जय सिया राम

Seneca, a famous Roman philosopher once said, "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful". These words written over 2000 years ago were never more true in spirit as they are now. Politicians are banking on stirred up religious sentiments to win the race to 7 Race Course Road.

In the 2002 Gujarat riots, humanity hit its rock bottom. There are accounts of mothers who witnessed swords being driven into their daughters genitals and their breasts cut off and thrown away; Sons who witnessed their fathers cut into half; Pregnant women being slaughtered and their fetus torn out and burnt; A well full of bodies of men, women and children being set alight. And these are just few accounts. There are many more horrifying stories.

Amidst all this madness, the police was nothing more than a spectator and at times a facilitator. N number of people reported to the National Human Rights Commission that when they went to the police for protection they met with a reply, "we don't have orders to protect you". Does a policeman need orders from his superior to protect a man from being burnt alive ? Probably something this human fades away in the police training.

Then there are accounts of those who were the ones with the sword. One of them recalls that day as one of the most proud and joyous day of his life. He says, "I felt like Maharana Pratap when I drove my sword into a pregnant woman and tore open her womb". The history taught in our schools has drastically gone wrong somewhere if this man thought of himself as the Great Maharana Pratap.

The man in charge of the state, the man who was responsible and accountable for protecting the people failed miserably during the darkest hours of humanity. The question whether he failed or chose to be a spectator is something for his conscience to decide, but his failure as the Chief Minister is evident without the slightest hint of doubt. So unlike normal people who fail and repent, this man went into an election and won with never before margins and may be in all probability, the next Prime Minister of India. But take a moment to think, the guy who failed (or chose to not act ) in controlling a few thousand men will control this great nation one day.

Anyhow neither has the chief minister apologized for what happened in Gujrat nor he has ever felt ashamed. But who should be ashamed the most for those days of lunacy? For me the answer is Lord Ram. The 'मर्यादा पुर्षोत्तम' Himself was called out by his followers when they were butchering their fellow beings. 'जय सिया राम' echoed amid the hue and cry of His creations. Once again the elections will be fought with slogans of 'जय सिया राम' and so called 'हिन्दुत्व' as the agenda when the word 'हिन्दुत्व' has nothing to do with religion. It only refers to people who belonged to the banks of the river 'सिंधु'. Anyway God has played a significant role in the politics of this country and will continue to do so. If only His followers could appreciate,'हरी व्यापक सर्वत्र समाना प्रेम ते प्रकट होई मैं जाना'.