The Empty Space

THE EMPTY SPACE

On the left, huge and grand mountain Udayagiri!
And on the right, tiny village of the same name:

Standing in between beheld I
The erstwhile Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Ranganatha, The Maha Vishnu;
An empty space, a midst ruins, covered by the walls of rock on four sides
Without ceiling and fully exposed to the vagaries of nature

Looked I at the basement which once held the auspicious
Statue of Lord Ranganatha;
Now remaining as stony spectator to the
Vandalism of armies of another faith
Completely destroying the sacred place,
And the surroundings of the temple of Lord Ranganatha;

The ruined structure remained
As a silent witness to the Hatred and Barbarism
And disrespect shown to the
Culture and civilization of the defeated armies;

That empty space is seen by me
As seen the empty class sans students by the teacher
After the class is over
Silent and without activity;

Same is seen by me
As a father seeing the room of his
Recently married daughter who left to in-laws place;

The empty space is also seen by me
As a widower seeing his bed room
Days after the demise of his beloved wife
***************
That empty space bereft of the Divine Sculpture
Made me sober and philosophical;

Annihilation as a human trait
Defiling the defeated and trying to demolish
Their culture, religion, and their symbols
Vandalizing them with so much venom
Surprised and disturbed me;

Lords “fleeing” their Sanctum Sanctorum
And taking shelter elsewhere;
And the victorious faith trying to ruin the
Vanquished faith;
But failing miserably only leaving
Their barbarism and hatred
In the remains of their destruction,
The great and sacred place of worship;

Humans are savage
In their faith towards their faith
Barbarians towards other faiths;

Faith is balm
Faith is also venom;

But we cannot
Survive without faith

We have to only absorb
All atrocities on faiths with a pinch of salt
And proceed with our lives and daily routine
Not allowing empty spaces prompting us
For revenge or retribution;

Our hearts must be full with compassion,
Understating, serenity, love and common sense;

Else our hearts remain empty spaces
Allowing hatred, barbarism, demonic qualities
To fill these empty spaces leading to our destruction by ourselves

Mr. Johnson (Fiction)

                                                          MR. JOHNSON      

     I am a journalist by profession. I am also interested in literature. I am a part-time writer. I have been dabbling in writing poetry and fiction. I have read fiction in my mother tongue, Sanskrit, English, French and German. I have my own favorite writers. I am having the fear that my fiction- writing would be influenced by some or all of them. But who can escape the influence of one’s own study and learning? 

We are influenced not only in literary writing but also in our daily lives. We ape either the west or follow the Indian tradition in our life-styles. We respectively feel, we are only civilized, and others are languishing in before Christ thoughts or ultra-modernism.

We not only congratulate us for our preference and choice but also feel blissful in such living and at times preach others about it.

Such a preaching happens everywhere, every time and by every one. Here in this story I narrate the preaching of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Viswanatham. 

I am a popular TV telecaster on a popular English channel. I am based in Bangalore.

Mr. Johnson is the CEO of a big American Multi National Company. They do business in many countries and sell American stuff. Their IT solutions firm is centered in Bangalore.

I am there in the chambers of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson just finished attending to a phone call and told me that my interview starts in five minutes when he finishes talking to a visitor.

Meanwhile a fairly old senior citizen has entered Mr. Johnson’s chambers. Immediately after seeing him Mr. Johnson said “You should be very brief Mr, Viswanatham. You have five minutes.” Mr Viswanatham nodded and started talking.

‘In your administrative office was working Subrahmanyam, and he is my grandson. But Mr. Johnson, you are not happy that Subrahmanyam is employed in your organization. I am here to tell you about our family situation and employment situation in India. All this I have to inform to you and I will do that in the five minutes you have kindly granted me in your valuable and busy schedule. I also know that this gentleman has to interview you after my leaving your room. Ai am also well-educated and has retired as a school teacher and am adept in all knowledge including current affairs.’

‘You also listen Mr.’.  I told him my name as Vijay. ‘Yes Mr. Vijay” Viswanatham sir told me and continued

“Mr. Johnson your objection for Subrahmanyam’s employment is that Subrahmanyam is just fifteen years old. And your company does not do business on products manufactured by child-labor or employ children in your offices.

Your fellow Americans and Europeans recently cancelled the order they placed with a Delhi manufacturer of ready-made wear because the manufacturer has employed child-labor from Bihar and UP for the work

We all know that you are very strict in these matters and are fighting in WTO to eradicate the evil of child-labor prevalent in Asian countries.

You took charge only a few days back and found Subrahmanyam employed as an office-boy to serve tea etc., to the staff. You came to know that Subrahmanyam is a teenager from his looks and summoned him into your room. In the presence of your deputy you readied his dismissal order and served it on Subrahmanyam.

‘yes we are very particular that children must go to school and get educated. They must not be employed and their childhood should not be wasted in labor.’ Said mr. Johnson.

‘Mr. Johnson, I know that you are so upset with the child labor reality in our country.

Mr Johnson this is just a policy matter for you. But this is a life and death matter for us.

You must know that my only son and his wife, who happen to be the parents of Subrahmanyam have expired in a road accident six months back. I do not have any other child. I had to take the responsibility of my grandson. Even when my son was alive our family was experiencing hand to mouth existence and my son was having difficulty in making both ends meet for us. My meager pension has been of not much use in these days of steep inflation.

We could not join my grandson in any good school because we can not afford it and also we are dependent on his earnings also, to sustain ourselves. He was studying in a corporation school and in the evenings working to help his father in maintaining our family. 

We belong to a forward community. We neither have a social justice plank nor money to rob merit of its due and, fight for our merit, which is presently despised by every politician and also by majority citizens in our country. The profession undertaken by the grandparents and earlier generations of the individual is considered as qualification to give a seat in the educational institutions run by our government and also for a government job too same criterion is followed. The individual’s talents and academic traits and performances do not figure at all in such selections. And our community is not a vote bank. So politicians never care for any of out needs, even bare minimum like food, shelter and clothing. 

We never understand how the deeds of earlier generations should be an excuse to rid us of our genuine rights as the citizens of our country. To make you understand better, I must tell you that our community is persecuted as the Jews were in Germany during Hitler’s regime. We are discriminated against by present day politicians who are grabbing power, making money, amassing wealth and introducing their kith and kin to perpetuate their hold on government and people, spreading hatred against us. They always show us as the villains for all the evils of our society and thus enjoy power and limelight. Whenever they are in trouble for their misdeeds, they remember us and start abusing us to divert the attention of the people from their failures, corruption, misdeeds and mis-utterances.

Why I have to tell you all this is my grandson’s job with you is life line for us. We have to starve otherwise. I am seventy five years old and can no longer work and earn to sustain myself and my grandson.

“But Mr. Viswanatham How I am responsible for all this?!” exclaimed, Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Viswanatham continued:

 “Yes, Mr. Johnson I will clarify. You want to interfere in every sphere of life of our country. You do not want anti-conversion laws to be enacted in our country. But your clergy got alarmed for the teachings and following by large numbers of Americans of Osho and hounded him out of your country after jailing him and humiliating him thoroughly. 

You the champions of democracy have pampered and helped the most number of dreaded dictators of the world since second-world war. You made Saddam, Taliban and you are waging a war for their elimination. You are not definitely moral or military police of the globe. Just selfish citizens interested in your own welfare and your oil supplies.

You have come here to do business. Do it understanding the realities of our country. I am a retired teacher adept in all our ancient knowledge and now can lecture you on many aspects of life and its management. I am proficient in my mother tongue, Sanskrit and English. But I am past my age. And in our country there is no need and use of citizens like me. I am poor but not in knowledge or common sense. Do not try to impose your biased values on us. Starvation knows no rules or obeys any.

You have your own western way of administration and you are completely ignorant of the ground realities associated with employment and education facilities situation in India. Unfortunately your ignorance has given place to exhibition of unnecessary arrogance, highly moral stature and preaching about Indian situations and needs to us. You must also know that your country and many European countries did not exist when civilization was flourishing in all its aspects and hues in our country.

 And, before that, prevent your boys from playing with matches and cause devastating fires. Prevent your pistol and gun wielding school students from killing fellow students and teachers. Prevent your Presidents from starting international wars just for oil for you and cause genocide and fuel terrorist activities.

By the by Mr. Johnson, how many times you have divorced?’

“Three times”, Mr. Johnson replied involuntarily.

 ‘Prevent yourself and your fellow citizens from ruining their marriages frequently and take divorces and get remarried many times in a life-time. Also ask them to take care of infants, kids and aged people of the families. Have a proper social system. Do not preach others about values. And my five minutes are over Mr. Johnson.”

Mr. Johnson is visibly upset by this tirade against him and his country by a poor retired school teacher. His face has reddened. But he understood the pathetic situation of Mr. Viswanatham. But their policy can not be changed for this case’s sake. He, though summarily dismissed Mr. Viswanatham informing him that his grandson can not be taken into employment again, offered financial help for Subrahmanyam’s studies.

Mr. Viswnatham has politely rejected the offer saying “Even if my grandson completes his degree or so by your partial financial assistance, which will not be and can not be given for the full phase of his studies, the problem of employment still stares on our faces. We are not sure that he gets a job after studies in the current contaminated job atmosphere and we have to starve all these years and my health is not sound. I do not know how long I shall live. Under these circumstances we will try at some other place for his employment. Thank you Mr. Johnson for your kind audience and offer for financial help. Good bye”

Mr. Johnson has recovered from this and he gave me a very good interview.

I got subject-matter for a short-fiction in the conversation of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Viswanatham.

  

Hinduism and Hindutva

In India now a complex situation has arisen in relation to Hindu religion. Dr. Radhakrishnan has long time back named Hinduism a way of life and did not say about religion in relation to it.
But now in all media and society and nation, Hindu religion is equated with Hindutva - what is this Hindutva, who coined this word I do not know - and every one is expressing oneself against or for this Hindutva, completely forgetting or ignoring Hinduism which is also a way of life and not merely a religion - as any other religions. Unfortunately it has become very difficult now to release HInduism from the clutches of Hindutva - whatever it is - and declare again its brilliance and usefulness to the nation and society.

HIndutva as understood by, RSS or its affiliates who are intent on their "superstitions and fundamentalism"; and the rationalists, communists, Indian media of all colors and means, atheists (interestingly, annoyingly and amusingly atheists of India denounce, abuse, and find fault only with "Hinduism" as they call and understand and not other religions which are equally faith-based - why it is so unknown -) and other modern and elite cultured individuals who are against; the word Hinduism is completely and ignorantly misinterpreted and wrongly communicated in biased way - never represented, represents or will be representing Hinduism - the human and humane system of spirituality, culture, social organization, rituals and other associates..

Hinduism is universal for its spiritual basis. Rituals vary from region to region, state to state, ult to cult, philosophy to philosophy - are all united by Upanishadic insight.
This is Hinduism as represented by Upanishads and not as propagated by later theological schools or atheist isms.

The social wing of Hinduism, the caste system is now being misused and blatantly used to meet selfish ends and not to get justice of some communities. Caste divisions and caste system as was praacticed is criticized by all isms and all self-proclaimed scholars and intellectuals; but is getting patronage from citizens, political leaders, political parties and governments. It is now an unresolved puzzle for many objective thinkers whether in India people are working for or against caste system, its divisions, advantages, disadvantages, the benefits it is showering.

It is seeming that now most want the caste divisions, though they lost their relevance and use to present situations, to remain because of the inherent benefit being provided to many communities who are considered for things in which they may not be suitably efficient and are economically sound too. Thus these communities are getting double advantage in many ways.

So caste system is simultaneously abused, used, and also criticized and its originator - who are these originators none definitely knows - are put to sword by mistaking them to be Brahmins.
Thus Hinduism as is present and "practiced" today is spiritually, culturally, rituals-wise, faith-wise and socially not a coherent and emotionally or intellectually integrated block, group or ism.
Thus now there is no proper claimant for Hinduism. Thus many cults, cultural entities, philosophies, individuals specific maths, ashrams, are getting away being called Hindu. But many cults, individual-specific organizations and like groups are both bringing good and bad propaganda to HInduism proper.

Thus Hinduism is not just Hindutva as is misunderstood and many in India are in battle for and against such Hinduism - the Hindutva.

Hinduism is sublime as spirituality-wise, faith-wise, rituals-wise and socio-economic and cultural aspects wise. Hinduism or we can call it as ancient Indian insight and tradition is liberal, and individual's freedom is put above every ideology, thought, ritual, cult-formation or like things. Individual is supreme and not the other entities.

That is why one ancient Indian saying says:
"An individual is to be sacrificed for the sake of the family; a family is to be sacrificed for the sake of the village; a village is to be sacrificed for the sake of Kingdom (country), and a country is to be sacrificed for the sake individual's dignity - the individual's spiritual aspirations and faith".

The famous example for this is the case of Sri Ramaanuja, who moved to Karnataka to be able to practice and preach his faith , the  Vaishnavite Philosophy  which was obstructed to by the Chola Kings.

Liberal attitude of and in Hinduism:

Individual is the supreme in Indian spiritual world. If the Individual does not like or is having a different interpretation because of his experience / intellect / emotion he will do it without caring for what was expressed by the earlier great people. This aspect in Hinduism is very dear to me. And this aspect can be easily explained by the famous example of Madhvaachaarya. Before Madhvaachaarya, Adi Sankaraachaarya, and Ramanujaachaarya haave interpreted the prasthaanatraya (the Upanishada, the Bhagavadgita, and the Brahma Sutras) from advaita and visihtaadvata points of view. But Madhva differed from them and boldly proposed his Dvaita view though it is not in tune with the earlier famous systems. Many more such examples can be cited which happened during these many centuries in India - in relation to jnaana, karma and bhakti margas. And any capable one can now interpret not similarly as the three aachaaryaas and can give one's own interpretation.

Supremacy of grishasthaashrama - Householder-ship:

Family is to be taken care of in Hinduism. House-holder is superior to any ashrama people. There is no spirituality without being in family. Being in family only we have to strive for spiritual excellence. Monkhood is later addition by Buddhism, Jainism and like isms which are antagonistic to Hindu way of life and practice. Vaanaprastha is the final stage of life together with the spouse. Spouses are separated only by death.

THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN CULTURE

THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN CULTURE

This write-up deals with the evolution of Indian culture and not just Hindu culture. Culture and civilization mutually influence each other and are complementary and supplementary to each other. Language essentially moulds culture. Religion, fine-arts, natural, secular and social sciences, philosophies, ideologies etc., constitute culture. Literature and texts of all disciplines, arts and skills are off-shoots through language and learning. Language is the medium that conveys all expressions. Experiences, intuitions, understanding, insight, emotions, perceptions, thinking, feelings, knowledge etc., are given form through language. Thus language is backbone for culture. Religion is secondary in this regard.

Sanskrit has been the important medium of culture of India of earlier times. Pali, Paisachi, Brahmi, Praakrut etc., were other languages available in ancient India. All ancient Indian Texts of philosophy, sciences, secular sciences, fine-arts are available in these languages. It is not definitely known when civilization has actually started in India. Whether Vedic culture has pre-existed Harappan civilization and culture is not the subject matter of this article. Also no attempt will be made to decide the chronological order of events or evolution of thoughts and texts of various schools of thought or disciplines or arts or skills or other items.

Upanishads, the end-pieces of the Vedas are the source books of spirituality in India. Buddhism, Jainism, Chaarvakism are other famous and popular non-vedic cultures. Ancient Indian spiritual texts, texts of secular sciences and the like have evolved in unison influencing one another. The evolution of Indian culture will be followed here by observing the evolution of spiritual texts, religions, social institutions, social and political philosophies, social justice movements, which have influenced the origin, being and advancement of various schools of thought and cultures. Spirituality and religion are not taken as one and the same.

Hindu religion has many contours and denominations and is a spectrum of thoughts. Buddhism, Jainism and other non-vedic thoughts and religions which do not accept the authority of the Vedas have their own system of thoughts and hence culture. Brahmanism is the chief ism of Hindu culture. The word Hindu itself is the mispronunciation of the word Sindhu (Indus). Dr. Radhakrishnan has stated that there is a Hindu way of life and not necessarily a Hindu religion. Theology and rationalism are two wings of Indian culture. Both have been flourishing influencing each other simultaneously, and also individually and independently. Upanishads though have been commented theologically by many eminent seers and saints, the sages and seers of the Upanishadic expressions  have clear idea of what they are professing. They know that the Upanishadic insight they have revealed and texts composed are texts of science on human mind and has nothing to do with the existence of God. They very unambiguously stated that “Gods” are inventions of and created by, humans. Brahmanism has given a social structure together with cultural and spiritual elements embedded in it. Buddhism, Jainism, Chaarvaakism, Veera Saivism, Veera Vaishnavism are both spiritual and social movements. Later social justice movements of the South [Periyar Ramaswamy (Tamilnadu), Sri Narayanaguru (Kerala)], dalit movements of other parts of India are all labeled and liked to be called rationalist movements. Except for Veera Saivism,  Veera Vaishnavism, and Sri Narayana Guru’s  movement, rest of the schools of thought are atheisms. They take pride in criticizing and sometimes ridiculing theisms. Gandhism has tried to combine spiritual and social elements taking truth and non-violence as basis and basics. Communism and radical humanism are recent additions to atheist schools of thought and developed their own cultures. The gender has also divided individuals and encouraged to start the culture of feminism and women’s liberation. Terrorism and Naxalism which kill fellow human-beings with impunity have evolved as cultures in their own way.

The Jewish and Persian (Parsi) cultures have their own Indian flavor. The western culture has found favor with people of “modern outlook” and our urban youth and elite are currently aping it joyfully.

All these isms constitute and consist of present Indian culture. Sanskrit, which contains not merely texts of Brahmanism but also of Buddhism, Jainism and Chaarvakism, is unfortunately equated and identified with a single community and many do not like that language only for this reason and hence the culture associated with it. The evolution and development of different regional languages have produced their own cultures confined to a particular geographical area. Chauvinisms have mushroomed around regionalisms and regional languages, claiming to have separate culture. The culture created and sustained by Brahmanism is no longer popular and many criticize it for its bias towards a particular community. i.e., Brahmins. Brahmins have been and are severely criticized for creating and perpetuating a culture which allowed them to “exploit” other social sections. The truth in this criticism is debatable. Under this pretext they now are relegated to live a life of secondary citizens losing all rights for their just inclusion in the affairs of the state and the society. Of course all this is the result of evolution of Indian culture influenced sequentially over centuries by Buddhism, Jainism, Chaarvakism and other medieval and modern “rationalist” movements and cultures.

All the rational schools of thought mentioned earlier are striving to redress the sufferings of people. All of them invariably denounce Brahmanism for its “irrational” expressions. How far all these rationalist cultures spread over India in different denominations have been able to address the concerns and welfare of the citizens as a whole is another matter.  The invasions of Muslims have started Islamic culture and it has evolved in India in a unique way forming part of Indian culture. Then Sikhism has born and spread its own culture and religion. Christianity then entered and has an influential role in the design of culture of many Indians. 

Thus Indian culture is now a combination of many religions and isms evolved over a period of time. Indian culture has evolved around the Upanishads and related spiritual texts, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism, Chaarvakism, Veera Saivism, VeeraVaishnavism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, social justice movements, communism  and radical humanism. Indian culture also has nucleus in regional languages and regions. All these give diversity and of course divisions to Indian culture.

The so called Hindu culture is also not unique. Various cults have been formed around the teachings of various seers, saints, sages, Babas. Ammas, Swamis, Sadhus and the like and currently there is no agreement among these cults and all of them individually claim to be different. Now we can not pin pointedly say this is Hindu culture. Many divisions, diversions and estuaries are formed to the Hindu culture and all of them have to be referred to when referring to Hindu culture. Some of these divisions claim to represent a religion different from Hindu religion for various purposes. Caste divisions have perpetuated their own cultures. Around these caste divisions many individuals have developed vested interests and are assiduously cultivating them for political and personal interests. Political empires and Dynasties have been developed around caste, region, language, religion, ideology and the like divisions and Indian culture is also made to contain social justice, political, ideological aspects in addition to religious and spiritual aspects. 

Language is stated as forming the basis of culture in the beginning of this article. Language, sometimes, seems to be a more and better unifying force than religion. In Tamilnadu and Kerala Muslims and Christians speak the regional languages, where as in other parts of India Muslims speak Urdu and Christians English. The North-Eastern India has its own unique regional as well as Christian culture. Attempts by some political parties to unite Indians by a religion have not been successful. But divisions by caste have yielded useful results to many caste leaders. So Indian culture is not unique and no single   religion, caste, region, language, or ideology has monopoly over it. We have enough divisions to be exploited by narrow-minded politicians and chauvinistic caste, regional, ideological and religious leaders. We have leaders and individuals who want to cash on our divisions and no one attempts to integrate us emotionally. Still we are able to survive as one nation is surprising. May be there is an underlying unifying culture which is Indian and not specifically of any single religion, caste, language, region, or ideology and is spiritual in essence. Let it flourish and let us live in peace.