Pride is justified but, in the true spirit of Hinduism, there can be no room for prejudice. The reignited lamp should illuminate the greatness of the past and light up the way to a prosperous and peaceful future. Here is the start of a new era, needing a new resolve, to understand and examine, our past strengths and weaknesses, beliefs and faiths, customs and traditions, writes Prof. H C Pande
With the consecration of, the ages old, yet, so new, Sri Rama temple, there
is a visible tide of renewed faith and a sense of cultural unity in
the vast majority of the populace. Centuries of alien domination had
reduced a major civilisation to a rubble, intellectually and
materially. Rekindling of a nearly burnt out lamp of Hindu pride is a
historical event.
Pride is justified but, in the true spirit of Hinduism, there can be no room for prejudice. The reignited lamp should illuminate the greatness of the past and light up the way to a
prosperous and peaceful future. Here is the start of a new era, needing
a new resolve, to understand and examine, our past strengths and
weaknesses, beliefs and faiths, customs and traditions.
In the penetrating beam of the rapidly advancing universal knowledge we have
to dump many precepts & practices,retain some,and,take on board,quite
a few,of the new age.
Any civilisation,to remain meaningfully alive,has to keep abreast of
the times.Being an ancient,yet,continuing civilisation,India’s case is
a complex one.It has to race against time to make up for the
opportunities on account of complacency , escapism,and the loss of
national spirit & consciousness due alien domination.Consciousness and
spirit are the roots of the nation and have to be regenerated in order
to successfully envision,initiate and complete the gigantic task of
social and economic transformation.
For a plant to take on new grafts properly nourished roots are vital,as a graft on a plant with impoverished roots,either fails or results in a stunted grafted
plant.Symbolism is inescapable in this process,hence the Sri Rama
temple and the abstraction of Rama Rajya is full of meaning.
Marx had proclaimed that religion is the opium of the people,meaning
thereby,that religion is a narcotic which numbs one’s senses,and,one
floats into
a virtual universe devoid of harsh realities.It only gives one virtual
hope and virtual courage.Marx could not be more right.But then in dire
circumstances this is what is needed.The country is facing mountainous
problems and a look from the ground level is unnerving for the common
citizen.
This is where adrenaline rush is needed for that extra
excitement and strength to continue climbing.And that is what ‘Astha’
is about.It is said that faith moves mountains,may be,or,may be
not,but,surely it lets you continue the climb.The majority of the
population has to do the climbing,millions and millions of people.They
need spiritual stimulus to lift their spirits to sustain their fond
hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.The affluent ones, having
access to mountaineering gear,and,to spirits,the bottled kind,can
afford to scoff at the idea and dismiss it as unnecessary.
India has to rise,and,not just the Lutyens zone,for which Sri Rama
temple is the required stimulus and good governance is Ram Rajya.
(Prof. H C Pande is Vice Chancellor Emeritus , BITS, Mesra)
