Sadbhavana Sunday

At an event on Saturday night, my friend Gokul gave a pamphlet. Hey, tomorrow, there is a pilgrimage tour, do you want to go? I was like to which place?

In Bengaluru!

I gave a strange look. In Bengaluru? That too a day long pilgrimage? Then saw the details and got excited. Why not? So was on the pilgrimage bus at St. Mark's road at 7.30 AM. It was a good decision because I was going to enjoy the day thoroughly.. In what I call in Modi's lingo as "Sadbhavana" Yatra :)

This is organized by a Catholic Christian group in Saint Mark's Road. Most of the occupants of the bus were Christians, but there were some Hindus like me. There was one Muslim and one Buddhist. More than the composition, it was the interest of the people in other modes of worship, that was important.

All the areas we went are tracked in this map. 

1) Shri Dharmanatha Shwetambar Jain Temple, Jayanagar. 

Jainism for me is one of the Guru Paramparas of Dharmic India. But politically it is a different religion. There are two kinds of Jainism. Shwetambara and Digambara. We went to a Shwetambara temple where the prime deity is Shri Dharmanatha. He is the fifteenth Tirthankara among the 24 highly revered Jain Gurus. It was nice to see women putting pastes (Shri Gandha?) to various parts of murtis, the swastikas drawn with rice, the pious women monks who were busy in prayer and much more. This is a prayer place for many Rajasthanis in Karnataka.

Devi Padmavati's temple is in the back. Nakoda Bhairav and many other murtis exist in this temple complex. Beautiful white marble temple with soothing bhajans :)

2) Mahabodhi Buddhist Temple, Gandhinagar.

This Buddhist temple was getting decorated by the time we went in the morning, for their special Sunday prarthana. It's a beautiful temple with a Bodhi tree (Peepal). I saw some idols of Buddha gifted by Thailand as Thai language were written at the bottom. This center has mostly North East Indian people settled in Karnataka. This center follows the Theravada sect of Buddhism. Theravada as far as I know is a synonym for Mahayana type of Buddhism, which is different from Hinayana or "smaller vehicle" Buddhism. Buddhism again for me is a different Guru parampara in Dharmic traditions, but technically it is a religion now.

 

It was so nice to hear nearly 2500 year old Pali language prayer being sung in a melodious way. You have to follow men and women sections in the temple and a great place for meditation. 2500 year old glorious Indian culture comes right in front of your eyes hearing the powerful Pali hymns!

We also got nice breakfast served by the Buddhist monks. Our favourite Uppittu was made nice by the North Eastern friends :)


3) Yaqeen Shah Wali Dargah, Palace Road. 

Dargah is a type of Islamic place where a Muslim Guru or Peer's tomb exists. Not every sect of Islam accepts Dargahs, and some term these as UnIslamic.

This Dargah in my view is maintained by Sufi sect of Islam. If not, Shias. We were treated well here. There are restrictions. Women can't enter the main Dargah part, but can come near. Head cloth is suggested for men and women.

I went inside and stood next to the religious man here who sings praise or prayer. It was a soothing song and he later translated. He explained that on behalf of everyone who was there, irrespective of faith, he prayed for their welfare. I was particularly interested in the hand figures, and what they represent. The symbolism of these Hand signs and other rituals performed here had lot of Hindu influence.

There is a small mosque also in the complex where they read Namaz. Had a lot of discussions with the Dargah staff on who was this peer, how many centuries ago this tomb came up, difference between Sufi and Sunni Islam and much more. They were open in answering all. Served nice tea too later.

4) Catholic Chapel, Thomas Town.

The next visit was to NBCLC - National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre. This is a very different type of Christian complex. It is not a typical Church, but a full inculturation center. For some inculturation is a good thing after Vatican 2 in Christianity where the European cultural way is making way for native - here Hindu, cultural way for Christians. For those who oppose this, it is a process of stealing from Hinduism. We can have that debate some other time, but let me just narrate the experience there.

Everything is "Hindu"ised here. From names of buildings to dress to window pane drawing to gopura (top of Chapel).. I mean everything! Building names are Sacchidananda, Brahma vidya, Shanti sadan etc. You won't find a saree wearing Mother Mary sitting in padmasana, with and Indian dressed baby Jesus like this anywhere else in the world.

Here, the resident sister explaining the central point of the Chapel. The whole building and the central God and Jesus concept is built on Hindu Kundalini Chakra concept. It is just narrated in a different way, which you might not find in the Bible.

A Catholic lady from Mumbai who was with us, explained that at the start, Christians find it difficult to pray in a place like this with Indianized (Hindu-ized) symbols. But later they feel much more home than a European style Church. I was explained how multi cultural symbols are so essential for Christianity in today's world. I talked to a few Fathers/priests too who told the same thing. There are courses conducted here in inculturation for Christians from around India.

5) Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, Halasuru.

The next stop was by mid day to Sikh Gurudwara. Here, cloth over head is mandatory. They provide it right in the front, and even tie to your head if you wish. I found the discipline of Sikh devotees simply amazing. Men, women and children come inside in strict lines and bow before the Granth Sahib (holy book). There's a Granthi who reads from the Guru Granth Sabhib book. There were narrations in Punjabi language on heroes of Sikhism, how weapons are needed for self defence, how to sing Kirtans and praise the Gurus and more. I think the term for singing before meal was Ardas. I also saw people having a small knife as a part of the 5 basic tenets of Sikhism, called Kirpan. Women too had turbans in some cases.

This is one place where we spent maximum time. I heard many songs or Bhajans. They were sung melodiously and they were so close to how we sing bhajans at Hindu temples. Again, I found this just another Dharmic place, but we are told it is a different religion. I felt completely at home even though I understand only basic Punjabi.

The most impressive part of Gurudwara was after the soothing prayer session. There is a community kitchen called Langar, where anyone can go and prepare food. There is free food served for anyone who comes, no questions asked. Just keep a cloth over your head and take food obediently the way everyone else takes. I was amazed at how 100s of people, men and women - went about contributing to food preparation. The amazing discipline in preparation, serving (every serving is praised on Wahe Guru), and cleaning up. It's like you can be anything in this Gurudwara. You can sing, preach from the holy book, clean, cook, keep shoes, volunteer at gate... anything! A truly open system.

I had never seen in my life, well to do middle class people coming and cleaning up plates after lunch, with bare hands. Never.. These are well to do middle class people. I literally saw people using thumbs to wipe out the plate after we ate, to remove every single grain or vegetable piece onto other containers. They probably don't waste a single grain. Just amazing! And next step was another bunch of volunteers cleaning up with water and making the plates ready for the next round.

After enjoying a great prasad (offered food) at Gurudwara, I was thoroughly satisfied with what I saw. The discipline and Bhakti at a Gurudwara is something you just have to see for yourself!

6) Masjid al Nur, Halasuru.

The final stop for me was the Sunni Muslim mosque. It's a big and grand mosque built not many years ago. We went at a time when Muslim prayer, or Namaz was not being read. So we had a chance to go on a guided tour, well conducted by a friend of mine, Syed. Head cloths over head are mandatory during prayer, but was kept optional for visitors on guided tour. Also, for women, there is a separate prayer hall opposite to the main mosque.

Unlike other places of worship we visited, this Mosque had lots of questions from the team. People asked questions right from namaz direction, to where women assemble, to what's inside Kaaba etc. Syed answered everything very patiently and showed us things. Right from Wazu, where you use water to clean before prayer, to how prayers work, how many times, why pray, what are the key tenets of Islam and much more.

The team came out much more educated about Islam after this trip. Of course, we were served nice soft drinks and biscuits outside the mosque.

In summary...
The pilgrimage was later going to Hindu place of worship after this, but I had to drop out due to another engagement. I am not unfamiliar with Hindu temples and ashramas anyway :)

All pictures in here if you have more time.

Some more videos if you want to watch:

• Buddhist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFCPtDFCBzE
• Catholic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tleki95ZtG8
• Catholic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo9IOz4ix_k
• Sikh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiU4qhstVkQ

So here is the final collage.. A memorable day wherein I learned a lot about fellow Bharatiyas! After all, we are all very close to each other as humans, and once we understand the differences clearly, we can find ways to co-exist with minimal friction. The primary goal of every mode of worship is to make you a better human. That's what is Sad (good) Bhavana (feeling or intention) :)

Try it once.. You can do it yourself, of go with an organized pilgrimage. Contact Ashirvad, 30, Saint Mark's Road in Bengaluru for the next trip.

Barack Obama - Jews, Muslims, Christians and Atheists can claim him!

I was reading about Barack Obama's family today. What really confused me was the sheer number of religious combinations in his immediate family.

Buraq. Source: Wiki

First of all Barack sounds very much like the Arabic Buraq, the al-Buraq horse which carried Prophet Mohammed. It is an unmistakably Muslim name.

Barack could also be derived from Barak, the son of Abinoam, a military commander in the Book of Judges of the Bible. So very easily this can be termed as a Jewish or Christian name.

Barack Obama's paternal grandfather Onyango had converted from African tribal religion to Catholic Christianity first. Then he converted to Islam. He had at least three wives. Barack senior was the son of his second wife Akumu.

Barack Obama Senior. Pic: History

Barack Obama's paternal grandmother Akumu had to convert to Islam, and took the name Habiba upon her conversion. She was Onyango's second wife. Later she left him and remarried in Tanzania. 


Barack's father, Barack Obama senior, was raised a Muslim. His name was Baraka. He rejected Islam soon and converted Anglican Christianity. Had 3 wives in his life.

Barack Obama's mother, step father and step sister. Pic: Barackobama.net

Kezia Aoko was his first wife. Kezia had many children. One of them, Bernard, which she claims was from Barack senior, converted to Islam as an adult. So Bernard, Barack's alleged half brother, raised a Christian, but later became Muslim. Later in life Barack Senior rejected Christianity and became an atheist. Sarah Onyango Obama, Barack senior's sister, is still a practicing Muslim and terms herself as a strong believer in Islam.

Grandpa Stanley, Barack's mother and step sister. Pic: Wiki

Obama's mother Ann Dunham was from a family of Baptist and Methodist Christian combination. She was supposedly an atheist or at least a skeptic non-practicing Christian. Later in life, Ann married Lolo Soetoro, a Muslim from Indonesia. They had a daughter named Maya, a Hindu name going to Advaita school of philosophy of Vedic Hinduism!

Barack Obama's maternal side was Jewish? Pic: henrymakow

Obama's step mother (his dad's third wife) was a Jewish woman Ruth Beatrice Baker. She's not the only Jew in Obama's close family circles. Barack's wife Michelle's first cousin Capers Funnye, Jr also converted to Judaism after feeling that Christianity was imposed on his ancestors who were slaves from Africa.

There's a lot written on the internet about Barack's maternal grandfather Stanley Dunham. Even though by most accounts his family is described as Unitarian Christian (they kind of don't believe that God is three different entities, which Christians usually believe in), there are many which suspect that his family was secretly Jewish. 

There are many who secretly brag that Barack Obama is in fact America's first Jewish President, as Jews trace religion from mother's side.

Mark Ndesandjo, Barack's half brother - Jewish. Pic: Blogspot

Barack's step brothers Mark and David were born to this Jewish woman Ruth Beatrice Baker. She is from a Lithuanian Jewish descent. After Barack Obama senior, she married a Tanzanian Christian. Mark Ndesandjo, Barack's half brother married a Chinese woman later. You can guess what would be her religion addition into this family from China - Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism etc.

Coming to the big man now.. Obama - Lists himself as a Christian. He says that he was not raised in a religious environment as a child. He claims his father at the time of his birth was a confirmed atheist and his mother was a non-practicing Methodist+Baptist Christian.He also says that his step father, though from Indonesian Muslim family, was a man who did not find religion that useful. But as an adult Obama picked up Christianity. By the time he became the President of the most powerful country of the world, he was claiming - "I am a Christian, and I am a devout Christian. I believe in the redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that faith gives me a path to be cleansed of sin and have eternal life."

The latest is that Barack Obama prays at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Methodists are historically linked the Protestant form of Christianity.

Now here is the real confusion and conflict:

1. Obama has links to Islam, Christianity and Judaism in his immediate family. All three Abrahamic religions kind of claim him in some way or another. He also has links to those who reject religion like Atheists directly from his father.
2. In strict Islamic terminology, Barack's father is an apostate. Born Muslim family, but rejected Islam and converted to Christianity. Forget medieval times, this warrants death penalty in many countries even today!
3. In strict Christian terminology, Barack's father rejected Christianity too to become an atheist, which would anger fundamentalist Christians. Barack's mother too was a non practicing Christian when Barack was born. Also, Barack's paternal grandfather had converted to Catholic Christianity first, but later rejected it in favor of Islam. Catholics would not be happy at all. During medieval times, this warranted death penalty! More so, Christians would be unhappy that Barack's mother Ann married an Indonesian Muslim later. Barack's half brother Bernard converted to Islam from Christianity.
4. To make both fundamentalist Muslims and fundamentalist Christians, Barack Obama's father married a Jewish woman as his third wife! Now her son is married to a Chinese woman of unknown religion. Also, Barack's wife's cousin is a convert to Judaism now. Muslims would be more unhappy knowing that Barack's step father did not really practice Islam when Barack was young. 
5. And to make strict Jews unhappy, Barack's step mother married a man who had rejected Islam and Christianity both, but did not accept Judaism. They would also feel unhappy, Barack's maternal grand father is rumored to have Jewish connections, which was never publicly announced (Maybe world war time?).
6. So we have many forms of Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the mix. We also have Chinese unknown ideology and atheism involved. And the name Barack itself can be claimed by Muslims, Christians and Jews.. all together for different reasons.
7. To make it even more spicy, I mean really spicy as in the historic land of spices, Barack Obama's grandfather Onyango had traveled to India during British rule. Who knows, what Hindu, Jain, Buddhist or Sikh connection he might have picked up there! Barack's step sister Maya already has a Hindu name :)

Barack family's religion topic is surely a controversial issue. Isn't it?

ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ನವರೆ.. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿ ವಾದದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳೋಣಾ?

ಗಾಂಧಿ ಜಯಂತಿ ದಿವಸ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕವಾಗಿ ನೆನೆಯುವುದನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಸುದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದವು. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರಂತೂ ತಾವು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಎಲ್ಲ ೬.೩ ಕೋಟಿ ಜನರ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಅನ್ನೋದನ್ನು ಮರೆತು, ತಾವು ಕೇವಲ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪರಿವಾರದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಅನ್ನೋ ಹಾಗೆ ನಡೆದುಕೊಂಡರು.  ಅವರ ಕುಣಿತಕ್ಕೆ ತಾಳ ಹಾಕೋ ಹಾಗೆ, ಖರ್ಗೆ, ಮೊಯ್ಲಿ, ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ಮತ್ತಿತರು ಉಘೆ ಉಘೆ ಅಂದರು.

ಅಂದ ಹಾಗೆ ಆಗ ಬಾರದ ಅಚಾತುರ್ಯ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾದ್ರೂ ಏನು?

ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರಿಗಿಂಥ ೮ ವರ್ಷ ದೊಡ್ಡವರಾದ ಹಿರಿಯ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿ ಶಂಕರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರು, ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಅವರ ಅರ್ಧ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ವಾಗ್ಮಿ ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಸೂಲಿಬೆಲೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಭಾಷಣ ಮಾಡೋಕೆ ಕರೆದ್ದಿದ್ದು. ಇದು ಯಾವ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಅಥವಾ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ ಅಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದು ಕೇವಲ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರ ಆದರ್ಶದ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಸಮಾರಂಭ. ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಾಪಟ್ಟೆ ಅಲರ್ಜಿ ಆಗಿದ ವಿಷಯ, ಈ ಇಬ್ಬರು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಜೊತೆ ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಬಾಂಧವ್ಯ!

ನಾನು ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಸಲ ಭೇಟಿ ಆಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಅವರ ವಾಕ್ ಚಾತುರ್ಯ ನೋಡಿ ಶಭಾಶ್ ಅಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಅವರ ದೇಶ ಭಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ತಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನಂತಹ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು ಇದ್ದಾರೆ. ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಅವರು ಜಾಗೋ ಭಾರತ್ ಅಂಥಹ ೨೪ ಕಾರೆಟ್ ಚಿನ್ನದಂಥ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮಾಡಿ, ಹಳ್ಳಿ ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತದ ಮತ್ತು ಭಾರತೀಯ ಸೈನಿಕರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಬಾರೋ ಹಾಗೆ ನೋಡಿ ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇಂಥಹ ಭಾರತ ಮಾತೆಯ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಪುತ್ರನಿಗೆ ಏಕ ವಚನ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿದ್ದು ಪರಮಾಶ್ಚರ್ಯ! ಹೋಗಲಿ ಬಿಡಿ.. ಶಂಕರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಚಕ್ರವರ್ತಿ ಸೂಲಿಬೆಲೆ ಅವರಿಗೆ, ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರದ್ದೇ ಗೌರವ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ಥಾನ ಇದೆ. ಅವರೇನು ಈ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಪತ್ರ ಪಡೆಯೋಕೆ ಹೋಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಇಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೂ ಬಹಳ ಜೋರಾಗಿ "ಗಾಂಧಿ ಪರ" ಕೂಗಾಡಿದ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರು ಎಷ್ಟು ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಗಾಂಧಿ ತತ್ತ್ವ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂದೇಶ ಖುದ್ದಾಗಿ ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆಂದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ನೋಡೋಣ. ನವರಾತ್ರಿ ಸಮಯ ಆದದ್ದರಿಂದ ಒಂಭತ್ತು ಬಹಳ ಪ್ರಚಲಿತದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಒಂಭತ್ತು ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗಮನ ಹರಿಸೋಣ.

೧) ಮೊದಲನೆಯದಾಗಿ, ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರು ಸಸ್ಯಾಹಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಹಳ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಾಮುಖ್ಯತೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರು. ಅಹಿಂಸೆ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರ ಪರಮಧರ್ಮ ಆಗಿತ್ತು. ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಹಿಂಸೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ ಅಂತ ಅವರು ಬೋಧನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.
ಆದರೆ ನೀವು ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಅವರೆ.. ಮೊದಲ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲೇ, ಗೋ ಹತ್ಯೆ ನಿಷೇಧ ಕಾನೂನನ್ನು ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಲು ಕೊಡದ ಹಸುಗಳು, ಕರುಗಳು, ಎಮ್ಮೆಗಳು, ಎತ್ತುಗಳು, ಕೋಣಗಳ ಮಾರಣಹೋಮ ಮಾಡಲು ಅನುಮತಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದೀರಿ. ಇದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀವಾದವೋ?

೨) ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿಯವರ ಜೀವನ ಪರ್ಯಂತ ಅವರು ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮತಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಸಂಘರ್ಷ ತಡೆಯುವದರ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದರು.
ಆದರೆ ನೀವು? ಬೇರೆಯವರನ್ನು ಕೋಮುವಾದಿ, ಜಾತಿವಾದಿ ಅಂತೆಲ್ಲ ಜರಿದು, ಖುದ್ದಾಗಿ ಬರೇ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೋಮು ಯೋಜನೆಗಳನ್ನೇ ತಂದು ಸಮಾಜವನ್ನು ಒಡೆಯುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದೀರ. ಶಾದಿ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಅಂತ ತಂದು ಮುಸಲ್ಮಾನರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಿಂದುಗಳಿಗೆ ತಾತ್ಸಾರ ಬಿತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರ. ಅಹಿಂದ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಪ್ರವಾಸ ಅಂತ ಬೇರೆ ಜಾತಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ ಮಾಡಿ, ಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹಸಿ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಜಾತಿ ವಿಷದಿಂದ ತುಂಬುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರ. ನರ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿನಿಯರ ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿ, "ಮೇಲ್ಜಾತಿ" ಹುಡುಗಿಯರನ್ನು ಹೊರಗಿಟ್ಟು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರ. ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಇವುಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತಾಡಿದರೆ, ಅವರನ್ನು ದಲಿತ ವಿರೋಧಿ, ಹಿಂದುಳಿದವರ ವಿರೋಧಿ, ಮುಸಲ್ಮಾನ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಅಂತ ಕೂಗಿ ಬಾಯಿ ಮುಚ್ಚುಸ್ತೀರ.  ಇವೆಲ್ಲ, ಗಾಂಧೀ ವಾದವೋ?

೩) ಗಾಂಧಿ ದೇಶದ ಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನು ಲೂಟಿ ಹೊಡೆಯೋರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ನಿಂತಿದ್ರು.
ನೀವು? ದೊಡ್ಡ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ಆರೋಪ ಇರುವ ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಲಾಡ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಮಂತ್ರಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದ್ರಿ. ನಂತರ ಬಹಳ ಜನರಿಂದ ಕಿವಿ ಹಿಂಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಅವರಿಗಿಂತ ಗುರುತರ ಆರೋಪ ಇರುವ ಶಿವ ಕುಮಾರ್  ಮತ್ತು ರೋಶನ್ ಬೇಗ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಮಂತ್ರಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ರಿ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮೇಲೆ ಖುದ್ದಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಕಾವತಿ de notification ಆರೋಪ ಇದ್ರೂ, ಅದನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿ, ಬೇರೆಯವರನ್ನು ಭ್ರಷ್ಟರೆಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತೀರ. ಇದು ಗಾಂಧಿವಾದವೋ ?

೪) ಗಾಂಧಿ ಎಂಥ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದಲ್ಲೂ ಕೂಡ ಒಬ್ಬರ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೈ ಮಾಡದ ಅಹಿಂಸಾವಾದಿ.
ಆದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸುತ್ತ ಇರೋ ಜನ? ಭೈರಥಿ ಅವರು ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ರು ಅಂತ ನಾವು ಒದಿದ್ವಿ. ಅಭಯಚಂದ್ರ ಜೈನ್ ಅವರು ಆಟೋ ಚಾಲಕನ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಮಾಡೋಕೆ ಹೋದರು ಅಂತ ಟಿವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದ್ವಿ. ಇದೇ ಜೈನ್ ಅವರು ಒಬ್ಬ ಕರಾವಳಿ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತನಿಗೆ ಜೀವ ಬೆದರಿಕೆ ಹಾಕಿದರು ಅಂತ ಕೂಡ ಕೇಳಿದ್ವಿ. ವಿನಯ್ ಕುಲಕರ್ಣಿ ಅವರು ಒಬ್ಬ ವೈದ್ಯಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ರೀತಿ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಪಂಚ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಟಿವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದ್ವಿ. ಇವರಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರದ್ರಿಗೂ ನೀವು ಶಿಕ್ಷೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟರಾ? ಇದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀವಾದವೋ?

೫) ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರು ಭಗವದ್ ಗೀತೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಮಾಯಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಪಾರ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡವರು.
ಎಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾದರೂ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಅಥವಾ ರಾಮನ ಆದರ್ಶದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖ ಇದೆಯೋ? ನಾವಂತೂ ಕಂಡಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ನೀವು ಜರಿಯುವ ಸಂಘ ಪರಿವಾರದ ಮೋದಿ ಅವರ ಭಾಷಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಕಾದಷ್ಟು ಭಾರತೀಯ ನೀತಿ ಬೋಧನೆ ಕೇಳಿದ್ದೇವೆ!

೬) ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬಹಳ ಗಮನ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅಪ್ಪಿ ತಪ್ಪಿಯು ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸುಳ್ಳು ಆಪಾದನೆಯಾಗಲಿ, ಕೀಳು ಟೀಕೆಗಳಾಗಲಿ ಮಾಡಿದವರಲ್ಲ.
ಆದರೆ ನೀವು? ೨೦೧೪ ನೇ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ದೇಶದ ಸರ್ವೋಚ್ಚ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದ SITಯಿಂದ ಕ್ಲೀನ್ ಚಿಟ್ ಪಡೆದುಕೊಂಡ ನರೇಂದ್ರ ಮೋದಿ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ನರಹಂತಕ ಅಂತ ಅಪಪ್ರಚಾರ ಮಾಡಿ, ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗದಿಂದ ಛೀಮಾರಿ ಹಾಕಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ದೇಶದ ಏಕೈಕ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಮಂತ್ರಿ! ಅದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀ ವಾದವೋ?

೭) ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರು ಎಂದೆಂದೂ ಸಾರಾಯಿ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಆಲ್ಕೋಹಾಲ್ನಿಂದ ದೂರ ಇದ್ದರು.
ಆದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸುತ್ತ? ಕಾಶಪ್ಪನವರ್ ಅಂಥ ಕುಡಿತದ ಬಾರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಆರೋಪ ಇರುವ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಸದಸ್ಯರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಏನು ಕ್ರಮ ತೊಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದೀರ?
ನೀವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಕುಡಿತದ ಹಾವಳಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಏನು ಕ್ರಮ ತೆಗೆದು ಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೀರ?

೮) ಗಾಂಧಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸರ್ವಾಧಿಕಾರ ಬಹಳ ಅಸಹ್ಯ ಆಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅವರು ಹಿಟ್ಲರ್ ಅವರಿಗೂ ಕೂಡ ಒಂದು ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರು.
ನೀವು? ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ವಚನ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿದ ಮರು ನಿಮಿಷದಲ್ಲೇ, ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಕೋಟಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಹಣವನ್ನು ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೋಮು ಆಧಾರಿತ ಸಾಲ ಮನ್ನಾಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಬಿಟ್ಟರಲ್ಲ..  ಕ್ಯಾಬಿನೆಟ್ ಕೂಡ ಮಾಡುವ ಮುಂಚೆ ಒಬ್ಬರೇ, ಇಷ್ಟೊಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ತೊಗೊಂಡು, ಬೇರೆಯವರನ್ನು ಸರ್ವಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಅಂತ ಭಾಷಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜರಿಯುತ್ತೀರಲ್ಲ.. ಅದು ಗಾಂಧಿ ವಾದವಾ?

೯) ಕೊನೆಯದಾಗಿ, ಗಾಂಧೀ ಅವರು ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಗೌರವ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಮಾನವ. ಗಾಂಧೀ ಅವರು ನಿತ್ಯ ಪಠಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ "ವೈಷ್ಣವ ಜನತೋ" ಭಜನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಒಂದೆರಡು ಸಾಲುಗಲಿವೆ.

"ವಾಚ, ಕಾಛ್ ಮನ ನಿಶ್ಚಳ ರಾಖೆ" - ಅಂದರೆ, ಮಾತು, ಕೆಲಸ ಮತ್ತು ಯೋಚನೆ ಶುದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೋ.
"ಪರಸ್ತ್ರೀ ಜೇನೇ ಮಾತ್ ರೇ" - ಅಂದರೆ, ಪರಸ್ತ್ರೀಯನ್ನು ತಾಯಿ ಅಂತೆ ನೋಡು.

ಆದರೆ ನೀವು ಗಾಂಧಿ ಜಯಂತಿ ದಿವಸ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಟೋಪಿ ನೆಹರು ಅವರದ್ದು. ಗಾಂಧಿ ಆ ಟೋಪಿ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದು ಬಹಳ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಅಥವಾ, ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅದೇ ನೆಹರು ಅವರು, ಮದುವೆ ಆಗಿ ಮಗಳಿದ್ದ ಗೃಹಿಣಿ ಎಡ್ವಿನಾ ಮೌಂಟ್ ಬಾಟ್ಟೆನ್ ಜೊತೆ ಹೇಗಿದ್ದರು ಅಂತ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಎಡ್ವಿನಾ ಅವರ ಮಗಳು ಹೇಳಿರುವದನ್ನು ಓದಿ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪರಮಾಪ್ತ ಸಿ ಎಂ ಇಬ್ರಾಹಿಂ ಅವರು ಇಂದಿರಾ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಭಾಷಣಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಗಮನ ಹರಿಸಿ. (ಈಶ್ವರಪ್ಪ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡ ಬಹುದು). ಆಮೇಲೆ ಹೇಳಿ, ನಿಮ್ಮದು ಯಾವ ಸೀಮೆ ಗಾಂಧಿವಾದಾ?

ಮುಕ್ತಾಯ: ಒಂದು ಸಮಾಜ ಅಂದ್ರೆ, ಬೇಕಾದಷ್ಟು ತತ್ತ್ವ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಜನ ಇರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಎಲ್ಲಾರೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನೇ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಆಗಿ, ನೀವು ಎಲ್ಲ ತರಹದ ಜನರನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸಿ. ನೀವು ಕೇವಲ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷದವರ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಅಲ್ಲ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಬಹು ದೊಡ್ಡ ನಾಯಕ ನೆಹರು ಅವರು ಕೂಡ ತಮ್ಮ ಕೊನೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ RSS ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಪರಮದ್ವೇಷವನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಅವರನ್ನು ೧೯೬೩ ಗಣತಂತ್ರ ದಿನದ ಪೆರೇಡ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವಂತೆ ಆಮಂತ್ರಣ ನೀಡಿದ್ದರು ಅನ್ನೋದನ್ನ ಮರೆಯಬೇಡಿ!

ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಪಕ್ಷ ನಿಮ್ಮ ೨೦೧೫ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಜಯಂತಿ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಹುದ್ದೆಗೆ ಘನತೆ ತರುವಂತೆ ಇರತ್ತೆ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸೋಣ.

Images from: coastaldigest, mangaloremath.wordpress, corruptcongress.wikia and oppanna

Rajiv Malhotra : An Intellectual Kshatriya

Today,  I came across Rajiv Malhotra - termed popularly as an Intellectual Kshatriya (Warrior). He is surely an awesome eloquent spokesperson for Sanatana Dharma in the West! He runs Infinity foundation. He is from management consulting background for big firms like AT&T in the United States. I did come across his work during the prior years, but never spent a full hour listening to his immense knowledge and the power of delivery. Today's time spent was an eye opener!

Needless to say, I was so impressed with his speech & the wide array of topics he covered, I am taking time to write this blog, encouraging others to learn more about this spectacular strategist, thinker and speaker!

A few of the salient points from his five part speech videos, follows here.{Updated on Sep 15, 2011: One Video, covering all five parts embedded}

He starts off his speech, in the Part 1, quoting "Purva Paksha", the need of knowing the opposing point of view. This part of debate technique was historically legitimate in India was covered first. You might want to refer to Adi Shankara and his debates to learn more about Purva Paksha technique.

Then he covered something that totally surprised me.. I consider myself a bit involved in learning contemporary Hinduism, I am actively involved in debates on the social networks on Hindu dharma, I conduct DharmaQuiz as a fun way of learning about India's core ideology,  among other ways to keep me engaged with Dharmic traditions. But hearing a few things about the "Project Breaking India" took me by surprise. We all would have heard of the political side of pseudo-secularism or 'secularism' in quotes as a fundamental threat to the unity and integrity of India, its culture and its people. But this Breaking India project, an Intellectual, emotional & psychological breakup of India, conceptually scared me. Is it some man's wild dream or something that is already deep rooted, taking most Hindus & secular Indians by surprise?

Keep reading...

He systematically covered a possible physical breakup of India, starting with Dalit Freedom network, funded

Breaking India, a book by Rajiv Malhotra and Aravindan Neelakandan

by White Christians of Denver and other places. Then he talks about 1040 and Joshua projects aiming at massive conversion of Hindus and other native coreligionists of India. Then he talks about Tehelka's undercover operation to expose the anti-united-India activities of the church via Joshua projects on rural side of India. He particularly stressed on the the ownership of land in rural area by churches, strategically using them to convert people.

Gospel for Asia in Dallas, using religious hate speech was covered in the next part of his speech. European Lutheran church in Scandinavia and Germany, that uses Human rights argument to isolate India politically, and then police India via church backed networks was highlighted.

Then he covers the mega strategic tool used by those who want to sideline & suppress Hinduism in particular, using strong political muscle. US Commission on Religious Freedom, Clinton setup commission, to monitor religious freedom across the world (except USA, of course). Very surprisingly,  it's Watch list has India in it, along with Islamic extreme state like Afghanistan!! He claims that religious freedom is actually too much in India, if you live and observe it, but this commission purposefully paints Hindus as the bad guys. Anyone with even 15 days of vacation through the vast country of India, would not believe an ounce of that India=Afghanistan argument when it comes to religious freedom. It's a shame that a public funded group in the world's most powerful democracy, is painting such horrendous picture! Rajiv peels layer by layer, as to how most of the 'complaints' & 'testimonies' about India, are from those supported by Joshua, Lutheran, Dalit Freedom network kind of anti-India conversion networks. And, there's no cross examination allowed by Sanatana Dharma Hindu organizations like Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Pejavar Matha, Sringeri Shankara matha, Varanasi Hindu sabhas, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Arya Samaj and Ramakrishna mission. Essentially this is a one way propaganda mission to put India and Indians on the defensive! He talks about 15 commissioners - Muslims, Christians (Worldvision kind of open Christian conversion organization backed) & Jews. No Hindu/Jain/Sikh/Buddhist commissioners nominated. Rajiv Malhotra's 600 page book's chapter 17 exposes each of these commissioners, their backgrounds linking to church and how they are trying to break India via an agenda.

Then be backs up the timeline to give us a holistic view of how this whole break-India conceptualizations started 200 years back. He covers Robert Caldwell, an evangelist missionary and others of 19th century, how they created Dravidian-Aryan division theory. How they used distortion of  Saint Thomas' "influence" on Thirukkural etc. in South India.. how their ideology is used today for a distortion that Hinduism is a 'Brahmin' conspiracy and if you get back to Saint Thomas' ideology, you will go back to original Christianity in the south! Dravidian & Dalit concepts are being grouped to form a common anti-Hinduism umbrella. Third kind of divide is the minority identity against Hinduism, which already cost India two physical parts during the 20th century.

Then he covers what would most interest my social media buddies. The systematic media management part, using mainly foreign Christian sources. Talks about 'Christian Media in India' book (I didn't catch the exact title or author), the money sources, the control of Indian media, making news agencies (NDTV, Times of India, The Hindu kind) planting Christian-twist stories, producing journalists with their ideologies, networking with international wires to make them 'world wide' news material all the way to NY Times, Christian Science Monitor etc. Talks about many of them being fabricated systematic spread of rubbish. This part was well observed by folks on Twitter in India, but Rajiv's claim of such a deep rooted network to this extent just shocked me! Maybe we should buy his book by paying $20 and read more on this chapter closely.

Then comes the most bizarre bed partners fact. The axis of leftists (US, mostly South Asia academic, like Ford Foundation) and rightists (Western Christian, like Rockefeller right of center foundations) working together in this effort against Hinduism in India. Western Right takes on Christianity basis and Western Left takes on the basis of secularism, human rights etc. He also exposes Indian left are in bed with Western Christian Right!

Unbelievable collaboration of opposing ideologies  per Mr.Malhotra!

He then moves on to the assault on Sanskrit, Gurus, anything core of Hindu is from this combo of ideological attacks, well funded from the West.

Then he challenges the notion of minority concept itself.

Rajiv's words mostly as is: "If you were to go to India, and see a MacD restaurant with 20 employees, you would not say its a minority restaurant. What matters is that this is 1 of the 50,000 branches of the world. You don't take one restaurant as a minority. Same way, one church in India is a part of Vatican global empire. The Bishop is appointed by Vatican. Their property is indirectly under Vatican's rule. So Indian Christians are a part of huge multinational. Not just Catholics, but Mormons, Baptists, Lutherans etc. Just like you don't give MacDonald in India a minority privilege, you can't give a church in India also a minority status. Similar stuff for Mosques too based on the global Islamic empire. If they are independent local concepts, yes, they should be treated as minority. But if a church or a mosque is a part of a large multinational conglomerate, including funding, how can it enjoy minority privilege in India?"

He continues: Not just the numerical strength locally, but a group must be looked as a global strength too. Christians and Muslims being billions in this world, they are in no way a handicap minority group in India. That should be the criteria. Top down appointments from head quarters from foreign country, including total control of funds & operation, how can Christians & Muslims can be termed minorities?

He then moves on to the topic of the fear of human rights policing as a strategic tool to keep Indian political leadership terrified, unlike China. When the US condemns human rights, within two weeks China releases its own human rights to condemn US! But Indians academics, religious leaders or political leaders hardly study US to counter the 'human rights' baton. 

Indians are weak because the leaders don't know where they should stand when it comes to these systematic religious & cultural attacks from outside. He then covered the in-fighting among Hindus. Neo-Vedantins fighting among each other. Sufism in Delhi, via music, creating inferiority complex towards Hinduism was covered.

Hindus need to know what is non-negotiable for internal unity, and also what is needed to counter external aggression. Per Rajiv, Indian Hindus hardly know how their difference with rest of the world, can form a unity among them. Covers analogy among Western unity from Hagan's time (?). Europeans' uniqueness, Euro centric identity, was contrasted with the rest, creating the whole 'West' concept, uniting French, English, German etc. He then briefly talked about another book, coming up, with the Indian Hindu history, ideology, philosophy, identity, with a contrast to others is essential to make Indians know who they are.

Here is the full set of 5 videos, if you have an hour to listen to this Sanatani Hindu, who has the power to create strategy that might unite the utterly divided Hindus of the world today!

Updated on 15, Sep, 2011: All 5 parts together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByaheAphduQ

{ The following videos have been turned as private by the Youtube user.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxp02qR6v_g
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTTf4_Z8JY
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz9t5e1XNRk

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzaFSnJ3u0I  
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjr6RxJM1I

}


Well done in educating us Mr.Malhotra! Two Thumbs up!