibits the signs of his/her weak personality but invites jeers from members of public.<br />
Let us take the example of a medical officer who receives many patients every day. The first and foremost attribute of a good doctor is that he/she should inspire confidence in the minds of the sick as well as his or her attendants. Doctor’s message must be as clean and clear as “Don’t worry, you are in the safe hands, your disease is curable. I have magic medicines. My hands are the godly hands. You will be all right within no time. Just believe in God and godly persons like me in front of you”. With these magic words, mental stress of the patients will vanish. He/she will start experiencing lesser physical pains. Similarly, if a person in distress approaches the police station and if the in-charge police officer is able to inspire same level of confidence in the minds of complainant, the later will certainly feel somewhat relieved of its problems. Assurances given by the officer must be translated by a follow up action. These simple tricks will instill confidence in the minds of community. The police in turn will have better co-operation and involvement of the local people in day-to-day policing of the area.<br />
2. Commitment: - <br />
Commitment means a kind of bonding to a particular cause. The marriage to a mission makes one a missionary. The kind of relationship, the bonding, the unflinching faith, an almost unilateral declaration of love that we expect in traditional marriage, is also demanded in the same degree by a commitment. Commitment defies difficulties and distractions. Unless we are able to inculcate this kind of commitment in the public services we belong to, in the service of the society we come from, and in the laws of the land we are born in, we are not committed.<br />
Any public service in India can boast of about having hundreds of competent officers and officials in its different ranks and files. But the department finds it hard to count the number of committed officers who are so few and far. Our training institutions in the last 50 years or so have not been able to evolve a perfect mechanism by which the mental attitudes of trainees could be moulded in the desirable direction. We have sufficient number of trainers who are imparting knowledge and skills required by particular profession. But, we are surely not comfortable about the number of competent mind-impacting trainers who could induce changes in mental attitudes. This is the weakest link in our so-called chain of training. <br />
Where there is a commitment, competence will follow. A committed public official will pick up the knowledge and skills of a particular job assigned to him or her. The zeal of the mission will subjugate the individual needs and interests to the larger requirements of the service and the community. Where there is a commitment, unfair considerations and corruption will not be able to debase the man and rust the system. Commitment requires courage. In fact, courage and commitment are twins and their separation results in the death of either. Commitment always accompanies the strong. Weak can neither be committed nor courageous. <br />
The kind of commitment I am talking about, must find an expression in day-to-day life. It has to be reflected. It has to be seen by others. It is not a show business or an aspect of arrogance but this kind of value-based behavior has a sobering effect in the environment. It gives confidence to others to emulate and to follow the right path. Justice should not only be done but it should appear to others to have been done.<br />
The expression of a committed police officer must find a way in taking care of his people, in keeping the place of work clean and tidy, preparing meticulous records and building the bridges with his community. His actions have to speak that he is committed to the protection and encouragement of good people and simultaneously the bad and wicked ones are restrained and repressed.<br />
A medical doctor should be seen not only enquiring about the condition of the patients but chiding and firing the medical attendants if cleanliness, devotion etc. is lacking.<br />
3. Communication<br />
The third core value of genuine public service is the art of communication. This stream of communication has to continuously flow. It is not always verbal, requiring a language. All sense organs communicate. Eyes and sense of touch communicate superbly and yet no word is spoken. <br />
One has to talk to oneself – about one’s strengths and weaknesses. The confidence and commitment have to go up. Our weaknesses have to be scaled down and ultimately won over. Self-study is the other name of self-communication. Indian wisdom of many centuries has found that in the morning, when one gets up, and in the night, at the time of retiring one should evaluate himself or herself. The daily self-teaching and training makes one confident and strong enough to overcome the defects and the ill habits. The continuous self-evaluation is a pre-requisite for self-realization and advancement.<br />
I do not want to discuss here the usual management jargons on communications. Of course, the secret of effective communication is to get a response and so the language, level and pitch should be on the same wavelength between the sender and receiver. It has to flow both ways – upward and downward like a free flow of wind depending on the atmospheric pressure. <br />
In the public service like police, if the senior officer wants to be successful, he has to know the problems, potentials and prospects of his juniors. In fact, one should also learn the art of communicating with departmental seniors and public representatives. If one is able to fathom the likes and dislikes, powers and potentials of his/her seniors and perform accordingly, one shall not get professional fever.<br />
In public services like Police, the officers should have continuous communication with their customers especially – the complainants. If the police are able to apprise the complainants about the stages of their cases – detection, investigation and trial etc. the complainant will certainly be happy and more satisfied. And a happy and satisfied person will tell nine more persons about the response he got from the police. The same is true with doctors and other professionals.<br />
A good communicator will be able to move (mentally) his audience, a better communicator to motivate and the best communicator to master his listeners. We have to move from the art of moving to the art of mastering through the stage of motivation. A master communicator can hypnotize his target group.<br />
In this age of communications’ super highways, information is power. In fact, information has always been a power. Relationships are woven, maintained and strengthened through good communication. Communication brings in and inspires confidence.<br />
There is a famous historical parable about the art of communication. It is said that after carving out an empire and crowning the king Chandragupta, his mentor and famous prime minister Chanakya advised the emperor, “Always remember that crown stays on the speech, not on the head”. “Take care of your speech. If speech were bad, faulty and arrogant, friends would turn into foes. And with fine speech, the adversaries will slowly and surely turn into admirers”. The omniscient God has given us the faculty of speech between our head and heart. Therefore, if we would like to have a fine speech and an impactful master communication we must couple the reason (head) and love (heart) together. The world will be ours.<br />
At the end, I would like to mention that there should not be any excuse for staying away or straying from either of the three core values, - confidence, commitment and communication. The rule of law must prevail. Law, like death, should spare no one as Manu in Vedic times, Bharvi in Gupta Age and Montesquieu in recent times wrote in different phrases. In the present age remaining upright and one’s conscious keeper is like moving on a razor’s edge. <br />
Generally we may take shelter under any of the four types of excuses for bending our rules, forgetting our principles or having some soft corners when we encounter persons or places pertaining to (i) our ‘jati’ or personal status or own community (ii) desh or place and habitation like every one behaves like this here (iii) kala or age or time . This is a materialistic age and money is the real god so emphasis should be to make money legally or illegally and finally to (iv) samaya or circumstances like I am the victim of circumstances or a honest person can not survive in the system (Jatideshkala samaya). Only those public servants who steadfastly oppose and obviate the above given four risks come out as shining and successful public figures. Such officers or officials are real public servants and do write inspiring lessons in history.<br />
-Commissioner of Police, PuneDr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-21008145407199972862009-08-19T14:09:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:03:23.011+05:30Communal Harmony & Nation BuildingCommunal Harmony & Nation Building<br />
- Dr. Satya Pal Singh<br />
<br />
Let us all be proud of our beloved nation. We all have to collectively strive to make India vibrant, strong and supreme. However, is it necessary to talk about nation-building in this age of liberalization and globalization? What are the foundations – the pillars of a nation-building? Is Communal/social or religious harmony the most important requisite for the progress of a nation? If yes, then what are the fundamental measures to foster and maintain this communal harmony? I will be briefly discussing all these issues in my presentation.<br />
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The British never called our country a nation. They always referred to it as the Indian sub-continent. They knew that once it becomes a nation – like in the past, with one culture, one language, one emotional integration – they would not be able to rule it. Hence, all their efforts were focused to disintegrate this country on the lines of race, religion, caste, language and province. ‘Divide & rule’ became their ruling mantra. The British were very proud of their nation but tried their best intellectually and educationally to weaken the same patriotic attachment in our people by painting our culture, history, literature as trash and our forefathers as uncivilized.<br />
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Loving and nurturing our motherland – our nation is as essential as loving and worshipping our own mother. Every nation has its defined parameters in terms of political borders, its language, its culture, its history, its people. They have emotional integration as land and its history belongs to its forefathers. A bigger unit than a nation is neither sustainable nor desirable.<br />
We won our independence after paying a huge price and unprecedented sacrifices in the hope that we, as a nation, will be politically, socially and emotionally integrated. But, unfortunately in the last 60 years we have been witnessing and encountering the secessionist and dissipative tendencies, movements and insurgencies through the length and breadth of this country. From Jammu & Kashmir to Kerala, the north-east to Gujarat – we have been facing communal riots, insurgency, naxalism and now terrorism.<br />
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In the post – independent era, we have made so many strides in the fields of science, technology and engineering that India is already the second largest reservoir of skilled manpower in the world. It produces nearly 3 lakh engineering graduates, 15000 law graduates, 2 million English-speaking graduates and about 9000 Ph.Ds. every year. We have been able to launch our own ‘Chandrayan ’ to carry the Indian flag to the moon.<br />
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On the other hand, the cancer of Communalism is developing within the nation. Its spread is serious. Even the police force – the internal sentinels of the nation have been occasionally accused of communal bias. And now, after the arrest of Col. Purohit in Malegaon bomb blast, the name of our army is also being tarnished. The lack of citizen – consciousness has bred lawlessness and corruption. The cancer of corruption has made our international borders porous and all our institutions including education and judiciary very fragile.<br />
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The reasons for this communal disharmony are not far to be deciphered. Our policy planners, our nation-builders had thought that the two-nation theory will automatically die – down after the partition of the nation on communal lines. But it was not so. Even our Constitution had to give space to these feelings in the name of majority and minority, Castes and tribes. Our thinking, our polity, our administration till today continue to work mostly on communal and caste lines. Then how can we have Communal harmony in this country ?<br />
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Our policy makers and intellectuals have to admit that all our policies, efforts and programmes starting from the National Integration Council and National Foundation for Communal Harmony at the Government of India level to the Peace Committees at the district level have not given the desired results. It is not only the increased number of incidents of communal tension and riots but the more serious misunderstandings, mutual distrust and ill-will among the different communities especially between the Hindus and Muslims. And it has adversely and colossally affected our nation-building efforts.<br />
Pillars of nation building<br />
According to me there are 6 pillars on which Nation-building can be erected and sustained.<br />
1. Education and Experiments –<br />
through Education; Science, Technology, Engineering.<br />
A good education is the foundation of a successful human life, education is the harbinger of social progress and education provides the building-blocks of a great nation. There must be a free, Compulsory and quality education for all.<br />
A true education must inculcate/educate the following among its students.<br />
1. Knowledge<br />
2. Righteousness<br />
3. Control of mind<br />
4. Civilization<br />
2. Safety & Security –<br />
Through rule of law and its strict enforcement. <br />
Protection of weak, ensuring safety & Security of society and nation through well trained, efficient empathetic, competent police & military personnel.<br />
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3. Prosperity – (Economic Development & Absence of Complacency) –<br />
Through generation of sufficient power, creating infrastructure through trained efficient, honest, healthy labour force, Human Resource Development and through advanced agriculture, business, trade, manufacturing industries.<br />
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4. Health & Clean Environment of the Society - A healthy population is a happy population and that leads to a healthy nation.<br />
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5. Entertainment – Let us have the Development of arts,crafts,music,dance,drama – all varieties of fine arts and creativity. However, we have to remember that economic development leads to a better life – luxurious life – involving arts & music. Excess of it leads to luxury, lethargy & laziness; inertia and inactivity. If it is allowed to develop, to set in, it follows with the beginning of downfall. The wells and springs of creativity get dried up. Many great cultures of the world like Roman & Greek slipped into oblivion because of excessive emphasis on pleasure, rather than on happiness. When the culture of pleasure becomes an intended way of life of elites, it infects the other sections of society. Earning of wealth to buy more & more pleasure – wine, woman, drug, alcohol starts debasing the character of a nation.<br />
6. Harmony & Hope :<br />
Social Harmony is the bedrock of democracy. It is the essence of prosperity and the harbinger of justice. Without harmony among the different sections of society, neither knowledge proceeds further nor the economic prosperity. Justice & protection is denied to unprivileged people. Pressure groups of caste and creed denominations overpower the Rule of law. In a strained and disturbed environment music and fine-arts are smoldered or they make wings to fly to safer and protected zones.<br />
People Confident and hopeful for future move to better prospects and peaceful & progressive life ahead.<br />
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Present Communal Scenario :<br />
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The present day India is getting increasingly susceptible to an environment of social tension, insecurity and violence. After the Mumbai terror attack of 26th November, 2008 the concern for a safer society is getting more and more intense from individual to family and from society to entire nation. With increasing development in infrastructure and information technology and modernism the reality of a safer society is becoming a utopian and illusory idea. The craving for safety and security has again focused the attention to find out alternative approaches to development and nation-building. Our fragmented and only police approach is perhaps mainly responsible for this predicament. A holistic strategy which could bind an individual to the community and a citizen to the country is missing. We have yet to understand the essence of communal harmony.<br />
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Communal harmony does not only mean an absence of communal tensions, strifes and riots. It is something deeper, something emotional. Communal harmony implies mutual understanding, peaceful co-existence, cooperation and coordination among all the constituents of a community. Harmony means proper conformity of the parts to one another and to the whole.<br />
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Our country is passing through turbulent times and faced with numerous challenges – communalism being the most serious one. Because the terrorism of today is its extreme extension and one of its tragic byproducts. Its virus, getting stronger with age, is eating the very vitals of a community life and pulling the strings of national development backwards. The communal situation in the country during the recent past has shown signs of serious strain. An indication to this is the increasing volume of violence and communal strifes and quite frequent terrorist strikes in big vibrant cities, resulting in colossal loss to life and property. Communal violence has not remained confined to specific areas which were either known as sensitive or hyper sensitive but has affected almost all parts of the country. The cities as well as rural areas are both experiencing, and are being tormented by communal disturbances.<br />
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Harmony is natural, disharmony is man-made. There is cosmic harmony in the universe and organic harmony in a living body. When this harmony gets disturbed in a body, it becomes sick and when natural or ecological harmony is broken, it leads to disasters.<br />
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Cost of social disharmony or communal conflicts is enormous – in social, economical or political terms. <br />
Roots of Communal Harmony :-<br />
<br />
The first lesson for maintaining or sustaining harmony is to follow the natural laws.<br />
1. Diversity is the beauty of nature, equality is unnatural. Food is nice if it has different tastes. A garden is beautiful if it has different variety of trees and flowers. A mela or fair is attractive if it has different shops, colours, items, dresses or entertainment.<br />
Nature loves diversity and differences. Even twins in a family differ in a hundred ways and no two peas are alike.<br />
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2. Humanity started from one origin – whether Adam Eve or Manu or Brahma. It started from one place whether Tibet, Africa or Australia. Man has only one race – the difference in colours and facial features are the result of later habitats and endured climatic difference. All human beings have exactly the same number of organs and same colour of blood. Archaeologists and sociologists have become the specialists of only one aspect of human tree. Some have studied the similarities and differences of leaves, branches and fruits. Unfortunately, due to our false racial prejudices and arrogance and lack of courage to accept our limitations and follow the truth irrespective of its source, we have yet to comprehend the fountain head of religions, the origin of language and the source of human beginning.<br />
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3. Man had only one language in the beginning. Many established linguistics have opined that all languages started from one source. How come, most of them believe that language evolved after long experience and knowledge, human beings acquired after observing nature. They forget, even in this technological age, that knowledge comes from language and not vice versa. Language is composed of words and words, as we know and hear through T.V., radio, telephones etc., are eternal. Original language is eternal and only one.<br />
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4. Requirements of man, irrespective of caste, creed, country are the same like<br />
hunger, sleep, fear, sex. It is also innate to human nature to know what is good for him/her as following good creates happiness, enthusiasm and bliss in one’s heart. Similarly, fear, shame and diffidence take over while trying to pursue a wrong path.<br />
If we believe in spirituality or in the existence of soul in every living being, then the basic attributes of all innumerable but definite souls are the same. Starting from birth to death, all human beings exhibit the same instincts and behave in the same way.<br />
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5. Strength is in unity. My hand is very powerful but till it is part of the whole (body). Her eyes are captivating but for how long ? Till they are the parts of her body … Anyone is powerful till he/she belongs to community and community has only one religion called communitariansm. A nation is strong as long as its citizens speak in one voice and are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of her honour.<br />
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6. In last hundreds or thousands of years of cultural history of world, no one in any religion has come out with anything new which was not known earlier. Man’s basic religion, the code of righteousness is from the very inception of man on this planet. If not – there may be only two reasons for it. (i) God has been kind to some and unkind and unjust to others – unfair and partisan in His dealing, (ii) God was not mature enough – gaining experience and knowledge as human beings do.<br />
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7. We have one origin, one race, one language, one religion, endowed with the same basic instincts and potentials. All essential things for life are God (in nature) given which we cannot divide, we cannot stamp them like Hindu vegetables, Muslim fruits, Christian water or Jewish air. Then fighting for non-essential , artificial and cosmetic appearances and rituals is not only suffocating and sinful but sinisterous and self defeating in the harmonious way to peace and progress.<br />
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8. In the field of religion, as in domain of science, what we do not see is the truth and reality and what we see is untruth and unreal. The rituals are not the reality or truth of a religion. The righteousness – the qualities of truth, honesty, humility and forgiveness etc. are not measurable or seen.<br />
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9. The unassailable test of judging the truth is what appeals to my conscience, what is dear to my inner being, what my soul approves of ? Let us come out of the borrowed knowledge, let us get rid of prison- houses of teachers, leaders and scriptures , let us get de-conditioned to our circumstances in which we were born, think and move.<br />
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10. We all are born blank with a Tabula Rasa (blank tablet having no innate ideas ) as the experiments of John Locke and Russian Pavlov had proved. A Hindu is born to Hindu parents, a Muslim or Christian is born to Muslim or Christian parents. If one who calls himself a Hindu were born to Muslim or Christian family, his attitudes towards Islam and Christianity would have been different. One who is a Hindu today could have been a Muslim or a Christian and a Muslim or Christian could have been a Hindu.<br />
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11. Man is a social being. He is so dependent on others that on his own he/she just cannot survive. Whether food, clothing, education, dwelling, for every thing we depend on others. People professing different religions-many Hindu and Muslim leaders and functionaries get educated in Christian Missionary Schools or treated by doctors professing different religions. We invite professionals irrespective of their religions.<br />
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12. Inevitability of Consequences<br />
Let us always remember in our hearts the fundamental law of nature echoed by Newton’s law of motion. Every action has its opposite and equal reaction. Indestructiveness & Conservation of energy it has only transformation. Every action creates energy….. Even words are beyond decay & destruction and remain permanent in space. Irrespective of the religion we believe in we have to face the consequences of our actions. They can’t be forgiven or forgotten. Let us do good to others to get good in return.<br />
All religions advise good Behavior to others<br />
‘ As you sow, so as you reap ’ <br />
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Code for Communal Harmony for Nation Building<br />
Everyone wants to live in peace and prefers progress and happiness in life. Communal harmony is the prerequisite for any community or country’s march to harmonious development –physical ,social and environmental. The following code of conduct, I am sure will lead our nation (or any nation), to a peaceful and progressive co-existence.<br />
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1. Education<br />
Our secular education has failed and failed miserably in inculcating the life values in its pupils, the feelings of fraternity, harmony and patriotism among its citizens. Education of today has taught us the competitive-drive of Darvin but not the cooperation’. It has taught us various subjects but not the human values’ it has taught us the geography and demography of the country but not the virtues of citizenship.<br />
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Parental/ Family<br />
A child is born in a family like a blank slate, gets conditioned to the family circumstances, the actions and behaviours of parents and elders in the family. Let us teach our child that he/she could have been born to another family practicing another religion. It is a matter of chance or faith and not of logic . But to progress in one’s life one has to give precedence to reasoning rather than faith. The ideal thing is that what satisfies the curiosity of mind should be pursued.<br />
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Formal Education<br />
(a) Our schools and colleges must have religions (all major ones) as part of our curriculum. We teach Physics, Chemistry, Maths, History, Sociology, Economics, Commerce etc. but our educational institutions are badly lacking in imparting a lesson is the Science or Art of Management of Life.<br />
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As mentioned earlier all the religions of the world have some truth in their tenets and some benefits of their rites and rituals. Let us sift out the essentials from non-essentials and feed the younger generation with those vital grains, instructing them that the husks are useful only for preserving and storing the grains in, and not for eating and assimilating. Let us agree on the most basic things - the commonality of all faiths – for which no one have any objections. <br />
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Let us adopt a code of conduct like our Common Minimum programme in coalition politics. All religions and faiths believe in the following:<br />
1. Believe in God ( Supreme Spirit ) and individuals souls.<br />
All started from one single source of same parents ( Manu, Noah, Adam or Eve. ) A deluge occurred and very few survived.<br />
2. Love thy neighbours.<br />
3. Do to others, what you expect from others.<br />
4. Speak truth, purge lies & punish liars.<br />
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(b) Admission forms should not have columns for caste or creed. Consciousness of one’s or others’ caste or creed creates sense of false superiority or inferiority and discourages the spirit of belongingness . Some teachers also get infected by this divisive virus. Parents’ profession/occupation can be mentioned to take care of all sections of society.<br />
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(c) Our schools and colleges must teach – as a part of curriculum – about the life history,, sacrifices and achievements of all our national heroes. In the present set up we have almost forgotten hundreds and thousands of our revolutionaries who gave up their lives or suffered the rigorous imprisonments. Any nation which does not honour or worship her heroes cannot protect its integrity. Let us teach our children/students the lessons and virtues of patriotism. <br />
<br />
2. Community Building :-<br />
A Communitarian Movement should be started in the right earnest. Every section of the society (whole society, not a particular caste, class, creed or community ) from children to senior citizens must be involved in community building. Children should have Sports Clubs , healthy competitions , value education sessions and reading classes. Women should learn to mould every human being into good children and good citizens. They should also possess skills in basic health sciences of food and nutrition. Likewise senior citizens should utilize their spare time in narrating their life experiences to build up community welfare. Every community should have a public library, health clubs, activity clubs ,sports club, community prayer hall. Every festival of every religion should be commonly celebrated. On festival day, the history and significance of its celebration should be explained. Almost each and every festival of every community (religion) has some worthy lesson- intimately or intrinsically connected to the way of life, which has to be learnt. However , no practice which contravenes the rules of morality or violates the rights of other living beings should be encouraged. Animal sacrifice for the sake of mere sensual pleasure/ personal advancement and aggrandizement should be banned.<br />
The Code of righteousness – truth, non-violence, courteousness, forgiveness, search and enhancement of knowledge, to abstain from stealing/ felonious act should be encouraged and enforced.<br />
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2. At Government levels (i) Recruitment in Govt. services should be without any discrimination of caste and creed. Disadvantaged groups should be encouraged and advanced through specific coaching and through training camps (and other measures ) to join Govt. services.<br />
<br />
(ii) Govt. department should not organize or celebrate any festival of<br />
any community or religious group but its officials should join the celebration at community level.<br />
<br />
(iii) Govt. should not select/appoint for its various committees, boards , awards, sports teams etc. on the basis of religion. Merit and welfare of society should be the sole criteria.<br />
<br />
(iv) Govt. should not discriminate any religious group by subsidizing any religious activity. It breeds animosity and reactions.<br />
<br />
(v) No decision of judiciary should be counterminded by bringing any amendment to any Act or Country’s constitution.<br />
Court’s decision should be enforced by the executive even if it displeases any particular religious group.<br />
(vi) In case of communal riots only victims of inter communal groups<br />
should be compensated. The families of accused who are the accused or victims of Police action should not at all be compensated. Such actions on the part of administration may help a particular family but against the tenets of communal harmony.<br />
<br />
(vii) Uniform Social and Personal Laws :-<br />
Law means duty, law means dharma. Dharma means a system which sustains the world. It stands for the moral, spiritual, social laws and norms sustaining the society. There must be some set of laws, norms and rules for all sections of society as different codes create ill-will among communities and are prejudicial mainly to the interests of women. Treating men and women of one community differently and legally discriminating communities in the name of personal life goes against the core of communal harmony.<br />
<br />
Summing up I would like to quote Rabindra Nath Tagore who captured this idea remarkably well. He said - <br />
<br />
“ The best expression of man, therefore, is that which does not exclusively represent an insolated mind, but can be accepted by the minds of all times. To set up creeds and practices to which the universal mind cannot respond is what we call barbarism”.<br />
<br />
Also, I would like to quote what Lord Krishna had said to Arjun after explaining to him the gist of knowledge and life –<br />
“ Vimrsayai tad assesena yathecchasi tatha Kuru ” Reflect over what I have said fully and then do what you wish ”.<br />
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Bertrand Russel has echoed the same feelings by saying “ Civilization only begins when man says ‘ I believe, but I may be wrong ’. It ends when man says I know the truth, I know what you ought to do, and it is my mission and duty to see that you do it ”. <br />
Aum! Amen! Amin!<br />
<br />
- drsinghsp@yahoo.co.inDr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-45648624542639948802009-08-15T11:21:00.000+05:302009-08-15T11:25:49.234+05:30The 7/11 serial suburban train blasts in Mumbai have again brought into focus the serious implications of unchecked terrorism.The 7/11 serial suburban train blasts in Mumbai have again brought into focus the serious implications of unchecked terrorism.<br /><br />However, the anger and anguish of the people; the stirrings of intellectuals and the the heightened activity of security forces usually get subdued within a few weeks.<br />For the past four decades, particularly after the suicide attacks on the US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 in which 241 US Marines died, the international community has been really concerned about the dangers posed by ideological terrorism.<br />In India, we faced terrorism in Punjab for over a decade, and now encounter the onslaughts of the terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country almost every day. While most nations are serious about fighting this scourge, and their intelligence and security forces are working overtime -- the sting of terrorism has not been blunted.<br />Is there a flaw somewhere in our thinking, in our strategy? Are we failing to comprehend the problem in its entirety? What immediate measures can we initiate, and what should be our long-term strategy to contain and curb the hydra-headed monster of terrorism? These are some of the questions I would like to address in this article.<br />The genesis: The root of terrorism lies in hatred and intolerance. The extreme manifestation of hate reflects in violence and acts of terrorism. And hate, like love, begets and stays in the mind.<br />'Besides us - the believers, all else are impure, ugly and threat to our existence and enhancement. We only are the right, our beliefs are unassailable and our religion only is revealed and divine. It is our bounden duty to spread it around. Reward is almost instantaneous for martyrs. The paradise (Jannat ) and its inmates are waiting for us with their beauties and bounties.' This is the kind of religious rhetoric being used to brainwash Muslim youth.<br />This dogmatism or fundamentalism leads to fanaticism, extremism and ultimately to terrorism.<br />The Arab-Israel conflict and the collapse of Soviet Union gave impetus to terrorist organisations allegedly claiming adherence to Islam.<br />The terror networks: The dragnet of terrorists has spread far and wide. Though it is a global problem, South East Asia is emerging as the hotbed of terrorism. The situation is worse in India, which is a secular nation. The international borders of India are almost seized by anti-national elements who support and sympathise with radicals.<br />Gujarat, Rajasthan, J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and other northeastern states, as well as Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala , Tamil Nadu all suffer from the upsurge of radical ideology.<br />Some coastal parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra and from Bhatkal in Karnataka to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, in fact the entire western coast is afflicted with this kind of jihadi ideology.<br />Big cities like Mumbai, Delhi , Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad are the primary targets. No one knows how many terrorist sleeper cells or modules are operating in our towns and cities.<br />The major source of spreading terror in India and elsewhere are the preachers of radical ideology. Their members might not be large, but they keep moving from one place to another in different guises and groups.<br />Jammu and Kashmir, once one of the most peaceful and egalitarian states of India, fell prey to this ideology when the schools and madrassas in the Kashmir valley were subverted and the young boys studying in the institutions were brainwashed in the 1960s and early 1970s. We are harvesting the crop now. The same was the case in Punjab -- the most prosperous state in India.<br />It happened in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. It happened with the Chechens in Russia, the Basques of Spain and this list can easily be lengthened.<br />The same strategy is being applied to subvert young impressionable minds in our educational institutions because the proponents of terrorism know that students and youngsters are highly energetic and if convinced about a cause, they can even be moulded to conduct suicide attacks.<br />Because of the revolution in computer and communications technology, the terrorist organisations have no dearth of financiers, contributors, fund-raisers and disgruntled teachers of technology. We all have to realise that there is no place for radical ideology in today's borderless world.<br />Exploding the myths: There are some myths associated with terrorism and if we are really serious about finding a solution to this problem, we must explode and demolish them.<br />The first myth is that terrorism is rooted in injustice, frustrations, poverty and social economic backwardness. Scholars and experts, especially Alan Krueger and Jitka Maleckova, have shown that the terrorists are not poor people nor they are from poor societies. Poverty does not cause terrorism and prosperity does not cure it. We all know that Osama bin Laden , the world's most wanted terrorist, is a billionaire.<br />The study of terrorism in Punjab and J&K in India has also shown the same results. The terrorists come from the places which have a concentration of radical preachers.<br />The second myth, specially in India, is that the terrorist activities are a reaction to the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya. Security experts know this is not correct.<br />The <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/godhra.html" target="new">Gujarat riots</a> began on February 28, 2002. But most major acts of terrorism, like the <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2001/oct/01kash1.htm" target="new">attack</a> on the J&K assembly (October 1, 2001), on <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/pattack.htm" target="new">Parliament</a> (December 13, 2001), in Poonch district (January 20, 2002) happened before this. Also, in May-July 2000 there was a series of bomb blasts from Hyderabad to Bangalore and Goa.<br />Similarly, Jalees Ansari, a government doctor, and Salim Ansari, an engineer working at the Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai, were <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/28blast.htm" target="new">responsible</a> for more than 50 blasts in Mumbai, at gurdwaras, police stations, public places and aboard trains between 1989 and 1990.<br />There is also a myth that many uneducated and unemployed youth and young men are attracted towards radical ideology or terrorism. This is also not correct as many of the terrorists are highly educated -- doctors, engineers, pilots, management graduates and technologically savvy.<br />There is also another myth: that more Hindus are being killed in terrorist violence, and Muslims are responsible for it. A look at terrorist victims worldwide show that more Muslims are losing their lives.<br />No religious or social community can embrace or afford to be a terrorist outfit. The terrorists are a miniscule minority. The administration and more importantly the community has to isolate and starve them of all direct or indirect material, manpower or mental help.<br />Motive of the terrorists: What hen is the motive of the terrorists? If we look into the minds of some terrorist organisations operating in India and other parts of the globe we will find that some protagonists of terrorism (Laskhar-e-Tayiba, Al Qaeda etc) believe that Islam is the purest religion in the world.<br />They believe that there is a religious commandment to unite all Muslims under the umbrella of Ummah to transcend national borders and establish Shariah or Muslim rule. The International Islamic Front established in February 1998 by bin Laden expressed its motto as 'To unite Muslims, liberate them from non-believers and aggressively expand Islamic faith.'<br />Al Qaeda says: 'The manual should be used to train all the Muslim brothers for jihad against India and Hindus. Islamic governments have never and will never be established through peaceful solutions and cooperative councils. They are established as they always have been by pen and gun, by sword and bullet, by tongue and teeth... These young men realised that an Islamic government would never be established except by the bomb and rifle. Islam does not coincide or make a truce with unbelief, but rather confronts it. The confrontation that Islam calls for with these godless and apostate regimes does not know Socratic debates, Platonic ideas nor Aristotelian diplomacy. But it knows the dialogue of bullets, the ideals of assassination, bombing and destruction and the diplomacy of the cannon and machine gun.'<br />'All the civilisations must clash until Islam is accepted everywhere. Kashmir is nothing more than a gateway to India. Let India bleed by a thousand cuts,' says Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed.<br />The Students Islamic Movement of India, SIMI , manual states its aim as 'To achieve Allah's pleasure through the reconstruction of human life according to the principles given by Allah and his messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.'<br />'I will invite students and youths to follow Islam and will try to organise them,' goes the oath of allegiance for SIMI members. 'As I promise that I will work for the liberation of humanity and the establishment of an Islamic system in my country. I will spend my time, resources and capacity in this cause and won't spare my life if need be... My prayer and my sacrifices and my life and death are all for Allah... I have been instructed to do so and I am among those who surrender. May Allah help me to keep these promises.'<br />The Asian Age newspaper (August 19, 2001) published a letter recovered from a fidayeen in an encounter with security forces deployed for the Amarnath Yatra . The letter reads 'We are fidayeen. I am a fidayeen and in the name of Allah we will continue to kill and be killed till such time we destroy India and we overcome India.'<br />This is the radical ideology which is creating terrorists.<br />In the second part of his analysis, Dr Satya Pal Singh, suggests some possible ways and means to check the scourge of terrorism. <br />Part I : <a href="http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/11guest1.htm">7/11 & after: Understanding terror</a><br />How do we counter and curb this hydra-headed monster called terrorism?<br />An act of terrorism is the result or consequence of the combination of four factors:<br />· Radical ideology<br />· Perpetrators or terrorists<br />· Contributors, collaborators and sympathisers and<br />· Material (arms, explosives etc.)<br />The first and foremost requirement is to counter this radical/jihadi ideology.<br />How to impact the minds of the young, how to divert them from the path of hate, intolerance and violence, how to demotivate the believers from the clutches of false dreams of an all-blissful paradise, how to inspire the generation to seek true happiness and peace of mind are some of the vital questions which require the urgent attention of psychologists, educationists, strategists, parents, politicians and planners.<br />The modern society is a knowledge society. Knowledge has always been the harbinger of progress and peace. But today, knowledge is universally available and accessible. Ideas create knowledge and so ideas rule the world.<br />Simultaneously, we have to plan how to deactivate and attack the bad kind of ideas, which foster hate and violence. Some possible measures:<br />The various streams and plurality of religions are creating contradictions and conflict in society. If all religions lead to truth, peace and happiness, then what is need for so many religions? Such populism must stop. If different religions are all the same and non-contradictory why is there this variety? And if they are different and contradictory, then how can they lead to harmony and peace in society?<br />Intellectuals, not religious teachers, of the world have to come on a single platform and declare that religion means only one thing the courage to follow righteousness or right conduct in life. The core of religion is the conduct that what we expect of others, we must do to others. Religion is not something private, something individualistic, but a social phenomenon, a universal acceptance.<br />Similarly, we have to debunk the Clash of Civilisations theory advocated by Professor Samuel Huntington.<br />How can we divide physics, chemistry, maths, medical science, psychology etc into Christian, Muslim or Hindu sciences? The educationists and planners must rethink the role and design of our education system. There is a need to introduce a comparative study of all religions in our schools and colleges. Let a pupil choose which one is the best for him/her. Why do we want to chain a human being -- who is born free -- like a pet animal to fixed religious rituals or beliefs? <br />Such education would liberate man from dogma, pangs of fanaticism and acts of terrorism. If we want peace, let us not disturb the peace of others.<br />The advanced science and technology of today has not found any fourth or seventh sky, heaven or paradise in any part of the universe. Hell or heaven is part of this earth and the result of our doing. Misleading the youth and believers in the name of heaven or jannat is against the tenets of truth and humanity.<br />Today because of Internet, there is an explosion of knowledge. But the messiahs of violence are using this medium to spread hate and violence. There are hundreds of Internet sites providing terrorist manuals, encyclopedia of violence, techniques of bomb-making and other details and training of strategic fieldcraft. <br />Can't we think of some strategy to ban such sites or to punish persons misusing the medium for sowing the seeds of hate and violence in impressionable minds?<br />We have umpteen instances where social, religious and political groups demand -- and succeed -- banning books which have some unpalatable lines or paragraphs. But we have hundreds of books available in the market and being taught in different schools, madrasas and seminaries which generate hate against other sections of society, and help spread the fire of violence. We should have the courage to ban such books too. <br />Let us not sacrifice our national priorities and international commitments, and the peace of our present and future generations, for temporary electoral or political interests. Many of our policies are dividing the society -- in the name of caste, creed and community. Many of our educational institutions are organized and run on ethnic, linguistic and religious denominations.<br />If we wish to stem the growth of radical ideology, the administration has irrevocably to develop and enforce the concept of zero tolerance.<br />Our ideology has to be more powerful to counter this radical ideology. It must appeal to the hearts and minds of people, especially the youth.<br />Will the jihadi elements listen to the meaning of 'jihad in life' in the words of teh great poet Iqbal? He had sung the couplet : Yakeen muhakam amal paiham, Muhabbat fateh -e-aalam. Jehad-e-Jindgani me Yahi hai mardo ki shamshire. (In a man's jihad (crusade) in life, the weapons, has he conviction that the cause is just, resolution to strive till eternity, and compassion that embraces all humanity)(As translated by Khushwant Singh)<br />The second and most important constituent of terrorism is its perpetrators. How do we deal with the terrorists?<br />They are generally brainwashed and committed people who are unwilling to accept any compromise, nor are they open to dialogue or discussion. They are ready to die or kill. You cannot change them. The solution is to arrest or eliminate them. People who kill innocent people, women and children deserve no human rights.<br />We should learn a lesson from the US, where no defence counsel came forward to defend the terrorists of the 9/11 terror attacks.<br />The police too must go beyond the 'body-arms-kg' count approach -- like number of arrests, seizure of arms and ammunitions or quantity of explosives. The intelligence and security agencies as well as the citizens have to take on the collaborators, supporters, contributors, sympathizers who fund, recruit, train and shelter terrorists. No one should directly or indirectly defend them in the name of community or creed. It is a virus worse than the HIV.<br />The intelligence and security agencies as well as dealers and users of ingredients which can be used for explosives have to tighten their grip on the movement of explosives, arms and ammunition, satellite phones etc. Effective check on the movement of these facilitators is of utmost importance.<br />Forensic experts should play a major role in the evaluation of intelligence regarding the new modus operandi in forgeries, travel documents, motor driving licenses, ration cards, use of weapons and explosives and remote control and detection techniques.<br />If we want peace, harmony and progress, we have to inculcate peace and security consciousness among all our countrymen.<br />As President APJ Abdul Kalam advised recently, India needs a national campaign for the eradication of terrorism, for which the entire government machinery needs to be geared up. As in France in 1986, there is a need to bring in a legislation to ensure that every government department has a counterterrorism wing to understand its philosophy and danger. They have to wholeheartedly support the intelligence and security agencies in this regard.<br />We must also repose more faith in the police machinery, mainly by amending Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act which renders the police unreliable in courts of law.<br />The publicity and information department in government establishments has to be revisited, strengthened and made more professional.<br />Our schools, colleges, universities and institutions, our social clubs, our platforms of art, craft and culture, our films, television and media have to put their heads together to create and sustain a campaign against any kind of extremist or terrorist ideology or act.<br />If we want harmony, peace and progress we have to work wholeheartedly.<br />Half-hearted measures, cosmetic efforts and ceremonial lectures on communal harmony are destined to defeat.<br />Dr. Satyapal SinghThe Police Commissioner, Pune. <a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-78280222682947127132009-08-14T19:57:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:03:44.027+05:30Proving the historicity of RamProving the historicity of Ram<br />
Since thousands of years, not just in India but also all over the world, one of the greatest men who influenced and touched the hearts of millions – both common men and elite alike -- with his strength of character is Ram. His time was that of great kings and world empires. This was the era when the whole world understood one language and speech, as mentioned in the holy book, the Bible (Genesis 11.1). Then neither was the world divided into Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews etc, nor broken up on the basis of modern day caste barriers. Then there were only two divisions in human society – Arya and Un-Arya (asurs, rakshas). Those who were not strong of character and men of words were un-arya. All mankind had only one culture.<br />
Literary work<br />
The most authentic and original source of knowledge about Ram is the Valmiki Ramayana . This noble work of literature credits Valmiki as the earliest poet of the world. The story of Ram did not remain confined to the pages of Valmiki Ramayana, but it also finds a mention in various other scriptures of history and ancient literature. It is talked about in Muni Vyas's Mahabharata at four places -- Ramopakhayan, Aaranyak Parva, Drona Parva and Dashrath Kathanak; in Buddhist literature it finds mention in three Jatak parables, viz, Dashrath Jatak, Anamak Jatak and Dashrath Kathanak; in Jain literature many manuscripts were written on Ram, like Padam Charitra (Prakrit) by Vimal Suri; Padam Puran (Sanskrit) by Ravisen Acharya; Padam Charitra (Apbhransh) and Charitra Puran (Sanskrit) by Swambhu; and Uttar Puran (Sanskrit) by Gunbhadra. As per Jain tradition the original name of Ram was 'Padam'.<br />
The story of Ram was also written in various other Indian regional languages. There are at least 11 versions of Ramayana in Hindi, eight in Marathi, 25 in Bangla, 12 in Tamil, five in Telugu and six in Oriya. Apart from these, more versions of the Ramayana have been written in Sanskrit, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Assamese, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, etc. The Hindi Ramcharitmanas authored by Tulsidas has achieved a very prominent place in northern India. More than 400 great poets and saints like Kalidas, Bhas, Bhatti, Praversen, Bhavbhuti, Kshemendra, Rajshekhar, Kumardas, Vishwanath, Somdev, Gunadutt, Narad, Lomesh, Guru Govind Singh, the Samarth Guru Ramdas, Maithili Sharan Gupt, Keshavdas and Saint Tukdoji etc, have written poems, prose and literature on Ram and other characters of the Ramayana.<br />
Even in other countries we can find versions of Ramayana, like the Tibetan Ramayana, Turkistan's Khotani Ramayana, Indonesia's Kakbin Ramayana, Java's Seratram, Sairiram, Ramkeling, Patani Ramkatha; Indo-China's Ramkerti (Ramkirti), Khamer Ramayana; Burma's Ramyagan of Yuto; Thailand's Ramkiyen etc all narrate the story of Ram in a picturesque way. Scholars also believe that Homer's Illiad and the Dionysia of poet Nonus of Rome have surprising similarities with our Ramayana.<br />
In world literature, no other historical person has been narrated with so much devotion on such a grand, magnified and detailed scale by so many poets and authors of varied countries.<br />
Temples and terracotta<br />
All over the world, not just hundreds but thousands of temples of Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman [etc are being constructed since time immemorial. The walls of the 9th century Shiv temple Parambanan (Parambhram) of Java and the 11th century Angkorwat Temple of Cambodia are pictorially engraved with the scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata.<br />
Hundreds of terracotta based on the Ramayana have been found from Sirma, Haat, Nacharkheda of Hisar; Jind, and Santhai (Yamuna Nagar) of Haryana; Koshanbhi (Allahabad), Aahichatra (Bareilly), and Katinghar (Etah) of Uttar Pradesh and Bhadra (Shriganganagar) of Rajasthan. They depict the major events of Ram's exile, mainly Ram, Sita and Lakshman's Panchvati gaman; Maareech Mrugh (golden deer); the dialogue of Tirshira with Khar-Dushan; the execution of 14 demons by Ram; Sita-haran by Ravan; Sughreev sighting Sita throwing down her ornaments from Pushpak (Ravan's plane); Sughreev welcoming Ram to his abode; Sughreev-Bali combat; Ram's assassination of Bali; Hanuman burning Ashok Vatika; Trishira Rakshas's killing; Indrajeet, the son of Ravan, going to war, etc. Some of the terracotta have the verses of Valmiki Ramayana written in the script of pre-Gupta age. They can be seen in the archaeological museum of Gurukul Jhajjar (Haryana). Apart from these, hundreds of terracotta can be seen in different museums of India as well as in the British Museum of London.<br />
Kushan emperor Kanishka had an engraving of the wind-god Hanuman on his regime's seal. Emperor Akbar had also similarly depicted Ram-Sita on one of his golden guineas. Scenes from Ramayana have been sketched in the Safdarjang Madarsa of Delhi. Central India's Dhar and Ratlam principalities had engraved Hanuman on their seals. Brass guineas introduced by the Sant regime also had the etchings of Ram and his three brothers, as well as Sita and Hanuman.<br />
The biggest travesty of facts is that even after so many literary and archaeological evidence, Lord Ram is not universally accepted as a historical personality.<br />
The time of Ram<br />
According to ancient Indian chronology and Puranic tradition Ram was born in the 24th Treta Yuga (Great Age). Apart from the Valmiki Ramayana and other versions of Ram's biography, there are four important references to Ram, Ravan, etc in ancient scriptures.<br />
1. Treta yuge chaturvinshe ravane tapseh shakshyat Ram dashrtathi prapiye sagane shakyamiyeewan (Vayu Puran 70.88)<br />
2. Sandho tu samanupraptre tretayaam dwaparisya cha Ramo daasrathirbhutva bhavishami jagatpati (Mahabharata 348.19)<br />
3. Chaturvinshe yuge chapi vishwamitra pure sare Loke ram iti khyate tejsah bhaskaropam (Harivansh 22.104)<br />
4. Chaturvinshe yuge vats tretayaam raghuvanshaje Ramo naam bhavishyami chaturvhayu sanatane (Bhramand Puran 2.2.36.30)<br />
On the basis of the given literary references and evidences it can be inferred that Ram, Ravan, Vishwamitra etc lived in the 24th Treta Yuga. According to the Mahabharata, Ram lived in the transition phase between Treta and Dwapar ages. It however does not mention the order of the Treta.<br />
It will help to know that Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug have a continuous cycle, like the cycle of the months in a year or the days in a week. As Monday is followed by Tuesday and January is followed by February, Satyug is followed by Treta and this cycle continues endlessly. Or these, Kalyug has the shortest span of 4,32,000 years, Dwapar is double the years of Kalyug at 8,64,000 years, Treta is triple the years of Kalyug at 12,96,000 years and Satyug is four-times the years of Kalyug at 17,28,000 years. Thus one unit of four yugas is called Chaturyugi, having a total of 43,20,000 years.<br />
We are presently in the Kalyug of the 28th Chaturyugi and so far 5,108 years of Kalyug have lapsed. If we accept that Ram indeed lived during the last phase of the 24th Treta Yuga then it can be calculated that he lived 1,81,49,108 years ago. But if we accept that he lived in the Treta of the present 28th cycle of Chaturyugi then he lived 8,69,108 years ago.<br />
After so many years it's impossible for any buildings, dwellings, statues, seals, coins, cloths, bones or weapons to exist. There also cannot be physical records or evidences of every person who walked this earth so long ago. Even if someone has passed away five generations ago without leaving his progeny behind, we have no natural or physical evidence to prove his life. Even if he had a house, without documentary evidence or word-of-mouth we cannot prove that it belonged to him. Even in modern times, the existence of the ruling presidents and prime ministers of today cannot be proved 1,000 years hence without any literary proof. Their story can be passed verbally from one generation to the next but no physical evidence of their existence will be available.<br />
In the last few years, some highly motivated computer-literate group of people have designed a software called 'Planetarium Gold Software' which is generally used by scientists to measure the distance and locations of planets from earth and to predict lunar and solar eclipses. The Valmiki Ramayana (Bal Kanda 18.8.9) mentions (the planetary positions vis-à-vis zodiac constellations) at the time of Lord Ram's birth as 'the ninth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, asterism Punarvasu was in the ascendant and (as many as) five planets (viz, the Sun, Mars Saturn, Jupiter and Venus) happened to be exalted (appeared in the zodiacal signs of Mesa or Aries, Makara or Capricorn, Tula or Libra, Karka or Cancer, and Mina or Pisces respectively) and Jupiter in conjunction with the Moon appeared in the zodiacal sign of Karka'.<br />
<a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/20inter.htm">'Ram was 39 years old when he killed Ravana'</a><br />
The same details were entered in the Planetarium Gold software to determine the important dates in the life of Lord Ram vis-à-vis the present planetary positions and zodiac constellations and calculated that Ram was born on January 10, 5114 BC, which means to say 7,122 years ago. While they deserved all appreciation and thanks for this new approach, their ignorance of astronomical calculations and in the absence of any literary proof, their result cannot be relied upon. According to astronomy, the positions of zodiac constellations come back to their original place after a cycle of approximately 26,000 years.<br />
For this reason, the exact same planetary position repeats itself every 26,000 years. So, Ram could have been born in any of the repetitive cycles in planetary positions. Even if we believe Ram to be born in the Treta of the present 28th Chaturyugi, as mentioned earlier, the position of constellations have completed 33 cycles and if, according to literary evidence, we believe Ram to be born in the Treta of 24th Chaturyugi, then the position of the constellations have completed 698 cycles.<br />
The scientific interpretation of the photographs of the remains of Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) taken by NASA's Gemini-11 spacecraft in 2002, reveals that this ancient bridge linking India to Sri Lanka] was manmade, and it was dated to be at least 1.75 million years old. According to Valmiki Ramayana, it is true that Ram and his engineers constructed this bridge for transporting his army into Lanka. If we accept that it was indeed Ram who got this bridge constructed then he lived in the middle years of the 28th Treta, and not in the 24th, and neither in the transition between Treta and Dwapar of the 28th era (Chaturyugi). Even if we accept this, it doesn't alter the calculations based on planetary positions of the constellations. Then the constellations would have completed 66 cycles before coming back to its original position.<br />
It is also not wrong to state that an email message was sent by NASA officials in July 2007 to N K Raghupati, chairman of the Setu Samudram Ship Canal Project, stating therein that the remains of the bridge do not appear to be connected to any human activity. Why NASA differed from its original stand is unknown. Even if Adam's Bridge is a natural geological formation, it could have been beautifully used by Ram to construct a temporary bridge for his army to cross over to Sri Lanka. No scientific test has yet been carried out to measure the ascending or descending contours of Adam's Bridge. Moreover, after millions of years since its construction, no human activity can be linked to this or any other structure.<br />
False propagation by foreign scholars<br />
Most foreign scholars and Indologists believe that Indians taught and learnt their lessons verbally, without the aid of any written material. Indians did not even know how to write. They were not inclined towards maintaining any historical records, nor did they have any notion of placement of events in its proper sequence in time. They believed that the Aryans came from abroad, defeated the original inhabitants of India, the Dravidians, and settled here. The Harappan civilisation was destroyed by invading Aryans. The human history they know is only 5,000 years old. The ancestor of man was an ape or a chimpanzee.<br />
In brief it can be stated that all the above assertions of foreign scholars are unscientific, illogical, untrue and pure false propaganda. It has been revealed across the world today that scholars like Max Muller, H H Wilson, A A MacDonell, Rudolph Roth, Albrecht Weber, Ralph T H Griffith, M Winternitz, Monier-Williams, all had the same basic objective which is expressed in Max Muller's words which he wrote in a letter to his wife: 'This edition of mine and the translation of the Veda will, hereafter, tell to a great extent on the fate of India. It is the root of their religion and to show them what the root is, I feel sure is the only way of uprooting all that has sprung from it during the last three thousand years.' (Life and Letters of F Max Muller, Vol I, Chapter XV, Page 34).<br />
Similarly, Monier-Williams wrote in the preface of his Sanskrit-English dictionary: 'I must draw attention to the fact that I am only the second occupant of the Boden Chair and that its founder Colonel Boden stated most explicitly in his will (dated August 15, 1811 AD) that the special object of his munificent bequest was to promote the translation of scriptures into English so as to enable his countrymen to proceed in the conversion of the natives of India to the Christian religion'. Prof Goltuster had revealed that Roy, Weber, Whitling, Fuhan, and other scholars were determined because of some mysterious reason to ruin the prime glory of India in any way possible.<br />
More recently, in July 2007, a book titled Invading the Sacred: An analysis of Hinduism studies in America edited by Krishna Ramaswamy, Antonio de Nicolas and Aditi Banerjee was released in Mumbai. The book states, 'Unlike in India, the academic study of religion is an important undertaking for intellectuals in America and a few hundred scholars study Hinduism and other Indian religions. Many of them have continued to perpetuate myths and biases about Indian culture and religion through misinterpretation and mistranslations. These are in line with the colonial and missionary caricature of India.' The book is the product of a multi-year research project that uncovered shoddy and biased scholarship driven by certain power cartels, its authors said.<br />
Let us also know the fact that McCaulay did not know even one Indian language but he commented on all Eastern wisdom, James Mill never visited India but he wrote on Indian history. None of the foreign Indologists like Max Muller, Winternitz and Griffith had any knowledge of Vedic grammar , astronomy, metre (chhand) etc but they all translated Vedas and assumed the status of authorities.<br />
As per Vedic time computation and tradition, the age of creation is 4.32 billion years, and the sankalp mantra 'Om tatsat adhay bharamano dutya parardhey swetvarahakalpe saptmein vaivasvat manvantare astahvinsatitame kaliyuge kaliprathme charne _____ gatabde'. They have kept intact the history of the time of creation and the advent of man on earth till today. Man arrived on earth exactly 1,97,29,49,108 years ago (approximately two billion years ago). Some Vedic scholars also believe that man was created on earth only in the seventh manmantar of Vaivasvat Manu. The sun, planets, stars, earth, sea, vegetation, flora and fauna were created in the earlier six manmantars in a very scientific manner. If we accept this theory, then man was born about 12,05,33,108 years ago. At least this much is certain, that the history of mankind is indeed very long.<br />
Indians always knew the art of writing. The Rig Veda (10.71.4) says speech has two forms -- one which can be heard (shravya) and one which can be seen (drishya). Script was in vogue since ancient times in India. Bhojpatra and tadpatra (papyrus) were abundantly available in nature before man walked the earth. Like paper, even these forms of recording scripts was not permanent. Manuscripts were copied onto new papyrus if they got damaged due to climatic conditions. How else would we find thousands of ancient manuscripts in India? How else would we remember the Vedas, epics, scriptures, and other astronomical subjects?<br />
Yes, there were definitely a few people who felt pride in memorising one or more of the Vedas. If we believe that at that point in time the intellect and memory of the people were very sharp and elephantine compared to the modern man, then this logic also goes against the evolutionary principles of Darwin. The truth is that Indians knew how to write -- and wrote a lot! No other country in the world has such a rich and vast literary treasure. What other proof can be asked for to say that the Indians could write?<br />
Darwin's unnatural and unscientific theory is now also being rejected by many scientists and scholars world-wide. Because of their religious faith some Western scholars who earlier believed that the age of the earth was approximately 6,000 years, now agree that the earth is aged between 3.96 and 4.3 billion years. If earth is so old then how can man inhabited it after such a gigantic time gap?<br />
American scholar Michael Cremo's recent books Forbidden Archaeology and Devolution of Man based on scientific discoveries prove that the Darwin theory has hardly any truth and that man came on earth at least two billion years ago. Cremo and his co-author Richard Thompson have quoted a lot of archeological evidences which undoubtedly prove that scientists in the last 150 years have collected so many facts which disprove many fundamental theories in history, linguistics and science. Many scientific journals had also published these discoveries but the mental block created by the evolution theory of Darwin and the limit of 5,000 years of human history did not pay due attention to the new discoveries. These scientific discoveries and facts prove that the history of mankind is billions of years old.<br />
Ignorance in faith<br />
The foreign scholars and their Indian followers who have spread the mythological canard that Ram and Ramayana are historically untrue, figments of imagination and only a fable are no more responsible than some of our Indian poets and writers. The preachers and exponents of Ram Katha and the directors and actors of Ramlila have inadvertently and ignorantly further contributed to the doubts about the genuineness of Ram. Devoid of true faith and unaware of the true glory of God, we have turned Ram into God and God-incarnate.<br />
Like the fables of Panchtantra we have metamorphosed the erudite scholar of Vedas and a guru of grammar, Hanuman, into an ape; the architect of Ram Setu, Jambavan, into a bear; the famous doctor-surgeon Sushen and his colleagues Angad, Bali, etc into monkeys; the brave Jatayu who was the former king of Gridhkoot who fought Ravan in the sky after the abduction of Sita, into a vulture. The most shocking belief is that the most beautiful scholar lady Tara was married to the monkey Bali. Sita was believed to be born of the earth and ultimately returned to Mother Earth. Our imagination knew no bounds.<br />
Valmiki knew Ram to be a human, a noble man, the best of his era and in his time wrote Ramayana as both were contemporary. He has also shown Ram to possess human traits and emotions, just like any ordinary person. We, in our blind faith, have accentuated the question marks on the historicity of Ram and Ramayana by treating Ramayana like a fable and depicting its noble characters as birds and animals.<br />
Our foolish beliefs did not end here. We spin strange new stories which ultimately maligned the noble character of Ram. Ram never disowned Sita or exiled her to the forest in a pregnant state. Valmiki never wrote this. We got the Seer Shambook executed by Ram, calling him a shudra. Valmiki never mentioned this. No intellectual scholar or tapasvi could be a shudra, at least in Vedic times. But through interpolations and additions in the modern day Ramayana we have made Maryada Purshottam Ram into a person inflicting injuries and harassment on women and low-borns. Valmiki's Ram was the bravest among the brave, the noblest among the noble, but not God.<br />
Analysis and conclusions<br />
1. Can our saints and seers, who have from birth till death spoke the truth, acted with truth and preached only the truth, become the liars today and their writings unbelievable and false, whereas the foreign scholars and their native modern followers are truthful? Were our ancient visionaries and authors like Rishi Valmiki, Muni Vyas, Kalidas, Bhas, Bhavbhooti, Ashvaghosh, Samarth Guru Ramdas, Guru Govind Singh, Swami Dayanand, Swami Vivekanand, the leading lights of Buddhist and Jain traditions, etc were liars, selfish and believed in the imaginary, whereas today's professors and scholars of our colleges and universities, writing about history and culture are more learned, committed to truth and missionaries of humanism?<br />
2. Man first wrote true stories and history, and later learnt how to write fiction. India never had a tradition of writing about imaginary characters, as our country was never short of real-life heroes.<br />
3. Are our history, puranas, smritis and Upanishadic parables fables and fairy tales, and Western legends and mythologies all true?<br />
4. Has any community in the world ever celebrated the birth or death anniversaries of any fictitious person? If this is true, then how can the birth anniversary of Ram, Ram Navmi, be celebrated since thousands of years, year after year, in many countries of the world?<br />
5. Has any fictitious character been written about repeatedly even by 10 to 20 writers? The story of Ram has been told and retold since time immemorial by thousands of seers, poets, writers and authors in different languages and in different countries of the world.<br />
6. Even if by default we accept that Ram and Ramayana are the imagination of a poet, then at least we accept that the poet was real and lived on this earth, and was not imaginary. No one has ever doubted that Valmiki lived. His life has been chronicled in detail in Skand Puran, Bhavishya Puran and Adhyatma Ramayana. When Valmiki meets Ram for the first time, he says, as given in Valmiki Ramayana (7.96.19):<br />
Prachetsoahem dasmey putroh raghavnandany Ne ismarahmeanritam vakyamimo tu tav putroko<br />
Valmiki proudly says to Ram, 'I am the 10th son of Pracheta, and I never remember speaking even one untrue sentence'. How can such a missionary and follower of truth could have written an imaginary story of Ram?<br />
7. Has anyone given a detailed description of generation after generation of a fictitious, imaginary person? Kalidas has described 19 generations of Raghuvansh, Ram's ancestors and descendants, in his book Raghuvansh. Shabdakalpdrum has mentioned the 11 names of Ram's lineage as Bahuk, Sarg, Anshuman, Asamjas, Dilip, Bhagirath, Aja, Dashratha, Ramchandra, Kush and Luv and has mentioned these kings were the world rulers in that era. Even after all this if we don't accept Ram as a historical figure it is beyond the realm of wisdom.<br />
8. Has anyone ever questioned the character of any writer when the hero and writer were contemporary? Rishi Valmiki was a contemporary of Ram and has used the present tense in the Ramayana, not the past and future tense. Then how can we question the historicity of Ram and other characters of the Ramayana?<br />
9. Even in modern times if we want to know the age of any person, we first look for his/her school or college certificates or his horoscope. If someone has no papers or documents to know his age then he is subjected to an ossification medical test. But when the question is of any ancient historical person, why do we ignore the writings and literary evidences and instead search for archeological evidences in buildings, statues, seals and bones found buried in earth?<br />
10. When the foreign Indologists and historians and their blind Indian followers want to search for history in the divine revelation the Vedas, they quote the Rig Veda (10.60.4.4) where there is a mention of Iksvaku, the ancestor of Ram and the founder of Ayodhya. The Atharva Veda mentions Ayodhya as having nine gates. The Atharva Veda (18.3.16) mentions the name of Vishwamitra, Vashista the preceptor of Ram, and Bhardwaj. But when it comes to Ram and Ramayana, they claim it is all mythological and fictitious. Is it not hypocritical?<br />
11. Even today, some of the Asian countries believe in Ram, Ravan, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman. Sri Lanka believes in the Ramayana and therefore till date has proudly shown the coronation of Vibhishan in its parliament; Ashok Vatika has been converted into a famous tourist attraction and not only that, the Sri Lankan government is still paying pension to the descendents of Ravan. Thailand has a place Ayodhya, and the king there is still called Ram, even though a Buddhist. The most important event took place in the history of Indonesia. In November 1949, the Dutch government agreed to give independence and sovereignty to the Indonesian Islands, except Erian (New Guinea). The Indonesian public launched an agitation, asking also for the inclusion of New Guinea, but the Dutch government asked for any irrefutable proof to prove that New Guinea was an integral part of Indonesia.<br />
Then the people of Indonesia, who have a tradition of reciting the Valmiki Ramayana quoted the following verse 'Yatanvanto yavdweepam ______ shishiro naam parvat' (Kiskindha Khand, Sarg 40, Verse 30-31), which meant that 'Sughreev had advised the leaders in his army to visit the eastern frontiers, in search of Sita, to go to Yavadwipa (Java) -- the conglomeration of seven kingdoms, and from there to visit Swarnadeep (Sumatra) and after Sumatra to visit Shishir mountain (New Guinea) inhabited by gods and demons, which kisses the sky with its summit'. After reading this ancient irrefutable evidence, the Dutch handed over New Guinea also to Indonesia. New history was created in Indonesia just because of the Ramayana.<br />
In conclusion, it would not be wrong to say that not believing in the historicity of Ram and Ramayana would be obstinacy and an act of scholastic arrogance. Whether someone has faith or not, history is history. We might not have faith in Ayodhya, Saryu, Ganga, Sri Lanka, Ram, Sita, Hanuman, but how can we doubt their historical existence? I would like to recall the words of Swami Vivekanand to Indian writers of history and every scholar of our soil: 'When a man has begun to be ashamed of his ancestors and his past, the end has come'. The birth anniversary of Ram, Ram Navmi, may awaken in us a true faith, which is devoid of ignorance and myopia. And let us inculcate the richness of character and righteousness of Ram in our midst.<br />
Dr Satyapal Singh is the commissioner of police, PuneDr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5580916961734377135.post-76778243432290934112009-08-14T19:36:00.001+05:302009-08-28T20:04:06.901+05:30Lord KrishnaLord Krishna<br />
An enlightening personality<br />
<br />
I am experiencing mixed feelings of ecstasy and awareness of my own limitations while writing this article on the most illustrious and enlightened man of the era – the Lord Krishna. In the long history of almost last 5000 years there has been no equivalent to such a great Householder soul like Shrikrishna in India or even elsewhere on this Earth. The myth goes that before the birth of Shrikrishna, his parents ( Devaki and Vasudeva ) were kept behind the bars at Mathura by King Kansa. But the moment Shrikrishna was born, the doors of the jail suddenly (automatically) opened and was safely shifted to Gokul. It is entirely needless to probe into this myth for its veracity. But one can easily imagine that when the jail shackles were all of a sudden got cut asundered at the time of the birth of this superhuman, how many miserables must have been rescued by him throughout the lifespan of this divine towering figure ! It is so stunning that this child born in the walls of the prison grows into a savior later in his life and relieves the entire world from the jail of engulfing unrighteousness and sins. The baby deprived even of the privileges of his mother's milk right from the moment he was born, anchored the salvation of innumerable mothers.<br />
<br />
Historicity -<br />
<br />
Historically Shrikrishna belongs to the end of Dvapara Yuga. The position he occupies and the role he plays in the great war of Mahabharata, is extremely important and significant. The Mahabharata war itself gave birth to Gita, the divine celestial speech (Devavani). The Indologists in the light of available historical records and literary documents, astronomical references (the positions of constellations) have concluded that the war of Mahabharata broke out on 12th November 3143 B.C, which means almost 5152 years back. Now any historian or any research worker should have no doubt or prejudice of any order in this regard. Before the British Rule in India, in the pre-historic period, time was measured astronomically in terms of Kalpas and Yugas. (aeonic temporal cycles) The beginning of the new era was called Yugabda. Astronomically speaking the present Kaliyuga started 5109 years ago. Shrikrishna lived till the initial few years of Kaliyuga. <br />
<br />
Childhood<br />
<br />
The Childhood of Shrikrishna was spent in Gokul, Vrundavan area. The foster parents Nanda -Yashoda nurtured him with great zeal, love and care. It is said that Nanda had the herds of 10000 cows in his possession. Even if we consider it to consist only of 1000 cows for a time being, why should then their beloved son go to others' houses and that too for stealing and enjoying the butter stolen ? Nanda and Yashoda were so pure-hearted couple that they would have never hesitated and would have easily agreed to give away their baby-girl to replace and save the sibling of their friend Vasudeva, so how was it possible that they would allow any bad habits like that of stealing and telling lies to get inculcated in the exceptional child of their bosom friend? This is nothing but an utopia or wild imagination of poets like Surdasa and others, - and factually there is no substance in all such stories.<br />
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Granted that there could be some childhood anecdotes associated with Shrikrishna, natural to the age under the caption Balalila (Childhood amusements).But these poets and followers went to the extreme by converting them into Rasalila(amorous youthful sports.) – an act of spiritual distortions of Krishnalila.<br />
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Radha and Gopis<br />
<br />
Some poets from rhetoric school and bhakticult accepted Lord Shrikrishna as a God, worshiped him, adorned him as blind devotees and followers on one hand, and on the other the Western scholars and their self esteemed, the so called Indian scholars, following their footsteps merely depicted him in various ways with low level intentions and sensual impulses. Shrikrishna to them was one who played in the group of Gopis under the sacred name Rasalila, as one stealing the garments of the women, the one engaged and indulging in youthful activities with the damsel by name Radha, making uncourteous hideous gestures with dwarfed maiden Kubja.<br />
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The rhetoric school poets wanted to hide their sensual impulses and writings from the indignation of common people in the society. The blind and self titled devotees wanted to escape themselves from the scornful attitude of common man towards them, their selfish and voluptuous behavior or actions and their luxurious and lavish life style made under the pretext of divine justification and conformation. The Western scholars and others belonging to different religions than that of Hindus, and not to speak of other pseudo scholars wanted to devaluate and bring down the supreme Indian culture and Indian religion – a sort of burning example for all. Thus they mutilated the very noble character of Lord Krishna into an ignoble and scandalous one. <br />
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In the whole of Mahabharata, there is no mention even of the name Radha. We first get glimpses of her, in Gita Govinda of Jayadeva, in the Bhagvat of Bopadeva, his real brother and also in other literary description in the works like Brahma Vaivarta Purana, etc. One comes across in Brahma Vaivarta Purana the illicit love affairs of Radha with Krishna. In the same Purana also many contrary types of relations are alluded regarding the relations between them. Somewhere she is depicted as the daughter of Shrikrishna. Some where she is related as Shrikrishna's aunt (wife of Rayana, brother of Yashoda), sometimes as his daughter-in-law and sometimes as the sister of Shrikrishna. (If some one has any doubts, or wants to know any further details, then all references can be made available).<br />
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Noble Character<br />
<br />
Bankimchandra Chattopadyaya, the author of "Anand math" who carried out research on Mahabharata continuously for about 36 years and also composed thereafter the biography of Shrikrishna, states that according to Mahabharata Shrikrishna had only one wife namely Rukhmini - neither two nor four and of course not at all 16000. According to Mahabharata immediately after getting married both Rukhmini and Shrikrishna went to Badrikashrama and led a pious life there for 12 years. They used to sleep on ground, ate only roots, tubers and fruits and observed strict celibacy. Thereafter Rukhmini gave birth to the first child named Pradhumna. It is sheerly disgusting to stigmatize this noble character shown indulging in love-affairs with and in romance with Radha and Gopis.<br />
<br />
Bankimchandraji has stated " Bhagwan Shrikrishna in all respect was free from all blemishes and was of very pure conduct. Such an ideal character endowed with all virtues, free from all sins never did exist and would hardly exist at anytime, anywhere, neither in this country nor any where in the world. He was a multi-faceted, accomplished and pure soul. (Krishnacharita).” Swami Dayananda states that Shrikrishna was the best of all the characters in the epic Mahabharata. His qualities, deeds, nature and character all are similar to those of accomplished persons(apta or siddha), and were simply magnanimous. He never committed any sin or any impious act right from his birth till his death. Whatever aspersions, thrown on Shrikrishna are all just because of Bhagvata only (Satyarthprakash).<br />
<br />
There is a clear and categorical statement in Maharabhata (Sabha-parva) that in Indraprastha at the time of Rajsuya yagna, performed by Yudhisthira amongst all the invitees like hundreds of Kings, Monarchs, Rishi - Munis and scholars Shrikrishna by all means was considered and reckoned as the wisest, strongest, most valorous and the most distinguished figure of the world and was honoured by Agrapuja ( foremost felicitation ) and was offered in Arghya(respect) . But behold his unassuming gentle nature! At the time of yajna, he modestly offered himself to welcome the Rishi - Munis and scholars by washing their holy feet - the highest token of selflessness. The real wisdom can be so simple and so modest. He was just the role - model.<br />
<br />
Unfaltering Faith<br />
<br />
When Krishna completed his studies in the Sandeepanee Ashrama at Ujjayani Guru Angiras Ghora gave him a final instruction: "O Krishna! when you will reach the last moment of your life, when the death will be knocking at your door, recite the following sentences" 1) Tvam akshitamasi - Hey Almighty thou art eternal, non decayable 2) Tvam achyutamasi -Thou art infallible /non-deviating 3) Tvam prana sanshitamasi - Thou art the minutest and life infusing, similar to the prana. And the author of Upanishads says that Krishna was fully contented and appeased on getting this message. There is then no need of any instruction or advice, as Krishna was knowing that one can remember at the last moment only that which one follows or observes throughout his life.<br />
<br />
And this is exactly why Krishna used to get up early at 3 am - the Brahma-muhurta (auspicious time) and used to repeat the Gayatri mantra thousand times. The Author of Mahabharata (the Vyasa Muni) writes that when Krishna went to Hastinapura as a messenger of peace, at the sunset, he would stop his chariot, take a pause, release the horses from chariot and sit for meditation on the way. During the war, when Abhimanyu was killed, Arjuna was in deep sorrow in the evening. Krishna was also very much grieved as Abhimanyu, the only son of his sister Subhadra and his bosom friend Arjuna was killed. But behold the stable - minded (sthitaprajna i.e. unification of grasping sustaining and recollecting faculties of knowledge – dhi, dhirti & smriti ) Krishna. He instructs Arjuna to join him in evening prayers after which they could come back to this issue as well as the plan for next day's war.<br />
<br />
In Gita, for great happiness and serenity,(Prasannatva) Krishna again and again invites you to seek shelter and protection of that which is perfect and unchangeable Almighty, free from the shackles of birth and death, with His abode in the heart of every being, who controls everybody like the parts of a machine and bestows us the fruits and rewards of our deeds. He advises us to pray, repeat and recite Omkar for worshipping that Almighty who is praised by all Vedashastras and whom all the Rishimuni’s try to attain by penance and austerity.<br />
And even when death (Lord Yama) in the form of an arrow of a hunter (Vyadha), approached and knocked his door, Shrikrishna was engrossed in meditation of the Almighty. Wasn’t it totally and completely following the last instructions given to him at the end of his studies by his Guru.<br />
<br />
Opposing injustice<br />
<br />
Throughout his life, Bhagvan Shrikrishna kept on awakening and evoking everybody against injustice. His birth itself is known for breaking off the shackles of jail. Shrikrishna who was born in the filth of injustice kept on fighting for it throughout his life. Even his childhood was not so easy and comfortable like other children. On the contrary he grew up bearing all atrocities of Kansa. Right in the adolescent stage Shrikrishna took some strategic steps like organizing people from Gokul, Vrindavana and Mathura and gave them training in arms. He did all this not only to liberate his parents from jail but also for opposing and fighting the injustice and to end up the pitiable conditions and cries of people. Even after killing Kansa, as he was fighting with the other cruel kings like Jarasandha and that was the strategic action and mission of his life. Doing all this, though he had to flee from the land of Mathura and Vrindavana, had to go very far and had to establish and settle down in Dvaraka, but he never and no where compromised with injustice.<br />
The entire great war of Mahabharata, the whole sermon of the Gita, is nothing but the veritable invitation to get armed to fight against injustice. If we win while fighting the injustice then only we can enjoy the riches of this planet Earth and if we meet death on the battle field then we will win the Heaven this is what Shrikrishna says.<br />
<br />
½þiÉÉä ´ÉÉ ÉÉ{ºªÉ漃 º´ÉMÉ鬃 ÊVÉi´ÉÉ ´ÉÉ ¦ÉÉäIªÉºÉä ¨Éʽþ¨ÉÂ*<br />
hato vā prāpsyasi svargam jitvā vā bhoksyase mahim *<br />
<br />
When and while he was being prevented by the situation from participating in the war with his arms and weapons he even accepted to become the charioteer of brave archer (Dhanurdhari) Arjuna only for ending the injustice. He never wanted to get away from the war against injustice. To fight against the injustice and profanity and finish it from this world was the mission and goal of his life. All advices and sermons he laid down in Gita, every word that he uttered, whether he was talking of Yoga or of stable genius (sthitaprajna), wisdom, always gave inspiration to fight and propelled them against the injustice. The perishability of the body, immortality of the soul, concentration of the mind, and undisturbed equanimity, calm and peaceful disposition of mind - all was to be described and explained in detail by Krishna so that Arjun, caught in the bewitching trap and completely at his wit's end should pick up his arms and pounce upon injustice, otherwise all these utterances were unnecessary right at the beginning of the war of Mahabharata, certainly not so important as to attract the attention of an magnanimous personality like Krishna. <br />
<br />
Shrikrishna did not become Lord Krishna just because he was the son of Vasudeva, Devaki or not even because he was brought up in the riches of Yashoda mata and father Nanda. He was laid to the position of the Lord because directly or indirectly his Sudarshana-chakra,(Divine beautiful disc or wheel) his special weapon, kept on defeating injustice. Years ago a statue of Shrikrishna in stone was found during the excavation at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh). The English version of Sanskrit write up found on it was as below.<br />
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When there are clouds of hypocrisy and when the sins turn into the storm, then - my melodious flute takes a form of small spear.<br />
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The whole life of Shrikrishna was like a roaring sound of a conch. The vow he took for wiping out the profanity and injustice from this Earth and the establishment of religion and justice instead.<br />
<br />
There is always something very special about every eminent personality of the society and this world. Some of them were the founders of new religion or religion reformists, some were profound scholars or scientists laying bare the secrets of nature, some dispellers of ignorance, some were worshippers of gallantry, or visionary of independence, freedom or even liberty, some unattached Yogi or some discriminative statesmen, some destroyer of social injustice and some ardent proponent of justice. But in the history of the whole world, Shrikrishna is the only greatest personality whose character encompasses together all these diverse ideals. Dear readers, devotees of Krishna, let us take a pledge today, let us make a resolution that we will not allow even advertently any blemish to defame the noble life of that spotless, innocent, virtuous and realized soul. Let us follow the footsteps of the ideals of great people. Following are the words of Krishna<br />
<br />
yad yad ācarati s’reșthas tat tat devetaro janah *<br />
sa yat pramāņam kurute lokas tadanuvartate **<br />
<br />
This is thus the preaching of life and the simple solution of finding happiness, peace and prosperity in life.<br />
<br />
Dr. Satyapal Singh<br />
The Police Commissioner, Pune. <br />
<a href="mailto:drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in">drsinghsp@yahoo.co.in</a>Dr.Satya Pal Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08673676449763386051noreply@blogger.com4