The Continuity & Unity of the Indian state

India has a very old civilization. There were contemporary civilizations in

other parts of the world, but all of them are now buried along with their

material remains. Indian civilization has showed excellent continuity till

today. India or Bharat – the name of the geographical entity north of the

Indian Ocean, got its recognition as a state right from the pre-vedic period.

Myriad kings ruled here, many kingdoms emerged and extinct. Many wars

happened. Yet a uniting force was keeping India together, assimilating

everything into its fold throughout the history. Individual efforts to form a

united kingdom by the rulers were sometimes superficial. That artificiality

eventually had to pay a heavy price when the subcontinent was cut into two

nations post independence. The vibrant society existing as the largest

democracy is an wonder. True are the words “The wonder that is India”.

The name India was used by the westerners to denote the area

beyond the river Indus. The Indus valley civilization flourished some two

thousand years before the current era. They had contacts with other

civilizations from then the name ‘India’ got a place in foreigners mind. It

became a sought after destination for trade attracted by its wealth, natural

resources and agricultural produces. In their desperation to find India via

sea routes many islands got the name as India. The islands off coast of

American mainland were named after India and later changed to West

Indies. They called the indigenous population of the American continent as

Indians and later changed to red Indians. Thus the name India got

recognition far and wide.

The consolidation of the land as a single state happened post the

Indus valley civilization by the legendary king Bharatha. His reign is called

‘bharathavarsha’. The name we Indians gave to our land ‘Bharat’ was after

this king. His kingdom encompassed the whole peninsular India, the

Northern plains, Kashmir and Pakistan. The stories of our epics Ramayana

and Mahabharatha happened in this period. The imprint left by then kings

and then culture in the Indian culture is very deep. Perhaps these epics are

the adhesives binding the numerous cultures together. The heroes of that

time Rama, Sita, Krishna, the Pandavas are the heroes even today. The

stories behind all our festivals traces back to this epic period. Not only that

these heroes are the gods of Hindus, but they are the links to tie all Indians

together. It is amazing that the story supposed to be happened in sixth

century BCE is still widely discussed, argued and criticized. Majority of Indian

literature developed afterwards have either visible or invisible links to these

epics. Many people interpreted it many ways –but still the core values

remain the same. Many people took the relatively unexplored but strong

characters in the story and made them the heroes of their creations. The

Bhagavat Gita, the essence of all the philosophies in a nutshell is still shown

to the outside world by the Indians proudly. Every Indian carries the sense

of belonging for this great works. Along with trade, Indian culture and the

epics also travelled to other countries. They also helped to get a unique

identification of the land of Bharata. If we go by the wisdom of the story, we

can see the scientific agricultural and artillery advancements that Indians

had in that age. The culture thrived to continue over the history but perhaps

it is only that scientific temperament we lost over time.

India was not ruled as a single entity throughout the history. Rather it was

fragmented for most of the time. The empires of Ashoka, the guptas and the

mughals covered the major portion of the subcontinent. In times of turmoil

and intense infightings, it is the geographical uniqueness that had held the

Indian state together. It is surrounded by Indian ocean on three sides in the

south. The mighty Himalaya is a barrier along its north west to north east

border. The Hindkush ranges forms the north western border. The

mountains and oceans effectively preserved the unity of the nation. The role

of Himalayas in uniting the nation is magnificent. The ruggedness and

mightiness of the ranges have shut all the cultural and territorial invasions

from the northern regions. Himalayas provide a distinct climate also. The

Hindkush ranges in the North West to south west is not as continuous and

inaccessible as the Himalayas. It is only through this gap that several

invasions happened. Roman & Greek empires had trade relations. Afghan

kings came and looted the treasure.  The Mughals came and made India

their home land. The most important invasion was that of the Aryans. These

emigrants settled along the Indus and slowly spread southwards and

eastwards covering the entire subcontinent. They gave a distinct dimension

to Indianism. They brought the vedic culture which became the inseparable

part of Indian culture. Even though Chinese culture was flourishing in the

north, except some intrusions along the Himalayas passes and the northeast

it did not trickled south to the Indian subcontinent. The relation isolation of

the north east India can also attributed to the Himalayas and its southern

extension as the poorvanchal. Usually the north east India was left out from

the dominions of the Indian Kings even the great Bharatan, Asokhan and

Mughal empire had left out this land. It was only the Guptas who had some

in-roots upto Kamarupa, the present Assam. The monsoon is a unique

climatic gift for India. Whether it is Apatanis of North East or Rajathanis of

North West, the tribals of central India or farmers of south India all will

eagerly wait for the arrival of monsoon every year. The rhythm of agriculture

in all regions is decided by the agriculture. Every Indian farmer is at the

mercy of the monsoon. The anxieties, the relief, the prayers of all peole are

common. The Himalayas play a major role in distributing the monsoon rains

over country. It ensures that all from its east to west receive rains. Barrier

has given India the distinct tropical monsoon climate not withstanding its

territorial extension over the tropical and subtropical regions.

Post Mauryan period, many foreign rulers invaded India from its North

West frontier. Many times their empire encompassed the areas of present

Afganisthan and beyond. Absence of a strong ruler divided the land among

many powers. Under the foreign rulers such as Kushanas, Satavahanas

Indians never felt being ruled by foreigners. They had freedom. Indian

people had accepted the tolerant foreign rulers.  They even Indianised them

giving Indian names and accumulating them to the existing caste structure.

These rulers encouraged the local arts, literature and culture. They brought

along with them their artisans and writers. Different style emerged and

flourished. The writers gave a vivid account of India their works were

translated into many languages and carried the fame of India worldwide.

Many Indian works were translated to other languages. From this

informations, the curious Europeans started expeditions to find this

beckoning land. Major portion of India was united again during the Gupta

age. It was a golden age for Indian art and literature. The unwritten

knowledge of generations were consolidated this time . The Epics, the Vedas

and the Upanishads were written. The Vedas are still regarded as the store

house of all ever known wisdom of the humans. The scientific achievements

that time are commendable. The yoga by Patanjali is the excellent work. The

Arthasatra is the text book for all the kings. The Abinjana sankunthalam is

the story of all people. The Ayurveda is still the basic treatment of all

Indians. The great works during this age is still today the binding force

among all Indians. The knowledge and authenticity of the works are

unchallenged till now and practiced even today. Still we are trading this

ancient knowledge to the outside world. Indianism got its unique nature and

character during this period. The Hinduism attained its modern form during

this period.

The contribution of the Hinduism as a uniting force is well acclaimed

Hinduism is a set of thoughts and practices evolved along with the history of

India. It evolve from the prehistoric nature worship, Harappan mother

goddess, vedic gods of Indra and agi , shavisim, vaishanivsm to include all

the tribal god and goddess in its fold. It gave a common religious form and

rules. Even Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism are also included in its vast

definition. It grew by taking, giving and sharing with all other regions that

come to India. The foreign religions adapted many customs and rituals from

the Hinduism and become Indian. This great power of assimilation is the

greatest strength of India to remain united with a myriad religions, cultures

and customs. The common festivals and common gods all over India is a

binding force. Himalayas is the abode of the god for all the Indians. The

Ganga is their holy river. The caste-structure is common all over India. The

caste system is so rigid that foreigners had more freedom to get assimilated,

than the Indians to move between the castes. This system divided Indians

among different social economic and occupational strata. Even though the

system preserved the horizontal unity all over India, the vertical

discrimination did harm to the social development. The lower strata termed

as untouchables are yet to be brought into the mainstream. Despite the

numerous policies and programmes of the government some sections of

people still facing difficulties to throwaway the shackles.

Muslims also made India their homeland during the Mughal reign. Even

as some Muslim invaders came looted India and returned, the Mughals saw

India as their own land. They never imposed new religion on their subjects

or curbed their freedom. After a period of political uncertainties, the Mughals

consolidated India to a single empire. Lot of cultural exchanges happened.

Mughal rulers had patronaged both Hindu and Muslim art and culture.

Hindusthani music, Mughal architecture, Hindusthani language evolved

during this period. Urdu, Persian got mingled with Indian languages. Apart

from the unfortunate incident of partition of India post independence,

Muslims never felt that India is an alien land . The Sufi movement tried

along with the Bhakti movement for a religious revival. Non-cooperation

movement and Khilafat movement fought together against the British.

The modern form of the unity of India got structured during the colonial

perod. The British east India company came here for trade and gradually

started territorial acquisitions. During the rule of lord Dalhousie, the major

portion the subcontinent came under British rule. India which was deeply

disintegrated after the fall of Mughal Empire got a territorial unity. But this

imposed unity was rather artificial because it was the greediness of the

colonialists that bought the vide area including Myamar and North West

province under single rule. First time the whole north east was integrated to

India. Later separate administrative units, boundaries were drawn as per the

convenience of the rulers. Thus the culturally and ethically connected

population was separated across the borders. The roots of secessionist

movement and insurgencies along the Indian Border States can be traced to

this un empathic marking of boundaries. In the name of administrative

convenience, British adopted divide and rule policy. The united Bengal was

divided on religious grounds into two. The seeds sown by this policy grew

into very large thorny bush and bleed India. But the repressive British rule

helped to unite the Indians. The idea of India as a single nation got into the

blood of every Indian. The social reformers tried to arise the people by

trying to revive the old glory of India. The cultural and religious renaissance

efforts emerged. all this gave India the sense of unity and urge to end the

foreign rule. The ideals of the struggle the non-violence, ahimsa and

satyragraha was drawn from our culture. On positive side the british rule

had helped to achieve an administrative unity. They introduce a common

legal system first railway line, telegraph, postal system, connecting language

and a framework for the government. Unlike other foreign rulers, British

never saw India as their homeland. They never patrone Indian arts or

culture. Other than the missionary work, they never tried for cultural

exchanges. Their sole motive was economic exploitation, the common anger

against the colonial rule brought forward people from all wakes of field - the

peasants, students, lawyers, soldiers, merchants into the national struggle

for freedom under the leadership of Gandhiji.

The post colonial India saw a great divide in the unity. The land was

divided among India and Pakistan. After a painful separation and massive

communal violence, India has emerged as a vibrant democracy. India saw

secessionist movements in Punjab, Kashmir and Nagaland. The economic

growth has helped to accumulate all. The land of extremes is united by a

common economy. The majority do subsistence agriculture. Cottage

industries the handicrafts and art works show a common nature all over

India. Service sector has become the largest. We are still trading our soft

skills as we did right from the prevedic times.

The topography, culture, society, economy, climate, religion are the

uniting forces of India. Almost all rulers ruled here have encouraged cultural

and religious assimilation. The underlying thread of unity connecting the

nuke corner of India runs very deep. The thread is both temporal and

spacial. The spacial connection gives all Indians the feeling that they are

part of one family.  The temporal connection runs through the history and

gives us the sense of belonging and ownership to our culture. The seemingly

unmentable cut in this weaves happened in 1947. The true Indian spirit still

hopes for the reunion of the parted relatives into a single state as existed

during the Bharatavarsha.

Memories

The memory tree is with its grand canopy,

Sprawled over even with a single trunk.

The boughs into branches and then into twigs

And finally into narrow stems it have grown.

Here each branch is each each experience

The foliage of memories spurts on them

As time passes they may fall off

but the imprints as branches are there forever.

They are growing in all the directions

Some are dead and some are dormant-

that spring again with a gentle touch.

Some are strong and some are weak

And some have fruits and blossoms!

I looked at my tree, standing some three feet away

I saw the buds, flower and fruits

and the spreading branches too.

A flattering voice appeared and disappeared -

I want to pluck some foliage

and remove it forever!

One moment I leaned back, gained strength

to hug the trunk with force and

shook it again hard and hard.

The pearls - the water drops that the leaves saved

from the last rain

fell all over me broken as tiny droplets

save even single leaf !

My wet face looked up the memories 

and they laughed at me;

We wont fall down how hard you try-

Thus said their smiling faces .

They are so strong now and ever not to fall 

I was exhausted and stood there

resting upon the trunk watching the leaves

that swung in the wind.

My legs didn't have the strength to hold

and I slipped down;

I sat there leaning on the tree unaware

when slipped to sleep.

All the memories together carried me to

many many wonderlands

That were unknown hitherto for me.

I wandered here and there

silently, until a sparrow chirruped at me

sitting on its branch .

What is there in a "sari" ?

Sari or the 5-6 metre length single piece of cloth is considered as the standard wear of women in India. Why our women are wearing this lengthy, cumbersome cloth even us our men shifted to the stitched pants and shirts? It is because the society tells them it is their attire. I will see this as a kind of social control. In many parts of India this attire is must for a married women and if she tries any thing new, it is looked down upon. 

One fact I am not able to apprehend is about on what basis our people is advocating sari? Surely it is not based on comfort. For physical work it is the most inconvienient wear. One may tell that it is the most suiting for a lady, she looks good in it etc. Its all about the look not the convenience. They may tell it is the most decent. But in my opinion sari is the most sexiest wear. It is the most exposing. The ground of advocating it on the basis of 'looking good' presents an chauvinist viewpoint.

There are schools which prescribes sari as mandatory wear for lady teachers. Why the same school allows the male teachers to come in pants and not make doti mandatory? The teachers standing before the adolescent students should always be conscious when she is wearing a sari which not a full covering attire. They can better opt for other garments and be confident while standing in front of the children. 

A similar case can be shown in 'parda'. The attire has in origin in Arab countries where the climatic conditions forces them to wear a full covering dress. We can see the men in these countries also in full covered attire. But they adopted the same dress for women in other countries where as the men cleverly shun it in other regions. Why women is not given freedom to select an attire suiting the climatic conditions?

Selecting a dress for their women by the society presents nothing but the control the society exercises over them. I am not finding any other logical basis for this imposition. They cry for women empowerment and freedom should start from the basic freedom of the personal choices to select the appropriate and convenient clothing.

Gandhiji and Environment

Mahatma Gandhi was a multifaceted leader who had his own ideas on different realms of nation building. Gandhiji’s view on development is as much important as his contribution to India’s freedom struggle. He held very authentic view on the sustainable development which has emerged as a hot topic in late 90’s. 

Gandhiji had told vividly the truth that there is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. He foresaw the damage that would happen to the earth, if India, having almost one fifth of world’s population, also adopts the path of reckless industrialization as the western world did. Even though the western countries represent a small portion of the world, their avaricious exploitation of natural resources all over the world and the indifference towards environmental health brought unrecoverable damages to the ecosystem of which the consequences the whole world is facing now in the form of global warming and climatic changes.  He advocated cottage and small industries in lieu of the huge industrial establishments which are polluting our environment. Japan, the country which had industrialized fast, had seen the pros and cons of the industrialization, is now going back to square one, i.e. to the small industries. The 21st century Japanese model of economic development envisages local development by utilizing local resources. Thus the communities can be self sufficient. This is the same model of growth that Gandhiji advocated. The self sufficient community need not depend on others even for their electricity needs. India also planning to construct small hydro electric projects that are better than the huge ones which are submerging acres of land and uprooting thousands of people.  Already a village in Ladakh has shown the path by becoming self sufficient in power generation. Local power generation also helps in more utilization of renewable energy resources. 

 Gandhiji had identified science without humanity as one of the seven sins. He did not recognise the separation of ethics from economics. This shows the importance he had given to values. He saw all entities of the earth also in empathy and called for a humane approach to them. His view was that what we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another. This thoughts are more relevant in contemporary world where lose of ethics is creating threats.

Gandhiji’s idea is that power is to be exercised from the grass root level. Even though our constitution did not share power with the base level initially, later amendment was done to include this. Empowering local authority helps in sustainable development on account of realizing and utilizing the potential of each unit. For instance, the forest resources are better conserved by the tribal people. Corruption in governance also could have been avoided to a large extent if the decision making authority was vested with the lowest level. Even the disaster management can be well laid on the shoulders of local government which will be more effective. 

Gandhiji has opposed the export/import economy. If the nation is utilizing its natural resources effectively – from exploration to processing and consumption in the nation itself, huge volume of international trade can be avoided. Just imagine the fuel saving in transportation of raw material from the source to the industrial hub and back to the places of consumption. Thus the nation can be self sufficient and the current problems of trade deficient and current account deficit would not have surfaced.

The Gandhian approach has precise solutions to the environmental and economic problems that we are facing now. If implemented, it would have plucked away the crisis in the budding stage itself.

A Belated Sorry

It was one fine morning in college. I was strolling towards my class avoiding the gazes around, for the fear of ragging. Suddendly I heard somebody calling my name from behind. A moment both of astonishment and fear grappled me. I didn’t look back. Again I heard my name and voice was coiming nearer. I turned back.

 “Do you remember be?” asked that voice. 

The girl having soda bottle glasses. Yes I remember- Haritha. 

 I was in 9th standard. That day I was in town government school representing my school for a literature quiz. But when the program started, I came to know that it was meant to be a team event ;and we two lone persons made an intra school team and won the quiz. Next stage was the state level competition. The forth coming event was to be held in another district. I was disappointed and was sure my father won't take me that far to participate in a literature quiz that can't do any obivious help to my studies. The economic situation also wont allow him to spare his leave and to bear the expenscan't the journey. But I wanted to go. we were asked to confirm the participation. I could not leave the opportunity. I gave an yes. As expected, situation at home was not in favour of me going to the competition. I cried, pleaded - no way. I didn't call and inform the co ordinators my inconvience. I waited for any miracle to happen. The date was hardly a week away. One misfortune happened in my family. My uncle passed away. The untimely death plunged the whole family into deep sorrow. Days ended up in mournings. Cremation ceremonies were going on and I had a visitor. All the senior men folk of the family were present when I went to the courtyard. There stood an old fragile man in a faded white dothi and similar shirt. It was Haritha's father.

"The competition is only two days away.Are you not participating? My daughter is in 10th class. It is her last chance. If you cant come, she can't participate." He was pleading. I also wanted to go. I looked at my father in hope. He was explaining the situation, "The deceased man's daughter has also some event now how can I send my daughter?" Again despair. 

That old man was not looking more wealthy than us. He was weak. But his desire to make his daughter participate was at highs which have driven him to reach that far in search of my home. He pleaded again. No positive reply from father and relatives. He returned in despair. Sadness rushed to me. I too went back to room hiding my tears.

 Now she is here infront of me as my senior. And these words slipped from my tounge “I am sorry ”

The Asuras and The Devas

When you chant hymns praising the God as destroyer of Mahishasura or other Asuras, have you ever wondered who are the Devas and the Asuras? We will have to go back in timeline to find the answers.

It was during 2000- 1000 BCE that the Aryans came to settle in India. They pushed the original population to further south and east to settle in the land. Then the Vedic era started. Their kings become heroes of the epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The Aryans were described as Devas and their enemies as Asuras.   They popularized the Gods worshiped in Hinduism and absorbed the local gods into its straggled arena in course of time.  Thus lords Muruga , Ayyappa were accommodated to the array of Vedic Gods  . Some Asura rajas such as Mahabali and Kubera were so noble that even the writers could not help themselves from mentioning them .The fairer and cuter cows they bought along with them got superior place over the black and beastly buffalos. Thus the buffalo king “Mahishasura” undoubtedly represent the original population in India. It really pricks to think that the demons mentioned in our prayer songs were the unsung heroes who resisted the invaders!!!

Why Indian Society Can’t Prefer Girl Child

The skewed child sex ratio of India shows the preference given to the boy child by the society. Why the society can’t prefer girl child?

The most expected answer will be the menace - Dowry. It is a major reason but not the only reason. The perspective changes with different communities.

 For poor families money matters the most. Some will be driven to debt trap after their daughter/s marriage. And the financial woes are not ending there. Expenses will be mounting on the girl parents for after marriage events such as child birth. This system is in its pinnacle in some communities in Tamilnadu, the girl’s family has to provide everything for settling the new family after marriage. The rituals are congruous with the festivals to supply the furniture, gold, money etc to the son-in-law’s household. So having a girl child means embracing never ending commitments. This frustration can be seen from the selective infanticide prevailing in the state.

For rural farmer families in Andra, financial matters won’t pester much for having girl child, in fact they will keep a many times the fortune that  they are giving for daughter,  for sons. It is the social customs rendering girls non desirable. After marriage girls will be part of her husband’s family, even her clan changes. Sons will take care of their parents in old age. Not having male offspring means old age insecure. Sons will carry the family legacy; they will do to ceremonies for forefathers, so that after life will be peaceful. The concept of taking care of afterlife compromising comforts of the present world seems to be irony. For the farmer families, where the whole family contributes in farm work, man power is very important. Having son, they will get the service of daughter-in-laws also. Same time the girl’s parents get the additional job of taking care of her during pregnancy, child care etc which demands absence from farm work, which can invariably create dents in the income. Thus people having daughters are losers.

Even though the present real life status shows sons abandoning their parents at old age or parents are living with daughters at old age, the social mentality has not changed in favour of neutral position. For decimating the social phantom, the choice of residence of couple after marriage should be made optional in lieu of the mandate that they should be in husband’s home.

The matrilineal family system in some communities in Kerala, major share of wealth is transferred to the females. But this system engulfed by dowry system. Instead of being a voluntary transfer, it has changed into demanded one by the bridegroom’s family. In such families, having sister means added responsibility and loss of wealth for the brother, and they expect compensation for this loss from the family of their fiancees. Thus boy brings fortunes and meanwhile girls take away it. Investment on education for girl child is seen as an investment which gives no returns.

Widows are seen as a burden to society. They are not included in any auspicious occasions. Do society do like this to the widower? Why we are having large proportion of widows than widowers? First of all widow remarriage is not encouraged. Huge inter spousal age difference is another reason. Given the fact that average life expectancy of women is more than man, at the time of marriage girls should be of higher age, so that the couple can have a long married life. Why society demands otherwise and pushes majority of women to solitude in their late ages?

Thus we can see that all the rules made are pro male. The patriarchal family system which gives undue importance to the male folk has to be blamed.  The society has made women ignorant and dependent by denying them education, opportunities, employment and self development. In course of time when they become ignorant and dependent, they are subjected to offense for not knowing anything and   capability to do anything. This stereotyping further deteriorated their situation and concealed the abilities. The inequality is comparatively less in the lower class families where both participate in economic activities. The social taboo prevents the women from upper class doing work outside. So they got imprisoned in their homes totally subjecting to the male members. The society failed to provide education or self employment to them. Our culture views women as source of impurity, evil and sin. The old literature claims women inferior to men. Manu says women do not deserve freedom. Even the widely applauded Gita says girl children are born to sinned mothers. This set of thoughts is imprinted in the mind of every Indian. Women feel proud to be mother of a son; but not of a daughter. Being a daughter’s mother she has to endure humiliation and sympathy from the public.  Women folk bear the blame for everything – for any ill fates happening in family, misbehavior of children, and even for giving birth to girls. They are blamed to be covetous for ornaments and dresses and for being beauty conscious; but the fact is men folk likes to see them ornamented and well dressed. Media also have pro male lineage. Movies stereotypes women. They show parents of girl child to be vulnerable. They have to abstain from duties as responsible officer in fear of assault of their daughters by the antisocial elements. In other hand they show sons adding to their father’s glory.

Actually men bring misfortune to the family by the vice of alcoholism. This drives family into debt and pandemonium. There women strive hard to keep the family going at the same time bears abuses from the drunkard. The voice of such ill-fated women are unheard by the society.