From the archives -April 2005. Superciliousness/Hypocracy.
Hi folks,
I hope to be excused for my undue interest in blogging all my old pieces. Sorry folks, I feel incomplete till I am able to bring in all my earlier pieces in one place, and therefore, this exercise is likely to continue. Of course you have the option of ignoring it, but that will be terrible news for me!!! Here I go with the piece:
"One can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of light!" is a quote attributed to Plato. Today's secular brigade (gleefully applauded by the Gen-Next) with their supercilious/patronizing justifications of the recent shenanigans in Jharkand, et al, only reinforce the profound import of this saying.
Quoting the constitution, the pet theme of this genre is that the gubernatorial decisions are outside the purview of the judiciary. Niceties such as "law" has to be viewed in a larger perspective, and that there can be an extra ordinary solutions to an extra ordinary problem are just brushed aside. One also feels terribly peeved at the verbal sophistry of these people namely that ultimately it's the people's court which should decide..... etc......
With their sweeping statements, they inadvertantly end up absolving every rogue politician of his grossest misdemeanor. They are not completely done yet; they also take an immense pleasure, in condemning another set of politicians, in the same breath, the same set of "laws" getting jettisioned, just because they happen to follow a different ideology.
To make myself more clear I have just to refer to our sacred texts; Three remarkable parallells come to mind readily:
1. Duryodhana, the kaurava king wants kingdom at any cost, defeats Yudhishter in a decetful game of dice, and orders disrobing of Draupadi. ( Governor/JMM chief want precisely this; The Jharkand state, at any cost, and disrobing of democracy)
2. Lord Rama kills the monkey king Vaali by shooting an arrow from behind a tree. ( extra ordinary solution to an extra ordinary problem)
3. When given a choice, people choose the scoundrel Barabaas, instead of Jesus for pardon (is elaboration needed?)
The above referred genre would like to condescendingly try and educate us that
1. within the strict purview of "law" neither the action of Duryodhan, nor the helplessness of other greats in the august court can be faulted.
2. Rama's killing of Vaali, is beyond the comprehension of one's limited intellect (CR's quote)
3. People's choice of Barabaas over Jesus, is the ultimate "law".
Can anything be more absurd than these?
"The tragedy of life is not death, but what we left inside us while we live" is a quote by one Norman Cousins. Once you empathize with this, there will be a realization, that interpretations of "law" has to be more broad based. Incidentally all including Barabaaz get "liberated" as conscience comes to their rescue; save though Duryodhan.
To them ( the supercilious genre) I would therefore refer to a word in samskrit namely "dharma" which means among other things ethical coduct, moral duty, moral law, &righteousness. If one were to adhere to dharma, the immoral intention/desire of the original perpetrators of sin would become evident and extra ordinary remedial measures are inevitable. Obstinate reluctance therefore to transcend the narrow confines of man-made laws can only be frustrating to the common man's sensibilities. Can the origin of "terrorism" be traced to such smug interpretations?
In the Bible there is this story of the satan who asks the father, as to when he will get salvation. "when human beings are able to resist your temptations" is the father's answer. Poor Satan, so long as these secularists are spiritedly alive, Satan has no chance but to being condemned to Hell. Taking irreconcilable stances therefore can only be due to giving in to such temptations of the satan.
I am reminded of a word in Samskrit "shruti viprati panna" which roughly translated would mean confusion over different sects of sacred texts. Like attachment to material objects, there are people fascinated/addicted to discourses on such topics. The lord says in "gita" that till one transcends this attachment, redemption/liberation/salvation is denied to him.
Do we see a parallell here? Think it over...... ALV"
PS Even today this piece has relevance. It amazes me to realise that a conservative company had tolerated such stuff every month from me. Small mercies or providential message about how little we know and how it's better to stick to performing one's duties and leave the fruits of action to His judgement and will?
Love Peace Prosperity
Vichu
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