What is happening at different places in Delhi, gives us a clear meaning despite all the interpretations being given. The clear meaning given is that those giving these various interpretations lack the knowledge of both real Indian ness and logic which is now published by Broadway, Panjim under the name of Epistemology.
I spent at least 12 years teaching these and preparing students for BA of Bangalore University and examiner for Master’s, as Member of the Board of Studies of Mysore University. Also at St John’s, Hyderabad and Morning Star College, near Kolkota. And now at 94 of age in Goa cannot let these sort of happenings in India go on uncommented.
Our rishis (ŗshis) were genuine Indians and yet when they found fault with the Vedic practices they questioned them, as one of the older 13 Upanishads, “Chandogya” Up. tells us. Still these Upanishads are considered as “Vedanta”, that is, part or end of the Vedas!! Rishis do not use word DEVA for God for devas are many, as the Vedas use, but “satiasya Satyam”(The Supreme Real) Whom they said EKAM EVA (one only) and they prayed “asato ma Sat gamaya”(O Supreme Real lead me to you from the ephemeral reality that I am) Bŗ.Up.
Yet they were not the only ones who criticized Vedas, the Buda, his followers, their schools, not only criticized but actually rejected Vedas and still they are and even considered to be Indians, and these are not all, Mahavir’s followers, Jains also rejected Vedas and yet no one dares to say they are not Indians. Why? For the simple reason “dissent and tolerance” are essential parts of Indian ethos.
The logical consequence is simple, India did not object to the entry of other religions and this for centuries on end respected the freedom of the individual. What shall we say now? The first consequence is that those who interfere with “tolerance or dissent” even with the menu of people are not real nor genuine Indians even though they clamor Hindutva or RSS stand. And this becomes more evident when such people could honor and venerate as a martyr or saint one who killed, Mahatma Gandhi who is honored throughout the world as an apostle of non violence. Such people surely cannot accept either “tolerance or dissent”. And can there be another explanation to the behavior of the lawyer who dared while wearing his paraphernalia of a lawyer attack physically anyone brought to the Court for justice!! And aren’t the Universities the place where our young people are to test their convictions? Are the convictions to be imposed by force? Aren’t such to be tested by debate? What is the hurry to use the police force when a conviction is expressed by a student either by ignorance or malice. It ought to be first examined in a debate, and then the student corrects his conviction accordingly or a great harm is done to the Nation, for such a student will one day go out with the Degree of the University with wrong convictions which were to be discussed and debated while formation or studies are going on. As it is my worst fears are coming true for as reported in the newspapers the student concerned is being expelled from the University without having his opinion discussed or debated.
And what do the promoters of Hindutva culture even in private life think or say if other countries like Sri Lanka, even China and Japan began expelling Indian originated philosophies or religions? Just as India is trying to do regarding non-Hindu ones? Why not follow Katha Up.I.III.13 “the wise man should restrain speech in mind, the latter he should restrain in understanding atma”.
