mindwanderings | the weblog of som benegal

In a world of venture and, in a sense, adventure, in which we in India are much bound, we should not be unduly apprehensive of what happens elsewhere and around us. When I talk of venture and adventure, I mean, of course in peaceful action and activities. We want a united country – united in the arts of peace and united in our endeavours to bring to our people without discrimination the fruits of their toil, and other benefits of a just and equitable society towards prosperity. And when I say we should not be unduly apprehensive, I mean naturally, that we should not see enemies, or forces of ill-will towards us everywhere. That would lead to paranoia, an obsession which is surely not our national characteristic, not with our people as a whole.

In our long history, marked by many ups and downs we have taken victory and defeat with calm courage and fortitude, neither exulting in victory nor downcast in defeat. We have never been beggared of our spirit which has enabled us to tide over misfortune and live on in peace and serenity for another day, another dawn. It is that spirit which was sharply brought into being by the vision of a rare soul who could dare to challenge one of greatest empires of history with no more than the weapon of non-violence and truth to bring it down, thereby giving hope and victory not only to his own kind but millions of others struggling for their own freedom. But the success of this one paragon was sustained by the support and dedication of his fellowmen, whose faith kept them strong and whose submission to sacrifice was unflinching.

It is in these overall historical and contemporary perspectives that we have to meet our future with confidence and poise and self-assurance. There are some who point to China and Pakistan as our “enemies”. This is not the way to look at the situation. Towards both countries we have offered the hand of friendship. As a first-hand observer has summed up, China has now a passion to be at the top of the world in everything, like airports, railways, cities and what have you. But not militaristic aggression. They have put that behind; now they want to be the most dynamic economy taking any help from any source which meets their interests. For all the reservations in Pakistan about India, at heart it also wants peace, and willing to lean towards it. It is for us now to invoke our heritage of peace and extend the hand of friendship and cordiality, and look forward to a new dawn each passing day. As our Upanishads tell us – A Today well lived makes every Yesterday a dream of happiness and every Tomorrow a vision of hope. This is the Life, the Very Life of Life. And let us wish to each country and people their own.

Faith has its reasons, which reason alone cannot explain. The rationalist, who considers himself superior by virtue of his refusal to accept anything which cannot be explained by solid facts, demonstrable facts, historical facts or what he calls “scientific” facts cannot and will not tolerate a thing, a fantasy without solid ground called faith. Yes, you cannot produce a thing called faith because it has no solid face – it dwells in the heart and mind. It gives strength and courage and fortitude under the most formidable of challenges. Faith does not need proofs – the only proof it can offer is in the resultant of what faith brings about. Faith, it is said, can move mountains. This may sound romantic but what is faith without romance.

When we look at the world around us – indeed, when human beings who first populated the earth looked around them they were struck by the immensity of the universe which they could partly see but could sense though they could not fully explain. From that moment when thought struck Man he has been obsessed with questions about what quickens life, what makes the universe and its incredible diversity and dimension – how did it come about and continues to exist. Is there a divinity that shapes our ends or is it just a fickle chance. This set the philosopher and scientist in later times in ceaseless quest – one sending probes into the mind, and the other, probes sent into space or into the heart of matter. But, as we see, after millions of years and effort we are a little nearer to truth and yet far from it. The more we understand the riddle, the more perplexing it is.

But, in all this ceaseless quest, the human has maintained an unshakeable faith in himself and his cosmos. Without this sustained faith he would have vanished from the face of the earth or the awe-inspiring universe, grand in its size, content and timelessness. But, he survives and grows larger in purpose and achievement.

Seen in this context, the controversy and passions engineered about the existence of Ram or a bridge constructed or not are paltry and meaningless. Let us rather see ourselves, whoever we are, of whatever persuasion as those who have tried to make ourselves larger and more noble through faith which has its reasons which reason alone does not explain.

Gandhigiri is much in the air, nowadays. It is, of course, with the young new generation growing up and fortunately looking around to see what the lie of land is and how they fit into it, and what they should do about it to mould it to their hearts’ desire. I do not accept the utterly misconceived notion that the young generation is only concerned with itself and only with the reckless up-in-the-air fun of life detached from the realities – the stark realities – on the ground. The young generation may appear to some to be concerned only with the glitz and glamour of the so-called rich countries, particularly indeed wholly, of the U.S. West. But they are also aware, even bewildered, by the manic violence that prevails there, and simultaneously, of the yearning for inner spiritual peace and repose. That is the paradox and contradiction between the struggle of materialism and spiritualism.

In many ways, then, the quest of our young generation is something very laudable and worthy of encouragement. It is very important that they must not be mislead into false and superficial ideas of the basic values of Gandhiji which could lead to disappointment, disenchantment and disillusionment. So far Gandhigiri has appeared in the form of films and media entertainment. Good as it is, it must take on more serious and substantial foundations. The young generation are capable, competent and primed to accept the challenge and its affirmative outcome.

But, what of the generation that should give them the impetus, thrust, and trail-blazing path? What we see today of the old generation at the higher level is the lowest form of conduct, behaviour and example. All public behaviour of most of our leaders today is the very opposite of Gandhigiri, perhaps best described as dirty Gandi-giri! Alas, alas.

O, Gandhiji, where art thou? India hath need of thee! It has been today made by its leaders of stagnant minds into a stagnant swamp instead of a just, equitable, energetic, prosperous polity opening up a land of peace that is bright and inspiration for the world.

If there is one thing that is clear about the Indo-USA Nuclear Deal it is that nothing is clear. The amount of haziness about it at every level and in every detail is remarkable. Several thousand people ranging from politicians (in or out of power), ponderous intellectuals, opinion experts, pollsters (reliable or unreliable, mostly the second), mobile users (supposed to reflect the common people views), gleeful TV loudmouths and magazine pundits have all produced a frightening jarring din. In the midst of all this I doubt if any sane person can make head or tail about what the hell this Nuclear Deal is, whether it is good for India or not.

To add to all the confusion is the insertion of side issues like the consequences of the Deal, its hidden or open perils binding India into US dreams of hegemony over the world by virtue of its enormous physical, though not necessarily ideological, resources. Of the latter there is much ground for doubt and scepticism. Not that others are more exalted. Nor is there much clarity about the existing geo-political equations as they might influence and affect India’s position and interest in the world. While keeping our national security, sovereignty and independence in view, inevitably our experience of remaining clear of any hostile alignment still remains a cherished objective.

One interesting question to which no clear answer has been forthcoming is what Indians feel about the United States of America (loosely called America). Are they pro- or anti? Each faction confidently and unambiguously claims that it is right. As experience shows through our unimpeachable elections – you never can tell what the electorate will decide. But what you can tell is that they are always right; merciless but magnanimous, firm but forgiving. That is the saving grace of the Indian peoples, that makes them dear to the nation. Perhaps, eventually, they will decide which way the nation will go. If only their leaders would give them a helpful hand!