शनिवार, 21 दिसंबर 2019

There may be multiple reasons behind the recent violent uprising in the country viz. Vested interests of national and regional politics, regionalism, Islamic fanaticism, woke liberalism and secularism, ignorance, accumulated frustration among some sections by last few important events(A. 370, Ram Janmbhoomi verdict, CAA, the threat of proposed NRC, Tripple Talaq etc, Modi's 2nd term) etc.
What I understand about one of the reasons i.e. 'Islamic Fanaticism' consuming masses is:
After a violent demonstration of what Islamic radicalism stands for in recent events, it is EACH ONE's responsibility to understand the threat, its tactics and put individual effort to resist this fervour. It is now at each one's doorstep. No city or area is spared.
This is not the first time that India is witnessing this kind to mass fanaticism. India has a long history of genocides, rapes, riots, loots, plunders perpetrated by Islamic fanatics. What gives it a chance to flourish is one's apathy to accept it. Get acquainted with the reasons and underlying concepts that lead to these activities out of a normal person. To understand this phenomenon, knowing the history of Kashmir can be of much help. Just in the last 650 years, from the torchbearer of Indian civilisation Kashmir became a hotbed of Jihad. What happened to Kashmir is not limited to Kashmir today. It has spread all over the land. Jihadi fanaticism at your doorstep is today's reality. So, learn about it to thwart it from every aspect of our lives. Break your inhibitions to discuss it in public. It is no longer a taboo subject. Read books, articles, watch informed videos, discuss in your circle what you learn. Let us ensure that our generation would be much informed on this subject than the previous ones.
I am jotting down some apprehensions about why any person will not want to learn about it and my answer to why he/she must. Some apprehensions are listed below. Please add to the list if you find a new one.
I don’t find "Islamic fanaticism" topic is important enough to learn about because:
1. It is not an urgent topic to ponder over
2. This doesn't affect me.
3. I am happy with my family, job and personal life. Why should I care?
4. It is not a very important topic on which I should devote my time. I have more important things to think of.
5. I don't find my friend/neighbor/colleague, who is a Muslim, having such mindset. So, I don't believe it as a threat.
6. I find Islam is a peaceful religion. These protesters are not following Islam.
7. I am not a Muslim. Why should I care for Islam?
8. I am a Muslim. I don't think anyone should get threatened about Islam. Miscreants are naïve people. Terrorists are not following Islam. Criminals are in every religion.
9. I am a Muslim. I find this concern important to discuss but I fear what my friends/family/relatives will think of me.
10. All religions are the same. We should also talk of radical Hinduism called "Hindutva" and Hindu Terror.
11. Our society believes in "Hindu Muslim Sikh Isai, Hum Sab Hain Bhai-Bhai" and Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb.
12. Our constitution talks of fraternity, liberalism, secularism. Targeting one religion is not as per constitutional ethos.
13. I think whenever this threat will come our government and police will tackle it. Why should I care then?
14. I think this is a recent event. It will end soon.

सोमवार, 7 जनवरी 2019

The conflict of Bodh Gaya

Bodhgaya is not, and never has been, only a Buddhist site. Hindus have been visiting Bodhgaya since at least the Buddha's own lifetime. It was one of the important stops along Sraddha(श्राद्ध) routes as testified by Agni Purana and Mahabharata that mentions the Mahabodhi Taru as a place to pay obeisance in the course of a Sraddha. It could be surmised that it was this significance of Gaya as the penultimate destination for Sraddha, for overcoming the fetters of death, that drew Sakyamuni to the place.
Beginning in the fifteenth century and extending into the twentieth, the site has been maintained by Saivite priests who trace their lineage to 1590, when Gosain Ghamandi Giri established a monastery at Bodh Gaya.
At the very center of sacred site of Bodhgaya stands the Buddha image. In popular cosmology this multivalent sacred space represents iconographic open-endedness, intermingled and blurred, drawn from a shared iconographic vocabulary. A single image is viewed and treated as representing or embodying two very different figures that are the Buddha to Buddhist pilgrims and Visnu to Hindu pilgrims. This is what bestows this ancient pilgrimage complex an aura and mystique that is unique and having a universal appeal.
Temple management: 
THE BODH GAYA TEMPLE ACT, 1949
 The temple is managed, on behalf of the Bihar government, by a nine-member committee headed by the district magistrate.
 As per the Act, only a Hindu can head the managing committee.
 The Act also specifies that if the district magistrate happens to be a non-Hindu, the state government has to nominate a Hindu to head the committee.
 According to the Act, the panel should comprise four Buddhists and four Hindus for a three-year period, with the Gaya district magistrate as its ex-officio chairman and the mahant (presiding priest) of the Sankaracharya Math (the Shaivite monastery at Bodh Gaya) as the ex-officio Hindu member.
Conflict:
But as per the current trends of alienating of Sampradaya originated from Sanatana Tradition from its roots prominent Buddhist figures(one of them is Bhante Anand - President of Akhil Bharatiya Bhikkhu Mahasangh) argue, "We are Buddhists, we have nothing to do with Hinduism. The birth place of Buddhism is controlled by other people. Hinduvta forces are doing everything to keep Bodh Gaya's temple out of the control of Buddhists. If such a situation continues, we will be forced to register a complaint with the UN high commissioner for refugees." Now, Bihar government is facing international pressure as well because of Buddhist presence in many eastern countries.
1. https://www.rediff.com/…/why-are-hindus-contro…/20170725.htm
2. http://deshkalindia.com/festival/history_and_context.pdf
3. https://www.bodhgayatemple.com/images/pdf/temple_act.pdf1
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