GOPAL K. AGARWAL
Posted online: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at 0000 hours IST
INTER VENTION Years of subjugation and Hindu philosophy have created a mindset which does not react to aggression or exploitation. There are circumstances that call for collective wisdom to dictate action — when castes, creeds or religious communities must revolt against any act on the part of an individual or institution causing hurt to its pride or identity. I think the Hindus have lost this capability.
Every politician and many institutions in the country are competing to hurt Hindu sentiments in the race to appease other groups. This is being done with the clear intent to gain in votebank politics. Who is to be blamed for this shameful disregard to Hindu sentiment? Any community which cannot stand up for its institutions or its symbols, or is a silent spectator to the ridicule of its pride, must go down unsung in history. It is better for it to perish than to lead this shameful existence.
Petty politicians like Jayalalithaa have become bold enough to act in concert to malign a 2500 year-old Hindu institution. This institution represents the greatest philosopher and unifier of the country. Shri Adi Shankaracharya had a clear vision to establish Shankar Mutts in the four corners of the country as seats of knowledge, public service and national integration.
They say nobody is above the law. Only fools buy this argument. In our country, not only do criminals roam free but they also occupy seats of power. Else, how can you explain persons like Shibu Soren occupying high positions and Raja Bhaiyya, who is a hardened criminal, becoming a minister in the government? Yet this argument is being used to arrest a respected personality without proving his guilt and staging his trial by media through selective leaks.
In the Mahabharata, it is said that public ridicule of any respected person is a punishment worse than killing him. Yet what have so-called leaders done with Shankaracharya ji? We are all mute spectators to this heinous crime.
The law was bent in the Shah Bano case to appease one community. A religious leader of the community was not taken to court because it may have created a difficult law and order situation and the case against him was dropped. But then, those were treasured vote banks.
It is a good thing to be liberal in one’s thoughts and deeds. Indeed, ‘‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’’ (the world is one family) is a great philosophy. But when this very philosophy becomes our weakness then it is the duty of every thinking and proud individual to set it aside and fight for his rights and demolish those demons who are creating a divide and rule politics.
“Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached” thus spoke Swami Vivekananda. He further said, “Say with pride that I am a Hindu”.
The writer is a member of the BJP’s Central Intellectual Cell. The views expressed are personal
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