Was Gandhi's sense of Non-violence skewed?

Gandhi had a very skewed sense of Ahinsa/Ahimsa i.e. Non-violence. Why do I say that? Read on to find out.

Gandhi believed that instead of resorting to violence, the enemy should be won over by a change of heart. While this may sound to be fine in civilian life, the same attitude in military affairs would lead to disastrous results. However, since Gandhi claimed to have derived his beliefs from Hinduism, lets explore the source.

Usually Hindu scriptures are cited to justify Gandhi's views as "अहिंसा परमो धर्मः" - which equates Dharma/virtue with Non-violence. (Dharma is NOT the same as religion.) The funny thing is, this is only half the shlok. The complete shlok, which appears in Mahabharata's Anushasan Parv (महाभारत, अनुशासन पर्व) is - "अहिंसा परमो धर्मः, धर्महिंसा तथैव च" i.e. Non-violence is highest Dharma/moral virtue, violence for right cause is equivalent."

(It should be noted that Translating Dharma into religion is a grave mistake. Dharma is the eternal law of the cosmos, inherent in the very nature of things. So we are not talking about only a few Do's and don'ts but the rules that govern the very nature of every being. Among different synonyms for Dharma, Moral Virtue is one and fits well in the above shlok.)

Another argument is that since Hindu Dharma believes that God resides in every living being, it is wrong to kill the enemy. This idea originates from the Mahavakyas :

1. अहं ब्रह्मास्मि = I am Brahmn/God 

(Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)

2. तत तत्वं असि = That are you. 

 (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda)

These two together translate into - "I am Brahmn/God, so are you."

So, if there is God in everyone and hence even in a Tyrant, it will be a sin to kill Him/Her. BUT, this argument fails to see that if the Tyrant is about to kill you, there is God in you as well and protecting that Brahmn is not only NOT-a-sin but your duty! 

Again, Gandhi's version of Ahimsa preaches laying down one's own life while offering passive resistance. There is an interesting Sanskrit subhashita :

Subhashita:

अति दानात् बलिर्वधो ह्यति मानात् सुयोधनः
अति लौल्यात् रावणो हन्तः अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्
Transliteration:
ati daanaat balirvadho hyati maanaat suyodhanaH
ati loulyaat raavaNo hantaH ati sarvatra varjayet

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Bali met his end due to his extreme charity, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) was killed due to his excessive pride, far too much lust brought the end to Ravana. (Hence) give up 'excess' in everything.

Hence, as per Hindu scriptures, while following non-violence is a good idea, blindingly extreme form of  Non violence should be avoided. 

Maharashtra Politics : a bollywood love triangle

Last evening I had a few friends come over to my place. Instead of chatting about fashion, relationships and the usual topics, we often discuss literature, Politics and current affairs. (Yes, we are geeks and we are boring!) Since it was the day of Vidhansabha election results in Maharashtra and Haryana, obviously the same was our topic of discussion (read bakchodi). Almost all results were out and BJP had emerged as the largest party with 123 seats, yet not enough to form government on its own. Shiv Sena with 63 seats emerged as second largest party. The rest fared as follows :

With all the high voltage pre-poll political drama in Maharashtra, that witnessed split in not one but two alliances, the scene was nothing less than a political equivalent of an Ekta Kapur Sas-Bahu melodrama. NCP soon offered its support for a BJP government from outside unconditionally. With this new kahani mein twist, we all could see a perfect Bollywood love-triangle. "What if this Love-triangle was from the movie Devdas?" - with that thought in mind, we continued our Bakaiti session and equating parties with characters from the movie. Here is the outcome.

Right from the tug-of-war between Sena and BJP for seats to their breakup and then all the vituperative epithets used by Sena for Modi, Sena's behavior was more like an insolent girlfriend who had put her foot down on a demand, which lead to a breakup and then she dumps the blame on the other. Not just Paro, but Angry Paro!

A few members were expelled from Congress for opposing Sonia Gandhi's claim over the post of Prime Minister, back in 1999. These members came together and formed NCP. withing next 6 months the same party joined hands with Congress in Maharashtra to form government and then Joined UPA in the center as well. Hence, right from its 'accidental' conception, NCP has always enjoyed chair. Ever ready to partner with other parties for the pleasure of power, today after its split with Congress, its eyeing BJP; any guesses why? If Chair and Beds are furnitures and Politics, a brothel, we've found our Chandramukhi - Beautiful, shrewd and Fatal!

No points for guessing, which role resembles BJP; but since the whole scenario revolved around not the party but Modi, we had to nominate Modi for the role of Devdas, but a different Devdas. You see, as per the story, Devdas gets drunk and screws up his own health. Modi on the other hand is a teetotaller. So, what would he drink? MILK! And instead screwing up the whole situation even more like the original Devdas, Modi rolls up his sleeves and gets down to business. Hence, Modi isnt Devdas, but a Sanghi Devdas!

So, if Modi is Sanghi Devdas, who fits the bill for Chunni Babu? Ofcourse, the one and only Amit Shah! but again this Chunni Babu does not help his friend screw his life even more, but does everything he can to ensure his friend's victory. Thats Amit shah - a Sanghi Chunni Babu!

One party that has been trying to mediate a deal between Shiv Sena and BJP right when the tussle about the seats began has been the Republican Party of India (RPI). Even post polls, RPI chief Ramdas Athavle has remained hopeful of a Sena-BJP reconciliation. Yes, thats our Dharam da!

Born in an affluent family but low on morals, Congress has not only lost its ally, but now also helplessly watches it make advances towards its rival. Congress is a Cocky villain and hence Kali Babu... a Secular Kaali Babu.

An aggressive character with negative shades that has a presence on the scene as good as a cameo, provides a bit of comic relief and as the story advances which is soon rendered irrelevant is Kumud Bhabhi. Enough said!

Just when everyone thought we had discussed all the characters and parties and were busy making jokes on the last character, and predicting about new alliances, Ashraf Ali entered the scene.

Wait, what! isn't that a character from ... errm, from Gadar, ek prem katha?
yes, you guessed it right.
So isn't this kinda an intrusion?
Exactly!

Now chew on this : All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen, AIMIM - a Communal party based in Hyderabad known for its floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's venomous hate speech against Hindus, won 2 seats in Maharashtra.

Bollywood's cleavage revealed

Once upon a time, when Bollywood was still known as Hindi Film Industry, the character sketches of Heroes, Heroines, Villains and Vamps were very different then the present ones. A Hero was the one who respected women and elders and could sacrifice all he had for his love. Chivalry was an essential trait. Heroines too were the typical 'Bhartiya Naari'. That was an era when peeping toms and playboys were villains and revealing dress worn by Vamps still covered their skin with 'skin'.

CUT TO! And from flashback we are back to present...where peeping toms and playboys are our 'Bollywood' heroes and female leads bare everything. Item numbers with zoom-in close up shots of cleavages and other fleshy female body parts has become common 'masala' in Bollywood movies. The time when advertisements could be seen with whole family is past, today most ads try to sell products with the tadka of SEX. Surely we have come a long way...from being a conservative society to a modern one. No?

Sex sells... and so even serious news papers, in their Entertainment section include 'eye-catching' pictures of celebs. Many 'conservatives' have been cribbing about Bollywood and media's obsession with sex and its adverse effects on the society, since long... a reality check came as Times of India's post about Deepika Padukone's cleavage. - the circle is complete.

The most shocking thing about the article was that whatever little cleavage was visible, was due to the bird's eye view angle of the camera. The cameraman/woman sure had some voyeuristic tendencies. Also, the heading too was absolutely ridiculous and crass. It was a welcome change to see Deepika Padukone give ToI a piece of her mind. Someone had to show such news papers a mirror. Soon #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was trending on twitter.

But wait. Now that we have shown ToI its place, who will do the same to Bollywood? Bollywood actors did not lose time in supporting Deepika...but isnt this the same Bollywood that thrives on Item numbers and display of flesh and 'bold' scenes?

Remember the tagline used for a movie titled 'Ragini MMS'? ... "have you seen Ragini's MMS?"...where was your outrage back then, Bollywood celebs? A naked Aamir Khan standing with nothing but a transistor, a nude Sunny Leone laying naked covered only with a translucent sheet, some actress (whose name I wont even bother to google) sits almost naked on a bed displaying her bare back with her waist covered with a bedsheet - these are not just some movie scenes that pass through but posters that stayed for months on huge hoardings...and these are only 3 amongst innumerable such posters. This is the same industry which is plagued by 'Casting Couch', exploiting males and females. How does then Bollywood dare claim moral high grounds?

Here are few more question - what enraged Deepika Padukone? Was it about her modesty or was it about her consent? Its obvious to assume that it was about her consent, since there are many pictures of her from her photoshoots that give a better view. If such is the case, shouldn't Bollywood issue a guideline for press making it clear what should and what shudnt be published? Oh, but wouldn't that conflict with Bollywood's own interests? What a dilemma!

Deepika in one of her tweets also talks about respecting women, but how does one demand respect for what she/he objectifies? Oh damn! Another dilemma?

Bollywood has for long encashed on masses' obsession with flesh and sex...seems like its time to taste their own medicine.

Supriya Sule : Feminism or Tokenism?

Surfing news channels for my daily dose of current affairs while sipping late morning tea, a lady answering audience questions on ABP news caught my attentuon. This was Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP suprimo Sharad Pawar, in a program titled 'Ghoshnapatra'. Political biases aside, I must say I was impressed with the grace with which she answered some serious and tough questions, may it be about Farmers' suicides in Maharshtra or Dynasty politics.

What caunght my attention was her answers to two differnt random questions, that strangely connected on one subject.

A gentleman in flowery words questioned her about Dynasty politics. Obviously, this was directed towards her own 'Pawar-house' (*hint, pun). To which she gave example of R.R.Patil (Home Minister Maharashtra) who has no political background. Also, she mentioned about Nationalist Congress Party's efforts in incresing women's participation in politics right from grass-root level and how they have reached out to Women in rural Maharashtra.

After few other questions, another gentleman pointed out that often her name is mentioned as a candidate for the post of Maharashtra's CM...will the people see her as Maharashtra's first female CM?

The answer to this question is always a shy denial, but the way she denied was what impressed me the most. "I am against any kind of tokenism. A female CM does not guarantee safety and security for women. Uttar Pradesh had a female CM (Miss Mayavati) for four terms and we all know about the situation there." - She denied and NOT!

She cleverly denied any sexist ethusiasms and left the question on CM's post unanswered. We all know what an unanswered question means.

Every now and then we see people demanding more posts be headed by females, since that would ensure soltion to women's issues. Is this not sexism...against women? Are we saying a person should be given a certain post and celebrated only becuse the pronoun associated is 'SHE'? In doing so are we not undermining that person's talents and capabilities? And most importantly, drawing from Supria Sule's words, aren't we trading Feminism for Tokenism, thereby opening new ways for women to be exploited? (Remember how Lalu Prasad Yadav used Rabri Devi as a remote control? Oh, those who'd call it misogynitic Male dominated Society's treatement of women, remember Manmohan Singh's case?)

There is a thin line between all these 'isms'... let us not forget this in our enthusiasms for whatever sex we favour.

How Deepika Padukone turned TOI into TOIlet paper

It all started with Times Of India's Entertainment section tweeting about Deepika Padukone's supposed cleavage show. The article was just another one in the line of TOI's ever falling level of journalism, a fresh attempt at finding new lows. Making news headlines on some celebrity's cleavage is in itself far from appropriate, to begin with. Moreover, it was pretty clear from the thumbnail in the tweet that whatever little cleavage was visible was due to the 'bird's eye view' angle of the camera.

Reacting to this, Deepika Padukone tweeted along with the above screenshot in a firm tone.

Had TOI played dumb on this, they would have been in a much better state, but as the old sanskrit saying goes,"Vinaashkaale Vipareet buddhi", TOI decided to practically add fuel to the fire with its reply to Deepika :

The next two tweets by Deepika Padukone totally earned her my reapect. If only we had more of women like Deepika who would dare to stand against such acts of Assholery and give them a good whooping that they deserve, human society would be in a much better shape!

Answering Ram Gopal Verma on his querries about Ganpati

।।श्री गणेशाय नमः।।
It was heartening to see Raam Gopal Verma taking interest in Hindu scriptures and post his queries regarding Shree Ganesh on Twitter. Though many seemed agitated on RGV's choice of words, lets give him benefit of doubt and answer the questions, one by one.

RGV : The guy who couldn't save his own head from being cut , how he will save others heads is my  question? But Happy Ganpathi day to morons!
Answer : Not fair RGV Saar. Not fair! How can you give your wishes on Ganesh Chaturthi only to those belonging to your tribe! Afterall we live in a secular Nation. Anyway, I'll still answer your question. Going by yourwords its seems your idea about God 'almighty' is a being that is Immortal and Invincible. Though I wouldnt disagree, there is an extention to this idea that you seem to have missed.

Limiting God in the word 'Immortal' seems a bit immature. Immortality is an idea about those for whom a form is their limited identity, which if once destroyed can not be recovered by itself. Hence immortality is to prserve that form or even the formless identity forever. But what if one gain control over its own and other's life and death and rebirths...what if death is only a line that it can draw whenever and where ever it wishes to on the infinite playground of space, time and dimentions? Jumping from one side to the other like a game seems like fun, no? This fun can be loosely equated to sanskrit word 'leela' (लीला).
Since you are a movie maker, let me put it in way that you can relate to. If in your movie an actor dies, does he die in real life too? No, right? Also, theres always a lesson to every story. This 'leela' too is similar to a movie.

Shri Ganesh by means of this leela teaches us the kind of respect one must hold for her/his Mother, resolve and bravery. Shiva through the same leela teaches us ill effects of allowing our anger to take control over our sense.

The Elephant's head was chosen to free Airavat (Indra's Elephant) of a curse due to which it had to be born as a mortal.

Also, Elephant's head has hidden symbolism - large eara to listen to the prayers of his devotees. You may google for rest.

NB: Im writing this post from my phone hence please forgive spelling and grammatical mistakes.

- #SahuCar

Dusting off the dirt from the tradition of Rakhi

A Book that sits in shelf, inevitably gathers dust. When people stop making efforts to learn the real sense hidden in the Book and start interpreting the title on its cover by hear-say, inevitably a huge chunk of information never comes into picture. Also, you should expect a considerable amount of information to be false. Would you go by a review of any book by someone who hasn't read the book but writes the review on hearsay? Moreover, would you trust someone to tell you about the book, when that someone doesn't really want you to read the book? Whatever your answers are, I'd request you to relate this whole introduction to Hindu Traditions. Most of our traditions have changed with time, for various reasons, and now are under attack - Rakshabandhan is one of them.

Attack, you say? Yes. When a tradition with so many colourful interpretations and forms has been chopped down into a stub and then even criticised, I would say, it is under attack.

I try to recall what I learnt through my education in school about the festival and traditions of Rakshabandhan? All I remember is the story of Rajpoot Queen Karnavati who sent Rakhi to Humayun to protect Chittor from Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujrat. Humayun though set off immediately to her rescue with his troops, arrived too late. Bahadur Shah had managed to sack Queen's fortress and Rajpoot Queen along with other 13,000 women had performed Jauhar. Though a lot of historians remain skeptical about the legend, I don't dare to doubt what the school text books dictate me to believe. Yet, this is a historical account; where is the religious origin of this festival?

Going by popular belief, Rakshabandhan is a festival that (exclusively) celebrates the bond between a brother and sister; but if so, why a similar festival called 'Bhai-dooj' is also celebrated? I was also taught about Queen Draupadi tying a piece of cloth torn from her attire on Krishna's finger to stop it from bleeding. But then Draupadi was Krishna's Sakhi/Friend...isnt this another shade of this festival? Trying to find the origin of this festival, I also read about stories about Yam and Yamuna, King Bali and Lakshmi and the story about Santoshi Maa, daughter of Ganapati. All these stories strengthen the belief that it is a festival that celebrates the love between a brother and sister... and I would be happy with that too; but Wait! Why would then Pundit jee on the same day tie Raksha-sutr on the wrist of their Yajman? Why do women tie Rakhi amongst themselves?

courtesy :
Religious Basis of Hindu Beliefs By Dr. Bhojraj Dwivedi

This time I tried to concentrate on the term 'Rakshabandhan' - literally, a thread tied that would protect; and that is when I came across Devi Shachi and Indra's story. Long story short, Devi Shachi (Indra's consort), tied raksha sootra on Indra's wrist before going for war, which made him fearless and due to the effect of the Raksha-sutra, he won the war. The interesting thing to note here is that Devi Shachi is Indra's consort - this adds a new dimension to the festival of Rakshabandhan.

Bhavishya Puran mentions :
सर्व रोगापशमनं सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् ।
सत्कृत्कृते नाब्दमेकं येनरक्षा कृता भवेत्॥
Raksha-sutr worn on Shravani Poornima is the destroyer of all diseases and inauspicious activities. By wearing it in a proper manner once a year a man remains protected for the whole year.

With all these different stories, What I could conclude is that the festival is basically about Rakshasutra tied by a wife to her husband, a Pundit to Yajman, a sister to her brother and even amongst women to bless the other with courage and invisibility so that She/He could in turn protect others. With the arrival of Mughal hordes, Rakshabandhan inspired men to fearlessly fight to defend their women. Though the other vibrant hues of this festival are still practiced, Bollywood with is obvious lack of knowledge of cultural values picked up and romanticised only the bond between Brother and sister. 

I have only attempted in this article to brush away the dust from a small volume of a mammoth set of books called Sanatan Dharma and I am sure I'm still missing a few aspects here. The best way to conclude is with a few words from a respected elder, who first pointed out the hidden truths - 

"The Indian mythology is an endless ocean. You will draw only as much water from it as the size of your bucket (mental and spiritual pre-requisites) and if your bucket is placed bottoms up, even if the whole ocean is poured over it, you won't get a single drop out of it."

a girl tying Rakshasutra to her Mother