Election nautanki in India

The marathon election process in biggest democracy is still under way. But the tamasha and thrills are far from over yet. If you have closed observed this five yearly 'mela' then you would agree with me that it's not less then 1980's Bollywood movies but of course without any lead hero though containing all 'masala' to entertain public.

Just before the starting of this 'mela' those who were together suddenly turn out to be untouchables for each others. And untouchables become best friends.

The likes of Lalus and Paswans were in cabinet of Congress led government but The speeches and tones of them have become embitter for Congress. If they had such strong dislikes about Congress then how their morales [if any they have] could allow them to stay with Congress for so long. They should hang themselves based on morale ground because they were with a party which harassed minorities [read as vote bank] by allowing the demolition of Babari.

Case of Mulayam and Amar Singh is more mirthful. They were proven saviours for Congress when government was on the verge of collapse. But today their songs are not hidden.

And they gave birth to 'Fourth' front. Welcome this new child in Indian politics whose role would be to fuel post-poll drama by saying famous dialogue 'picture abhi baaki hai mere dost'. Actually the way new fronts are popping up it reminds me that using them for our population index would not be a bad idea. Each election new front and each issue new front.

Now little talk about existing impoverished kid called third front. Frankly speaking despite following politics closely if you ask me its constituents then I would say sorry. But one thing I can confidently say that it is been coined and used before every election by our left parties and with the support of few 'guest' regional parties. Also if I remember then they have something called 'common minimum programme' [CMP]. Great!! To run a country like ours we need only minimum programmes which are agreed among themselves [and time to time with Congress] so it is called 'common'. It is important to mention here that CMP tells the nature of left parties that how much they willing to agree with others [Only minimum]. Does it make make any sense to let them run the country on life support system [CMP]? How can we become a superpower unless we get rid of this CMP agenda.

The two national parties are basically bullied by seasonal regional local opportunistic fronts and parties. Our 'budhiya' party looks a bit younger and organised than our 'second kid'. Sometime I laugh at the kind of discipline shown by BJP where if one leader say something today morning another has to contradict by evening. I strongly believe that BJP should show more responsible role now then before and it should allow younger dynamic leaders [no need to name here] to take up national role.

On the other hand Congress should get out of shadow of one family to consider the whole country as a family. Please stop giving so much importance to a family and prove no more monarchy exist in India. Charles Darwin never proved that a kid of a great person [if people believe someone was really great in Nehru family] can not be great anyway. We can not run a country from one apartment any more [because country can not afford another Bofors to benefit friends and family].

It is painful to see no leader pleading the voters to vote on the name of development. One reason perhaps is that they do not have anything to show on the name of development. Instead leader/parties are asking votes by proving other leaders/parties more devil in nature than themselves.

Now most funniest statement coming from Mulayam and gang:- this guy says that if voted to power he will ban use of computers in country. ???? Does it mean we will vote for a leader who has intention to bring our country on reverse gear. Deve gowda is Mulayam of south. This guy says he wont get vote from professionals so he can not allow software industry to grow.

Well! I am tired of cursing politicians out of my frustration [My normal routine prior to elections as most of us usually do]. But I am here today not to discuss just problems but also to do my bit to solve it. What we can do to change most of these if not all. And the only word which comes in my mind to solve most of them is 'Chetana' [consciousness], Develop chetana in Aam aadami

I know none of us is a superman to change everything overnight on their own but together we can create a force. There are many organisations who are already engaged in doing this much before we even started thinking about these issues. And we can see the difference. As a of these Chetana work, these elections are much more relevant and meaningful then previous elections and it is bound to get better as India has to change and lead world which is in her destiny and we should believe that it will happen. It is up to us if we want to play a role to make this happen or just want to see all these happening from sideline as a fauna who never came out of pet and prajanan [Stomach and reproduction]. We should start getting involved with such organisations filled with intellectuals who compromised their individual dreams for Rashthra Dharma [duty for nation].

This article is part of my bit towards my role and would be successful if any of you is inspired to do you bit [:)].

Om Namh Shivaye!!!

Hindu- Are they Aliens

A must read write-up Which I received in mail

Last year, I was flying to attend a meeting at Monterey , CA An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'

'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of god.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one god and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can I tell to this American girl?

I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..'

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept ornotion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods.. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism.'

I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.

For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

I said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't conditions my mind with any faith system.
A man/ woman who change 's his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.Hinduism was the first religion originated. Be proud of your religion and be proud of who you are.
Om Namo shiva……………