== LIKE BLIND MAN AND ELEPHANT STORY ==
Namaskar,
Recently there has been debate about an essay, on the ProutWorld
website, that takes aim at the riots in Gujurat in 2002. In particular
there is concern whether the article favors one community over another.
In discussing this issue, as Ananda Margiis, we respect all as our
brothers and sisters, Muslims and Hindus. Without making a judgment
towards either party, presented below are some of Baba's Proutistic
teachings, as well as some of the well-documented, historical facts.
By Baba's grace, the below material will help everyone develop an
informed opinion of the Gujurat riots (2002) that heightens our own
understanding of Prout.
I have not put forth any conclusion per se.
SOME OF THE HISTORY INVOLVED
Here is a rough outline of the historical trends of Hindu-Muslim
relations, because there is indeed an involved history and no single
incident can stand alone in a vacuum.
First, India is the homeland of Hindus, as the Muslim invaders came from
outside territories. Perhaps the first Muslim brigade to enter India was
that of Genghis Khan, in the 12th century. It was well-known that the
ruthless Genghis Khan pillaged, stole, raped, and murdered his way
across the Asian continent, including India-- only to leave the area and
then return and do it all over again.
Baba says, "History does provide some examples of benign, enlightened
kings such as Ashok the Great and Alfred the Great who did some good for
society, but they are few in number. Most were warmongers, such as
Genghis Khan. They were so cruel that they stained the green earth under
their feet with blood, and caused the sky to resound with the wails and
tears of their innocent victims." (APH-4)
Tragically, the Moghul King Genghis Khan set an abominable and gory tone
for Hindu-Muslim relations. During his time, and in his wake, so many
gruesome events occurred.
In addition, in that Hindu homeland of India, the Muslims went about
capturing so many Hindu temples that were full of gold and jewels and
converted them into Islamic mosques. Included in these episodes is the
ruination of the Lord Krsna Somnath temple. This is all part of the
well-known history, one which Hindus cannot forget.
SOME OF THE HISTORY INVOLVED (Part II)
This is not to say the no Hindu ever killed a Muslim during the Genghis
Khan era, or during the subsequent Moghul rule. But neither can we rule
out the fact that the Muslims were the invaders and the aggressors.
Baba says, "It is no use denying the fact that the victorious Muslim
nation played the role of oppressor and did much injustice to the
inhabitants of India...The oppression and injustice done by the Muslims
made the non-Muslims unite anew an anti-Muslim sentiment grew among
them." (TTP)
Baba says, "the victorious Muslims with the vanquished Hindus." (TTP)
So the very mode of the aggressive Muslim presence in India created a
backlash amongst non-Muslims. The reaction against Muslims by the native
Hindus did not start unprovoked, rather it was done in self-defence lest
they be wiped out entirely. That is also Baba's teaching.
Thus from one Muslim King to another, there were varying fluctuations of
intense fighting and bloodshed. This cannot be denied. Plus, it was the
Muslims who came from outlying areas to occupy the Hindu homeland.
These are the facts of history.
All of this must be taken into account when making an informed judgment
about the 2002 riots in Gujurat. Because every incident is part of a
greater cultural and historical context.
SOME OF THE HISTORY INVOLVED (Part III)
As we move closer to the present day, one obvious event that cannot be
overlooked is the division of India. No doubt the division, or
trifurcation of India, was incited by the British, but at the same time
both Muslim and Hindu leaders wanted to come into power. And it was also
for this reason that India got divided.
In this 1947 debacle, there occurred the massive spilling of blood and
arguably the largest human migration in the history of the world.
Muslims and Hindus were killing each other in the streets.
But it cannot be overlooked that it was the Muslims who were eager to
divide India.
Baba says, "They [the Britishers] infused in the Muslims the idea that
the Hindus formed the majority, and that therefore if the British quit
India the government would naturally go into the hands of the Hindus,
and the Muslims of the whole of India would remain as their subjects.
This shrewd policy yielded good results. A Hindu phobia grew among the
Muslims. The Muslim leaders began to propagate this Hindu phobia at the
top of their voices, and as a result of this anti-Hindu sentiment
created out of Hindu phobia, a Muslim nation was again born in India in
this twentieth century. Directed by this Hindu phobia, they demanded a
separate homeland for the Muslim nation." (TTP)
In the aftermath of division, Pakistan became a Muslim state where
Hindus were not welcomed, but rather persecuted. Indeed, Hindus have
been ruthlessly tortured in Pakistan. That is why, today, only 1% of the
entire country of Pakistan is Hindu.
Yet to appease the Muslim community, one so-called leader of the day
convinced the newly formed Indian government to make a deal.
Baba says, "Mahatma Gandhi should not have pressed one government
[India] to pay fifty crores of rupees [entire government revenue] to
another government [Pakistan] against the interests and sentiments of
the people of that country [India]." (PNS-4)
Here again, Baba's ideal is that both communities suffered greatly in
the ordeal of the break-up of India, then why should it have fallen upon
Hindus to make such an offer to Muslims, when it was the Muslims who
wanted division.
MUSLIM LIFE IN INDIA & THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
In contrast to the poor treatment of Hindus in Pakistan, Muslims are a
thriving population in India such that India is the third-largest Muslim
country in the world. Furthermore, India became a secular state, not a
Hindu one, and Gandhiji made another grave error in granting special
rights to Muslims in the Indian constitution, in his foolish attempt to
appease them.
Ever since, so many Indian politicians have continued to grant special
rights to Muslims in order to garner the Muslim vote. Hence it has
become a political ploy that invariably angers many Hindus.
Thus, Muslims live by a different set of laws in India than Hindus do.
That is another source of angst for Hindus.
For example, only Muslims are allowed multiple wives, only Muslims may
divorce at will, and only Muslims have special privileges in Kashmir
even though this was traditionally a Hindu region.
Baba says, "There was hardly any communalism in Kashmir where Muslims
lived under the Hindu Raj." (PNS-18)
All of this despite the fact that the Muslim way of living goes against
cardinal human values, such as their treatment of women. Indeed, Baba
says that we must never accept those religious doctrines, such as the
Islamic code, which overstep cardinal human principles.
MORE ABOUT THE MUSLIM POPULATION IN INDIA
Because of their having multiple wives, the Muslim population in India
is growing more and more, literally scaring Hindus into thinking that
one day they will be swallowed up in their own homeland. That is why
Baba says that the constitution of any nation must grant equal rights to
all-- not special rights to any group. If special rights are granted, as
has been wrongly done in India, then peace can never prevail. Rather
there will be resentment and fury.
The above then needs to be considered when making judgments regarding
Hindu-Muslim relations.
Here the point is not that Hindus have never done any wrong-- they have;
rather the larger issue is that there are many layers to this problem.
That is what we must always remember. And these need to be kept in view
if we are going to come up with a just, Proutistic analysis.
SHORT CHRONOLOGY OF BOMBINGS
Of course, we are all aware about the many recent attacks by Muslims on
Hindus and vice-versa.
August 25, 2007: Bombs rip through crowded public areas in the southern
city of Hyderabad, killing at least 42 people.
May 2007: A bomb at a historic Hyderabad mosque kills 11 people.
February 2007: Bombs detonate on train headed through northern India for
Pakistan, killing 68 people.
September 2006: At least 30 people are killed and 100 injured in twin
blasts at a mosque in Malegaon in western India.
July 2006: Seven bombs on Mumbai commuter trains kill more than 200 and
injure more than 700 others.
March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in the Hindu
holy city of Varanasi kill 20 people.
October 2005: Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets one day
before a major Hindu festival kill 62 people and wound hundreds.
August 2003: Two taxis packed with explosives blow up outside a Mumbai
tourist attraction and a busy market, killing 52 and wounding more than
100.
March 1993: Muslim underworld figures tied to Pakistani militants
allegedly carry out a series of bombings on Mumbai's stock exchange
along with trains, hotels and gas stations in the city, killing 257
people and wounding more than 1,100.
The above represents just a short list...day in day out such tragic
episodes occur.
In total, more blasts are done by Muslims than Hindus, regardless we
want to infuse a neo-humanistic outlook. One cannot just cry out about
the devastation done in Gujurat in 2002, but rather raise the injustice
of all such violence.
LIKE BLIND MEN AND ELEPHANT
We should not be like the blind man who touches an elephant's leg and
says this is a 'tree', nor like the next blind man who holds the
elephant's tail and says this is a 'rope', nor like the third blind man
who grabs the elephant's trunk and says this is a 'hose'.
Rather, to formulate a true Proutistic analysis of the situation, we
must consider all Baba's teachings on the issue as well as familiarize
ourselves with the objective historical facts.
Then we will be in best position to offer a view of the complex
Hindu-Muslim relation that reflects a truly Proutistic vision.
We should not simply (a) view one isolated incident, (b) begin siding
with a particular party, and then (c) cry out against the injustices
of the other. Because there is more depth to the issue, one that is
centuries old.
So ours should reflect both a level of sophistication and
compassion that helps heal the wounds of the past and enables everyone
to live together now and in the future. This is what we want to achieve
-- that is our Proutistic end.
And for that to occur, no group or community should get special
rights, as the Indian constitution now provides.
Rather, equal rights should be granted to all.
I hope others will reflect and contribute to this discussion.
BABA'S BLESSING
Baba says, "Human beings, universal humans, have had to undergo
tremendous struggle due to suppression, repression and oppression...Now
is the time for the emergence for the third psychic force where there
will be no more suppression, repression and oppression. Let the mind
develop according to its longings; let the mind be free. Let there be a
human society of coordination and cooperation. This is the last stage.
We are waiting for the rising sun with crimson rays. Even now the
crimson rays are a bit visible. These crimson rays are the rays of
PROUT." (PNS-17)
Namaskar,
Pramod
Note 1: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ORIGINAL ARTICLE
To view the original essay, visit the Proutworld website and search for
the title, 'Facing Fundamentalism in the Wake of the Gujurat Genocide'.
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Spiritual Progress in Future Humans & Animals
Baba says, "The human beings of that future age will be very
sensitive...The functional jurisdiction of the brain will also increase.
Similarly, many animals will become more sensitive and their vocabulary
will increase. With intellectual development vocabulary increases, and
the number of words in a language also increases. The functional
jurisdiction of the brain of animals will increase too. With the help of
spiritual practices, the human beings of the future will increase the
functional jurisdiction of their brains with accelerating speed."
(PNS-17, p.36)
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