Some people choose celebration time to initiate hostility, most family has at least one such relative and the nation can be no exception. When the nation was getting ready to host G 20 the occasion was used to call upon for crushing ‘Sanatan’. While many people are hurt and feel angry the author is amused by the lack of knowledge and capacity to thinks critically. Let's examine.
The political party that has nurtured Udaynidhi Stalin the speaker, has worked hard from the time of the start of the movement to crush Sanatan, has broken the idols, yet its constitution was written by a Brahmin V.P Raman. “He along with M/S EVK Sampath, Era Sezhiyan wrote the Constitution of the Party.” (Mohans musing a blog written by his son)
Some of the initiatives taken by the party since inception to eradicate Sanatan are:
• Burning of Kamba Ramayana in public was advocated.
• Hindu religious figures were ridiculed.
• According to A. C. Chettiar, it was estimated that in 1900, nearly fifty percent of the words in the written language were Sanskritically influenced. Fifty years later, its influence had been reduced to only twenty percent.
• Mocked the three-language formula and opposed Hindi.
What is the result after ruling the state for more than 50 years?
• Hindi film Jawan is being distributed in Tamil Nadu by Red Giant Movies company headed by actor, politician, and businessman Udhayanidhi Stalin. (Mathrubhumi. 18 August 2023)
• Good number of artists work in the Hindi film industry. At one point in time, south Indian actresses like Hemamalini and Rekha were ruling Bollywood.
• Tamil Nadu Tourism a government agency is running a 9-day temple tour that includes Rameswaram (despite burning Kamba Ramayana and breaking idols). The height of the paradox is it takes pilgrims to Tirupati temple in a neighboring state.
• The government is working relentlessly to induct non-brahmin as a priest in temples indicating temples and idols are bad but serving them with salary is not.
• Ministers are visiting temples and even chief minister A Jayalalitha participated in many temple ceremonies.
• Vivekanand statue stands tall at kanya Kumari. The first Ram Krishna math is established in Chennai.
• The movement for Drivadistan raised concerns among the Sinhalese politicians in Sri Lanka resulting in huge losses for Sri Lankan Tamils. In 1962, a Sinhalese M.P. stated in the Parliament: "The Sinhalese are the minority in Dravidistan. We are carrying on a struggle for our national existence against the Dravidistan majority." (Sri Lanka, House of Representatives, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), vol. 48, col. 1313, 3 September 1962. Quoted in Bookman, Milica Zarkovic (1997). The Demographic Struggle for Power. Routledge. p. 15.) This resulted in a long ethnic conflict with huge losses including loss of lives.
As a layman, the author will be eager to know how someone will destroy Sanatan. If one destroys temples, will it help as invaders have already destroyed thousands of temples yet Sanatan is thriving. Ram temple is being built empowered with the judgment of the Supreme Court. Moreover, Sanatan has formless worship as well. Advait, Vedanta, Tantra, Yoga, and Samkhya are the other ways of practicing Santana. Over and above Sanatan has Anachar-Vad which does not believe in the concept of God.
If crushing Santana is not in the competence of anybody in the world then what is the fuss about?
Going through the news headlines indicates that ruling party in Tamil Nadu is not able to manage the state, some of the news clipping say:
• MK Stalin is in troubled waters.
• His inability as an administrator is shown in the ruling party’s political bankruptcy.
• With Google Translate and similar apps, language debate is no longer a tool to incite emotions. The author reads and responds to friends' Tamil posts on social media using these apps. Many lectures given in non-Hindi states started with an initial few lines in local languages.
• OTT platforms have provided viewers with global content with audio or script in regional languages as a result viewers are learning about other cultures and differences are mellowing down.
• Industrial growth has brought employees from other states to Tamil Nadu and chances are that there may be a non-Tamilian MLA in Tamil Nadu in the next few decades.
• The Tamil youth having global aspirations connects better with the prime minister than any regional leader.
These factors along with the fading political aura of film celebrities have made it difficult to woo the public. The newly inducted son of CM Stalin has to prove his self-worth. Two, IPS-turned-politicians have also created challenges. The first one is governor R N Ravi and the other is state BJP chief Annamalai. One uses the Constitution as a tool to check the executives going stray, and the other uses oratory as well as his skills to highlight corruption. It is no surprise that despite having negligible numbers he has taken over the job of opposition.
History is proof that whenever weak leadership is under pressure then divide, and rule is the favourite mantra and society suffers. Present utterances are nothing more than insecurity taking over wisdom.
Why does Sanatan survive the onslaught again and again while the destroyers get destroyed?
Contrary to the projected allegations Sanatan propagates the spirit of
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिन:
सर्वे सन्तु निरामया:।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दु:खभाग्भवेत।
ॐ शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति:॥
May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, and may no one suffer.
Om peace, peace, peace.
This spirit comes from the belief that all life is supported by a similar soul. God is one, every soul has an opportunity to merge with the divine. There is no arrogance that claims that man is the center of the universe and everything is created for his pleasure. Therefore, Sanatan acts as a trusty of the world resources not as an owner. Nature is preserved, rivers, forests, and mountains are treated as gods, and animals are their vehicles. Princes were taught statesmanship using animal stories preserved as Panchatantra. The literal meaning of Santana is- lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning. It encouraged ‘Swadhyaya’ meaning study of self as well as self-study. Asking the question was welcome, scholars have researched new theories/commentaries were written and new scripture written were accepted. The popular Ramayana ‘Ram Charit Manas’ is only 400 years old. The Sanatan discards the irrelevant like a river used to clean itself. Then who needs the destroyer when it has its own destroyer lord SHIVA?
So much is the acceptance of the Sanatan philosophy that Geeta is quoted to justify acts of destruction. Scientists like Einstein talk of Indian philosophy with respect. It is alleged that Aryan invaded but the Santan scriptures tell us that despite winning two kingdoms Kishikandha and Lanka Ram possessed none and gave the message. Janani Janmabhūmishcha Swargādapi Garīyasī which means that "Mother and motherland are superior even to Heaven” As a result Bharat never invaded. Indian army is the most respected peacekeeping force. Despite helping Bangladesh to gain its freedom Bharat did not claim an inch of its land. Instead, millions of refugees never left our country destroying the demography.
Despite so much anti-Hindi rhetoric, no north Indian state has any malice to the brothers and sisters from the south. Hemamalini, Jayaprada and Azharuddin became MP from the north. If one excludes politicians, the same is true for the South, the author has enjoyed trips to southern states most particularly the temple towns of Madurai, Palani, and Rameswaram.
Thriving Santana in the past, present, and future.
Even if we ignore the golden past Sanatan has influenced the modern world with its ideology. Swami Vivekananda took the west by storm. No army was there to support him, he had no money, the only wealth he had was the wisdom of Vedanta and the rest is history. As if winning the heart of the Western world was not enough south India welcomed him as a hero and his statue was erected at Kanyakumari. India joined the United Nations before it got its freedom. The feat was achieved by Indian kings persuading leading nations to include India for its contribution to making great sacrifice the world war.
Sanatan and G 20 summit 2023.
It started with the logo itself, inspired by the vibrant colors of India’s national flag the logo juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges. The Earth reflects India’s pro-planet approach to life, one in perfect harmony with nature. Below the G20 logo is “Bharat”, written in the Devanagari script communicates the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future” - is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad.
The theme is a reflection of ‘LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment), striving for just and equitable growth for all in the world, as we navigate through these turbulent times, in a sustainable, holistic, responsible, and inclusive manner. They represent a uniquely Indian approach to our G20 Presidency, of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
For the first time, the food served in the main summit was vegetarian which means no animal lost life to feed any guest. Was it done to boast the ego of Bharat? The answer is no as the official version indicated the following points:
• Millet grows in half the time of wheat and uses 30 percent of the water of rice. The menu called it a "superfood".
• "Millets can grow in adverse and arid conditions," it said, adding they can "play an important role in addressing issues such as climate change and food security.
• "Millet was a staple food in many regions of India for thousands of years and was eaten as porridge, flatbread, dosa pancakes, and with lentils. But this is also true that the spirit was in harmony with” Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
Conclusion.
The author would like to conclude the article with a quote by Swami Vivekanand,
“Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth or die.”
The real test of Sanatan is not what people say about it but how the followers practice ten Yam Niyam i.e. Ahimsa (non-harming or non-violence in thought, word, and deed) Satya (truthfulnes, Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy or ‘right use of energy), Aparigraha (non-greed or non-hoarding), Saucha (cleanliness), Santosh (contentment), Tapa (discipline, austerity or ‘burning enthusiasm), Swadhyaya (study of the self and of the texts), Ishvara Pranidhan (surrender to a higher being, or contemplation of a higher power). Then we are truly Sanatani and nobody had the power to touch. This is the basis of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina- May all sentient beings be at peace, and may no one suffer from illness, not even Udhaynidhi Stalin our brother.
By RAKESH KUMAR
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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