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 utter, O 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
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.”
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