Listen to God's people

Today is the death anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the courageous Christian who bore witness to what it means to be a follower of Christ, through his life, writings and even his death.  It is said that he was sentenced to death on April 8, 1945 and executed the very next day for being part of the group that tried to plot Hitler's assassination.

For my meditation today... a quote of his:

The first service one owes to others in a community involves listening to them,” he wrote. “Just as our love for God begins with listening to God’s Word, the beginning of love for others is learning to listen to them. God’s love for us is shown by the fact that God not only gives God’s Word but also lends us God’s ear. . . . We do God’s work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them.

Coming from a man who had the opportunity and actually did leave Germany (for New York) in those troubled times of 1939, only to return within a month, asking oneself what merit would it be if he was not with his countrymen in their darkest hour, this quote makes all the difference between life and death!   

Respectful Force

One significant difference between the UK and India is perhaps the way we look upon our armed forces.  Here in the UK those in service or those who were once in service are greatly respected and honoured.  The veterans of the World Wars are often treated as heroes... atleast most of those whom I've met or seen.  Back in India, those in the armed forces are barely acknowledged, leave alone celebrated.  The memory of their bravery and sacrifice is perhaps commemorated on just a day or two, as today - Independence day.  For the rest of the year, they are non-existent! 

The soldiers in India are a sort of mascot for patriotism - that too when it is convenient for politics.  They are basically 'used' or referred to when someone wants to whip up anti-Pakistan feelings.  It is as if they have been handed over the task of being patriotic, and the rest are exempted - or rather, we exempt ourselves!  Such is our attitude.  Even the salary those in service receive is not something one can boast about.  In comparison with the amount of time, energy and sacrifices they put up with, their wages are totally far less.  I'm sure the middle men in our politics, leave alone the politicians themselves, earn far more than an army man. 

And like the army man, the farmer too is the most under-appreciated person in our country.  Perhaps the last person who actually highlighted these two persons in the progress of our country was Lal Bahadur Shastri, our second Prime Minister, especially when he coined the phrase जय जवान जय किसान (Hail soldier! Hai farmer!).

BIpolar vision; disordered history

A very logical and challenging 'letter to the editor' published in The Times (June 15, 2018; p. 32), titled 'Hindu' Taj Mahal ... the letter is in response to an article published earlier about an UP minister's tirade that the Taj Mahal should be renamed after a Hindu god, like Ram or Krishna, because it's 'Muslim' name is bad!

Sir, The renaming of the Taj Mahal after a Hindu god, proposed by an official in India's ruling party, the nationalist BJP (World June 13), is proof of its determination to turn India into a Hindu state.  The Muslims invaded India at the Battle of Panipat in 1526.  It was a brutal conquest but they brought with them their art, music, culture, dance, language and architecture, which have enriched India for centuries, and any financial profit they made stayed in India.
The British also conquered India, displaying unbelievable cruelty during the Mutiny of 1857. They too brought with them their art, law, culture, language and parliamentary system of government, although they exploited the country and looted its treasures.
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, is no friend of the Muslims, yet he and his ilk are hell-bent on maintaining a friendly relationship with the British. 
Any nation that vandalises history is morally bankrupt. The Taj Mahal: it is not only an Indian jewel but a Unesco world heritage site.  India should be proud of it and leave it be. 
Dr Kusoom Vadgama
Indo-British Heritage Trust

Agree very much with the very highly biased notion of history and creation of a nation based solely on selective identity politics 

Celebrating Indian independence day in England!

Tomorrow is the Independence day of India.  I feel ironic that I commemorate it in England!  Not very sure how the Indian press is marking the event, but the press here in UK, especially The Times and BBC have long been publishing articles and running programmes related to the event of Indian independence and the partition.  And of course in none of these programmes or articles that I've read, did I ever come across any indication of justification of the colonising of South Asia.  Most of the articles speak of the pain and the confusion of partition and attribute it to the improper planning and lack of sensitivity of the then British administration.

In fact, thanks to the historical documentation preserved by the British, at least what they wish to make public, I'm coming to know of things I'd never come across in any newspapers or magazines in India.  Of course, I do admit, I'm not a 'history' person to really have moved my butt to know about it either.  Like, the person who really drew the line dividing India and Pakistan, Cyril Radcliffe, had actually never been to India!  That the Rowlatt act was indeed one of the last nail in the coffin of the patience of the Indian diaspora.

Of course, the common Britisher is not very much bothered today about India (or any other part of the world, for that matter).  But most would not like to speak of the bygone era of 'empire'.  More than pride in once being a 'super power' ruling much of the world, there is somewhere hidden a sense of guilt and shame for the deeds of the past.  

Sepoy Mutiny

Today is the anniversary of the First Sepoy Mutiny held in 1857.  Ironically while in India, never gave it much of a thought.  Not that I remembered the date today and had some special celebration commemorating the day.  But found it mentioned in one of the newspapers here - just a mention of the day.  I wonder if any of the Indian newspapers or news channels remembered this.  More about the rebellion which lasted almost a year and half... here.

Somehow, being in a foreign land, that too, the one against whom India fought for independence, being reminded of such a historical event is nostalgic.

Misplaced sentimentalism

We Indians are very finicky about 'Indianness', about being Indians - and for most of the times, for silly reasons.  We take up 'patriotism' too seriously... and too narrowly.  Any and every move of Pakistan is against us.  Everything we do to Pakistan is right and in the true spirit of patriotism.  What we do inside the country to our own citizens is nothing wrong!  No one should imprison Indians.  But Indians ill-treating tourists and misbehaving with foreigners is part of our culture.  'They' cannot imprison us but someone forwarding silly messages on whatsapp can be in prison by the Indian system - and that's very much the way it is supposed to be.  Someone can be languishing in prison for want of proper judicial support or end up in one for lack of finance or political clout. That's how it is and not many question that.

Gandhi-slippers are sold online and that is a grave offense.  Now the home ministry and external affairs department will come down heavily on Amazon! But Gandhiji's numerous statues in the country's lanes and bylanes are in pitiable conditions, leave alone museums or heritage sites related to the same person.  That's OK.  Gandhiji's principles and values of non-violence and tolerance may not find any resonance in our hearts and minds, but that's fine... only slippers depicting him should not be sold!

Let's get our priorities right.  Using Gandhiji's image on a footwear is not the best marketing technique - any fool would know that.  And there's nothing good about it either.  But hey! There are far more urgent, serious and valuable things at stake here, than slippers! 

Battle for the Soul

Talking to someone this morning, the person was saying that today we wage a battle for the soul.  It is not the eyes or the hands that are being appropriated but the very soul of an individual, of a nation.

There were/are times when we face some sort of opposition from brute senseless forces. At other times there were/are some random acts of defiance or mud-slinging.  But we now see a change in the onslaught of accusations and the type of thinking that goes behind this sort of maligning.  It is a very subtle game plan with apparently nothing malicious or dangerous, yet a deeper and perceptive look will reveal the sinister plans involved.

Add to this very intelligent agenda of well educated individuals, the provocative interference of bullies.  Often the latter is merely instigated by the former.  The latter is too naive to see the difference and thereby thinks he or she is being a hero, a patriot, a true devotee, a genuine human being.  On the contrary, having given up all sense of reasoning and human understanding, he acts against the very tenets which he claims to uphold and protect.  

The Value of Patriotism

The other day we celebrated the Independence day in the school with a solemn march past, drill, a couple of interesting cultural programmes and of course, a string of talks and messages. During the staff evaluation that followed, I made an intervention: As educators we need to set imparting values as targets not success. Children are sharp and they are quick to grasp what our emphasis is on. They naturally and unconsciously pick up that. If our success indicators are smooth running of the programme, a grand show, a big round of applause... then they learn to work towards these. On the other hand, if my emphasis is on values and principles and more specially on children themselves, and if I am willing to sacrifice success for even one child, then they learn that people are more important than programmes. That I am esteemed more than an event.

On further reflection, I asked myself, what patriotic value did we impart to the children on the occasion of the independence day? That patriotism meant merely a day of celebration? Nothing before or nothing after? That they learnt a form of discipline, by way of standing in a straight line, marching to a beat, performing a particular exercise or dance... basically a discipline; yeah, that is true. But I ask again, is that all we educators are capable of imparting? I tried to view it from the child's mind: patriotism means honouring the national flag on August 15 – the rest of the year it is rotting in some cupboard pushed around in the corners. Patriotism means singing Vande Mataram and marching left-right-left – what about love of country or countrymen?

A Nation's Strength

Not gold, but only men, can make
A people great and strong
Men who for truth and honour's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep
Who dare while others fly -
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky. 

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A teenager's courage and patriotism

Last night, along with the participants of the Salesiana course, I watched the movie Sophie Scholl (German). Gosh, it was very touching. The movie (a true story) chronicles the last few days of a 21 year old German girl and her Brother, charged with the crime of being traitors during Hitler's regime in 1942. The acting is superb by the lead actress and the courage of a young lady and her love for her country is worth emulating. The faith dimension of this Protestant believer too is aptly portrayed. The movie ends showing her (along with the other two people) being guillotined.

As I watched this movie, the question that kept haunting me was this: Is there something for which I will stand up, even to the extent of giving up my life, as did Sophie for the good of her country? Last night itself I decided to show it to the Brothers and ask them the same question: Is there anything for which they will exhibit such courage as did this 21 year old girl? Are there values and principles for which we are ready to die?

(In the original photo, Sophie is in the middle and her brother, Hans is on her right; Christoph Probst, another one to be killed the same day for the same reasons, is on Sophie's left. Click here to read more about Sophie Scholl and the peaceful White Rose movement she was a member of as against the Nazi regime.)

Person or Principle

Yesterday as I prepared the schedule for today, the Republic Day, I inserted a quote of George William Curtis about patriotism. Here's the quote:

A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.

However, since then I am wondering which is right: What is my commitment to? A principle or a person? Both have their drawbacks as well as advantages for the same reasons. And so I'm wondering as to what or on whom should I lay the foundation of my life?

Salesians and Patriotism

Somehow as Salesians we often neglect one aspect of our educational system... perhaps Don Bosco himself never sufficiently emphasised or felt the need of highlighting this dimension of the educational process... that of patriotism. Though he did speak of 'Good Christians and honest citizens' it somehow never really inculcated any patriotic sense. Perhaps the political context of his times forced him to stay calm and away from anything to do with general welfare and national policies. Unfortunately we Salesians seem to have taken that very seriously and have altogether relegated 'our duty to the nation' to merely hoisting the flag on August 15 and a well corrected speech for the same. I would not shrink from my responsibility either ... I am one such Salesian!

Over the time if there is something that constantly shames me is this short song/video ... truly splendid in its portrayal of the need for every citizen to take the first step:

Another truly well made inspirational ad about patriotism is the following: