By: Uttam Prakash
Once upon a time there lived a respected devout Hindu Brahmin in a village on the foot hills of Himalayas. He devoted all his time either in praise of the God or acquiring knowledge for human good.
Over the period he became so knowledgeable that he could not only see past events but could also predict the future. His predictions were so accurate that he earned a reputation of a living God repository of all knowledge for a purposeful life.
One morning, he became curious about his own future. Since he knew everything about his current life, he thought of exploring his next birth as a Hindu believes that each being has an immortal soul, and migrates to another body after death.
So he closed his eyes in meditation. In a couple of minutes he saw himself on his death bed. He could see his serene face resting comfortably on a clean new dazzling white pillow. His sons and his little granddaughter whom he loved the most were by his side. The feeling was of immense bliss and contentment. Suddenly a strange dazzling blue light like a huge ocean turf began surging towards him. The light gradually grew in circles as if it wished to touch his feet for blessings. In a fraction of a second it cuddled and embraced him giving him profound pleasure never ever experienced.
The light then began to fade dissolving his body into some deep cold darkness. In a fraction of a second later, to his rude shock, he found himself one amongst few loitering pigs in the thick of filth. The morning air rather being fresh smelt of disgusting garbage soaked with human and animal faeces. Before he could understand anything he saw dirty-faced, uncombed filthy looking urchins, pelting stones at him. This was unbelievable considering his deeds in this life. And his meditation was broken with puke on his lap.
Deeply frustrated, he wished to know the reasons for this and any possible corrective action. It took many days to conclude that there was no escape from this birth as unintentionally he had committed a sin of despising a holy man about his uncleanness. An idea however struck him, that if it was possible to die soon after taking birth, then he will be spared of this disgrace at the earliest. Immediately he called his sons. Sharing this grief, he requested them to kill him soon after he is born. The sons agreed.
As per the prediction, the Brahmin died. The sons however got busy in the rituals that accompany a Hindu cremation and forgot the promise made to their dear father. After 13 days when the rituals got over, his sons realized that their father must be in great pain. With deep guilt about not able to fulfill the last wish of their father well in time, they rushed to the indicated place armed with sword and sticks.
Reaching the place indicated by their father, they found a small piglet rolling around digging filth. Its coarse dark haired body was glistening in the morning sun. Seeing them around, it raised its snout drenched in dripping mud. Blinking its small eyes it began waging its small curly tail as if in great pain. Identifying their father, the sons rushed towards it with a determination to free its soul. As they neared, the piglet screamed and slipped away. The chase began with the piglet leading and the sons following. After lot of jostling around, the piglet was eventually cornered. At this moment one of the sons raised a sword for the lethal blow.
Finding this as the last moment in its life the pig raised its two little legs, as if with folded hands and pleaded Son!!! Stop where you are. Spare me. Let me enjoy this southerly breeze that is blowing through my snout. Let me live if you have any respect for your father. “Trust me I am ok and I am enjoying”.
Moral: If you are in a mess and you know about of it, Act immediately in whatever way you can, before you start enjoying the mess.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Who wants to be a Politician?
Uttam Prakash
“We would prefer a Dog visit our house than a Politician”; “US Politicians from Yale Ours from Jail” read placards in Mumbai on 3rd December by angry helpless citizens protesting the Mumbai attacks. The most startling was the sms doing rounds on these very days that read “Just think who is more dangerous those who came through boats or those who came through votes?”
Sometimes one wonders if it is the same land where politicians like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bhagat Singh ever existed. Is it the same country where people sacrificed one meal on the call of the Prime Minister during difficult times of war? One also wonders if it is the same land where people enthusiastically faced brutal lathi charge responding to calls of “satyagraha”.
It is time to urgently introspect about where we have gone wrong; because there are serious questions about the way our value systems have come to being. There are serious issues about our much flaunted “biggest democratic system” claims that we do not forget to drop soon after we cross Immigration. And not to forget there are serious implications about the way we shape our lives amidst repeated acts of political ridicule without considering ways towards corrective action. "Politicians' Bashing" that has become a convenient way to vent out our frustrations may become a routine, making us potentially more vulnerable.
One of the blogs of a youth Deeksha Jhalani ruefully reads “it has become almost fashionable to be indifferent and casual towards political affairs. High pitched drawing room discussions competing with the dizzying television volumes point accusing fingers at the youth for idling away their precious time and not utilizing it productively. However, what is ironical as well as amusing is that these very morally correct and politically righteous citizens teach their kids how big and bad the world of politics is! Consider this - have you ever heard a kid come back with an "I want to become a politician/join politics" in answer to that inevitable question we've all faced during our childhood, "beta bade hoke kya banoge?
Delhi is considered the heart of India and it would not be unreasonable to expect that the national capital should lead the country. Have a look at the profile of candidates available at www.efg.co.in fielded by the political parties in the 2008 Delhi elections for the legislative assembly. The fears of the blogger come alive when we find that around seventy percent of the contestants did not even have a graduate degree. Out of these forty percent lacked even a 10th certificate. Consider this interesting or disturbing or at best lament the callousness educated have towards politics. The qualification of the candidates is no indicator of their commitment to public service and it would not be correct if we try arriving at any direct correlation. However, it is relevant if we consider the need of infusing professionalism in public governance.
Now the key question about why our world is as we see it today. Going by rational thinking the system that serves us is representative of our own making of political and social values. Put bluntly, a politician is allegedly busy making money because he needs them to buy votes in large cases, a politician is busy talking about caste because it gives him some comfort of support, a politician is busy talking about religion, class, boundaries or anything that is divisive is because he finds in it an opportunity to secure precious votes. And because he knows that those who talk in drawing rooms and can possibly think rationally will never support him when tested through ballots. And he knows that the best bet is to attract attention and cash in on emotions to be in power. It is sheer good luck that there is still something in our culture that compels the politician to do some good for those who consider elections a joke and who constitute a sizeable number of taxpayers.
Sensitized citizens who still vote religiously are concerned because in the current scenario it is 15-20% of a bunch of citizens (largely party workers) who year after year largely decide the fate of 80% of the citizens. Extending the logic the future of 1/3rd of human race is also been written by this group. Good governance and the promotion of the common good are not the exclusive responsibility of our governments. Other actors such as individuals, families, have a part to play. Regrettably, individuals and groups often underestimate their ability to contribute to the good governance of their nations. This may explain why many people are resigned to their oppression and suffering, and passively look forward to an external liberator.
The solution lies not in shaming politicians or ambitious quick fix solutions like launching “political parties with a difference” at the drop of a hat. The same blogger says “It is high time we stop contemplating and being fooled by politicians who make a farce of our democracy. We shouldn't wait for some magical power to end all our miseries. We are the ones who have the power to bring about a change. Believe in the power of "one" . . . that one vote that can bring a sea of revolution. It is time to make your presence felt. Enough of being a passive observer, a vocal complainant and a no-doer. Its time to VOTE”.
These little votes would certainly not fall on deaf ears as our much despicable politician is smart enough to read the writings on the walls. And it is as simple as supply responds to demand that we learnt in basic economics.
“We would prefer a Dog visit our house than a Politician”; “US Politicians from Yale Ours from Jail” read placards in Mumbai on 3rd December by angry helpless citizens protesting the Mumbai attacks. The most startling was the sms doing rounds on these very days that read “Just think who is more dangerous those who came through boats or those who came through votes?”
Sometimes one wonders if it is the same land where politicians like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bhagat Singh ever existed. Is it the same country where people sacrificed one meal on the call of the Prime Minister during difficult times of war? One also wonders if it is the same land where people enthusiastically faced brutal lathi charge responding to calls of “satyagraha”.
It is time to urgently introspect about where we have gone wrong; because there are serious questions about the way our value systems have come to being. There are serious issues about our much flaunted “biggest democratic system” claims that we do not forget to drop soon after we cross Immigration. And not to forget there are serious implications about the way we shape our lives amidst repeated acts of political ridicule without considering ways towards corrective action. "Politicians' Bashing" that has become a convenient way to vent out our frustrations may become a routine, making us potentially more vulnerable.
One of the blogs of a youth Deeksha Jhalani ruefully reads “it has become almost fashionable to be indifferent and casual towards political affairs. High pitched drawing room discussions competing with the dizzying television volumes point accusing fingers at the youth for idling away their precious time and not utilizing it productively. However, what is ironical as well as amusing is that these very morally correct and politically righteous citizens teach their kids how big and bad the world of politics is! Consider this - have you ever heard a kid come back with an "I want to become a politician/join politics" in answer to that inevitable question we've all faced during our childhood, "beta bade hoke kya banoge?
Delhi is considered the heart of India and it would not be unreasonable to expect that the national capital should lead the country. Have a look at the profile of candidates available at www.efg.co.in fielded by the political parties in the 2008 Delhi elections for the legislative assembly. The fears of the blogger come alive when we find that around seventy percent of the contestants did not even have a graduate degree. Out of these forty percent lacked even a 10th certificate. Consider this interesting or disturbing or at best lament the callousness educated have towards politics. The qualification of the candidates is no indicator of their commitment to public service and it would not be correct if we try arriving at any direct correlation. However, it is relevant if we consider the need of infusing professionalism in public governance.
Now the key question about why our world is as we see it today. Going by rational thinking the system that serves us is representative of our own making of political and social values. Put bluntly, a politician is allegedly busy making money because he needs them to buy votes in large cases, a politician is busy talking about caste because it gives him some comfort of support, a politician is busy talking about religion, class, boundaries or anything that is divisive is because he finds in it an opportunity to secure precious votes. And because he knows that those who talk in drawing rooms and can possibly think rationally will never support him when tested through ballots. And he knows that the best bet is to attract attention and cash in on emotions to be in power. It is sheer good luck that there is still something in our culture that compels the politician to do some good for those who consider elections a joke and who constitute a sizeable number of taxpayers.
Sensitized citizens who still vote religiously are concerned because in the current scenario it is 15-20% of a bunch of citizens (largely party workers) who year after year largely decide the fate of 80% of the citizens. Extending the logic the future of 1/3rd of human race is also been written by this group. Good governance and the promotion of the common good are not the exclusive responsibility of our governments. Other actors such as individuals, families, have a part to play. Regrettably, individuals and groups often underestimate their ability to contribute to the good governance of their nations. This may explain why many people are resigned to their oppression and suffering, and passively look forward to an external liberator.
The solution lies not in shaming politicians or ambitious quick fix solutions like launching “political parties with a difference” at the drop of a hat. The same blogger says “It is high time we stop contemplating and being fooled by politicians who make a farce of our democracy. We shouldn't wait for some magical power to end all our miseries. We are the ones who have the power to bring about a change. Believe in the power of "one" . . . that one vote that can bring a sea of revolution. It is time to make your presence felt. Enough of being a passive observer, a vocal complainant and a no-doer. Its time to VOTE”.
These little votes would certainly not fall on deaf ears as our much despicable politician is smart enough to read the writings on the walls. And it is as simple as supply responds to demand that we learnt in basic economics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Bow to Love
50 years of Indian Independence