I cannot be the Mahatma. As much as i try to be, i do not have the capability to come close to the Mahatma's shadow. But, if he was alive today, he might encounter a varied range of opinions about the plight of his country and of his fellow countrymen.
Many people blame the Mahatma for the partition of the coutry into India and Pakistan. It is from this subsequent point in history that all political, economic and social dynamic has evolved in the sub continent. The social and economic aspect is something which is considered in this post.
In the view of the terror attacks, a particular community comes into the spotlight. When politicians play their game of power with the sensitivities of communal tensions, the social fabric is strained. Now, with the increasing frequency of terror attacks and the political games that are played in the aftermath, the Mahatma would have been worried. When it comes to the aspect of self defence and freedom of movement, this generation chooses the extreme end of arming itself and taking the law into their own hands.
Mahatma Gandhi would have always wanted the people to be united in the time of strife. But, in this aspect, the Mahatma would have had to die a thousand times over. When people kill other people without the slightest hint of rationality, it then throws apart the Mahatma's humanistic values.
On the economic front, the Mahatma would have been perplexed with what has transpired in the age of globalization. The economic overturns that the country has gone through would have made Bapu happy, yet he would have not appreciated the fast pacedness of life. If looked at from the social perspective, Bapu would have been disoriented at the lack of family bonding and the emergence of a nuclear family.
He would have been shattered at the plight of the countryside of India. The farmer's suicide on a regular basis, the sheer neglect of modern India towards the countryside and the ever increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots would have hurt Bapu very badly. The economic scenario of the country would have been too much for Bapu to handle, because the social ramnifications have been a little grave on hindsight.
On 2nd October, it was 60 years ever since Bapu was assasinated. He is now reduced to a historical myth in textbooks. In the modern time, a phenomenon called Gandhigiri has been epitomized, which make his values and his outlook relevant. But, it still falls short of acknowledging the true message that Bapu had. Now, with an atmosphere of terror, he unfortunately fades away into obscurity. If ever a nation wanted to prove their appreciation to Bapu, they must fight terrorism with the saje way as how Bapu did. Only then will his soul rest in peace.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Terror implications and religion
Terror has always fed on the aspect of religion. When a terror attack takes place, the names are found out and then indirectly or directly, society attaches that person as the face of that particular religion. Whenever terrorist attacks have taken place the world over post 9/11, we witness the factor of Islamic terrorism and muslim terrorists highlighted many times over.
The bigotry of the middle ages continues in a new style in modern times. Islam is in the forefront this time. Many call these times as a battle between the west and Islam, as portrayed by Samuel Hunttington's 'Clash of Civilizations' theory. However, the problem goes deeper than that. The problem of terror in todays dynamics is rooted deeply in religion and the key factor of interpretation.
Religion has always made people wanting to go back to the fundamentals. In the due process, many people interpret the laws written in several books in their strictest form, thus resulting in a conservative and orthodox mindset in society. This phenomenon is present in all religions, but unfortunately, the religion most under scrutiny is Islam. The dynamics of religious interpretations results in some irrational thoughts of heaven and hell. If a bit of rationality can be applied, which now depends upon how people interpret rationality, the sense of heaven and hell is in our own minds.
The essence of going back to the fundamentals may be the application of mind over the matter. If a person interprets the laws of religion with the surrounding times, then fanaticism can be avoided. Swami Vivekanand, in one of his speeches in Chicago, had mentioned that Fanaticism was the major factor which can pollute religions and divide people. It must be noted that this is my interpretation of his speech.
Fanaticism comes about due to desperation. When economic and social factors always go against individuals, then they fall back to their religion and begin to interpret the path of God in the strictest form. The brainwashing apparently comes up in this possible process, but it could be even more. The unfairness prevailing in the socio-economic scenario can be interpreted as being solely attached to one community, thus resulting in terror activities as legitimate to make known the demands.
Many media outlets have spoken about the alienation of the muslim community in view of the terror attacks that have hit India for the past month or so. The brainwashing apparently becomes the perverted nature of the inequalities in the socio-economic system of the state.
Terror has always fed on religion. The solution to curb terror could be Egalitarianism, but it is a long and lengthy process. The lines of tolerance are growing thinner, while the walls of prejudice are becoming stronger. The world will go through another phase of bloodshed. It is indeed symbolic that the irrationality called Bloodshed is linked to the ultimate irrationality called Religion. The implications are indeed grave, because there is a solution, but it is curtailed by the lengthiness of time.
The bigotry of the middle ages continues in a new style in modern times. Islam is in the forefront this time. Many call these times as a battle between the west and Islam, as portrayed by Samuel Hunttington's 'Clash of Civilizations' theory. However, the problem goes deeper than that. The problem of terror in todays dynamics is rooted deeply in religion and the key factor of interpretation.
Religion has always made people wanting to go back to the fundamentals. In the due process, many people interpret the laws written in several books in their strictest form, thus resulting in a conservative and orthodox mindset in society. This phenomenon is present in all religions, but unfortunately, the religion most under scrutiny is Islam. The dynamics of religious interpretations results in some irrational thoughts of heaven and hell. If a bit of rationality can be applied, which now depends upon how people interpret rationality, the sense of heaven and hell is in our own minds.
The essence of going back to the fundamentals may be the application of mind over the matter. If a person interprets the laws of religion with the surrounding times, then fanaticism can be avoided. Swami Vivekanand, in one of his speeches in Chicago, had mentioned that Fanaticism was the major factor which can pollute religions and divide people. It must be noted that this is my interpretation of his speech.
Fanaticism comes about due to desperation. When economic and social factors always go against individuals, then they fall back to their religion and begin to interpret the path of God in the strictest form. The brainwashing apparently comes up in this possible process, but it could be even more. The unfairness prevailing in the socio-economic scenario can be interpreted as being solely attached to one community, thus resulting in terror activities as legitimate to make known the demands.
Many media outlets have spoken about the alienation of the muslim community in view of the terror attacks that have hit India for the past month or so. The brainwashing apparently becomes the perverted nature of the inequalities in the socio-economic system of the state.
Terror has always fed on religion. The solution to curb terror could be Egalitarianism, but it is a long and lengthy process. The lines of tolerance are growing thinner, while the walls of prejudice are becoming stronger. The world will go through another phase of bloodshed. It is indeed symbolic that the irrationality called Bloodshed is linked to the ultimate irrationality called Religion. The implications are indeed grave, because there is a solution, but it is curtailed by the lengthiness of time.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
More Attacks and A Wednesday
The past month has witnessed terror attacks at an alarmingly frequent rate in India. First it was Bangalore, Ahmedabad and then Delhi. Now, the past week has witnessed another spate of attacks in Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The demand for harsher laws to curb terror has been growing. Films have been produced wherein the terrorist menace is now being curbed by the actions of an armed common citizenry. The time that has been witnessed now is a mixture of necessity and irrationality, havoc and prejudice and more importantly, we are far from a solution.
Media can go indepth and report the situation. The analysis by several of their chosen sources and news consultants can give the common man an idea of the situation at hand, but not go into the roots of how the problem comes up. Lots of times whenver a particular terrorist attack comes up, one communuity is targetted and they have to be apologetic in front of millions. These recent terror attacks have exposed the angered psyche of ordinary citizens. 'A Wednesday' is abrilliant film, which showcases the anger that common citizens have over the inability of the police and the government to prevent terrorist attacks.
The dialogues spoken by the stupid common man in the film illustrate his frustrations about the troubled times and its several complications. It highlights the inability and questions the common man's 'return to normal policy'. The film blends perfectly with the scenario that is facing India and about the strength of the social fabric in the aftermath of an attack. Some news outlets were reporting the ignorance of certain instituitions and people regarding the source of the terror attacks.
The problem addressed in 'A Wednesday' is relevant but unfortunately superficial. If the citizenry is armed, as in the case of Selwa Judum in Chattisgarh against the Naxals, it could give rise to either of the three possibilities. Anarchy, more bloodshed or curbing of the menace. If the last one is achieved with responsible means, then an armed citizenry is worth having. But, terrorism feeds upon the inequalities of state policy and lack of communuity support.
Prejudice and misconceptions are two weapons with which terror thrives. The citizenry may have a duty like that of the nstupid common man in the film, but it is only as a last resort. The most prominent thing that a citizen can do, and I maintain it, is the elimination of prejudice and ensuring fair and balanced education to al stratas of society in order to eliminate misconception. Brainwashing is done when all other means in front of the common man have been extinguished. Thus, if ordinary people can help their fwllow citizens in eliminating misonceptions and prejudice, then terror can be defeated.
The next part explores the furthur implication of terror with regards to religion.
Media can go indepth and report the situation. The analysis by several of their chosen sources and news consultants can give the common man an idea of the situation at hand, but not go into the roots of how the problem comes up. Lots of times whenver a particular terrorist attack comes up, one communuity is targetted and they have to be apologetic in front of millions. These recent terror attacks have exposed the angered psyche of ordinary citizens. 'A Wednesday' is abrilliant film, which showcases the anger that common citizens have over the inability of the police and the government to prevent terrorist attacks.
The dialogues spoken by the stupid common man in the film illustrate his frustrations about the troubled times and its several complications. It highlights the inability and questions the common man's 'return to normal policy'. The film blends perfectly with the scenario that is facing India and about the strength of the social fabric in the aftermath of an attack. Some news outlets were reporting the ignorance of certain instituitions and people regarding the source of the terror attacks.
The problem addressed in 'A Wednesday' is relevant but unfortunately superficial. If the citizenry is armed, as in the case of Selwa Judum in Chattisgarh against the Naxals, it could give rise to either of the three possibilities. Anarchy, more bloodshed or curbing of the menace. If the last one is achieved with responsible means, then an armed citizenry is worth having. But, terrorism feeds upon the inequalities of state policy and lack of communuity support.
Prejudice and misconceptions are two weapons with which terror thrives. The citizenry may have a duty like that of the nstupid common man in the film, but it is only as a last resort. The most prominent thing that a citizen can do, and I maintain it, is the elimination of prejudice and ensuring fair and balanced education to al stratas of society in order to eliminate misconception. Brainwashing is done when all other means in front of the common man have been extinguished. Thus, if ordinary people can help their fwllow citizens in eliminating misonceptions and prejudice, then terror can be defeated.
The next part explores the furthur implication of terror with regards to religion.
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