Heartless Goddess – Reality
It is the fervent wish of all right-thinking people
with compassion, concern for others and generosity to wish for a perfect world
where everyone is a bleeding heart wishing for universal goodness for all the
people in the world. Where there are no class, caste, religious or other
differences and everyone is treated fairly and impartially. They also wish for
a benevolent leader who upholds high values and has the ability to rule in a
just manner.
Is it all wishful thinking? It seems so because of not
taking into account human frailties such as greed, ambition, hunger for power
and utter selfishness. The Goddess of Reality brings us down to the ground. It
is an utterly chaotic, imperfect world filled with people having me-first
attitudes more common than you can wish for. One needs to keep one’s feet on
the ground and keep looking over one’s shoulder. There is enough evil in the
world. Politicians will use caste, religion, money and influence to stay in
power, come what may.
Here are some reality checks:
1. Perhaps the greatest human being of recent past,
Mahatma Gandhi showed great leadership and courage of conviction to take on the
British rulers and their injustices and get us independence using Satyagraha
and Non-violence as tools. He has no parallel.
Reality: Partition with Muslims not subscribing to Ram
Rajya and establishing a Religious state and causing unprecedented horrors of
genocide in the sub-continent and continuing terror. Gandhi himself fell to a
bullet of hatred filled, bigoted section of the nation.
2. Ambedkar was a giant of an intellectual and his
contributions to the Indian Constitution are a class in themselves. He
advocated a classless society.
Reality: His embrace of Buddhism was a failure to
reform Hinduism from within and led to another political class, of Dalits with
their Bhim Senas.
3 Basavanna was a brahmin who
fought against orthodox religious practices and strove for a casteless society
where work was worship.
Reality: His followers, Lingayats are today a powerful
caste and not only that, they want a separate religion for themselves.
4.Seventy years ago, we adopted our
classic Constitution which recommended a classless, casteless society, banned
untouchability among other ideals.
Reality: Caste is now a major factor politicians and
officials use to their advantage. There are still Two Tumbler systems in many
of our villages. Housewives keep separate plates for their maids even in
cities.
5. In a developed country like the
US leaders like Abraham Lincoln ensured abolition of slavery hoping for a just
society.
Reality: A bigoted, self-serving person with
questionable business practices becomes the President and seems to have a sizeable
following. Blacks are yet to see justice leading to Black Lives Matter
protests.
If a well-meaning, compassionate citizen would like to
have the caste ridden, ritual oriented Hindu religion(not really understanding its
essence) banished from the country, is it likely to be effectively implemented?
How can we do away with the faith and traditions of our millions with the
passing of an order?
Ideals are something. Reality is something else.
Only checks and balances of a well-informed population
can prevent misrule by self-interested, greedy politicians. The only platform
for that is Democracy. As has been happening with better education,
communication explosion etc. increased awareness among the citizens is our only
hope.
