== OUR SAMAJ SONGS ==
Namaskar,
Time and again the topic comes about Prabhat Samgiita and in particular
about His Proutistic samaj songs. Some are misunderstanding the utility of
such compositions. Here below is a discussion of this important topic and
everyone should write in with their thoughts and suggestions.
THE BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE NATURE OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA
All are aware that Baba has graciously given 5018 songs of Prabhat Samgiita.
And these divine songs vary tremendously in style, characteristics, and
qualities. In Prabhat Samgiita, the whole Ananda Marga philosophy has been
projected through the medium of song-- in one or another way.
Starting from the cycle of creation to samskara theory to kosa, vice and
virtue, sadhana, shravan, manan, niddidhyasan, the benefits of satsaunga,
the value of human life, vidya and avidya maya, saincara and pratisaincara
theory, psychic diseases, social and political exploitation and their eradication,
samaj movement, Neohumanism, entire Prout philosophy, songs related with Lord
Krsna and Shiva, and songs of various seasons, festivals, ceremonies, birth and death,
house entrance, and so many more.
Everything is present. Including so many other things which usually we find in the
topics of His discourses -- everything we find in Prabhat Samgiita.
EVERYTHING HAS ITS SPECIAL USE IN THIS UNIVERSE
INCLUDING PRABHAT SAMGIITA
It is just like how Parama Purusa has created varieties of things in this
universe. According to our needs and requirements, we utilise those things
for the collective welfare. So in this creation, varieties of things are
there-- but everything is not for everyone. According to the need, we utilise them:
(A) Baba has given the system of asanas. But all asanas are not for
everyone. Some need certain asanas, and others need different asanas.
(B) In Yogic Treatments, various remedies and guidelines have been given.
All are not for everybody. It depends on the disease.
(C) In AM Philosophy and Yoga Psychology discourses, Baba has given
significant guidelines about psychic diseases and their treatments. But
those are exclusively for those who are suffering those psychic diseases.
It is for them only.
(D) Similarly Baba's sama'j (socio-economic movement) songs are for those
local areas whose indigenous people are suffering the psychic disease of
inferiority complex about their land and cultural expression.
As with the examples above with asanas and yogic treatments, all the
Prabhat Samgiita are not needed in any given single situation. That is,
in a random way just taking any Prabhat Samgiita and starting to sing
does not have any sense.
For example if you start your dharmacakra with the shra'ddha song
(commemoration song) -- "O Parama Purusa, Toma'r jinis toma'ke... (P.S.
#60) "O Parama Purusa Your things (our departed friend) I am offering You,
please accept it." If this type of song is sung at dharmacakra, then that
will be inappropriate.
And in the same fashion, when sitting in one's own sadhana place, if one
starts singing the song related with Lord Krsna "Tum ho mere Krsna jagat
pati mae tum he chahata' hum diva rati". "O my dearmost Lord Krsna, You
are the Controller of the universe. I Yearn for You day and night. And
cry for You." Certainly any devotee of Baba will not like to sing like this.
Because of the strictness in ista point. (Sixteen Points, #10)
So the central idea is that, Baba has given varieties of songs for
varieties of occasions and varieties of peoples' needs. In this way,
He has written many songs related with sama'j (socio-economic) movement.
MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISUSE OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA
A couple people are completely confused that on the one side Baba is
talking about the philosophy of neohumanism, and on the other side He is
writing and giving the narrow sentiment about samaj. This usually happens
because certain crude intellectuals, for their group interest they are
spreading extravaganza all around. Concocted things about sama'j
(socio-economic movements).
Certain WT groups are engaged in the misuse of sama'j theory for their
crude and selfish interest, i.e. just to gain the power in the
organization. This subject is complex, so I am not going to discuss
anything on this--which group, etc etc. My point is only related with
Prabhat Samgiita.
SOME SAMAJ SONGS: A BRIEF ANALYSIS
Let us see what are the songs related with sama'j. And we can analyse
the situation. For example, please see below here this one example. The
Prabhat Samgiita song which Baba has written for Angika samaj. Song number #4134.
"Aungabhu'mi sundarata' bhu'mi..." (PS #4134)
Purport:
This land of Angadesh is most beautiful. This type of land you will not
get on this earth. My Angika language is more sweet even than honey. My
mother tongue is so great. O my friend, come and collectively speak in this
glorious language, Angika. This beautiful Angaland is incomparable on this earth...
And also, see the following Prabhat Samgiita #4082.
"He ma'y Aungabhu'mi ma'tribhu'mi tor lelii ja'n kabul karaechiiye..." (#4082)
Purport:
O, my motherland "Angabhumi". My life is dedicated for You. I am offering
my life for Your cause. O my motherland "Angabhumi", by Your grace and by
Your shelter I am surviving on this earth. O my motherland "Angabhumi", I
have only one desire: to serve You I should get bliss and satiation. O my
motherland "Angabhumi", by Your grace I am surviving. I yearn for Your love.
And I am ready to sacrifice my life for You.
Baba has written the above songs for the indigenous people of that land.
These songs are not for the universal AM family. And this is not an
isolated case, in which Baba has written songs related with one sama'j
(socio-economic movement) only. But He has written sama'j songs related
with many individual sama'jas.
For example, following is the song related with Amra Bengali sama'j
(socio-economic unit).
"Ra'r'her e la'l ma't'i go la'l ma't'i..." (PS #4245)
Purport:
The red soil of this Ra'r'h is very precious. I feel that this has more
value than the pearls, jewels and gold. In this land, people are very
sweet. And the language is also very sweet. Everything here is saturated
with the sweetness. Everything of this Ra'r'h is most beautiful. Here we
get our heart enlightened in divinity. This land is not just a soil, but
it is more precious than gold...
So we can see that one side Baba is praising about the land of "Angabhumi"
in songs 4134 and 4082. And in another song, song #4245, Baba is telling
that the soil of Ra'r'h is most precious. So I have given you only two examples.
Yet there are so many examples like this.
Here below is another song related with Amra Bengali sama'j (socio-economic unit)
"Madhur ceyeo a'ro madhur a'ma'r ba'nla' bha's'a'..." (PS #4766)
Purport:
Compared with sweetness, it is more sweet this my Bangla language. This is
the language of my pra'n'a. In my arteries and veins and blood, the
vibration of this language is resonating...
DHARMIC USE OF SAMAJ SONGS
Some innocent or foolish persons can easily get confused. And may think
that this is just one after another contradictory type of song. But the
reality behind this is something different. These songs are for indigenous
people of those socio-economic units (sama'jas) for whom these songs have been written.
If anyone is circulating the cassettes of these songs in other areas,
then that will be highly objectionable. That usually threatens the unity of
one human society. Because the spirit of socio-economic movements (sama'jas)
is regional in approach and universal in spirit.
Rather what should be done is simply to exchange the name of the samaj in the
song. Then everyone can use the same song for the upliftment of their own samaj,
when and if that type of song is needed in their area.
HELPING THOSE WHO LAG BEHIND
One more question is raised occasionally. That what was the need to write
this type of song which eulogizes one particular area. Why did Baba do like
this? The answer is very simple. If a mother has four babies. And one is
very meritorious, and the other three are suffering from inferiority complexes.
Then to remove that inferiority complex, she will praise those other children
to give them self-confidence. Without this, their personalities will not grow.
This type of psychology is applied by teachers in the schools also. If
they do not praise unenthusiastic students, then the growth of their
personality will be affected. That's why the teacher has to praise even
unenthusiastic students. To create the opportunity for them to grow.
We have usually seen in DMC that after distributing the prizes, then
Baba says to all the remainder who are seated there (who did not get prizes),
that "Yes you all should try. And next time you all will certainly win."
HE would say this to inspire and give enthusiasm to all.
THE NEED TO BANISH INFERIORITY COMPLEX
Another example can be given. These days capitalist exploiters are
exploiting the society by infusing inferiority complex. Just like when
Britishers came to India and they imposed their language and culture on
Indians. And the Portuguese and Spaniards also were imperialist exploiters
who imposed their language and created inferiority complex amidst the
indigenous population. And with this psychic disease of inferiority complex,
the local people accepted everything which the exploiters imposed on them.
Thinking that this is something greater than they are.
Until this inferiority complex is not removed, an exploitation-free
society cannot be formed. And to remove this, only one way is there.
That is socio-economic movements (sama'j movements).
Just as with Yogic Remedies in which so many remedies have been given
for various diseases. With the remedies prescribed, meant only for those
who have the disease. And in AM Philosophy, guideline about psychic
disease is given for those who are suffering from these diseases. Not for all.
Similarly for the common mass who is suffering from inferiority complex,
these songs have been given. So the indigenous people will get rid from
the inferiority complex of their local language and cultural expression.
That's why Baba has given these songs in the local language of that area.
Because true Ananda Margis are not suffering from this sort of complex
and psychic disease, so these songs are not for them. So true Margiis
need not to sing "O my motherland, Angabhumi, I am sacrificing everything
for you." or "O my motherland Bengalistan, I will do and die for you."
But surely, the indigenous population of that area who is suffering from
inferiority complex, they will sing.
CONCLUSION
The central idea is that for various sama'jas, various Prabhat Samgiita
have been given. And these are a few examples given above. At the time of
writing these songs, Baba has also given the instruction that on the basis
of these sama'j Prabhat Samgiita songs, similar songs should be composed
for all the sama'jas of this earth. By their own indigenous litterateurs
and poets. And in that way, inspire the indigenous people to root out
exploitation in their local area. So these songs given by Baba should be
treated as a specimen and guideline.
There should not be any confusion on this very point. And again it should
be noted that these songs related with the socio-economic movements (sama'j)
are not for the entire Marga family. They are for indigenous people of
that particular sama'j.
Please write your valuable thoughts on this topic.
Namaskar,
Subhash
Note 1: HUMAN CULTURE IS ONE
Baba says in various places that human culture is one. Only the mode of
expression is different.
Note 2: FERTILE BRAINS...
The fertile brain of crude intellectuals, they are always creating problem by
misguiding society. Such things happened so many times in the past. And Baba
has given many examples, which happened in the past. That these crude intellectuals
misguided and exploited the common mass, making them believe for example
that their poverty is due to their own sinful deeds in the past.
Similarly, everybody knows that some WT groups always distort Baba's samaj
psychology. And so many times they wrote that Baba has written Bengalistan samaj songs.
Baba in the following quote is teaching us how dogmatic people polluted
the mind of innocent people by preaching false ideas. And establishing their
supremacy. Baba says how in the following way these religious parasites spread
falsehood. Religious parasites misguided and exploited the common mass by telling them:
"Your God is the only God. You are His blessed sons and daughters, and
others will burn in hellfire." (PNS 14, p.13)
In similar fashion, these days certain WT factions sing their glory about
their language and land. That they are most precious, and everyone from the
entire globe should salute them and praise their glory. In their group propaganda
network, they talk like this. They did not get tired by spreading their own
greatness. They never get tired of eulogizing themselves. Nor do they feel shame by doing so.
Note 3: ABOUT SOCIAL ECONOMIC MOVEMENTS
Baba says, "Thus Prout's approach can be characterised as universal in
spirit but regional in approach." (PNS 13, p.24)
Baba says, "An empirical spiritual base to society will protect it from all
fissiparous tendencies and group or clan philosophies which create shackles
of narrow-mindedness." (PNS 13, p.24)
Often we have seen how certain fundamentalist groupists were propagating
Amra Bengali songs all around the globe. That was really suffocating for
everyone. For example this song, "Rarh e lal mati" was circulated and the
cassette was sold in various sectorial retreats of all the sectors. But that
song was only meant for the indigenous people of Rarh. So this proves the
blindness of certain groupist-minded negative people. Those who do not
understand the spirit of Sama'j movement (socio-economic movement).
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Serious Matter
Baba says, "The system of education prevailing today was formulated or
evolved long ago, mainly with a view to suit the needs of the capitalist
class. For the last three to four thousand years, the same type of
education is being imparted. The main purpose behind this sort of
educational system is to create persons with a slavish mentality to
fulfill need of those capitalist exploiters. This sort of education is
fundamentally defective. It is certain that this type of education which
serves the capitalists' interests is not at all suitable. This sort of
education creates obstacles in the evolution of humanity. We have to
thoroughly revamp the entire educational system. A new educational
system must evolve to produce sadvipras." (11/29/70, transcribed from cassette)
Note: Those who are bragging about the standard of their education
should know what type & what category of knowledge they have. In this
regard, we should ponder Guru's above guideline.
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