PROUT'S VIEW:
CAUSE & SOLUTION TO GEORGIA CONFLICT IN SOUTH OSSETTIA
~ PART 1 ~
Namaskar,
These days news travels fast and is easy to get, so all are aware about
the Russia-Georgia conflict that is going on.
What people may not know are the deeper causes and Proutistic solutions
to such a conflict. So it is our duty to propagate Baba's ideals. Why
was the political and ethnic situation in Georgia an accident waiting to
happen, and what is the way to not only resolve the present matter but
also prevent such occurrences in the future.
In His Proutistic teachings, Baba has clearly identified the causes,
cited historical precedents, and given the solution. By analysing
current issues, like the present-day Georgia conflict, and providing
rational solutions, we will be able to propagate the pragmatic ways of
Prout within the general society, amongst intellectuals and lay people
alike.
A QUICK REVIEW
A couple weeks ago, Russian tanks and military forces steamrolled their
way into the country of Georgia in order to "defend" Russian nationals
who were living in South Ossettia, an ethnic region of Georgia under
control by ruling Georgian forces. So Russia went in and easily wiped
out and chased away the Georgian military, killed thousands of local
people, and began stationing their troops throughout South Ossettia in
order to exert their muscle and take that region for their own. After
much bloodshed in a very short time, the world is demanding that Russia
leave Georgia. But the Russians have been reluctant to do so and have
continued their occupation. At the same time, Georgia is not totally
innocent, they are also creating ethnic tensions etc.
That is the situation in a very brief nutshell. Needless to say there
are more complexities involved, though this is enough for us to
understand Prout's perspective.
HOW THIS TOOK PLACE IN THE PAST
First, let's go back in time to review similar events from our past.
Because this is not the first time such a malevolent occupation has
happened in our human history. Rather such hostile takeovers are quite
common. History bears testimony, but now in this modern era we must not
tolerate such injustices.
Several thousand years ago, the Aryans marched into India, labeled the
locals as being asuras (demons), and established control of the region
by inhabiting & dividing that land. Baba has described this in detail in
various discourses.
Baba says, "The Aryans divided the indigenous population of India into
these three categories [of shudras], although these so-called shudras
were the original inhabitants of India and the Aryans were the
outsiders." (NSS, Disc:3)
In the same way, Russia is an outsider in South Ossettia today.
More recently, the British established their empire around the globe. In
places like Australia, the British utterly wiped out the indigenous
Maoris; in the US, the British settlers wreaked havoc on the Native
Americans; and in South Africa, the British politically and economically
enslaved the local peoples.
In all such circumstances, the British sent English settlers and over
time those settlers outnumbered and eventually wiped out the local
people and indigenous cultures; in turn, those lands became full-fledged
British colonies.
And in certain places where the British could not swallow up the local
people, such as in Ireland and India, then the British artfully employed
their devious tactic of divide and rule. Baba has detailed this in a few
key discourses as well (Reference: 'A Short History of Ireland', 'The
Dangers of Communalism').
Throughout history, so many other nations have swallowed up tracts of
land and smaller countries by sending their people to live in that area.
Plus, various religions have done similar things. The Muslims have gone
to lands and with the strength of their polygamy & numerous offspring,
they created a burgeoning population that eventually took over that
area. This happened in Afghanistan, Pakistan, as well as in various
Middle-eastern and African nations, and in so many places that are now
present-day Muslim areas. Likewise, the Christians went into South India
and elsewhere and established their dominant presence over time.
The basic rule of the history of exploitation is that to take over any
land, first a country, group, or religion will send their inhabitants or
followers (i.e. a floating population) to a particular place. Second,
when a critical population mass is attained then they will capture that
land. Third, if capturing that place is not feasible, then they will
plant the seeds of dissension by inserting a communal award and elements
of ethnic tension, and then execute their policy of divide and rule.
Yet now in this modern era, we should not allow such bullying tactics
and coercive occupations that destroy the humanity. Just like slavery is
no longer allowed and female suppression is not tolerated, similarly we
must not allow military takeovers.
STALIN LEARNED FROM THE BRITISH
Knowing this history, Stalin and his ruthless USSR cadres swallowed up
so many neighboring lands by following this same type of approach. They
sent a 'floating population' of Russians to some of those lands like
Georgia, imposed their language in the schools, and established a
Russian presence in that place. Furthermore, Stalin more drew up
boundaries of those satellite nations that were sure to create ethnic
tension, thus ensuring those countries would never be able to rise up
and dethrone Russia.
Even after the USSR crumbled, still those beleaguered satellite
countries were in dire straits due to Stalin's approach, such that still
today, even though they are independent nations, they still live in the
shadow of Russia.
And that is exactly what we see happening today in Georgia. Ethnic and
racial tensions abound, and those peoples can never be adequately united
to withstand Russia's military offensives. So when Russia invades
Georgia, all done in the name of coming to the defense of Russians
living in South Ossettia, Russia can easily exert its will on Georgia.
This entire practice of creating ethnic divisions in Georgia stands on
the heels of what the British did in Ireland and India (Reference: 'A
Short History of Ireland', 'The Dangers of Communalism').
THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN FUTURE ALSO
And if we are not careful and we allow other populations to enter local
areas, we are destined to see more of the same in the future. And they
will come and capture the area, wherever one nation is having its
citizens reside in other countries, just like Muslims did in
Jammu-Kashmir. Just a few hundred years ago those were Hindu states, but
the Muslims have, over time, captured that region.
That is why Prout has a policy of 'no outsiders' in any samaj.
Baba says, "Outsiders [or a floating population] must be strictly
prevented." (PNS-21)
Otherwise we will continue to see more and more offensives, war,
bloodshed, divide and rule, military operatives, and ethnic
cleansing, like what Russia is doing now in Georgia (South Ossettia),
and like what is happening Darfur, Sudan etc. Initially, it seems
harmless enough to allow outsiders, but invariably over time it leads to
the mutilation of the local population as well as untold aggression and
hostility toward innocent people.
Rather, one must become one with the socio-economic structure of that
samaj in order to reside there-- one must merge their interest(s) with
that place. .
Baba says, "Local people are defined as those who have merged individual
socio-economic interests with the socio-economic interests of the
socio-economic unit they live in." (PNS-13)
They live in that area, learn the language, do not send money to outside
places, and identify with that land.
But that is not the case with the hundreds of thousands of Chinese who
are now inhabiting large parts of Southeast Asia & Africa. Nor is it the
case with the millions of Indians residing in Africa. Nor is it the case
with the tens of millions of Mexicans residing in the USA.
In all these places, it is a sure bet that at some point in the future,
the Chinese, Indian, and Mexican governments will start to exert their
will in the name of defending their people, just like Russia is doing
now in Georgia. That is what history has shown and that is what the
future holds, which is why Baba strictly warns us that a floating
population must not exist in any area-- no outsiders are allowed.
Only in extreme cases can they be considered.
ONE OTHER COMMUNIST TRICK BY THE RUSSIANS
History bears testimony that wherever those communists would rule they
would sing the glories of the laborers who were suffering in other
nations, convince them to form or join a communist state, and then those
wicked communist leaders would exploit the pants off of those laborers.
And that is exactly what Russia is doing today. They want nothing more
than to lure all of South Ossettia into choosing to come under Russian
leadership, just so that they could become the pawns of Russian dominance.
The Russians are involved in this current Georgia situation to try
and cajole and lure those living in Ossettia that Russia will be able to
better provide for them than Georgia. Russian leaders are trying to
befool the people in this way.
But once those South Ossettians come under Russian control, they will
stop being fed sweet-talk and will be forced to live under Russian
totalitarian control.
SUMMARY
So this is the crux of the problem: There is a long history of outsiders
coming in and destroying the social equilibrium and social harmony of a
given place. This is not an isolated example but rather an ongoing
problem that we should not allow to continue any further. It devastates
a land, ruins the people, and creates untold bloodshed. And now this
very same problem is being repeated in South Ossettia (Georgia) because
of the past influx of Russians.
Part II of this topic will discuss the solutions to this issue.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, despite today's present conflicts, we will soon build
that broad-based human society.
Baba says, "Those who do not recognize this fact, or those who want to
forget this fact, are actually enemies of human society. Those who
support casteism, racialism, provincialism, parochialism, nationalism,
even internationalism, are enemies of the big human society. Human
society is, rather should be, based on only one ism, and that ism is
universalism." (AV-3)
Namaskar,
Hitendra
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Cooking Tips
Baba says, "If the vegetables get a little burnt and [you think] that
'Oh, people can't eat this.' [Then] Quick- pour a lot of water onto
them, and add fifteen or twenty betel leaves. That will reduce the burnt
effect." (NKS, '97 Edn, p. 105)
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