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Time to think, speak and act great
W. MACNEILE DIXON in his book, The Human Situation, observed nearly 75 years ago, more relevant to the current discussions in our social context, that "on every side you meet with an exaltation of the intellect at the expense of the spirit." Mere rationalisation disregarding one's conscience (which in fact is the voice of God within) is no wisdom. Any prejudice can easily be rationalised by selecting appropriate material supporting it, from the vast material available in respect of every problem. The clever mind can always find supposedly suitable justification for its own prejudices. We are living in an environment, where reason has lost its protective power because it is being tricked or perverted; where truth is no protection as it is being overwhelmed by enormous propaganda of a totalitarian type; where intelligence is no protection because it gets abdicated by rationalisation of prejudices and emotional appeals of selfish interests. Neither the so-called champions of "Hindutva" nor the "pseudo-secularists" — of many hues, but many of them being non-believers in divinity, championing the cause of the various religious groups and the dalits (who are in fact Hindus) — are speaking the truth according to their conscience but are guilty of rationalising their petty prejudices, mistaking them as gospel truths without making any positive contribution.
The inevitable smoke in fire
All faiths are equally good and lead to harmony and peace, though each of them gained some weaknesses in practice, like the inevitable smoke in fire. We can understand the indifference to religion of the non-believers; but how are we to understand their debasing a particular faith, attributing the weaknesses in practice to the faith itself. A barren mood of negation has seized the intellects of these so-called champions. The good and the wise have done immense harm by their continued silence, mainly due to a sense of caution, helplessness and getting accustomed to `the business as usual' approach. They must recall the warning of Edmund Burke: "The triumph of evil is a result of the inactivity of good people."
No doubt there are many truly secular intellectuals who are rightly disturbed and worried. But, their voices are lost in the wilderness of sound and fury of the above stated champions. We are not merely to bask in the sunshine of our undoubtedly great Vedantic religion as the champions of `Hindutva' are doing but to do something concrete to restore equal social status and respectability to every Indian. The same is true of our pseudo-secularists and so-called secular parties who by their vain rationalisation are encouraging divisive and separatist tendencies, instead of unifying our society by positive suggestions.
`Spiritual secularism'
The centuries old evils of any society cannot be eradicated overnight, but the sad thing is that no sincere and positive effort is being made by either of the groups even after more than half a century since we gained Independence. It looks as though the so-called secular parties have vested interest in maintaining status quo in the sad plight of the unfortunate in our society. This explains why efforts are consistently being made to cast these evils on Hinduism as a religion and as a consequence to defile and debase it, which are contrary to real understanding of Hinduism or Vedantism. By such practice they are only adding insult to injury and spreading hatred. Hatred begets hatred and the perpetual war of words goes on, much to the detriment of the future of our nation. That the centuries old prevailing social evils do not belong to Hinduism as such would be clear if one studies the teachings of the Gita. The wisdom of Sri Krishna clearly stated: "In regard to a Brahmin, one endowed with education and humility, a cow, an elephant, and even a dog, as also one who cooks the dog for his food — the wise ones see the same (differenceless Reality)" — B.G.5.18. The Gita emphasises integration at three levels — with one's own self, with one's social environment and with God. It also stressed that the truly integrated sees the pain and the pleasure everywhere, by the same standards as he applies his own situation (B.G.6. 27-32); this is the same as what Christ had stated: "Do unto others as thou wish that others should do unto you." These observations are the very life and breath of Vedantic "spiritual secularism," namely, it is both spiritual and secular.
A study of the life, teachings and actions of Sri Ramanuja, a true and great secular reformer, will show that a truly sincere secularist interested in eradicating the evils in society need not be an atheist or a non-believer nor is it necessary to hate or debase Hinduism to prove one's secular credentials. The pseudo-secularists and the media encouraging them should know, if they care to draw any lessons from history, that it is only under such conditions fascism was born. At the same time the so-called champions of `Hindutva,' in the larger interest of the country, should not react despite provocation and should give up their militant stand and set their own house in order by positive action to eradicate the social evils that tarnish the entire Hindu society.
T. CHELLASWAMI
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