India-D Digest [II] - Mar 21
Uma Ramamurthy
Today's Topics:
Mythology::
Reg. Why Kesava!!
Politics::
Being an Indian feels great !!!
Bite the hand that feeds you, and you are likely to get slapped!
Discussion on Vande Mataram
Mr.Usman Khan's Posting
New Movie in TN!
Politics - Usman Khan's message
Psecularist Judiciary
Reg. Ms. Majumder's and the rest......
Reg. Response to Mr. Hussain's articles
Reg. Vande Matarama, Response to Mr Brynt, Part 2/2
Vande-Maataram
Vande Mataram (2 msgs)
Spiritual/Religion::
Reply to "Against All Religions" (Part 1/2)
Reg. Rahul Sharma's article on Religion
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mythology
=========
Date: 20 Mar 94 03:19:19 CST6
From: pk...@RA.MsState.Edu
Subject: Reg. Why Kesava!!
Hi Everybody,
I happened to see some discussion reg. " Why KESAVA".
I have the solution:
Kesava means a person who has long hair as if it is being
originated from the ground ( Bhoomi)
Kesava is Kesa(hair) + va (originated from earth)
Comments welcome.
Happy Discussions.
Mera Bharath Mahaan.
Praveen.
------------------------------
Politics
========
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 13:44:46 -0800 (PST)
From: PxN6%AsiFs%C...@bangate.pge.com
Subject: Being an Indian feels great !!!
Hello friends,
Once in a while every one of us is confronted by the
question - How do you like being an Indian ? It is not easy to
answer this quetion. The question takes all new meaning as
we are living in a country which is the Super Power on earth.
Now the question is 'how do you like being an Indian among
all these strange people with strange languages and
complexions hailing from all parts of the globe ?'.
First thing that seperates us from any other nation
is the fact that we inherited an unbeleivable historical heritage.
Ours is one of the oldest civilizations. Considering the fact
that the Vedas are considered to be the earliest manuscripts, we
may well be the most ancient civilization. When most parts of
the world were steeped in ignorance Indian subcontinent had
many flourishing unversities. Pupils from China and Gandhara
[modern day Afghanistan] were many. Huen Tsang,among many,
visited India. Indian arts were considered to be top class. Where
else can we find an iron stupa [Ashoka stupa in New Delhi] that
didn't rust even after twenty centuries ? Scientists like Aryabhat
and the Maharaj of Jaipur calculated distances between planets.
Legend has it that Tansen, musician in Akbar's court, could light
a lamp with his music.
India is the first country is that won freedom by non-
violent method in modern times. India shrugged off her colonial
shakles and pushed ahead with radical industrial development
under the guidance of Pandit Nehru. Now India is third largest
scientific pool. India is third largest among railways. India joined
the elited club of nations that can launch missiles.
With so much great history behind us and so much bright
future in front of us, now I can give my answer. Being an Indian
feels just great !
Prakash.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 23:34:03 -0600 (CST)
From: JR...@ttacs1.ttu.edu (Jana M)
Subject: Bite the hand that feeds you, and you are likely to get slapped!
Dear Friends,
When I was reading John Anderson's article in Washington Post about Rafiq
Zakaria's fears, that was the first thought that came in my mind. But then, I
started thinking about some of my personal experiences. As a general rule
during a riot, it is the hooligans who starts it first and they try to get
their revenges riding the wave of a public feeling, or an opportune moment.
Sure enough, reading the posting next day about the true nature of this person,
my doubts were confirmed. The person's name who took the effort to enlighten
the masses eludes me at the moment. But, it surely points out the shortcoming
of the western media to portray the true picture. And, I'd like to thank you,
and request you to send your thoughts to the Washington Post.
Though many of the articles that we come across in this part of the world are
often biased against India (I haven't been able to figure out totally why), it
was a relief to read Francois Gautier's insightful article. I said to myself
that, finally here is someone who has seen things in the proper perspective.
During the past few years I have been quite confused about Muslims and their
religion Islam. I had the good fortune to be brought up in a family where Gita,
Koran and Bible... were revered; Subha Bijoya, Id and Christmas celebrated with
equal enthusiasm and the children were taught (both at home and at school) that
all religions are good. But as I grew up and learned about some of the princi-
ples in Islam, and also observing that today, where ever there is terrorism,
where there is a war - there is a Muslim; I am having some serious doubts.
Mr. Najid Hussain helped me understand the situation better -
> Muslims have not in general given the title of bad people, but that over a
> period of time, they have earned it.
> It still is quite intolerant of other faiths, still believes in conversion by
> force and fraud and still preaches Jihad on the silliest and filmsiest
> accounts. The followers are sheeps and leaders have little expertise,
> etiquettes and sophistication in negotiation.
> History is full of accounts of what Muslims have done to the non-belivers.
> Sure they have done some good things too.
Well, Mr. Hussain I'd like to thank you, and congratulate you for an
enlightening, straight forward and courageous article, more so if you happen
to be a Muslim.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 1994 17:52:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Mainak Mazumdar <ST40...@BROWNVM.brown.edu>
Subject: Discussion on Vande Mataram
I am somewhat lost in the on-going discussion on the merits of Bankim-
Chandra's scholarship, his biases, historical context of the novel
'Anandamath' and so forth. The questions asked on the net are seemingly,
- on most accounts- legitimate and proper. As much as the content and
relevance of Vandemataram forms the gist of the debate, perhaps we ought
to question why one legislate ( or legally enforce ) national song in
schools.
Let me pose some questions: Are we to instil faith in children
through sanctioned norms by the State or, are we to leave this role to
families ? To what extent 'national song' cultivates national unity
among people ? What is the purpose of the proposed law ? Is it to
cultivate patriotic sentiments among all Indian children or is to
remind Muslims children about conflict ridden hindu-muslim relationship
in Indian history and contemporary India ? Given that both percieved
and unintented effects of the law are diverse, are there any better
ways to instil nationalism/patriotic sentiments among children ? Undoutedly,
knowledge of history is important to guide our lives. However, in most
cases historical facts are only interpreted in the light of contemporary
society. To the extent that history is under constant revision, how much
emphasis should we place on historical facts ( selective/
nondiscriminatory) in designing national unity ? Why do we have to weigh
so much of our national pride in past ?
Mainak Mazumdar
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 08:12:15 -0600
From: kkc...@oscar.monsanto.com (K.CHANDRASHEKAR)
Subject: Mr.Usman Khan's Posting
Fellow Netters,
I am glad to see Mr.Usman Khan's posting. Unless people
who share similar views start expressing them on the net
it is going be another religious warfare of vocabulory.
Consider this:- India and Pakistan together has a population
of almost a Billion. In terms of economic growth, technical
and artistic skills the two countries together would amount
to a significantly powerful block that most developed countries
cannot ignore. The two countries have similar culture, backgrounds
and many families who are inter-related. Yet, we spend 13-18%
of the country's annual budgets on Defense (esentially playing
a psychological game of war against each other).
I wonder if there are people who disagree with Mr.Usman Khan
in the belief that we are an Intelligent Species who can respect
each other and who can live in harmony with a capability to
appreciate differences.
K.Chandrashekar
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 13:29:35 -0500 (EST)
From: Subramanian Gopalakrishnan <"lavc01::GOPAL"@cliff.bms.com>
Subject: New Movie in TN!
>EX-MINISTER ATTACKED IN TN ASSEMBLY
>MADRAS - Former Minister G. Viswanathan was assaulted by pro-AIADMK
>independent member R. Tamaraikani, and the 2 Cong(I) members who rushed to
>his rescue were named and thrown out by speaker Sedapatti, R. Muttaiah amid
>bedlam in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.
********************************************************************
Come and see the show at the TN Assembly. (Can't see anywhere else)
********************************************************************
Title: J's LAMBS -- A (com)motion picture of intense
VIOLENCE & a relentless pursuit of CORRUPTION.
*rring: Heroine: "J" -- No HERO!!
Villain: R. Tamaraikani(?)
Director: "Sedapatti R Muthiah"
Dialogue: Unparliamentary
Music: Minister's Sounds of Rage (Bedlam)
Rated RR (Protective gear advised!!)
********************************************************************
The viewers of Tamil Nadu assure that the show will run till the next
elections and afterwards the sequel to this movie J's LAMBS II will be
released for viewer's benefit.
Subramanian Gopalakrishnan
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 10:17:23 -0500 (EST)
From: vish....@sdrc.com (Vish Kohli)
Subject: Politics - Usman Khan's message
Usman Khan's message comes like a draft of fresh air in a room full of
smoke. In the din of accusations people forget the basic truth of life that
humanity is the foremost religion -
"manas di jaat sabai ekke pehchanbo" said Guru Nanak
(treat all human beings as one)
What meaning do arguments have in the light of the fact that death is
near - the tragic news of the demises of Devashish Das and R.Khosla, announced
on this network itself, should serve as a reality check for those furiously
debating right and wrong. Focus not on what religion x says, but talk about
what humanity warrants in each life situation. Before you will know, life will
have closed the door on you.
What good are the religions that the debaters on the net are trying to
champion if the principle of humanity continues to be ignored by the followers
of the religions; an Urdu poet has said it aptly:
"Masjid to bana li shab-bhar mein eeman ki hararat waalon nein,
Man apna purana paapi hai barson mein namaazi ban na saka"
(the place of worship was made in all speed by the worshippers,
the heart, old sinner that it was, could never really worship in it)
The Vedas (from which the Upanishads have been extracted) which preach
this universal humanity, say the following :
"When a human being is about to act, having grasped what his
senses sensed and heard what his desire beckons, a voice
beckons from within - it causes the human being to experience
joy and peace if the act he is about to perform is right,
and causes him to experience fear, shame and nervousness if the
act he is about to perform is wrong. This voice comes not from
from the atma(soul) but from the parmatma(God)"
Yet another mantra from the Vedas says:
"If you seek happiness in life,
Be like the honey bee that goes from flower to flower sucking
nectar ignoring any garbage that may lie in its path, and not like
the housefly that goes from one garbage heap to another ignoring
the flowers"
Source : Book "Manav aur Manavta" by (Late)Mahatma Anand Swami)
If you are a honey bee you will seek nectar and leave out the rest
regardless of what religion you were born in.
(Naysayers like Ken Bryant, Rahul Sharma please take note.)
Lastly, it has been a pleasure reading honest/well-guiding articles
from people like Usman Khan, Ashish Ray, Najid Hussain and others. May their
tribe increase.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 23:21:35 -0500
From: ram...@image.linet.org (Ramana Murthy)
Subject: Psecularist Judiciary
There we go again. Nehruvian hypocrites are once again telling us what the
Constituition is all about. These are the same guys who don't think it is
wrong to pilfer few carpets meant for the Court to their own homes. The
fellow who actually did this was absolved by the Congress party MPs of any
wrong doing. In return for what ? Use your imagination! He gets a grand
"retirement party" from his colleagues for exceptional service to the
nation, what, say you :-) :-); welcome to Independent Judiciary 101.
These are the same people who form the "independent judiciary" and are being
hailed by none other than the psecularist intellegentsia. In earlier postings,
few months back, I complained about Judges "reinterpreting" the constituition
and setting unfortunate precedents. Some of them include :
(1) A Calcutta High Court Judge's notification, granting BJP to conduct
a rally and asking it to REFRAIN FROM USING THE WORDS AYODHYA AND RAMA.
(2) The SC forcing legitimate businesses out of the Taj Mahal area for
"knee-jerk" environmental reasons, while absolving the govt of any
responsibility of implementing environmental laws.
(3) This may not belong here. But I thought, you might enjoy the argument.:-).
Our own India-D editor forbids the use of the word(s) " ", " ", " ",
no, it is not about SEX.
(4) SC criticising BJP for mixing politics with religion! Constitution
nor in the past (SC has) instructed as to the definition of secularism
and socialism. (Forget the modified preamble...)
and others....
I would like to know where does the Constituition explicitly say a person
contesting elections cannot be religious or make religious statements. If
that is the case then Ganghiji's Ram Rajya assertion as a political statement
will no longer be valid. Is that not a violation of "free speech" right,
enshrined in the Constituition ?
Imagine a BJP candidate during a election campaign addresses a gathering and
quotes Gandhiji's Ram Rajya with great reverence, will he then be mixing
religion with politics ? According to SC it is mixing religion with politics.
Thanks to the perverted cause of Psecularism, we have turned Gandhiji into a
"communalist". Pandit Nehru actually believed article 370 would go away
eventually, in modern day psecularist terms Panditji is a "communalist" too!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 15:37:37 -0500 (EST)
From: agho...@eng2.uconn.edu (Anindya Ghoshal)
Subject: Reg. Ms. Majumder's and the rest......
It's great to read the heated arguments generated on Vande Mataram, Ananda Math
and Bankim Chandra. I do believe Prof. Amalesh Tripathi would have enjoyed this
discussion on Bankim Chandra. Would our learned friends carefully evaluate the
writings of different people which runs from Tagore to Dr.Tripathi and Dr.Sumit
Sarkar. My limited knowledge notes that in Bangladesh today Bankim Chandra
is re-evaluated by numerous historians(needless to say they are mostly Muslims)
in the perspective that he had written his novels one and a half centuries back,
pioneering modern Bengali literature. May I suggest to my learned friends to
comment on novels like Durgeshnandini. Perhaps 'Walter Scott of Bengal' do not
deserve all that Ms. Mazumder etal. wrote about him..I do believe Bankim Chandra
deserves critical appreciation rather than blind adulation or hatred. Indian
politics had been the arena of hating each other for reasons beyond rationality
and religion is only one of them..Indian independence movement always had that
religious halo around it..Gandhiji's "Ramrajya", or Lokmanya Tilak's self rule
combined with Ganapathy Puja..we don't dare question these personalities
secularism.. do we??? But why Tagore differred from Gandhiji's viewpoint..his
international humanism had no place for geographic patriotism??? In this context
again wasn't it a failure of the then Congress leaders to attract the Muslim
populace into the mainstream..once again today isn't History repeating itself ?
Coming to more controversial characters...who was the lawyer who went to defend
Lokmanya Tilak when he was charged with sedition after already serving a jail
term..where then were those rich Hindu bar-at-laws of B'bay.. upholders of Hindu
Mahasabha and rest?? I always wondered why this lawyer of B'bay who married a
Parsee..(note:his grandson is today one of the captains of India's private
sector)..who was in Congress for a long time..who was one of those enlightened
personalities to second the UCC early this century and modification of MPL
longtime before today's self styled protectors of Hindutva made a mess out of
it..what turned Jinnah to call for the partition of India..could our learned
friends point out the dichotomy and answer why we do not study pre-Muslim League
Jinnah at all in our history books?? Our secular friends would condemn historian
Dr.R.C.Mazumder to be a Hindu fundamentalist historian completely ignoring the
fact that he was in Dacca and Rajshahi Universities for decades and more than
90% of his students were Muslims and such a personality can be anything
excepting possessing narrow-mindedness of the fundamentalist hue...so what's
wrong into this attitude of our's?? Unless we can shrug that ostrich-like
behavior and face the truth we would continue to generate endless futile
arguments and end up in chaos.. to sum it up may I paraphrase few lines from
AnnadaShankar Ray's poem..You get angry over when the little girl broke up the
bottle of oil...what about you..big Hulks who brokeup India....!!!!
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 16:00:36 -0600 (CST)
From: TG7...@tntech.edu
Subject: Reg. Response to Mr. Hussain's articles
Dear Ms. Editor :
I must say that I am surprised at the recent posting by Usman Khan Sahib
"Response to Najid Hussain". I have always enjoyed reading the postings
by Mr. Najid Hussain and have not found any of them to be offensive at
all. In fact, his postings only serve to drive home the fact that
like every other religion, Islam and its followers are also subject to
scrutiny by themselves. This is essential to purge out the evils and
improve understanding between religions. I was delighted to read about
the tolerance Khan Sahib has for all the religions he has named and wish
that the significance of Mr. Hussain's posting had not escaped him.
Khan Sahib, remain assured that Mr. Hussain's articles have not started
a "flame war". On the contrary the postings of these liberal people will
lead people of other religions to respect you and your religion even more.
Sincerely,
T. Ghosh
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 1994 10:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Dinesh Agarwal <DX...@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
Subject: Reg. Vande Matarama, Response to Mr Brynt, Part 2/2
HOW THE SONG VANDEMATARAM GETS INCORPORATED IN THE ANANDAMATH?
At the beginning of the novel, Anandamath:
A human voice breaks the midnight silence of a dark, dense forest:
"Will not my desire be fulfilled?"
"What price are you prepared to pay for it?"The counter-question was the answer
"My life, and all that is mine."
"Your life is not of much moment; anyone can sacrifice it."
"What else can I offer? Name the price."
"Devotion!"
Holding life cheap, banishing the fear of death, devotion illumines the
frontiers of the human mind in a sudden upsurge. The center of such devotion
is Mother, the symbol of the Motherland! That was the premises on which
the song Vandemataram gets incorporated in the novel.
A description of this Motherland occurs in Chapter 10:
Bhavananda is in a different mood. He is no more a sanaysin, bold and infle-
xible. He is no more the ruthless general of the army. He isn't the arrogant
man who a moment ago had humbled Mahendra. Amid the beauty of the land and
water bathed in moonlight, his mind dances like an ocean in tide at the sight
of the moon. Bhavananda turns gay and eager for friendly conversation. He is
eager to talk. He makes many attempts to talk, but Mahendra does not respond.
And then Bhavananda begins to sing for himself:
Vande Mataram! Sujalam Suphalam, Malayaja Sheetalam. Mataram!
He sings with all his heart and soul, with great devotion, and his masculine
voice, so pleasing to the ear, echoes and re-echoes, and filling the whole
horizon with its resonance, creates an indescribable atmosphere...
Mahendra hears the song and is amazed. He cannot understand it. He asks who
is the Mother, fed by rivers, fruit-bearing treas and fanned by the cool
breeze of the mountains.Bhavananda does not seem to pay attention to the quest-
ion. He is immersed in the song. Without pausing to answer him, he continues:
Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayamineem, Phullakusumita drumadala shobhineem ....
Mahendra at first thinks that it may be an invocation to Durga. And then he
feels it could not be. It is a description of the country, not of the Goddess
Durga. At that point Bhavananda wants to speak. The meaning of the song, and
the way of his life, were not different. He explains it: "We do not accept any
other Mother.Jananee Janambhoomishcha swargadapi gariyasi.The motherland is our
Mother; apart from her we have no mother, father, brothers, wife or children,
home of personal life; sujala,suphala,malayaja sheetalam, that is all we have".
And then Mahendra understands the import of the song. He asks Bhavananda to
continue the song. And as he sings tears roll down his cheeks...
And a new inspiration overcomes him. And now he is new person!
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 1994 17:31:03 -0800 (PST)
From: sog...@lsil.com
Subject: Vande-Maataram
It's a pity that we out here (inspite of forming
a part of the Indian intelligensia, although not
in India) should indulge in such hypocrisy! I'm
shell shocked at reading those postings on "vande-
maataram". How can anyone argue over praising/
worshipping one's MAA, one's motherland? Perhaps
some people who claim to be extremely well read
try to link anything and everything to convey
something which would fetch them some name/fame/
honor or some recognition. Never in the history
of this universe such a debate would have been
held as to whether or not one shd. be proud of one's
motherland and pray/worship and sing thy glory!
I'm sure, everyone KNOWS that the distinction a
Hindu makes between various gods/goddesses and
Mother India is very subtle, so much fuss still?
Of course, Bankimda refers to Mother INDIA while
referring MAA - tell me how else do u associate
a goddess with-
>>>>Sujalam suphalam, Malayaja sheetalam, Sasya shyamalam, Mataram!
>>>>(And the land bathed in moonlight, trees and creepers gay with
>>>> tender leaves and flowers, the sweet smile and melodious voice
>>>> .....)
Another point, although vande-maataram exists in Ananda-Math,
it was written BEFORE!!!!
I'm astonished by another fact that the average person's
brain has perhaps become a million times more developed
than 50 years from now - how else would anyone explain
such a re-awakening after 50 years! Wow, isn't that great!
So much for the Indian intelligensia!
Anurag Seth.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 10:47:37 -0500 (EST)
From: Nachiketa <NTIWARI%VTVM1....@cunyvm.cuny.edu>
Subject: Vande Mataram
The argument against Vande Mataram follows somewhat like this:
1. The author was communal. Why:
* Some of the characters in his novels have anti-Muslim feelings.
2. The song is communal. It mentions Durga, etc. which are Hindu deities.
3. The ideology of the author himself was retrogade. (perhaps non-leftist)
Read Shri Choudhariy's views and his all that class analysis in this regard.
Let's consider the first point. The fact that the hero(ine) of a novel takes
up a stance in the novel, which is (non)communal, need not imply that it goes
in parallel with ideological positions of the author himself. And that too,
when the author (in this case Bankim) states out in no certain terms that seein
Hindus and Muslims as 100% white and black, is highly erroneous. One of the
netters has already quoted Bankim Chandra in this regard. And even if we grant
(a very big grant indeed) that Anand Math and it's author are communal, that is
no reason to shun the song itself. If that is the case, then I would like to
know the views of Choudharyjee with regard to "Sare Jahan Se Acchaa" and the
author Iqbal. Iqbal was one of the architects of Pakistan. Should we shun his
song for the reason that the author of this song actively engaged himself in
the creation of a polity based on 100% communal lines. I do not think so.
Then there is this talk about Durga. Firstly, those lines which refer to Durga
etc are NOT in our national song. Secondly, what would Mr. Ken Bryant say about
"Hum Honge Kaamyaab". It is a very much Christian song, sung on AIR, Doordarshan
etc., not only by Christians, but by Hindus and Muslims as well. And the "Jana
Gana Mana" of Gurudev, itself has a very much spiritual content. And what do
you say about, Lord Save the Queen. Which "Lord" are we talking about here?
Is that a good reason for British Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims to abhor that song.
Mr. Bryant, could you please elaborate. Atleast, in our national song, we do
not have a Durga. And yet this abhorence.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 1994 13:43:26 -0500
From: Arghya Deb <d...@soil.Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Vande Mataram
This is a continuation of my input to the Vande mataram debate. I think there
is a fundamental divergence in perspective between those of us who adore the
song and its rich and noble history, and those like Mr. Bryant and Ms.
Majumdar who would shun it because of its supposed anti-Muslim origins. I do
not intend to comment on the frenzied demands of another nettor who would
have all, whose opinions he cannot fathom, banned from the net. I would just
remind readers of IndiaD of a slightly modified version of an ancient aphorism,
revised but still true to its original spirit - `scratch a communist and you
shall find a fascist'. Today, here as in India, we see the truth of this acted
out with unfailing regularity.
Returning to more substantive matters, I think that those who search Vande
Mataram or Ananda Math for political correctness will be sorely disapointed.
Ananda Math is not an innocuous, inoffensive, inclusive, thoroughly sanitized,
completely deracinated tome, compiled for the tepid pleasures of the liberal
left. It is a product of its time - when India was groaning under foreign
oppression, when the memories of horrific experiences under Turkish/Mughal
rule still loomed large in the national mind.
Those who shun all particularities, who would rather be done with history, who
would prefer their countrymen remain in a permanent state of mass amnesia -
so that they can stuff their minds with perverse and tendentious clap-trap,
only they can demand that we purge Vande Mataram.
This was the song which hung on the lips of the martyrs as they boarded the
scaffold, this was the song which brought millions on to the streets to protest
the injustices of British rule. And still we must get rid of it. Why? Because
in Bankim Chandra's novel, it had inspired the Sannyasis of a bygone era, to
protest the wrongs of Mughal oppressors.
When we sing the song, it is those memories we celebrate,those glorious acts of
self-sacrifice we remember. We salute our motherland, as also the martyrs who
laid down their lives for it. As regards Mr. Bryant's comments that its imagery
of the motherland verges perilously close to that of the Divine Mother,and ther
-efore can prove offensive to the rigid monotheism of Islam, there too, I think
I hear the voice of political correctness, clear and unmistakable. It demands
that a nation be done with its dominant cultural symbols, give up its essential
personality,abandon its native idiom,all for the sake of wooly multiculturalism.
No Mr. Bryant, we in India, are not likely to do that any time soon - you may
call us reactionary, benighted, mediaeval, whatever you will,but that is a line
in the sand we shall never cross. And as Rezaul Karim's work shows, there are
plenty of Muslims in India who possess the discrimination and discernment to re
-alize that, who know patriotism when they see it, who do not allow bigotry of
of the sort you seem to support, to cloud their vision.
------------------------------
Spiritual/Religion
==================
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 19:43:57 -0800 (PST)
From: ebpe...@okanagan.bc.ca (Erik B. Pedersen)
Subject: Love, not Fear -- A Reply to "Against All Religions" (Part 1/2)
Rahul Sharma has posted a two-part article "Against all religions."
Contrary to his opinion, real religion is based not on fear, but on love.
The twelfth chapter of Bhagavad-gita contains many descriptions of how a
devotee becomes very dear to Krishna. Other verses speak of how Krishna
protects His devotee, maintaining what he has and providing what he lacks.
Even a little progress on the path of bhakti, according to the Supreme
Person, Krishna, can save one from the most dangerous type of fear.
Cruelty has been committed in the NAME of religion, but true religion
does not teach cruelty. This is a misinterpretation by bigoted time-servers
who pervert scripture to their own ends. When the teachings of love, mercy,
compassion, non-injury, simplicity, truthfulness, austerity, moderation and
humility are genuinely internalised by the aspirant devotee, such a person
could never commit a cruel deed. The Six Gosvamis of Vrndavan, followers
of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, were sterling exemplars of these qualities
and had no enemies because they had no malice.
Religion and science are not necessarily at odds. They are different
means of acquiring knowledge. Religion uses srota-pantha (hearing) and
science uses tarka-pantha (logic and argument). In their own domains each
is useful. For the material world science is helpful; for knowledge of the
much larger spiritual world one must consult a spiritual authority. One who
approaches the Vedic texts with the help of a bona-fide guru will gain
real knowledge beyond what is available by means of empirical science.
If Mr. Sharma doubts the historicity of Jesus and Muhammad, one may
as well state baldly that Newton, Descartes and Copernicus never existed.
Other scientists have not had the hubris to claim that their "own efforts"
were sufficient to understand the world, but have admitted that if they saw
more clearly than others, it is because they stood on the shoulders of
giants. If we admit that today's material science depends on strides taken
by others no longer present, why not admit the same for spiritual science?
All the great prophets, teachers, gurus and messengers have presented
timeless truths so their particular audience could understand. It is also
interesting that Mr. Sharma asks "our hearts" to teach us. Where does he
think the guidance of our conscience comes from? I have met agnostics with
moral principles, but these principles did not arise in a vacuum. They are
the result of consensus achieved in every society after these societies
have been instructed by spiritual leaders.
(This is part 1 of my 2-part response; a more detailed reply has been posted
to soc.culture.indian, soc.culture.pakistan and soc.culture.bangladesh.)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 17:43 -0800 (PST)
From: g...@vardhan.intel.com
Subject: Reg. Rahul Sharma's article on Religion
Hi Rahul and other netters
Wonderful! One of the best postings and worthy of reading in the Digest!
I have been an active advocate in preaching and practising this all
these years. As a corallary please read any of the Ayan Rand books.
It is philosophy, it's fun, it's fantasy all in all a great book to read.
Keep the spirit going!
regards
anand
------------------------------
End of India Interest Group Digest
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