The Ayodhya verdict
A wave of concern grips the nation in the days preceding the much hyped Ayodhya land issues. All those who remember the riots of 1992 are wary of what might happen post verdict. There is an air of uncertainty and apprehension...
I recollect one of Gandhiji's sayings which were printed in our NCERT school text books under the title Gandhiji’s talisman.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test.
Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
When I recollect a face of the poorest and the weakest, I don’t see how this verdict makes a difference to his life.
4 comments:
dear k, Ours is a nation where people still die of starvation. Ours is a nation where the poorest of the poor and weakest of the weak are robbed of their land and life. Ours is a nation where we spend Rs.70,000/- crores for a tamasha called Commonwealth Games.
Either way the verdict goes, there is bound to be a violent aftermath. And those who suffer will be the poorest and weakest of the nation, of the two warring religions.
You know something? Only those who can discard the garb of religion can ever be free, in the truest sense of the word, freedom.
Am glad to listen to your thoughts. But, like the Tamil poet I had posted about said -
The only thing
That can be said
For the likes of us
Is
We can smell things.
You great ones
Who rule over us
Haven't you the heart
To feel it?
beautiful. i read the post. its poignant. the poetry.
The avoidable invention of mankind "God". I'm certain that there will be many who will be incensed and outraged at my suggestion. Those are the ones who will kill one another after the verdict is out. Those are the ones who pulled down the structure in Ayodhya,
Who is to heed Mahatma Gandhi in the present day?
And why are the Gods silent with all this frenzy and build up of acrimony?
For the hungry what dose it matter if a temple or a mosque sprout in Ayodhya.Those structures will not alleviate his hunger pangs . will they?
@ AK, xactly my sentiments. i also feel gandhi jis teachign is more relevant today than in his times cept no one is listening. somehow short term thinking has taken over long term planning.. every one is buys filling their pockets. there are few great men and women fighting but for the poor who also remain ignorant thanks to the policies, its like getting caught between the devil and the sea.... as for religion is concerned, religion is fine as long as its a private thing. its as private as wht u do in the loo... once it gets out to public domain thats when the problem starts.. and it has become the wepon of the politicians. .we are still being divided and ruled over.. the britishers looted us and now these skukns at the top do it in the name of democracy...
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