Reaching There

#6431truth, #FreeKashmir, #BlackLivesMatter,  #FightForHongKong, #FreePalestine It's quite possible that you have knowingly, within a blink of eye, 'retweeted' or published such hashtags on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. I am guilty too, yes 'guilty' because it's part of symptom called lazy activism.  Isn't activism the trait of a morally conscious human being? Unless you care about your something, how else will it get any better, right? The answer is yes and yes. But, too many of us are prone to lazy activism. We're quick to share the hashtags and change our profile pictures with superficial opinions we've created on the spur of the moment or based on stereotypes.  Since I too have suffered from the same, I'm tried to understand some of the symptoms from my past behavior as well as from what's available from external sources like news, essays etc. Disclaimer: Being an Asian, my viewpoints...

I recently read an article by Sadanand Dhume in WSJ titled ' Hindu Supremacism Turns Deadly in Delhi '. I was not surprised by the blatant one-sidedness of the so-called opinion as well as the lack of the likes of WSF, NY Times, Washington Post, etc. to even include any disclaimer or even reach out to discuss the other aspect of the debate. After all, if the opinion of an individual is published in a news media the audience should be entitled to balanced information filled with detailed facts, not personal interpretations. Here are examples from the article which is an unashamed manner promoting the entire episode of violence as Hindu Supremacism.  Example 1: The article states that in the Delhi riots most of the killed are Muslim. It shamelessly tries to portray this as an anti-Muslim or a pogrom as Pakistani prime minister likes to call it. Yet it fails to mention that it was, in fact, a riot where both Muslim and Hindu community lost civilians. It fails to mentio...

Democracy thrives on the debate is a universal thought that has been the corner thought of modern democratic nations. The US presidential debates can, in fact, make or break a political career. Although these presidential debates tend to be popularity contest with moments of quips that a large audience will remember until they vote.  However, the importance of debate has been there from the ancient times; whether it was the 'Shashtrartha' ( शास्त्रार्थ) of ancient India where scholars debated each other on an extensive range of philosophical or religious topics. Our Vedas, Upanishads, and Darshans are the epitome of debates and conversations.  If you want to get a feel of such debates in Ancient India I would highly recommend an episode from TV series Upanishad Ganga where they have dramatized the debate between Ashtavakra, who was a Vedic sage, and Acharya Vandi, who was one of the primary scholars in King Janaka's court. You can see the episode here . While rese...

There were young men who gave up their lives for the idea of home-rule (Swarajya) for India. One such hero was Madan Lal Dhingra. His letter and statement to Scotland Yard & court will give every Indian goosebump. The second part of his statement that Scotland Yard tried to prevent from getting published, and yet it found its way in the Daily News in London as 'Challenge'. His words were a call against the occupying forces of British imperialism that were squeezing the 'golden bird'. Although the times of the colonial days in India are long gone yet his words will echo for centuries, giving a glimpse into his short but courageous life. Madan Lal Dhingra Here are his words on 10th July 1909 in front of the judge at his trial for his assassination of Sir Wyllie: I do not want to say anything in defence of myself, but simply to prove the justice of my deed. As for myself, no English law court has got any authority to arrest and detain me in prison or pass...