Supercilious ( assuming an air of superiority ) &

Supercilious ( assuming an air of superiority ) &
Janus-faced ( facing both ways at once, hypocritical ) attitude of many of us Indians

1 ) Muslims practicing Yoga

Islamic Council, Malaysia, issued last year an edict prohibiting Muslims from practicing of yoga that included chanting ( the latter, i.e., chanting, had historically a connotation with Hindu religion ). Recently Indonesian Ulema Council also issued such a verdict. It is a Muslim theological stand and since the same had no adverse effect on Hindus, the matter should have been left at that by Hindus. But no. Some Hindus who have the entrenched belief that Hinduism is better and higher religion than others, have joined issues with the above edict. One Hindu expert went even to the extent of stating ‘ The mistake is in thinking that the chanting – the repetition of Om, for instance – is with religious intent. Rather, it is a tool to aid breathing techniques, an integral aspect of yoga. Yoga is not akin to practicing in gym…..it is a holistic, all-encompassing view of health and well-being, focusing on the mental as much as it does on the physical.’ And since for this type of people, the final verdict on any such matter is given by ‘ Mecca of wisdom, ‘ i.e., US of A, the author cites the fact that many Americans have taken to yoga there ( indirectly saying that if Christians can chant ‘Om’ why can’t you Muslims ). Wittingly or unwittingly the proponent of this thesis has erred. Yoga is a form of exercise of the body. It removes blocks in the free flow of blood. For those who are lazy or averse to do physical exercise on a regular basis or walking daily, yoga is an alternative way of keeping the body energized. Yes it was conceived by a Hindu. However, it had no religious connotation. Meditation results in the mind becoming quiet. Meditation can be done silently or by repeating a word. It is not easy to make the mind quiet. Hence alternative process of repeating a word was made part of meditation. It could be any word. Since meditation was also invented by Hindu, the suggested word was ‘ Om ‘ or ‘ Rama’. But it could be any word, say ‘ Ravi.’ Subsequently, some of the advocates of yoga and meditation combined both these so that body is kept in good condition and the mind becomes quiet, whereas some others taught these as separate sciences. Put it simply, neither yoga nor meditation has anything to do with Hindu religion.

‘Ours is the best religion ‘ - many hard believers of various religions think so. More rational and sensible people take the stand of ‘ you and your faith - me and my faith – let us not cross swords – let us have an approach of live and let live.’

When divisions between various religions are getting more and more entrenched, was it necessary for these Hindu fundamentalists to join the above issue. And why the craving of the Hindu zealots for acceptance by other religionists on the practices of Hindu religionists. Each of the religions other than Hinduism have one God. And they can’t understand how could there be a religion with a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. Hindus can’t give any rational explanation for this. They will say it is a fact, we are proud of it, etc., But then why expect other religionists to agree with Hindus.


2 ) Girls going to pubs and drinking/ dancing / holding hands with boys.

My vote is to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for openly going against the above culture developing in metro cities. The attack on the pub has to be condemned. But I would like to join issues with the press, socialites, page three people, etc., who see nothing wrong with girls going to bar and drinking in the company of girls and boys.

Today in metropolitan cities, affluent / well to do parents have sleepless nights on their wards ( largely daughters ) taking to modernity at a furious pace. Be it dressing, coming late to the house, bohemian approach to life, parents find it difficult to adjust. Most of them realize that the above mentioned way of living of their wards could lead to the youngsters ( girls ) smoking, drinking, taking drugs and having sex with boys. This is not an imaginary fear. It is happening.

Agreed, there is human tendency to resist changes. Thirty years back, girls wearing jeans and exposing midriff were frowned upon. But today in cities this has become common. The divorce rate is going up. Couples postpone having children and then limit the number of one, two or at the most three. Both husband and wife work. They have opted for nuclear families. The live in system is taking off in cities, etc., etc., Elders find the pace of change too fast to their liking. Yet knowing well that these developments cannot be checked ( and some of them being welcome changes ) many a parent accept the same with equanimity. But not the pub culture, which is of recent origin.

The point is contrary to the depiction by the fourth estate of ‘ assault against personal liberty, ‘ by far people are against the pub culture development, though at the same time they would genuinely condemn the hooliganism.

P.S. The fourth estate is getting increasingly alienated from the mores of Indian family culture. It is pandering to the style of West. It has taken upon itself the role of moral guardian for the society, a task to which it is ill equipped.

More P.S: I am increasingly disillusioned with some of the antics of fourth estate. Mahesh ( Bhupati ) has been rechristianed by one leading daily as ‘ Hesh ‘ ( a la American style ). Another paper has shown Mahesh Bhupati and Sania mildly hugging each other after the doubles’ victory ( that is enough for Muslim fundamentalists to make a hue and cry).