Why there should be job reservation
Look at this guy now! Man, are these people for real ? I can understand the case of genuinely under-privileged people. Dalits in India who would get reservations in the job sector will already have been given enough pampering throughout their educational careers in the form of reservations.
The government encourages them to slack off by lowering the barriers for entry everywhere. The author's argument of the Dalits having 'more fire in their belly' and hence becoming better workers does not hold water. If somebody has been made to slack off their whole life, why would they suddenly start working even when the job they get is through reservation ?
I agree that Dalits have been downtrodden for a long time. But there are other economically backward classes of society who through luck or ill-luck, have been born in 'higher' castes. The economically backward people will have more fire in their belly than lower-caste people who are rich and have benefited through reservation their whole lives.
I would even say that the government is conspiring against the Dalits by giving all these sops to them. When a class of people becomes complacent, they will not thrive in society and will be destroyed very soon.
When will right thinking prevail ?
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Rs 1-lakh car in 3 years: Ratan Tata
Rs 1-lakh car in 3 years: Ratan Tata
This is definitely interesting news. This will set off a car revolution in India. Three years down the line, one lakh will be of even lesser worth. I don't know if Tata will be able to do this. But I would definitely like to see my countrymen drive around in cars.
Interestingly, Maruti and Hyundai have expressed skepticism at this proposal. If this comes through and the other companies don't, then they will be in for a very tough ride.
I personally would like a low fuel consumption or better still an electric vehicle that can travel for longer distances than the current Reva. I like the idea of the Reva and I'll probably buy one too, but I cannot travel freely. The thought of recharging for 6 continuous hours in electricity-cut-prone Bangalore is not a very good one. And what is the point of having an electric car when you cannot travel in it and use other regular cars instead ?
This is definitely interesting news. This will set off a car revolution in India. Three years down the line, one lakh will be of even lesser worth. I don't know if Tata will be able to do this. But I would definitely like to see my countrymen drive around in cars.
Interestingly, Maruti and Hyundai have expressed skepticism at this proposal. If this comes through and the other companies don't, then they will be in for a very tough ride.
I personally would like a low fuel consumption or better still an electric vehicle that can travel for longer distances than the current Reva. I like the idea of the Reva and I'll probably buy one too, but I cannot travel freely. The thought of recharging for 6 continuous hours in electricity-cut-prone Bangalore is not a very good one. And what is the point of having an electric car when you cannot travel in it and use other regular cars instead ?
Monday, June 28, 2004
नूतनः यत्नः मम
जयतु संस्कृतं । इदं मम नूतनब्लाग् अस्ति । कन्नडभाषया ह्यः लिखितं मया । अद्य तु संस्कृतेन लिख्यते । 'बरह' इति तन्त्रांशः (software) अस्ति | तन्त्रांशस्य साहाय्येनैव लिखन्नस्मि । एतत् प्रायः विश्वे एव प्रथमं संस्कृतब्लाग् स्यात् । इदानीं ब्लाग् इति नाम्ना एव व्यवह्रियते मया । परन्तु शीघ्रातिशीघ्रं नूतननामान्वेषणं करणीयं अस्माभिः ।
त्रिभाषा-ब्लाग् अस्त्येतत् । सर्वान् दर्शयिष्यामि । जानीमः कथमस्तीति ।
जीयात् गीर्वाणभारती ।
त्रिभाषा-ब्लाग् अस्त्येतत् । सर्वान् दर्शयिष्यामि । जानीमः कथमस्तीति ।
जीयात् गीर्वाणभारती ।
Sunday, June 27, 2004
ವೈಚಾರಿಕತೆ ! ಯಾವ ವೈಚಾರಿಕತೆ ?
ನಿನ್ನೆ ನಾನು ಒಬ್ಬರ ಭಾಷಣವನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಸ್ಥೂಲಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಸಲು ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಭಾಷಣವದು. ಭಾಷಣಾಕಾರರು ತಿಳಿದವರು. ಕನ್ನಡಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಆಮೂಲಾಗ್ರವಾಗಿ ಅಭ್ಯಸಿಸಿ ಕೃಷಿ ಮಾಡಿದಂಥವರು. ಮಾತೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಭಾಷಣದ ನಂತರ ಅವರೊಡನೆ ಮಾತಾಡುವಾಗ ಅವರು ಹೇಳಿದ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಹೀಗಿತ್ತು. ಅವರ ಪ್ರಕಾರ - 'ಮಾನವನು ಪೂರ್ಣ ವೈಚಾರಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಮೊರೆಹೊಕ್ಕರೆ ಅವನು ಕಾಣುವುದು ನಾಸ್ತಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು'. ಅವರು ಸಮರ್ಥಿಸಿದ್ದು ಚಾರ್ವಾಕರನ್ನು ಲೋಕಾಯತರನ್ನು. ಅದನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ನಾನು ಚಕಿತನಾದೆ. ವಿಚಾರಮಾಡಿದರೆ ನಾಸ್ತಿಕರಾಗುವರೆ ? ನಾನೊಬ್ಬ ವಿಚಾರವಂತನೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೆ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಇವರ ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಚಾರವಂತನಾಗದೆ ಇರಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಮೇಲ್ನೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಒಳಗೆ ನೋಡಿದರೂ ಸಹ ನಾಸ್ತಿಕತೆಯೇ ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ಉತರವಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ.
ನಾಸ್ತಿಕನೆಂದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ನಮಗಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಶಕ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು. ಕೇವಲ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದಲ್ಲ, ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ (ನಾಸ್ತಿ) ಎಂದು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದು. ಎಷ್ಟರ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಇದು ಸಮಂಜಸ ಎಂದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಲೋಕಾಯತ ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಂಬುವಂಥ ದರ್ಶನ. ಅನುಮಾನವನ್ನು ಸಹ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಗ್ನಿ, ಪೃಥ್ವಿ, ವಾಯು ಮತ್ತು ಜಲ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನದಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಜೀವವು ಅಥವಾ ದೇಹವು ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಯಾ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಲೀನವಾಗಿಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ದೇಹಾತಿರಿಕ್ತವಾದ ಜೀವವಿಲ್ಲ. ದೇಹಾಂತ್ಯದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಜೀವಾಂತ್ಯ. ಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಗಳನ್ನು ದೇವರನ್ನು ಅತೀಂದ್ರಿಯಶಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬದ ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಪಾಪಪುಣ್ಯಗಳನ್ನೂ ನಂಬುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಋಣಂ ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಘೃತಂ ಪಿಬೇತ್ ಎಂಬುದು ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತದ ಸಾರ. ಹೇಗೇ ಇರಲಿ ದೈಹಿಕ ಸುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವುದೇ ಜೀವನದ ಪರಮ ಗುರಿ. ಅರ್ಥಕಾಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಂಬುತ್ತದೆ ಈ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತ.
ಈ ಸಿಧ್ಡಾಂತದ ಉದಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಿರಲೇಬೇಕು. ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಂಧತೆ ಹರಡಿ ದೇವರು ಹಾಗೂ ಧರ್ಮದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆ ನಡೆದಾಗ ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕವಾದ ದಂಗೆಯಂತೆ ಎದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ. ಆದರೆ ಜನಪ್ರೀತಿ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಿತೆಂದು ಮರೆಯಬಾರದು. ಈ ಸಿದ್ಢಾಂತವು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದರ್ಶನಗಳ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾನವನ ಪರಮಸುಖವನ್ನೇ ತನ್ನ ಗುರಿಯಾಗಿರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ತತ್ತ್ವೋಪಪ್ಲವಸಿಂಹ ಎಂಬ ಜಯರಾಶಿಭಟ್ಟ ವಿರಚಿತ ಗ್ರಂಥವು ಈ ದರ್ಶನದ ಉದ್ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದು. ಈ ದರ್ಶನವನ್ನು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ದರ್ಶನಕಾರರು ಖಂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆಯಾ ದರ್ಶನಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಸಹಮತ ಇರದಿರುವಿಕೆಯೊಂದೇ ಕಾರಣವಲ್ಲ. ಸಮಾಜವೊಂದರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಮಾನವನು ತನಗಿಂತ ಹಿರಿದಾದ ಒಂದನ್ನು ನಂಬಲೇಬೇಕು. ಅದು ದೇವರೇ ಇರಬೇಕೆಂಬುದೇನಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಮಾಜವಿರಬಹುದು ಅಥವಾ ದೇಶವಿರಬಹುದು. ತನಗಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡದಿದ್ದರೆ ಸಾಕು. ಇದು ಚಾರ್ವಾಕಪಂಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜಾಶ್ರಯ ದೊರೆಯದೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ನಶಿಸಿಹೋಗಿರಬೇಕು.
ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವನ್ನೇ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನಾಗಿ ನಂಬುವ ಈ ಪಂಥ ಅನುಮಾನ ಮುಂತಾದ ಬೇರೆ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸದೆ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಿರೂಪಿಸದೇ ಹೋಗಿ, ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಅಪೂರ್ಣವೆನಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂದು ನೋಡೋಣ. ಭೂಮಿಯು ಸೂರ್ಯನನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ವಿಷಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳೋಣ. ಅನುಮಾನವೆಂಬ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಿರದ ಹೊರತು ಈ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಿ ಹಲವು ಉಪಯೋಗಿ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾನವ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಸಮರ್ಥನಾಗಿರುವನು. ಉಪಗ್ರಹಗಳನ್ನು ಗಗನದೆಡೆ ಹಾರಿಸಿ ಅವುಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸುವನು. ಅನುಮಾನವನ್ನು ನಂಬದೆ ಈ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಭೌತಿಕಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟಂಥ ಈ ವಿಷಯದ ವರ್ಣನೆಗೆ ಎಡೆಗೊಡದಿರುವ ಈ ಪಂಥ ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳಿಗೂ ಎಟುಕದ ಆತ್ಮ, ಪರಮಾತ್ಮರ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾದರೂ ಹೇಗಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ? ಇಷ್ಟು ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಮಾಡದೆ ಇರುವವರು ವಿಚಾರವಂತರೆ ? ದೇವರು ಅಜ್ಞೇಯ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ಒಪ್ಪಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಖಡಾಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದೆ ಎಂದು ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸದವರು ಹೇಳಲು ಕಷ್ಟ.
ಧರ್ಮದ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ಅದರಿಂದಲೇ ಮಾರ್ಕ್ಸನು 'religion is the opium of the masses' ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿರಬೇಕು. ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಡವಾದ ವಿಚಾರ ಧರ್ಮವಿಚಾರ. ಒಣಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವೇದಾಂತ ಎಂದೂ ಸಲ್ಲದು ಎಂದು ಶ್ರೀರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣಪರಮಹಂಸರೂ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಇದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಮನಗಾಣಲೇಬೇಕು. ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಹಿಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಧರ್ಮದ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋರಾಡಲು ಹೋಗುವುದು ಯಾವ ವಿವೇಕದ ಮಾತು ? ಊಟ,ವಸತಿ, ವಸನ ಮುಂತಾದ ಅತ್ಯವಶ್ಯಕ ವಸ್ತುಗಳು ದೊರೆತ ನಂತರವೇ ಮನುಷ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಬೇರೆಯ ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಚಾರಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಧರ್ಮದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರನ್ನು ಎಳೆದಾಡಿ ಗೋಳಾಡಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧಾವಾಗೆದ್ದ ಪಂಥ ಚಾರ್ವಾಕ ಪಂಥ.
ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರ ಬಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವು. ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಹಾಗೆ ಅವರ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಗಳಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದು ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಬಾಳ್ವೆ ನಡೆಸಲು ಬಿಡದ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳು ಮನುಷ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಹಾನಿಕಾರಕವೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೆ. No man is an island ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿದ ವಿಷಯವೇ. ಹಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ 'ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬಾಳುವ ತೆರದಲಿ ಹರಸು' ವ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳು ನಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವು. ಚಾರ್ವಾಕ ಪಂಥವು ಒಂದು ಕುತೂಹಲಕ್ಕೋಸ್ಕರ ತಿಳಿಯಬಹುದಾದ ದರ್ಶನ. ಆದರೆ ಉತ್ತಮ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಡೆಗೊಡುವ ದರ್ಶನವಲ್ಲ.
ವಿಚಾರಶಕ್ತಿ ಒಬ್ಬರ ಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನವಲಂಬಿಸಿದ್ದು. ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡುವವರ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನವಲಂಬಿಸಿದ್ದು. ಶತಪ್ರತಿಶತ ವಿಚಾರವಾದಿ ಎನ್ನುವರು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗಂದುಕೊಂಡವರು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ತಾವೇ ಮೋಸಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಶಯವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ! 'ನಾನೇ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗಿಂತ ವಿಚಾರವಂತ' ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುವವನು ಅಸಲು ವಿಚಾರವಂತನಲ್ಲ. ವಿಚಾರ ಎಲ್ಲರಲ್ಲೂ ನಾಸ್ತಿಕ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರ್ಯವಸಾನಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಸ್ತಿಕ್ಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಅಲ್ಲ! ವಿಚಾರವು ಸೋಪಾನವಾದರೂ ಅದೇ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಪರಮಾರ್ಥಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊಂಡುಯ್ಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ! ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಪರಮಾರ್ಥವು ಕೇವಲ ವಿಚಾರದಿಂದ ದೊರೆಯುವುದಲ್ಲ!
ನಾಸ್ತಿಕನೆಂದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ನಮಗಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಶಕ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು. ಕೇವಲ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದಲ್ಲ, ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ (ನಾಸ್ತಿ) ಎಂದು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದು. ಎಷ್ಟರ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಇದು ಸಮಂಜಸ ಎಂದು ವಿಚಾರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಲೋಕಾಯತ ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಂಬುವಂಥ ದರ್ಶನ. ಅನುಮಾನವನ್ನು ಸಹ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಗ್ನಿ, ಪೃಥ್ವಿ, ವಾಯು ಮತ್ತು ಜಲ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನದಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಜೀವವು ಅಥವಾ ದೇಹವು ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಯಾ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಲೀನವಾಗಿಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ದೇಹಾತಿರಿಕ್ತವಾದ ಜೀವವಿಲ್ಲ. ದೇಹಾಂತ್ಯದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಜೀವಾಂತ್ಯ. ಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಗಳನ್ನು ದೇವರನ್ನು ಅತೀಂದ್ರಿಯಶಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬದ ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಪಾಪಪುಣ್ಯಗಳನ್ನೂ ನಂಬುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಋಣಂ ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಘೃತಂ ಪಿಬೇತ್ ಎಂಬುದು ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತದ ಸಾರ. ಹೇಗೇ ಇರಲಿ ದೈಹಿಕ ಸುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವುದೇ ಜೀವನದ ಪರಮ ಗುರಿ. ಅರ್ಥಕಾಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಂಬುತ್ತದೆ ಈ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತ.
ಈ ಸಿಧ್ಡಾಂತದ ಉದಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಿರಲೇಬೇಕು. ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಂಧತೆ ಹರಡಿ ದೇವರು ಹಾಗೂ ಧರ್ಮದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆ ನಡೆದಾಗ ಸ್ವಾಭಾವಿಕವಾದ ದಂಗೆಯಂತೆ ಎದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ. ಆದರೆ ಜನಪ್ರೀತಿ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಿತೆಂದು ಮರೆಯಬಾರದು. ಈ ಸಿದ್ಢಾಂತವು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದರ್ಶನಗಳ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾನವನ ಪರಮಸುಖವನ್ನೇ ತನ್ನ ಗುರಿಯಾಗಿರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ತತ್ತ್ವೋಪಪ್ಲವಸಿಂಹ ಎಂಬ ಜಯರಾಶಿಭಟ್ಟ ವಿರಚಿತ ಗ್ರಂಥವು ಈ ದರ್ಶನದ ಉದ್ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದು. ಈ ದರ್ಶನವನ್ನು ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ದರ್ಶನಕಾರರು ಖಂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆಯಾ ದರ್ಶನಗಳ ಜೊತೆ ಸಹಮತ ಇರದಿರುವಿಕೆಯೊಂದೇ ಕಾರಣವಲ್ಲ. ಸಮಾಜವೊಂದರ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಮಾನವನು ತನಗಿಂತ ಹಿರಿದಾದ ಒಂದನ್ನು ನಂಬಲೇಬೇಕು. ಅದು ದೇವರೇ ಇರಬೇಕೆಂಬುದೇನಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಮಾಜವಿರಬಹುದು ಅಥವಾ ದೇಶವಿರಬಹುದು. ತನಗಿಂತ ದೊಡ್ಡದಿದ್ದರೆ ಸಾಕು. ಇದು ಚಾರ್ವಾಕಪಂಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜಾಶ್ರಯ ದೊರೆಯದೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕ್ರಮೇಣ ನಶಿಸಿಹೋಗಿರಬೇಕು.
ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವನ್ನೇ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನಾಗಿ ನಂಬುವ ಈ ಪಂಥ ಅನುಮಾನ ಮುಂತಾದ ಬೇರೆ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸದೆ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ನಿರೂಪಿಸದೇ ಹೋಗಿ, ಈ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ ಅಪೂರ್ಣವೆನಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೇಗೆ ಎಂದು ನೋಡೋಣ. ಭೂಮಿಯು ಸೂರ್ಯನನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ವಿಷಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳೋಣ. ಅನುಮಾನವೆಂಬ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಿರದ ಹೊರತು ಈ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಿ ಹಲವು ಉಪಯೋಗಿ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾನವ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಸಮರ್ಥನಾಗಿರುವನು. ಉಪಗ್ರಹಗಳನ್ನು ಗಗನದೆಡೆ ಹಾರಿಸಿ ಅವುಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸುವನು. ಅನುಮಾನವನ್ನು ನಂಬದೆ ಈ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಭೌತಿಕಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟಂಥ ಈ ವಿಷಯದ ವರ್ಣನೆಗೆ ಎಡೆಗೊಡದಿರುವ ಈ ಪಂಥ ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳಿಗೂ ಎಟುಕದ ಆತ್ಮ, ಪರಮಾತ್ಮರ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾದರೂ ಹೇಗಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ? ಇಷ್ಟು ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಮಾಡದೆ ಇರುವವರು ವಿಚಾರವಂತರೆ ? ದೇವರು ಅಜ್ಞೇಯ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರೆ ಒಪ್ಪಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಖಡಾಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದೆ ಎಂದು ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಗ್ರಹಿಸದವರು ಹೇಳಲು ಕಷ್ಟ.
ಧರ್ಮದ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ಅದರಿಂದಲೇ ಮಾರ್ಕ್ಸನು 'religion is the opium of the masses' ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿರಬೇಕು. ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಡವಾದ ವಿಚಾರ ಧರ್ಮವಿಚಾರ. ಒಣಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವೇದಾಂತ ಎಂದೂ ಸಲ್ಲದು ಎಂದು ಶ್ರೀರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣಪರಮಹಂಸರೂ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಇದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಮನಗಾಣಲೇಬೇಕು. ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಹಿಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಧರ್ಮದ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋರಾಡಲು ಹೋಗುವುದು ಯಾವ ವಿವೇಕದ ಮಾತು ? ಊಟ,ವಸತಿ, ವಸನ ಮುಂತಾದ ಅತ್ಯವಶ್ಯಕ ವಸ್ತುಗಳು ದೊರೆತ ನಂತರವೇ ಮನುಷ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಬೇರೆಯ ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಚಾರಮಾಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಧರ್ಮದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರನ್ನು ಎಳೆದಾಡಿ ಗೋಳಾಡಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧಾವಾಗೆದ್ದ ಪಂಥ ಚಾರ್ವಾಕ ಪಂಥ.
ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರ ಬಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವು. ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಹಾಗೆ ಅವರ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಗಳಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಒಂದು ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಬಾಳ್ವೆ ನಡೆಸಲು ಬಿಡದ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳು ಮನುಷ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಹಾನಿಕಾರಕವೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ಭಾವನೆ. No man is an island ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿದ ವಿಷಯವೇ. ಹಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ 'ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬಾಳುವ ತೆರದಲಿ ಹರಸು' ವ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಗಳು ನಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದವು. ಚಾರ್ವಾಕ ಪಂಥವು ಒಂದು ಕುತೂಹಲಕ್ಕೋಸ್ಕರ ತಿಳಿಯಬಹುದಾದ ದರ್ಶನ. ಆದರೆ ಉತ್ತಮ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ಎಡೆಗೊಡುವ ದರ್ಶನವಲ್ಲ.
ವಿಚಾರಶಕ್ತಿ ಒಬ್ಬರ ಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನವಲಂಬಿಸಿದ್ದು. ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡುವವರ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನವಲಂಬಿಸಿದ್ದು. ಶತಪ್ರತಿಶತ ವಿಚಾರವಾದಿ ಎನ್ನುವರು ಯಾರೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗಂದುಕೊಂಡವರು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ತಾವೇ ಮೋಸಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಶಯವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ! 'ನಾನೇ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗಿಂತ ವಿಚಾರವಂತ' ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯುವವನು ಅಸಲು ವಿಚಾರವಂತನಲ್ಲ. ವಿಚಾರ ಎಲ್ಲರಲ್ಲೂ ನಾಸ್ತಿಕ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರ್ಯವಸಾನಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಸ್ತಿಕ್ಯದಲ್ಲೂ ಅಲ್ಲ! ವಿಚಾರವು ಸೋಪಾನವಾದರೂ ಅದೇ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಪರಮಾರ್ಥಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊಂಡುಯ್ಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ! ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಪರಮಾರ್ಥವು ಕೇವಲ ವಿಚಾರದಿಂದ ದೊರೆಯುವುದಲ್ಲ!
ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್!!
ಗಜಾನನಂ ಭೂತಗಣಾದಿಸೇವಿತಂ ಕಪಿತ್ಥಜಂಬೂಫಲಸಾರಭಕ್ಷಣಮ್ |
ಉಮಾಸುತಂ ಶೋಕವಿನಾಶಕಾರಣಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ವಿಘ್ನೇಶ್ವರಪಾದಪಂಕಜಮ್ ||
ಇದು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಇರಬಹುದು ! ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಆಸೆಯಿದ್ದಿತು. ಬರಹ ೫.೦ ರಿಂದ ಇದು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಶೇಷಾದ್ರಿವಾಸು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆ ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಸಾಲದು.
ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ. ಗಣೇಶನ ಹೆಸರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಸಫಲವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರುವುದೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ನಂಬಿಕೆ.
ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ನೀಲಗ್ರೀವ ಎಂದು. ನೀಲಗ್ರೀವನೆಂದರೆ ನೀಲಃ ಗ್ರೀವಃ ಯಸ್ಯ ಸಃ ಎಂದು. ನೀಲವರ್ಣದ ಕಂಠವುಳ್ಳವನು ಎಂದು ಈ ಪದದ ಅರ್ಥ. ಮಹಾದೇವ ರುದ್ರನೆಂದರ್ಥ. ಇದರ ಮೇಲಿನ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನವನ್ನು ನಂತರ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸುವೆನು. ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ (ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾನ ಪದವನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಾಕಬೇಕು)ಅನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವೆನು.
ಇದು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಜಾಲಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡರೆ ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷವುಂಟಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಿರಿಗನ್ನಡಂ ಗೆಲ್ಗೆ! ಸಿರಿಗನ್ನಡಂ ಬಾಳ್ಗೆ!
ಉಮಾಸುತಂ ಶೋಕವಿನಾಶಕಾರಣಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ವಿಘ್ನೇಶ್ವರಪಾದಪಂಕಜಮ್ ||
ಇದು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಇರಬಹುದು ! ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಆಸೆಯಿದ್ದಿತು. ಬರಹ ೫.೦ ರಿಂದ ಇದು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಶೇಷಾದ್ರಿವಾಸು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆ ಹೇಳಿದರೂ ಸಾಲದು.
ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ. ಗಣೇಶನ ಹೆಸರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಸಫಲವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರುವುದೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ನಂಬಿಕೆ.
ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ನೀಲಗ್ರೀವ ಎಂದು. ನೀಲಗ್ರೀವನೆಂದರೆ ನೀಲಃ ಗ್ರೀವಃ ಯಸ್ಯ ಸಃ ಎಂದು. ನೀಲವರ್ಣದ ಕಂಠವುಳ್ಳವನು ಎಂದು ಈ ಪದದ ಅರ್ಥ. ಮಹಾದೇವ ರುದ್ರನೆಂದರ್ಥ. ಇದರ ಮೇಲಿನ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನವನ್ನು ನಂತರ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸುವೆನು. ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ (ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾನ ಪದವನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಾಕಬೇಕು)ಅನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸುವೆನು.
ಇದು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಜಾಲಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡರೆ ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷವುಂಟಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಿರಿಗನ್ನಡಂ ಗೆಲ್ಗೆ! ಸಿರಿಗನ್ನಡಂ ಬಾಳ್ಗೆ!
Thursday, June 24, 2004
The sparrow and associated thoughts
When I was growing up in Bangalore, sweet chirping by sparrows would wake us up every day. We would see little sparrows, male and female, hopping around our houses and trying to collect grain. They were present in all parts of Bangalore. They were so omnipresent that we paid no special regard to them. We would not bother them and neither would they bother us.
All that changed a few years later. For a few years, I was blind to the existence of the sparrow and suddenly on one day I remembered the humble sparrow. I tried to find one around my house. They were not to be found at all. In their place were found jet black scavenger crows. Where did the little birds go ?
I could still find sparrows in my village, which is a couple of hours from Bangalore. When I came to the US, I lived mainly in the western region and could find these birds around residential localities. In the Bay Area where I live now, I can find sparrows here and there. Everytime I see one of these birds, I tend to go back memory lane and look at them with child-like curiosity.
What does the sparrow mean to me ? Especially now, when I am about to go back to the place of my birth, Bangalore.
For me the sparrow symbolizes Kannada Culture. When I was a child, I used to study and learn Kannada. As I grew older, my connection with Kannada weakened till I realized that it was pretty weak. I saw my bond with Kannada being as sparse as the times I actually was able to see a sparrow.
When I came to the US, I realized what I had been missing all along. My bond with Kannada seemed to strengthen. My pride and love for Kannada returned, probably because I was so desperate to create my own identity, though it is more likely because I had simply missed it for too long a time. I see sparrows every day now.
Happily chirping and jumping from place to place collecting grain, the sparrow is a clean bird. It needs clean environmental conditions for it to thrive. Urban Bangalore of about 20 years ago had good conditions. With the rapid and unplanned industrialization in Bangalore, the entire city grew like a small boy growing into a big boy but having only enough food to sustain a child. Resources of the city were stretched thin. Basically, unplanned growth caused a lot of grief for the citizens of Bangalore. The sparrow was just one of the many casualties. These tiny birds had no trees to nest in and were constantly troubled by predatory birds like big black crows. And in a few years, sparrows have become extinct within city limits.
When I go back, I will pay attention and look for that elusive sparrow again. Bangalore is so big that I hope that at least in one small corner of the city, a small family of sparrows may be thriving. I want to see these birds back in the city.
All that changed a few years later. For a few years, I was blind to the existence of the sparrow and suddenly on one day I remembered the humble sparrow. I tried to find one around my house. They were not to be found at all. In their place were found jet black scavenger crows. Where did the little birds go ?
I could still find sparrows in my village, which is a couple of hours from Bangalore. When I came to the US, I lived mainly in the western region and could find these birds around residential localities. In the Bay Area where I live now, I can find sparrows here and there. Everytime I see one of these birds, I tend to go back memory lane and look at them with child-like curiosity.
What does the sparrow mean to me ? Especially now, when I am about to go back to the place of my birth, Bangalore.
For me the sparrow symbolizes Kannada Culture. When I was a child, I used to study and learn Kannada. As I grew older, my connection with Kannada weakened till I realized that it was pretty weak. I saw my bond with Kannada being as sparse as the times I actually was able to see a sparrow.
When I came to the US, I realized what I had been missing all along. My bond with Kannada seemed to strengthen. My pride and love for Kannada returned, probably because I was so desperate to create my own identity, though it is more likely because I had simply missed it for too long a time. I see sparrows every day now.
Happily chirping and jumping from place to place collecting grain, the sparrow is a clean bird. It needs clean environmental conditions for it to thrive. Urban Bangalore of about 20 years ago had good conditions. With the rapid and unplanned industrialization in Bangalore, the entire city grew like a small boy growing into a big boy but having only enough food to sustain a child. Resources of the city were stretched thin. Basically, unplanned growth caused a lot of grief for the citizens of Bangalore. The sparrow was just one of the many casualties. These tiny birds had no trees to nest in and were constantly troubled by predatory birds like big black crows. And in a few years, sparrows have become extinct within city limits.
When I go back, I will pay attention and look for that elusive sparrow again. Bangalore is so big that I hope that at least in one small corner of the city, a small family of sparrows may be thriving. I want to see these birds back in the city.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Forbes.com: Free-E-mail Free For All
Forbes.com: Free-E-mail Free For All
Is this really true ? If you blog on blogger.com for a while, will google send you an invite for gmail ?
Anyway, google is not the first one to give free 1GB storage in e-mail. An Indian company rediff.com is offering 1GB to its users now.
Even yahoo upped its free e-mail allocated space from a measly 4MB to 100MB, and with a good interface.
I would definitely like a gmail account just because I think google might have done a good job. All web based email looks very similar. It would be interesting at the least to see google's take on e-mail.
Also, how is it possible to publicize your blog ? I'll go to blogger.com and check it out.
Is this really true ? If you blog on blogger.com for a while, will google send you an invite for gmail ?
Anyway, google is not the first one to give free 1GB storage in e-mail. An Indian company rediff.com is offering 1GB to its users now.
Even yahoo upped its free e-mail allocated space from a measly 4MB to 100MB, and with a good interface.
I would definitely like a gmail account just because I think google might have done a good job. All web based email looks very similar. It would be interesting at the least to see google's take on e-mail.
Also, how is it possible to publicize your blog ? I'll go to blogger.com and check it out.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Dom Moraes and Wang Weilin
These two names have been in the news for the last couple of days. Today at work when news-browsing, I came across both of these. The former, a celebrated Indian poet who wrote in the English language and the latter a name given to a man who symbolized the opposition to the Chinese government's oppression of the student led revolt in 1989.
When I googled for Dom Moraes, one thing about him that has been recognized in all his biographies is the fact that he won the Hawthornden prize for poetry in 1958 at the tender age of 20. He published several other collections, worked as a journalist and has authored several books. He passed away a couple of days ago.
The interesting thing about Moraes, is that he lived and died an Indian though he did not learn even a single Indian language. Born of Christian parentage, he probably did not need that. But he remained an Indian. This, I notice, is one of the strange and interesting things about the man. At that time, when India had just achieved her freedom, Dominic was an instant celebrity for having won the coveted poetry prize. He was praised by poets of the stature of WH Auden. Looking at several web pages, I gathered something that seemed like he was a well acclaimed poet worldwide. He could have stayed abroad in Britain, like one of those of Indian descent who turned their back on their country - Nirad Chaudhury. Or, he could have done an AK Ramanujan who taught in several US universities and stayed there till his death for almost 40 years. But he chose to stay in India from 1979. The fascinating thing again is that Dom Moraes chose to stay in India in spite of not knowing a single Indian language, whereas, Ramanujan fluent in Kannada and Tamil, did not. Something to ponder about, right ?
The other thing that whets my curiosity is the meteoric rise of young Dominic. When he won the poetry prize at such an early age, I am sure that people began to expect much more of him. But in spite of such a great beginning, I see that Dom Moraes did not have much to show. One clarification here. Though I have been an Indian all my life, it is only in the last few years that I have heard of Dom Moraes. So, if my point is seen to be like that of somebody else who decides that X is not famous if he has not heard of them, I suppose that would more or less be correct. But I strive to be well informed and if I haven't heard of a person, chances are quite high that 99% of the Indian population hasn't heard of him. Anyway, Dom Moraes did not achieve something like the Nobel prize in literature which is the highest award in the world.
Did Moraes squander a good beginning ? Or was he a free spirit who never bothered about trifling awards ? Or did the pressure of having won an award early in life do him in ? Dom probably knew, or did not. We definitely know not.
Coming to the second person in the title who is Wang Weilin. This is the man in the famous photograph who stood opposite a line of marching tanks near Tiananmen square in Beijing in 1989. I was too young at that time to appreciate the reasons for this revolt. But now, I can see and understand the yearning of a young student population that wanted their country to be free from the shackles of corruption and government bossiness. The interesting thing about this man is that nobody knows who he really is. Wang Weilin is just a name for this person. Whether this is really his name or not - nobody knows. But Wang has become the symbol of that student revolt. That photograph, supposedly banned in the PRC, provides inspiration to millions of people. Just think of it - a single unarmed man standing up to 4 fully armed battle tanks ! Does that not show the courage of one man against all odds ? You can see the picture here.
That's pretty amazing, isn't it ? Several Human Rights groups have drawn inspiration from this picture.
I don't know why I included both of these people in one blog. Such different people! But there is the unknown part in the lives of both people. Both shot to fame. We know one's name and we don't know the others. The former a literary icon and the latter a beacon of hope.
Anyway, my thoughts for the day !
When I googled for Dom Moraes, one thing about him that has been recognized in all his biographies is the fact that he won the Hawthornden prize for poetry in 1958 at the tender age of 20. He published several other collections, worked as a journalist and has authored several books. He passed away a couple of days ago.
The interesting thing about Moraes, is that he lived and died an Indian though he did not learn even a single Indian language. Born of Christian parentage, he probably did not need that. But he remained an Indian. This, I notice, is one of the strange and interesting things about the man. At that time, when India had just achieved her freedom, Dominic was an instant celebrity for having won the coveted poetry prize. He was praised by poets of the stature of WH Auden. Looking at several web pages, I gathered something that seemed like he was a well acclaimed poet worldwide. He could have stayed abroad in Britain, like one of those of Indian descent who turned their back on their country - Nirad Chaudhury. Or, he could have done an AK Ramanujan who taught in several US universities and stayed there till his death for almost 40 years. But he chose to stay in India from 1979. The fascinating thing again is that Dom Moraes chose to stay in India in spite of not knowing a single Indian language, whereas, Ramanujan fluent in Kannada and Tamil, did not. Something to ponder about, right ?
The other thing that whets my curiosity is the meteoric rise of young Dominic. When he won the poetry prize at such an early age, I am sure that people began to expect much more of him. But in spite of such a great beginning, I see that Dom Moraes did not have much to show. One clarification here. Though I have been an Indian all my life, it is only in the last few years that I have heard of Dom Moraes. So, if my point is seen to be like that of somebody else who decides that X is not famous if he has not heard of them, I suppose that would more or less be correct. But I strive to be well informed and if I haven't heard of a person, chances are quite high that 99% of the Indian population hasn't heard of him. Anyway, Dom Moraes did not achieve something like the Nobel prize in literature which is the highest award in the world.
Did Moraes squander a good beginning ? Or was he a free spirit who never bothered about trifling awards ? Or did the pressure of having won an award early in life do him in ? Dom probably knew, or did not. We definitely know not.
Coming to the second person in the title who is Wang Weilin. This is the man in the famous photograph who stood opposite a line of marching tanks near Tiananmen square in Beijing in 1989. I was too young at that time to appreciate the reasons for this revolt. But now, I can see and understand the yearning of a young student population that wanted their country to be free from the shackles of corruption and government bossiness. The interesting thing about this man is that nobody knows who he really is. Wang Weilin is just a name for this person. Whether this is really his name or not - nobody knows. But Wang has become the symbol of that student revolt. That photograph, supposedly banned in the PRC, provides inspiration to millions of people. Just think of it - a single unarmed man standing up to 4 fully armed battle tanks ! Does that not show the courage of one man against all odds ? You can see the picture here.
That's pretty amazing, isn't it ? Several Human Rights groups have drawn inspiration from this picture.
I don't know why I included both of these people in one blog. Such different people! But there is the unknown part in the lives of both people. Both shot to fame. We know one's name and we don't know the others. The former a literary icon and the latter a beacon of hope.
Anyway, my thoughts for the day !
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Knowing and correcting
I feel it is one thing to know about something and a totally another thing to correct mistakes about something. The former is probably easier to acquire. But the latter requires ability to actually see the thought process of the person committing the error in perception. Seeing the error and not going by it is really something.
This can be especially challenging if the person who has arrived at a correct solution is not convinced about it completely. Basically, the solution has been arrived at by following a set of logical steps. In that case, even though there is faith in the process itself, there is not much conviction in the solution. This is even more difficult if the solution to the problem is not verifiable or not verifiable easily.
Coming to Vedanta, there are several people who achieve mokSha. But there are only a very few who actually are capable of guiding other seekers. This is a special ability and therefore such people are called Gurus. Gu - signifies darkness and ru signifies its removal. The entire word Guru means the remover of darkness. But what is darkness ? Darkness is nothing but the absence of light. It is not a separate thing by itself. In Vedanta, ignorance is equated to darkness as it is the absence of correct knowledge. When there is correct knowledge, there is no scope for misunderstanding or non-perception. Since ignorance (avidyA) is at the root of all misery, removing ignorance is tantamount to giving correct knowledge, thereby freeing the seeker from all forms of misery. Since the Guru removes this darkness of ignorance, and confers Infinite Bliss on the seeker, the Guru or the Expert Teacher or the Master is worshipped very highly in Eastern Spiritual traditions.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to say - 'When even such a low and mundane thing such as thievery requires a teacher, what can one say about the necessity of a Guru to acquire the Highest Knowledge ?".
In several upanishads, tantras and purANas, the Guru is revered as a personal form of the Almighty. He is rightly praised in several shlokas.
'gururbrahmA gururviShNuH gururdevo maheshvaraH |
gurussAkShAt parambrahmA tasmai shrIgurave namaH ||'
The Guru is indeed the Holy Trinity and is even the highest Brahman. Salutations to the Guru.
From an Absolute viewpoint - Our Guru is in us and is our very being. Since Brahman is everything, this establishes a connection between the inside and outside worlds.
A story I like immensely is the story of the AvadhUta and his twenty four Gurus. This story appears in the 12th canto of the shrImad-bhAgavata-mahApurANa in the conversation betweem Uddhava and Lord Srikrishna. I will write more about that story in my next post.
I will conclude this with a praise of the Guru again.
'gurave sarvalokAnAM bhiShaje bhavarogiNAm
nidhaye sarvavidyanAM dakShniNAmUrtaye namaH'
I salute Lord Dakshinamurti who embodies the Supreme aspect of the Guru. He is the Teacher of all the worlds and is the divine Physician who cures all our samsAric ailments. We salute Him, who is the repository of all the knowledge.
This can be especially challenging if the person who has arrived at a correct solution is not convinced about it completely. Basically, the solution has been arrived at by following a set of logical steps. In that case, even though there is faith in the process itself, there is not much conviction in the solution. This is even more difficult if the solution to the problem is not verifiable or not verifiable easily.
Coming to Vedanta, there are several people who achieve mokSha. But there are only a very few who actually are capable of guiding other seekers. This is a special ability and therefore such people are called Gurus. Gu - signifies darkness and ru signifies its removal. The entire word Guru means the remover of darkness. But what is darkness ? Darkness is nothing but the absence of light. It is not a separate thing by itself. In Vedanta, ignorance is equated to darkness as it is the absence of correct knowledge. When there is correct knowledge, there is no scope for misunderstanding or non-perception. Since ignorance (avidyA) is at the root of all misery, removing ignorance is tantamount to giving correct knowledge, thereby freeing the seeker from all forms of misery. Since the Guru removes this darkness of ignorance, and confers Infinite Bliss on the seeker, the Guru or the Expert Teacher or the Master is worshipped very highly in Eastern Spiritual traditions.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to say - 'When even such a low and mundane thing such as thievery requires a teacher, what can one say about the necessity of a Guru to acquire the Highest Knowledge ?".
In several upanishads, tantras and purANas, the Guru is revered as a personal form of the Almighty. He is rightly praised in several shlokas.
'gururbrahmA gururviShNuH gururdevo maheshvaraH |
gurussAkShAt parambrahmA tasmai shrIgurave namaH ||'
The Guru is indeed the Holy Trinity and is even the highest Brahman. Salutations to the Guru.
From an Absolute viewpoint - Our Guru is in us and is our very being. Since Brahman is everything, this establishes a connection between the inside and outside worlds.
A story I like immensely is the story of the AvadhUta and his twenty four Gurus. This story appears in the 12th canto of the shrImad-bhAgavata-mahApurANa in the conversation betweem Uddhava and Lord Srikrishna. I will write more about that story in my next post.
I will conclude this with a praise of the Guru again.
'gurave sarvalokAnAM bhiShaje bhavarogiNAm
nidhaye sarvavidyanAM dakShniNAmUrtaye namaH'
I salute Lord Dakshinamurti who embodies the Supreme aspect of the Guru. He is the Teacher of all the worlds and is the divine Physician who cures all our samsAric ailments. We salute Him, who is the repository of all the knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)