Thursday, February 19, 2015

MONEY, BANKS, GOVT, WORK(Karma) & PEOPLE- DECEITFUL & DESTRUCTIVE

The Hindu newspaper  during week-days  publishes in its COMMENT section in page 11 a column categorized as   World View. These are  articles mainly  from  Western scholars  and relating to politics, economics, sociology  etc.  These scholars appear to be  columnists’  and regularly contribute to   newspapers in the West like Guardian Newspapers etc. These same articles get repeated in The Hindu under the category World View.

 These articles provides us  understanding  of the  chronic problems faced by the West due to their own follies and which are compounded by their lack of depth and width in matters concerning religion and spirituality . And since their  shallow  religious  philosophy  do not exercise  moral restraints on them, these problems mostly have their origins in their  covetous  behavior.  The  West always seek dominion over all that  they set their eyes on in this world whether  it  be  land, people, nature with its fauna and flora, and even over planets like  Mars . They are the modern Hiranya-kashyapus', Vrithhasuras'  and  Duryodhanas'.

Today’s  article is written by George Monbiot  about the conditions the  EU is considering to  impose on Greece. Those involved are the Govts,  Private Banks and the People.  Inevitably in the tussle between  the three, the people are at the receiving end and are getting crushed. The entire monetary and banking system oppressing them   is barbaric and deceitful. And unfortunately we Indians are looking up to that system for  guidance, development and growth.

Indians  from ancient times,  had clear vision about  wealth and money and how it must  be utilized  and managed, benefitting all beings. In three places in the Mahabharatha,   the  necessity for the circulation of money  is  mentioned. In fact  Monbiot’s  article mentions the success of such a process  engaged in by the people of the  Austrian town of Worgi in 1932. This success threatened the Govts of  Germay and  Austria, and they stamped it out.

In the Mahabharatha,   in Aranyaka Parva,   Chapter  2 titled  ‘The Pandava’s reflections’, the importance of  wealth and its  management is dealt  with in detail. This is the conversation between Dharmaputra  and a learned Brahmana  named  Shaunaka, who was learned in the philosophy of the soul  and in the Sankhya and  Yoga. Dharmaputra in his reply to the  Brahmana started-off  in the following manner;- “O Brahmana, this my desire for wealth  is not for the purpose of  enjoying  it when obtained.   I do not  desire  it  through avarice. I desire  it  only  for  the support  of the Brahmanas. (Sloka 51). Till sloka 63, he  expresses to  Shaunaka  why he seeks wealth.  A few more points  I  will mention here “All creatures  are seen to  divide their food   among those  that   depend on them. So should  a  person  leading a domestic  life  give a share  of  his food  to Brahmacharis who  have given up cooking. (Sloka 54). Bed  to the  tired, seat  to one  who is fatigued  by standing, water  to one who is thirsty and food  to one who is hungry should be always given. (Part of Sloka 55) . None  should  cook his food  for himself, none should  kill any animal  for  nothing. None should eat that food  which is not dedicated. (Slokas 57, 58). By scattering  morning  and  evening food  on  the earth  for  dogs,  Chandalas   and birds , a person  should perform the  Vishvadeva   sacrifice. (Sloka 59)(p.8, Vol.2, M.N.Dutt)

The  second instance  where the importance of wealth is highlighted is in the narration of  Galava-charitha,  appearing  in Bhagavad-Yana Parva, Chapter 114.(p.312, vol3, M.N.Dutt). I will provide here the interpretations  of a few slokas from there. This is again a conversation between Garuda and  Galava , the disciple of  Sage Viswamithra. Garuda says,  “Created  by Fire in the Earth and reared up by wind, wealth is called  Hiranya for  the earth  itself named  Hiranmaya.(Part of Sloka 1) (Recall the story Narasimha vs Hiranya-kashipu, the wicked king and hoarder of wealth) .  Since  it supports  and  maintains  the (creatures of the) earth, therefore is it called  wealth (Dhana); and the wealth is in the three worlds  from time  immemorial  for  meeting this purpose. (Sloka 2) . On a  Friday when either  of the two  constellations  is  ascendant,  Agni, creating wealth  by dint of his will, confers  it upon  mankind  for  multiplying  the possessions of the giver  of  riches (Kubera) (Sloka 3) .It is very difficult to  get that wealth, guarded by Kubera and his  guards.  Such being the  case  do  you ask  some king  born in the family  of  royal Rishi who can make us  successful , without  oppressing  his  subjects.(Sloka 5).

The  third  instance   of the circulation of wealth , I came across is in the Bhagavat Gita. Chapter 3, Karmayogam , slokas 14, 15 and 16. Those who put spokes in the wheel , this cycling of wealth is a  sinner and also living his life unfruitfully.

Finally quote from George Monbiot’s article “Banking’s great civilisational advance has been all but destroyed through deregulation, whose result is a new system of usury, speculation and exploitation.Private banks borrow cheap and lend dear, forcing us to work ever longer hours and to inflict ever more damage on the natural world to service our debts. Ms. Pettifor suggests that governments should reassert control over interest rates at every level of lending.”  The entire article is illuminative of the workings of the Western  ‘ intellect’.

Monday, February 16, 2015

KNOWLEDGE & ACTION : EAST vis-a-vis WEST; INADEQUACY OF WESTERN MEANS

If  EDUCATION  is like  diving into a pool or pond and   bathing/drinking  to  get refreshed/purified  leading to  a feeling of  being re-born ( born-again, (dwija)) , how the pool of knowledge must be.? How the water in that pool must be; how the water must be collected ? (Water in the pool is compared to the  sum total of knowledge. (Baptism ?)) By which means ? Here lies the Major difference between the Indian Civilization  and the rest of the world !!!!!

A conspicuous  clue to this is there in the advice of  Gandhari  to her son  Duryodhana. She points out that a  sharp and  appropriate  intellect  is  a  product obtained by the control of the senses.  And  such an intellect can only generate , beneficent  knowledge impacting the  well-being of all beings.

“One, who aspires  to great things, must  lead  his senses  to virtue and profit (dharma and artha); by having the senses under  control, intelligence  increases  as  fire  when it has fuel added  on to it.” (Udyog-Parva Main, Bhagavat-Yana Parva Sub, Chapter 129, Sloka 26, page 344, Vol.3, English Translation M N Dutt.) The above idea of  intellect/intelligence is  entirely different from the Western idea of intelligence which is entirely organ centric. ie Brain centric.

Gandhari, who came to  present day India from the present day Afghanisthan expressed a fragment of ‘still’ / ‘eternal’ valid knowledge that was then current in ancient India whose soothing influence extended upto Saudi Arabia, Iran and Greece in the West. The same  idea in DETAIL   is clearly given in the  Yogasutras of Patanjali. Chapter 1, Samadhi-padam gives the overview of  Yoga. In it  Sutras 48 & 49 deal with Pranja (Buddhi=intellect) . Raising the intellect to the highest level possible, the intellect at that stage is called “Ritham-bhara”. It  then yields knowledge of everything that exists in the universe  directly , not  in the usual conventional way which is dependent on the senses.(therefore susceptible to wrong inference, interpretation resulting in wrong knowledge.) And Indian civilization is the product  of  knowledge resulting from “Ritham-bhara” buddhi/intellect of our seers. (Thus it becomes our paramount duty and responsibility to nurture our civilization.)

PRESENT SITUATION
Over a  period  of   four to five generations, the crystal clear water of  the Indian  pool  is being replaced by the bloodied and  murky waters of  the Western World. When  the knowledge pool itself is  corrupted/defiled/polluted, when the water(knowledge) itself has become unfit,  how can  one ever  improve the quality of education. !!???

CONCERNS ABOUT EDUCATION EXPRESSED BY ‘EMINENT’ PERSONALITIES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS !!!!!
Quote:- “Quality of law education is a matter of concern throughout the country,” the Chief Justice observed. (Feb 14.2015)

ABOUT KNOWLEDGE-LED SOCIETY – THIS CONCEPT IS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH  IN THE MAHABHARATHA. – The Gandharva  Chithraratha will challenge  the Pandavas  walking in the forest  towards  Panchala-kshithi, WITHOUT a  Brahmin leading the way.(Chaithra-ratha-parva). They were on their way to attend the  swayamvara of  Draupadi/Krishna/Panchali. Pandavas were challenged because they were walking without  being led by a  Brahmin. (knowledge). Finally the Gandharva  points out the learned and knowledgeable  BRAHMIN  Dhaumya, who will become the Purohita  of the Pandavas.

In Modern Times………
Quote:- “Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, founder and chairman of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, spoke about Mahatma Gandhi's idea of change and education. Laying emphasis on activity based education, he said, “It is simple and educative, and does not curb a questioning mind.”

Mr. Sashi Kumar, lucidly summarised the views of Prof. Swaminathan and said, “We should have a knowledge-led society. It’s difficult to achieve, but that's what we need.”” (Feb.16.2015)

Quote:- Educators need to help children understand the importance of the pluralistic nature of the country, said N. Ram, chairman, Kasturi and Sons Limited.

Quote:- “Education cannot be insulated from society,” he said, speaking at the Educators for Change conference at Don Bosco School of Excellence on Saturday. (Feb.15.2015)


ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Quote:- “He said such incidents threatened the ideals of the Constitution. “In particular, it threatens Article 14, which guarantees equality, Article 19, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and Article 25 that guarantees the right to practise and profess any faith,” he said.

Speaking on economic unity, R. Vaidyanathan, professor of finance and control, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, said the Indian aspect of saving money and entrepreneurial spirit would guarantee the growth of the country. 

“There is disproportionate emphasis on FDI while savings from households have majorly contributed to the country’s economic growth. In reality, it is the housewives who have driven economic growth. The government must leave the entrepreneurs alone,” he jokingly remarked.

 Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak up against the ‘virus’ of ‘Ghar Vapsi’ and express his disagreement with it clearly. “The deafening silence of religious majorities, who have nothing but the goodwill of minorities at heart, increases uncertainty and insecurity,” he said.

Economist S. Gurumurthy was the last speaker of the evening. He said a topic like religious unity cannot be broached without talking about ‘doctrinal tolerance’ of religions born in India and ‘doctrinal intolerance’ of other religions.

“Hinduism is a religion that accepts all other religions. Religious tolerance would mean acceptance of religious leaders, ideas and figures of other religions as well,” he said.

When asked what he thought about some Sangh Parivar leaders raking up the issue of making India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, he called for a debate. “The doctrines call for acceptance of all religions. Can the same be said of other religions?” he said.” (Feb. 17, 2015)

MODERN  MURDERING  THE PRE-MODERN
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-last-moments/article6842828.ece?ref=slideshow#im-image-0 (Feb 1, 2015) – Just  AFTER the last living moments of Gandhiji. (Photos)

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

Quote:- “The Constitution is merely a guideline for the state. Not for the people of the state. The notion of what seems right to the people of a country comes from the prevalent cultural and social norm, not the Constitution. We need to debate if adding a certain word or group of words in the Constitution has any material impact (positive or negative) on the lives of the people,” says Daithankar.

In order for such debates around secularism and socialism to be more nuanced, the country needs to focus on education, says Jain. “Our country needs a thorough overhauling of our education system. We need students to start thinking critically of their environment from an early age.” (Feb.15 2015)

BRAHMIN (knowledge) LEADING THE WAY IN  SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Quote:- “The Sanskrit inscriptions indicate that local rulers in Southeast Asia employed South Indian Brahmins as advisors and counsellors. The Brahmins were the mechanisms through which the inscriptions and objects of Vedic ritual landed up in these improbable, remote places. There was clearly an Indian presence in Southeast Asia, not just of ideas and religion but of people as well.” (Feb 15 2015)

Covering letter for the above article :- 
Dear Sir and other friends,
The last mail  I had sent you concerned mainly with the Constitution of  India. I had written it ahead of  a  Sunday Magazine  article  about  the same in the Hindu, about which I did not have any prior information. 

Quotes from  that article and  from other ones which will be  of definite interest to  ‘concerned’ and ‘sensitive’ individuals ,and  which are presently exercising the minds of prominent personalities  of our society,  I am providing in the attached document with  links. The quotes I  feel are sufficient to know the crux of the problems faced by our  modern society. But to know it fully in context, one may  pursue the links.

One personality  opined that our  society must be knowledge-led.  Sir, you are the  founder of  a NGO. And  that  NGO must be active.  On what basis such an  NGO is  animated. On what knowledge foundation the NGO rests on and the basis of its actions.

I am presenting herewith a  graph  from the works of ‘modern’ scholars.  One can find out the economic pre-eminence of  India more than 2000 years  ago from that graph.  Other sources like travellers to India from China etc  during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya also  corroborates this graphical  interpolation. (See Michael Wood’s BBC documentary, The Story of India Part 1, which is available now in Amazon.). Modern economy which is just 250 to 300 yrs old is not able to hold on its own. It is having chronic illness.

If  EDUCATION  is like  diving into a pool/ pond and   bathing/drinking  to  get refreshed/purified,  leading to  a feeling of  being re-born ( born-again, (dwija)) , how the pool of knowledge must be.? How the water in that pool must be; how the water must be collected ? (Water in the pool is compared to the  sum total of knowledge.) By which means ? Here lies the Major difference between the Indian Civilization  and the rest of the world !!!!! (Western civilization has namesake baptism !!!?) – Read further in the attached document…


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Constitution of India : It is a limiting factor ,a drag on Indians !!??

Constitution of India  vis-a vis Wisdom in the  Mahabharatha.

Constitution : a body of  fundamental principles or established precedents according  to which a  state or other organization  is acknowledged  to be governed.

Based on the above definition, is our modern constitution  really conveying to us established precedents. How limiting modern constitution is ? Does it provide us guidelines to,  for eg. the desirable relationship between father and son, guru and shishya? Does it provide us guidelines about how the elders in a family  should conduct themselves ? From our written constitution can such guidelines to relationships  be  derived ?  Is our constitution leading us astray ?

Are elected representatives, ie. those elected by the people in a democracy,  having sufficient qualifications  to  sit in an assembly,ie parliament,   to oversee the governing of this country ? Is a written and celebrated constitution necessary ? Are laws passed,  by members of parliament , required for the conduct of  industry and businesses in conformity with ethics and morality ?(eg. Nuclear Liability Bill) Are they well conversant  with ethics and morality ? Is modern education capable of instilling  in their core such knowledge ?    What is nobility ? How the members of the noble family must conduct themselves ? What must be  their learning and knowledge ? (Learning then was not guided by any state sponsored syllabus !!)What are the duties and responsibilities of  the elders in the family ? The relation between father and son, between guru and disciple, how it should be ? How  a  state must be governed by the royal family ?What must be the learning and qualifications of the members of an assembly ?(Who must be admitted in a  assembly where  decisions impacting multitudes are made ?) Based on that how one  is likely to  become a  party, a participant in unjust actions ? How such actions will  affect onself?  - The following paragraphs will help one develop a  proper perspective  with regard to the above questions.


The Speech of Krishna
'In order that, O Bharata, peace may be established   between the Kurus  and the Pandavas  without a slaughter  of   the heroes (veer), I (Krishna)  have come hither.  Besides this ,O king (addressing the elderly Dhritharashtra) , I have no other  beneficial words   to utterO chastiser of foes, everything that should be learnt  in this world  is already  known to thee.   This thy race, O king, owing  to its learning  and behaviour, and owing  also  to its being adorned  with every  accomplishment,  is most distinguished  among all royal
dynasties. Joy in the happiness  of  others, grief  at sight of other people's misery, desire to alleviate  distress, abstention from injury, sincerity, forgiveness, and truth,-these, O Bharata, prevail amongst the Kurus. (Meaning of sloka 6.)
कृपानुकम्पा कारुण्यमानृशंस्यं  च  भारत ।   "kripanukampa  karunyamaanrushamsyam cha bharatha
तथा आर्जवं  क्षमा सत्यं  कुरुष्वेतद्  विशिष्यते ।।6।। thadha  aarjavam kshma
sathyam kurushvethadh vishishyathe."
Then thy race, therefore, O king, is so noble, it would be a pity  if anything improper  were done by any one belonging to it, and greater
pity still if it were done by thee. O chief of  the Kurus, thou art  the first of those that should restrain the Kurus  if they behave  deceitfully  towards  strangers  or those numbering  with themselves(ie to members  of their own family), when the deceit is being done or when it is conceived. Know, O thou  of  Kuru's race, that those  wicked sons of thine, headed by Duryodhana, abandoning both virtue and profit, (ie dharma and artha) , disregarding morality, and deprived of their  senses by avarice(lobha), are now acting most
unrighteously  towards, O bull of men, their foremost  of kinsmen. That terrible danger (which threatens all)  hath its origin  in the conduct of the Kurus. If thou  becomest indifferent to it, it will then produce a  universal slaughter......” (Meaning of Slokas from 3 to 11,
Chapter 95, Udyog Parva Main, Bhagavad Yana Parva sub)

The following slokas  from 45 to 51, given below at the end of this paragraph  is about individuals being a party to unrighteousness by not opposing the same. It also is about heeding the advice of elders, especially  the father. When one abandons or deviates from one's civilizational/cultural  roots, it is like turning the back on wise counsel, not heeding fatherly advice. Maybe 'Pithru-tharpanam" (or Pithru-bali)  was made a necessary ritual to embed into the consciousness of the multitudes ,of heeding fatherly advice, the culture acting as the medium carrying such advice  spanning generations.

  In modern times a  relationship of particular interest between   father and son gone sour is that of Gandhiji and his eldest son Harilal Gandhi.  Finally Harilal breathed his last at a Bombay hospital almost a destitute. Harilal not only did not listen to his father, but tried to spite him and even acted against him publically.

“Krishna continues  - Saluting and propitiating thee (ie Dhritharashtra), the Pandavas  have said unto thee, 'At thy  command  we have, with our followers, suffered  great misery. For  these twelve years  have we lived in the woods, and for the thirteenth year have we lived incognito  in an uninhabited part of the world.  We broke not our pledge, firmly believing that our father also would abide by his.  That we violated  not our word  is well-known  to the Brahmanas who were with us.  And as we, O bull  of the Bharata race, have
abided by our promise, also do thou  abide by thine.  Long have we suffered the greatest misery , but let  us now have our share of the kingdom.  Fully conversant as thou art with virtue and profit, it behoveth thee to rescue us. Knowing  that our obedience  is due to thee, we have quietly undergone much misery. Behave  thou then unto us  like a father  or brother. A preceptor  should behave as a preceptor towards  his disciples, and as disciples  we are willing to behave as such towards  thee, our preceptor.  Act thou, herefore,towards us as a preceptor should. If we go wrong, it is the duty  of our father to set us right.  Therefore, set us  on the way and tread thou also the
excellent path  of righteousness.(dharma).'
Those sons  of thine, O bull of the Bharata race, have also said unto these kings assembled  in the court these words, 'If the members of an assembly are conversant with morality (dharma), nothing improper  should be permitted by them to happen.   Where, in  the presence  of the virtuous members of  an assembly, righteousness  is sought to be  overpowered  by unrighteousnes, and truth by untruth, it is those members  themselves that are vanquished and slain. When righteousness, pierced  by  unrighteousness, seekth  the protection of an assembly, if the arrow  is not extracted, it is the members themselves  that are  pierced  by that  arrow. Indeed, in that case, righteousness  slayeth  the members  of that assembly, like a  river  eating away  the roots of the trees on its bank.' Judge now, O bull  of the Bharata race.” (pages 196 & 198 of Vol.2, Kisari Mohan Ganguli)

The  assembly referred to above is   applicable to  any institution  whether it be family, or class or college or university, army, govt , business enterprise,  etc etc. If  we do not protest or act against injustice happening before/around  us wherever  we are, as per Indian culture, we are also party to such injustice, which will definitely taint us in this life and those to come.

In another chapter 124, Krishna talks about how fatherly advice becomes helpful at the time of adversity - " Be obedient, O sire, to the commands of  thy father. They that are good sons  always  regard  that to be beneficial  which their fathers command. Indeed, when overtaken  by calamity , every one recollects  the  injunctions of his father." Sloka 20, English translation Ganguli, page 239, Vol2

स भवान् मातृपितृवदस्मासु  प्रतिपद्यताम् ।
गुरोर्गरीयसी  वृत्तिर्या च शिष्यस्य  भारता ।। 45।।  ।।४५।।
वर्तामहे त्वयि च तां त्वं च वर्तस्व नस्तथा ।
पित्रा स्थापयितव्या हि वयमुत्पथमास्थिताः ।।46।। ।।४६।।
संस्थापय  पथिष्वस्मांस्तिष्ठ  धर्मे सुवर्त्मनि ।
आहुश्चेमां  परिषदं  पुत्रास्ते  भरतर्षभा ।।47।। ।।४७।।
धर्मज्ञेषु  सभासत्सु  नेह युक्तमसाम्प्रतम् ।
यत्र धर्मो  ह्यधर्मेण  सत्यं  यत्रानृतेन च ।।48।।  ।।४८।।
हन्यते  प्रेक्षमाणानां  हतास्तत्र  सभासदः ।
विद्धो धर्मो ह्यधर्मेण सभां  यत्र प्रपद्यते ।।49।। ।।४९।।
न चास्य शल्यं  कृन्तन्ति विद्धास्तत्र  सभासदः ।
धर्म  एतानारुजति यथा  नद्यनुकूलजान्  ।।50।। ।।५०।।
ये धर्ममनुपश्यन्तस्तूष्णीं  ध्यायन्त  आसते ।
ते सत्यमाहुर्धर्म्यं च  न्याय्यं च भरतर्षभ ।।51।। ।।५१।।
(from p.278, Vol.3, Udyogaparva, Chapter 95, (Bhagavad-yana Parva)-The speech of  Krishna)

Further Links about Constitution of India 
Quote:- "Mr. Modi said equal respect of all faiths was an integral part of the Constitution, but it had “roots in the ancient cultural traditions” of India. “This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India’s ethos for thousands of years. And that is how it became integral to the Constitution of India. Our Constitution did not evolve in a vacuum,” he said."


ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Quote:- “He said such incidents threatened the ideals of the Constitution. “In particular, it threatens Article 14, which guarantees equality, Article 19, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and Article 25 that guarantees the right to practise and profess any faith,” he said.
Speaking on economic unity, R. Vaidyanathan, professor of finance and control, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, said the Indian aspect of saving money and entrepreneurial spirit would guarantee the growth of the country.  
“There is disproportionate emphasis on FDI while savings from households have majorly contributed to the country’s economic growth. In reality, it is the housewives who have driven economic growth. The government must leave the entrepreneurs alone,” he jokingly remarked.
 Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak up against the ‘virus’ of ‘Ghar Vapsi’ and express his disagreement with it clearly. “The deafening silence of religious majorities, who have nothing but the goodwill of minorities at heart, increases uncertainty and insecurity,” he said.
Economist S. Gurumurthy was the last speaker of the evening. He said a topic like religious unity cannot be broached without talking about ‘doctrinal tolerance’ of religions born in India and ‘doctrinal intolerance’ of other religions.
“Hinduism is a religion that accepts all other religions. Religious tolerance would mean acceptance of religious leaders, ideas and figures of other religions as well,” he said.
When asked what he thought about some Sangh Parivar leaders raking up the issue of making India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, he called for a debate. “The doctrines call for acceptance of all religions. Can the same be said of other religions?” he said.” (Feb. 17, 2015)
MODERN  MURDERING  THE PRE-MODERN
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-last-moments/article6842828.ece?ref=slideshow#im-image-0 (Feb 1, 2015) – Just  AFTER the last living moments of Gandhiji. (Photos)

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Quote:- “The Constitution is merely a guideline for the state. Not for the people of the state. The notion of what seems right to the people of a country comes from the prevalent cultural and social norm, not the Constitution. We need to debate if adding a certain word or group of words in the Constitution has any material impact (positive or negative) on the lives of the people,” says Daithankar.
In order for such debates around secularism and socialism to be more nuanced, the country needs to focus on education, says Jain. “Our country needs a thorough overhauling of our education system. We need students to start thinking critically of their environment from an early age.” (Feb.15 2015)
http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/whats-all-the-fuss-about/article6890745.ece


The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 or Nuclear Liability Act is a highly debated and controversial Act which was passed by both houses of Indian parliament. 

“What is the cost of nuclear reactors compared to the liability that the suppliers would have to carry? Based on recent contracts for nuclear plants abroad, the cost of the 10 Westinghouse reactors of 1,000 MW is likely to be in the range of $50 billion. This is not the full cost of the plant but only the cost of the reactor island.

Against these costs of $50 billion, the total liability that Westinghouse would have under the Act is less than $450 million; in other words less than 1% of its contract value! Westinghouse is not willing to take on even this small amount of liability, for what its CEO, Danny Roderick, calls “the safest reactors in the world”. In other words, they are not willing to put money where their mouth is.

The Modi government transferring the nuclear suppliers' liability to itself is essentially letting them completely off the hook for supply of any substandard or defective equipment. The lack of any liability is a perverse incentive to the suppliers to build substandard plants and risk the lives of Indian people. For a country that has seen the worst industrial disaster in the world, namely the Bhopal gas disaster in 1984, this smacks of either amnesia or a total lack of concern for the Indian people.”

“The words of Professor Kiyoshi Kurokawa, who chaired the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission are eminently appropriate in the Indian context as well: “What must be admitted — very painfully — is that this was a disaster ‘Made in Japan.’ Its fundamental causes are to be found in the ingrained conventions of Japanese culture: our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our devotion to ‘sticking with the program’; our groupism; and our insularity … nuclear power became an unstoppable force, immune to scrutiny by civil society. Its regulation was entrusted to the same government bureaucracy responsible for its promotion.”


Thursday, February 5, 2015

DRAVIDIANS -THEIR ORIGIN


Friends from India,  hope you will be familiar with that primordial prayer, the GAYATRI   MANTRA.  It  is  a prayer, pleading,  begging,  cautioning ,warning   that the  INTELLECT  should not wane. The word  ‘dhee’ denotes the intellect  and is used twice in  that  short sloka. Please also note the  use  of  the word  ‘Savitir’ in that sloka. (The Gayatri Mantra is repeated multiple times in the Vedas, known to us. Once in the Rig Veda (3.62.10), four times in the Yajur Veda (3.35; 22.9; 30.2; &36.3,) and once again in the Sama Veda - (6.3.10.1, Uthharachhikam part))

In the Mahabharatha epic and  Gita  too (which is a part of MBh) there are frequent references to Buddhi  or the intellect. Please look up slokas 42 & 43 in Chapter 3, Karma-Yogam.

The primordial  being   or  man was sharply concerned  about  his  intellect; he feared that  it will wane. And therefore  it was  his daily prayer to that all encompassing effulgence that his and the collective  intellect should not wane , but be sharper than ever.  The above being his prayers what really happened ? Did  his intellect  remain steady ?

Indication from TAMIL/DRAVIDIAN  Experience.
Friends,  at one  point in  time  there was no separation  between the Islamist Jihadis  and  the Tamilians.  Suicide bombings using women and children  and summary executions  were indulged in by the LTTE  a Tamil organization based in Sri Lanka. The mainland  Tamils were also affected by this violence. The bomb blast in  Meenambakkam airport, Chennai and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination can be quoted as examples. As all will admit,  extreme  violence  or propensity towards the same is  an indication of declining intellect.  Our poor cousins in the Pakistan and others in Middle East  and Northern Africa  are in its debilitating  grip. (But they do not realize this)

Long before the Dravidian movement (in S.India) took  shape ,  or before the embryo/seed  of that idea was conceived, the following  was  the description  for the term Dravida  in a Classical  Hindu  dictionary. The meaning   for  DRAVIDA in  the “A  Classical  Dictionary  of  Hindu  Mythology  and Religion Geography, History, and  Literature” compiled  by  John Dowson  and First published in 1879  at London is quoted here . Quote :- “DRAVIDA – The  country  in which the Tamil  language  is spoken, extending  from Madras  to Cape Comorin. According  to Manu,  the people  of this country  were originally  Kshatriyas, but sank  to the condition of  Sudras  from the extinction  of  sacred  rites  and the absence of  Brahmans. As applied  to the classification  of  Brahmans  it has a  much wider application, embracing  Gujarat, Maharashtra , and all the south.” Page 97.

Centuries  before, ie. much before  the  seed of  Dravidian separatism   was sown by the Protestant Christian  Missionary  , Bishop  Robert Caldwell,  the field  was  already  ready  ,to receive those seeds of sectarianism  and  separatism. 

Thus Dowson’s  above entry for the word Dravida is  based on that great  text , the Manusmrithi.

Manusmrithi
Now  Manusmrithi  is  the foremost among our  law-codes and dates much before any law codes known to mankind like the Old Testament of the Bible etc.  It takes into account the diversity  of the population, and allowing  for  diversity and adopting  a policy of  live and let live, Manu , the divine or  semi-divine or human being had set those laws.  Though Manusmrithi is a intellectually rejuvenating  work, it had been set  upon by the Dravidian political parties, inspired by non-native ideologies.  As per the above quoted text from the classical dictionary, let us see what Manu says in  Manusmrithi.

In Chapten Ten, titled by modern scholars as Rules for the Times of Adversity,and  sub-headed  Mixed Classes, the following is mentioned with the verse numbers. “When children  fathered  by twice-born men or women  of  equal class do not keep the  observances  and have fallen  from the Savitri- ( explanation of  Savitri by the translator : the Savitri  verse is frequently  used  as  a metonym [a word, name, or expression used as a substitute  for something  else with which  it is closely associated. For  example, Washington  is a metonym  for the US govt.] - for the rite of initiation, the  imparting  of this verse constituting a  central element of  it.(p.246) , they should be called  by the name Vratya.(verse 20). From a Vratya  of the  Brahmin class are born the evil natured  Bhrjjakantaka, and as per the geographical  location are called  the Avantya, the  Vatadhana, the Puspadha, and the  Saikha. (v.20).  From a Vratya  of  the  Ksatriya class are born  the Jhalla, the  Malla, the  Licchivi, the  Nata, the Karana, the Khasa,and the  DRAVIDA.(v.22). From a  Vratya of the Vaisya class are born the Sudhanvan, the Acarya, the Karusa, the Vijanman , the Maitra, and the Satvata. By deviating from the path desirable/prescribed  for the varnas/classes,  by marrying  forbidden women (same Gotra)  and by abandoning  the activities  proper to them, arise the intermixture of  classes.v.24,. I will enumerate  completely  those who are of mixed origin, born in the direct and in the inverse order  and  mutually connected.v.25”………………In one more place , Sage Manu  has mentioned about Dravidas.  ..  “By neglecting  rites and by failing to visit Brahmins for learning, atonement, yajna, etc , however , these men  of  Ksatriya  birth  have gradually  reached in the world  the level of Sudras v.43, - Pundrakas,  Codas, DRAVIDAS, Kambojas, Yavanas, Sakas,Paradas, Pahlavas, Cinas, Kiratas and Daradas.v.44.  All the castes in the world that are outside those born from the mouth, arms,thighs , and  feet- whether they speak foreign or Arya languages- tradition calls  Dasyus.” (pages 209, 210, Manu’s Code of Law, A Critical Edition  and Translation of the Manava-Dharmasastra  by Patrick Olivelle, published by Oxford)

Inference from Manusmrithi

Considering the sound  Savitur  in the Gayatri Mantra and the use of the similar sound  Savitree  in Manusmriti  10.20 ( in the context of  the Dravida’s) , and both referring to  observance /non-observance of  Savitur/ Savitree  for the  sake  of  sharpening or preserving the intellect intact , it means that  groups of people had forgotten or abandoned ways and means of  keeping the intellect from waning. One such people badly affected is the Dravidan people of modern day TN. Please note that all this is related   to  KARMA,  appropriate  karma were not engaged in  to keep the intellect from waning. And most probably other  karma’s would have replaced the desirable karmas.

TRADE UNIONS
Let us now consider  how undesirable KARMAS  not steeped in justice will  give rise to  new groups/sects  or  race of people. Wrong Karmas are the result of a weak or dimmed intellect.

Now we know that trade unions originated in  Britain  in the wake of the Industrial  Revolution.   Quote from Wikipedia “The origins of trade unions can be traced back to 18th century Britain, where the rapid expansion of industrial society then taking place, drew women, children, rural workers, and immigrants into the work force in large numbers and in new roles.” . That  is, a  new situation arising  out of the organization of work (karma) by new means of machines and capital, led to the emergence of a new class/caste of  people in England called Industrial workers. We  are yet to fathom the damage to  our consciousness  and that to the environment due to the industrial revolution. Infact  Industrial Revolution  is equivalent  to dosha (something bad)  affecting  humankind  like  the imbalance of Vata, Pitha and Kapha  lead to  doshas afflicting the human body as per Ayurveda. So the dosha  of  Industrial Revolution has spawned a new class of workers  called  industrial workers who then formed unions. And further we now have  sub-classes/castes in this like Railway workers  union, Coal  miners  union etc, etc.

This  process of new class or caste of people  originating  due to some kind of wrong-doing (Acts of INJUSTICE or violation of Dharma which are all Karmas) by mankind  is not any new phenomenon, but dates far back intime, ie in the misty past. In addition to Manu’s work  detailed above, look at another account from the Mahabharatha relating  to the origin of  DRAVIDAS   Quote from Adi Parva,  Section 176 (CLXXVI), Chaitratha Parva( Continued.). The events here are those unfolding in the Ashram of  Sage Vasishtha,  where Monarch  Viswamitra , a Kshatriya(before he became Rajarishi)  is trying forcibly to take away Nandini , the divine cow from Vasishtha. The story is narrated by  the Gandharva Chaitraratha to   Arjuna.

Excerpts :- “ Viswamitra replied, “I am a Kshatriya, but thou art a Brahmana,devoted to asceticism and  study.  Is there any  energy  in Brahmanas  who are peaceful  and who have their souls  under perfect  command ? When thou  givest  me  not  what I desire  in exchange  even for  ten thousand cows, I will  not  abandon  the practice of   my order; (ie Kshatriya varna) , I will take  thy cow  even by force !’

Vasishtha said,  ‘ Thou  art a  Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thou  art  a powerful  monarch. O, do in haste what thou  desirest;  and stop not to consider  its propriety.

The Gandharva  continued, Thus  addressed  by Vasishtha, Viswamitra, O Partha, then forcibly  seized  Nandini, that cow (white)  like the swan or  the moon, and attempted  to take her away, afflicting  her with  stripes  and  persecuting her otherwise. The innocent  Nandini  then began,O Partha, to  low  piteously, and approaching  the illustrious  Vasishtha  stood before  him with  uplifted face. Though  persecuted  very cruelly, she refused to leave the Rishi’s asylum’.

‘Beholding  her in that plight, Vasishtha said, ‘O amiable one, thou art lowing repeatedly  and I am  hearing  thy cries. But, O Nandini, even Viswamitra  is taking thee away  by force, what  can I do  in this matter, as I am a  forgiving Brahmana ?’

The Gandharva  continued, ‘Then, O bull in Bharata’s race, Nandini, alarmed  at  the sight  of  Viswamitra’s troops  and terrified by Viswamitra  himself,  approached  the Rishi still closer, and said, ‘O illustrious  one, why art thou so indifferent  to my  poor  self  afflicted   with  the stripes  of the cruel  troops  of  Viswamitra  and crying  so piteously as if I were  masterless?’  Hearing  these words  of the crying  and persecuted  Nandini, the great Rishi lost  not his patience  nor turned  from his vow  of  forgiveness. He replied,  ‘The  Kshatriya’s  might lies  in physical strength,  the Brahmana’s  in forgiveness. Because I cannot  give  up  forgiveness,  go thou, O Nandini, if thou  choosest’. Nandini  answered, ‘Castest thou me away, O illustrious one, that thou sayest so? If thou dost NOT cast  me of f,  I cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away  by force.’ Vasishtha said, ‘O blessed  one, I do not  cast thee off !   Stay if thou  canst ! O, yonder  is thy calf, tied  with a  stout cord,and even now being  weakened by it !’

The  Gandharva continued, ‘Then the cow of Vasishtha,  hearing the word  STAY, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold.  With eyes  red with rage  and  lowing  repeatedly, she then attacked Viswamitra’s troops on all sides. Afflicted  with  their stripes  and running hither  and thither with those red eyes of hers, her wrath  increased. Blazing with rage, she soon  became terrible  to behold like  unto the sun in his midday glory.  And  from her tail she began to rain showers  of  burning coals all around.  And  some  moments  after, from her tail  she  brought  forth  an army  of  Palhavas, and from her udders, an army  of  DRAVIDAS  and  Sakas; and  from her dung, an army  of  Savaras. And from  the  froth  of  her mouth came  out hosts of  Paundras  and Kiratas, Yavanas  and Sinhalas,  and the  barbarous  tribes  of  Khasas  and  Chivukas  and  Pulindas  and Chinas  and  Hunas  with  KERALAS,   and  numerous  other  Mlechhas. And  that vast army   of Mlechhas  in various  uniforms, and armed with various weapons, as soon  as it sprang  into life, deploying  in the very  sight of  Viswamitra,  attacked that monarch’s soldiers……..(pages 355-56, MBh.Vol. I, Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
The  above story   is amenable  to various interpretations.  Brahmin Sage  Vasishtha   may  be  compared to the right Knowledge,  and  Kshatriya King  Viswamitra  to  Action , without  thinking and  restraint.  Nandini   may be compared    to the bountiful and benevolent  nature which satisfies the  legitimate  needs of all.   Coveting   such  a  resourceful   earth  for oneself  and  actions  to  make it  one’s own  had  spewed out  groups  of action-oriented   people  with  predominantly  violent   disposition. Infact  they  are the by-product  of  such  covetousness.  Action without  the right knowledge  spells  negative  consequences  for  society.  The above  event from the  MBh and  the laws  in the Manusmrithi   debunks  the  Aryan  Invasion Theory.

Let  us  look at a comparable  Modern situation.  The “Great Game”  between   Britain  and   Russia  contributed in great measure  to the partition of India, and  thus we got a thorny neighbour.    Quote Wikipedia :- "The Great Game" was a term for the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia.” And  this game did not stop with the partitioning of  India. It continued with the meddling of  internal affairs  in Pakistan and Afghanistan  by the Western Powers   and  arming the Mujahiddeen  against  Russia. The interests of the world powers got wider, and aimed at  controlling  the oil resources in the Middle-East  and  Central Asia. So this led to the origin of  Taliban, Al-Queda etc, which has grown into thorny  trees which the Western powers are trying to root out unsuccessfully. Taliban, Al-Queda  etc, are let us not forget  groups of people, formed  out   of the rivalry between the Western powers  in modern times. From one wrong to another larger wrong,  from a  smaller dosha to a larger dosha,  the  wrongs are thus  growing exponentially.

A  group  representative  of  Tamils ,(?)  the  LTTE   brought to the fore the  violent disposition  of  the Dravidians.   Their  violence  reached  the apogee , deploying women suicide  bombers  as well as child soldiers.  This  led to their annihilation at the hands  of  the Sinhalas.  LTTE    violence  is comparable to the violence displayed  by  Islamic Jihadists  in Peshwar  and  Paris.  Imagine , the  Tamils  or  a  section  of  the  Tamils had reached the brink,  it  was  a close call for  the  Tamilians  in general  pulled  into  the conflict  by  LTTE  who were influenced by  non-native ideologies of  violence   and  mayhem.

The knowledge provided by our Shastras  are in  stark contrast to those of the Modern West. The  above passages derived  or rather  re-discovered from our worthy texts  debunks  Western theories in anthropology,  jurisprudence, sociology,  economics, history, political science, etc etc.  Western scholarship is thus  questionable !!!!!!

Uthhishtatha   Jagratha,   Arise and  be alert !!!