“If I advocate cautious optimism, it is not because I do not have faith in the future, but because I don’t want to encourage blind faith”
Auung San Suukyi
The fact remains that religion all over the world these days seem to dividing people. Among religions they themselves have developed many different sects. Today we have the Sikhs factions fighting amongst themselves and priests of Shankarachayara and Sai Baba coming to blows denouncing each other. Catholics and Protestants, Shias and Sunnis are prominent examples. There is no tolerance and virtues preached are generally not practiced by most, either by priests or followers!
The holy books, though written by enlightened men, are differently interpreted by the Mullahs and priests as the word of God. The blind faithful are guided by all sorts of bizarre notions and rituals, many of which put the environment and nature under great stress! Cults emerge and the gullible are led up the garden path and exploited. Reason and science take a back seat to the differently propagated word of God. Whose God is the true God is another point of conflict. Recently a 7th Day Adventists church in Aligarh was reportedly overnight turned into a temple after re- conversions and Shuddhi Karan (purification) ceremony!
The powder keg existing in the oil rich Middle East kingdoms is there for all to fathom. The West did not understand the ethnic divisions and social tribal traditions existing whilst trying to impose a western style democracy. Syria has become a hotbed of terrorist groups, whilst Russia is playing a dangerous game in de stabilizing and wanting Ukraine territory to control and prevent western influence. Israel and Palestine are almost continually war locked with missile flying around and no acceptable solution in sight whilst thousands keep being killed or rendered homeless and children orphaned! With great faith they pray to God and Allah respectively to help destroy each other in their battles.
What blind faith causes people to voluntarily become human bombs, sanctions savage torture, cruel beheadings and mass executions of innocent and defenseless people? There are many mercenaries with ISIS including citizens from America, Britain, Australia, Europe and even India. The beheading of an American journalist executed live on Television is suspected to be by a British national. Many nations have gone nuclear, which perhaps is what keeps most nations working together to prevent world War III. That is why Pakistan is able to get away with keeping India-Pak relations on the boil with a proxy war rendering India impotent for decisive action. The United Nations have proved unequal to the task and powerful nations can call the shots and get away with murder. In the Far East North Korea going nuclear is threatening the South and its neighbors Japan, and even China. India also harbors internal terror groups like the Maoists, Naxalites and various fundamentalist groups that are powerful enough to defy the State!
Blind faith in politician’s election promises and in corrupt faulty implementation of government schemes are another malady. With SRS (Muthalik) and other Hindutva organizations wanting to enforce what they perceive as Indian culture, and the BJP government corporate appeasement policy diluting Environment Impact Assessment norms, we have to get more proactive, since global warming and climate change cannot be taken any more lightly. Never forget power corrupts and we have to be worthy of democracy. BJP with RSS baggage has new party chief Amit Shah and Modi playing bad cop-good cop and not openly contradicting the polarization going on. This is emboldening the likes of Yogi Adityanath making incendiary speeches even in Parliament and other radical organizations vitiating the atmosphere of multi cultural India.
God is said to be love, but people loving each other perforce must go as per caste and creed. So they have politicized it as love jihad, mixed up with religion, controlled conversions and conspiracy, paid news, Facebook and love gone sour. The new Congress and BJP which have been practically two sides of the same coin have sown seeds that are destroying the soul of this nation. We must work to change them or if Modi cannot deliver “sab ke saath, sab ke vikas”, bring in an alternative to them. The AAP showed great promise but succumbed to dirty politics and its own machinations. We are good judges for others mistakes and very good lawyers for our own?
Former President Kalam has good advice in his new book which states that economic growth or military strength alone will not make India strong. The heart of a sustainable society is the family. Only a strong and happy family can lead to a strong and noble nation. Technology and ease of travel have made the world a global village. The world is a federation of nations, nation a federation of States, social groups, families and individuals. The welfare of the whole will not come about without noble individuals! The concept of a noble nation is internal encompassing the individual, family, society, community (common unity) and external concerning issues of livelihood, business, distribution of wealth and respect for human rights. Therefore curbing freedom of speech, education, creativity and dividing people in the name of religion or power groups will not get us really honorable (ministers automatically designated as such) politicians or people!
We are exploiting nature and human beings as a means to our ends. The world has changed a great deal around us into ritualistic religiosity with the rise of soulless materialistic culture. Budgets seem to be irrelevant when celebrating religious events regardless of costs, pollution and starving millions! The argumentative Indian must learn to discuss not argue! In a discussion there is no victory and obsession to defend one’s own point of view. Both side’s views and faults are highlighted and understanding prevails! And if one is noble, over blind beliefs “Satye Mayve Jaythe” (Truth shall prevail)!
(The author is a retired naval officer from Porvorim)
