== NEGATIVE & COWARDICE APPROACH ==
Namaskar,
By now, all in AM are aware about the alleged case of plagiarism as one
senior family acarya / margii professor wrote a book wherein he directly
copied Baba's exact sentence(s).
The book in question is Prof Dhanjoo Ghista's, "Socio-economic Democracy
and the World Government" (2004).
One other controversial aspect of the book is the term "collective
capitalism". The phrase itself is used in the subtitle and is a main
theme of the writing, yet this is not part of our AM approach.
Hence letter further addresses (1) the alleged case of plagiarism and
(2) points out how the very use of the term "collective capitalism"
undermines the propagation of AM ideology.
THE SILLY POINT OF COLLECTIVE CAPITALISM
A few people who reside in Prof Ghista's camp insist that the term
"collective capitalism" is helpful because it "enable[s] people to move
away from free-market capitalism to collective capitalism, as a start
(because people may not be ready for a radical change)".
So in essence, at best, Prof Ghista & Co are using the term collective
capitalism as an intermediary step to move from capitalism to Prout.
This is their stated justification.
But in our Marga, Baba never employs such goody-goody techniques--
regardless of the backlash or situation.
BABA STRONGLY OPPOSES CASTEISM
For instance, from the very get-go Baba adamantly opposed the dogma of
casteism and insisted that people renounce their caste entirely. In
result, there was huge clash between AM and the traditional communities
of India, but Baba did not budge one inch. Nor did He compromise the
matter by saying that a person can keep their caste for ten more years
or that AM embraced "partial casteism". Rather Baba emphatically
rejected casteism in its entirety.
Baba says, "We will not deviate an inch from our ideology." (NSS, Disc: 14)
Unfortunately, in his book, Prof Ghista uses his self-coined phrase
"collective capitalism" to "soften" the transition from capitalism, as a
compromise with ideology. Effectively, he is making a pact with the
exploitative machinery of capitalism. This is the type of compromise he
is making-- as if this is part of the strategy of Prout.
Yet this cowardly compromise is in no way part of our Prout platform.
Baba 100% denounces the greedy ways of capitalism.
Baba says, "To fight capitalism is therefore within your
goal...capitalism is anti-dharma and the actions of capitalists are also
anti-dharma." ('Talks on Prout')
Thus there is no scope to be making "compromises" or "adjustments" with
capitalists in the name of Prout, and there is no scope to introduce
fake terms like "collective capitalism" as a means to "enable people to
move away from free-market capitalism to collective capitalism, as a
start (because people may not be ready for a radical change)".
Tragically, Prof Ghista could not follow in Baba's dharmic footsteps.
Rather he went against due to his cowardly ways.
BABA STRONGLY OPPOSES COMMUNISM
Let's take the next example of how Baba refuses to make a pact with
anti-social elements.
From the very outset, Baba took an uncompromising and unflinching stand
against the sheer negativity of communism. And those days communism was
rolling like thunder across this earth. The communist cadres were
dominating all aspects of society.
Yet Baba courageously attacked communism at its core. Our Marga fought
communists tooth and nail. There was no compromise and never did Baba
uses a phrase like "hybrid communism" to describe Prout in hopes of
appeasing communists. Baba does not advocate a slow, gradual transition
away from communism.
Rather Baba totally rejected the nastiness of communism.
Baba says, "Communism is irrational and inhuman – it is against the
human psyche." (PNS-17)
So that is what we are to do in AM. Project Prout by taking a strong
stand against anti-social elements like casteism, communism, religious
fundamentalism, and capitalism. On so many occasions this is exactly
what Baba has done, each and every day of His life.
Yet in his book, Prof Ghista shies away from taking a dharmic stand and
instead attempts to make friends with the capitalists by using the fake
term, "collective capitalism". This is his unmanly way; it appears he
suffers from some type of fear complex. Otherwise what was the need to
go against our AM way of life by making a pseudo pact with capitalists.
ONE OTHER THING
When Baba began opposing casteism, communism, and capitalism, then those
isms were at their full-blown glory. Nobody dared oppose those things.
Now the climate is totally different. For years, many social thinkers
and even most of the general public is fed up with the greed of
capitalism. People are losing their homes, losing their jobs, losing
their retirement and savings, etc-- all because of the defects and greed
of capitalism. Today, capitalism is not at all a glorified term. Rather,
it is like one broken automobile that has lost all its power and is just
sputtering down the road, coughing on its own filthy exhaust. That is
the state of capitalism today.
Even then, even in this conducive environment, Prof Ghista is afraid to
denounce capitalism and instead makes a goody-goody agreement with
capitalists.
So many non-sadhakas have the requisite courage to oppose capitalism,
but this much strength or will power our margii professor does not have.
FAILS TO USE PROUT TERMINOLOGY
Another defect he has is that throughout his book, "Socio-economic
Democracy and the World Government" (2004), Prof Ghista fails to use so
much Prout terminology.
For instance, you will not see the terms "social cycle", "vaeshya",
"ksattriya", or so many other Prout words in Prof Ghista's book. Rather
those words are conspicuously absent.
That is why many readily state that Prof Ghista has sold out and
forgotten Prout.
In contrast, Dr Ravi Batra's writings are filled with Prout terminology
with innumerable references to Baba's works. Hence Dr Batra has
successfully educated so many about the dharmic principles of Prout. On
this point he is to be commended.
Whereas Prof Ghista is just floundering in his own goody-goody ocean of
compromise.
ABOUT THE ALLEGED PLAGIARISM
Now to the next phase of this letter. Here in clear-cut terms is the
case about the alleged plagiarism in Dhanjoo Ghista's book:
(1) Here is the well known rule in publishing about plagiarism:
"Direct copying from original sources. Most commonly, this involves
using one or more sentences verbatim from your original source (with or
without footnotes). This is completely unacceptable. If you copy your
source text you *must* put the passage in quotes or offset the passage.
However, extensive quoting of this nature is generally frowned upon in
scientific writing and indicates that you have made little original
contribution to the work."
(2) Baba's original sentence:
In the commune system, society is reduced to merely a
production-distribution mechanism under a regimented system of control.
(PNS-14, 'Cooperatives')
(3) Prof Dhanjooji's sentence:
n communism, the society is reduced to a production-distribution
mechanism under
a regimented system of control.
(Socio-economic Democracy and the World Government, p.3)
(4a ) Clearly Prof Ghista has breached the writing ethic as his work
clearly falls into the category of plagiarism according to the above
definition:
"Direct copying from original sources. Most commonly, this involves
using one or more sentences verbatim from your original source (with or
without footnotes). This is completely unacceptable."
(4b) Acts of plagiarism by a professor result in:
- Loss of one's tenured position at a university;
- Revocation of contract with publishing company.
(5) Merely mentioning the name PR Sarkar in a remote place in the book
does not suffice. That is not enough to justify copying a sentence word
for word.
(6) Each and every devotee wants that Baba's books should not be lost or
stolen. As I am concerned, I know that everyone else in AM is also
concerned. I think all will consider this. As Ananda Margiis, we should
not open the door for other writers to take Baba's words and print them
in their own name. We should protect the sanctity of Baba's books at any
cost.
(7) Up till now, not a single Guru's teachings has remained safe. Not
Lord Krsna's, nor Buddha's, no one. Baba has given us measures to
protect His teachings and we must do so.
(8) I certainly appreciate Prof. Ghistaji's years of dedication and
service but what he has done will create a negative trend.
(9) Finally let us remember Baba's teachings from His discourse, 'Taking
Shelter in Satya is the Essence of Sadhana', 25th of November, 1978
Bombay. In this discourse Baba gives stern advice to sadhakas as to how
to address this matter.
Baba says that a snake outside one's house is dangerous; but a snake
inside one's house is still more dangerous. One should direct one's
efforts strongly toward removing any snakes inside one's house. That is,
those who are one's so-called close persons-- if any among them are
insincere or crooked or ready to fall to the temptations of momentary
pleasure rather than adhere steadfastly to dharma, then these are the
persons one must oppose first in life. This Baba speaks very strongly
about, and it is not an easy guideline to follow. One must oppose those
in one's own house if they are not sincere and strong adherents of dharma.
(10) I think, nay expect, that now every Ananda Margii is ready to take
this issue seriously.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace we are to fight in an uncompromising way against all
injustices. We should not walk in the cowardly footsteps of Prof Ghista
who writes to appease big name capitalists. Nor should we sit quiet when
someone plagiarizes Baba's books, irregardless who that somebody may be.
Baba says "Struggle is the essence of life. Yours should be a pauseless
struggle against corruption, hypocrisy and animality." (Ananda Vanii #11)
Namaskar,
Divyajyoti
Note 1: BABA ALWAYS TAKES A STRONG STAND
In all spheres of life Baba has taken an uncompromising stand. Whether
it be against casteism, capitalism, communism, the dowry system, women's
rights, or whatever, always Baba advocates the path of dharma. He never
takes a slow, gradual approach. Only in the case of land management
reform does Baba advocate a step-wise pattern of change. When fighting
against the dogmas and injustices of the world, Baba takes a firm,
uncompromising stand.
Baba says, "If you have a firm resolve to realize your goal, you shall
become great. Without a firm resolution, you cannot achieve anything."
(AV-1)
Unfortunately, it seems that Prof Ghista does not have that needed firm
resolve.
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Summum Bonum
Baba says, "The spiritual progress of microcosms is never possible
without devotion. If you have devotion, you can call Parama Purus'a to
you; He will certainly come to you, rather He must come to you. For
this, you may or may not have anything else, but if you have devotion,
you have everything. By dint of that, one attains Parama Purus'a, one
becomes identified with Him. This is the summum bonum of human life."
(SS-18, p.45)
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Everybody knows that this supposed 'pen name' Divyajyoti (and her fellow webmasters of this googlegroup, is nobody else but the hateful, destructive, egoistical, mentally-imbalanced GARDA GHISTA, Editor of World Prout Assembly; the ex-wife of Dhanjoo Ghista who writes with nothing but hate and unyielding jealousy. Get a life woman and move on! No one cares for the venom you spue to your own family and all those around you.
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