Kaal - Chiron...

Political Treason - Part 3 - Famous instances of treason in Indian history

2012-02-11T02:59:00.004+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Continued from part two.

After going through the examples of Dawood Ibrahim and Paritala Ravi in previous parts of this series, the next part of our journey entails looking at various instances of treason, which led to major change in political equilibrium of India. As stated in this article about addiction of power and treachery, while we can categorize with every instance of treason due to some selfish interests, more often than not, these acts lead to a whole range of butterfly effects which were either unintended or intended by the conspirator or were ignored. Some of such instances that I can think of are following. Readers are welcome to add on to the list, along with justification of course.

1. Sugriva against Vaali: This treachery had following far reaching effects on contemporary Indian geopolity. First is entry of a Ganga Valley based power (Sri Raama) in the politics of Krishna-Godavari basin, which Vaali had guarded jealously. Secondly, it resulted in decline in deccan's prominence. It also led to creation of pan-Indian common market which was subservient to Ganga Valley based power. For more details of this please read this series of articles on political history of Ramayana.

2. Vibhishana against Raavana - This treachery had following effects on contemporary Indian geopolity. To be taken combined with first example. First is the entry of Ganga-Krishna-Godavari alliance in politics of deep south and Kaveri basin and Sri Lanka. It also led to the access of sea trade routes and port cities to Ganga based power. Technology (bridge building, pushpaka etc) gained by Ganga based power. Like in example 2, this led to creation of pan subcontinental common market. For more details of this please read this series of articles on political history of Ramayana.

3. Shakuni against Kuru clan: This betrayal of Shakuni brought about downfall of Kurus by instigating civil war between Kauravas and Pandavas - results well known. Mutually assured destruction in kurukshetra war. For more details please read this series of articles on political history of Mahabharata.

4. Jarasandha against India: Shursena yadavas of Mathura rebelled against authority of magadha under the intigation krishna-balarama. Kamsa was killed in an internal strife of Mathura Yadavas, thereby upsetting the plan of Jarasandha of pan-India domination. Jarasandha invaded Mathura repeatedly while on one occasion he extended an invitation to Kaal-Yavana, an adharmik outsider in the polity of India. This did not cause much ill effect, thanks to timely valor and presence of mind shown by Sri Krishna. However, Jarasandha became an example and progenitor of a form of treachery which repeatedly hurt India the most in years to come. For more details please read this series of articles on political history of Mahabharata.

5. Mahapadmananda against Mahanandi Shishunaaga - This resulted in beginning of Varna-ashrama system's collapse in India.

6. Aambhi against India - He committed a folly akin to Jarasandha by allying with foreigner yavana Alexander to defeat a native ruler of Punjab and Kekay.

7. Buddhist kings against India: Again folly akin to Jarasandha by allying with Bactrian-Greek Demetrius and later Menander.

8. Pushyamitra against Briahdratha - This treachery destroyed Mauryan rule (which was limited to patna city and surroundings), defended India from Menander, the Greek. Also resulted in partial persecution of Buddhists.

9. Chandragupta-2 against Raamagupta: This was a good treachery. This resulted in India having her "Vikramaditya" as emperor. Nothing needs to be said here. Emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya's record speaks for itself. Read this article to know more about conquests of Emperor Vikramaditya.

10. Purugupta against Skandagupta - This treachery pushed India in civil war. Indian army under guptas were forced to fight on two fronts (against invading hunas in gandhara and against purugupta and pushyamitras along upper narmada valley). This resulted in capitulation of India under increasing pressure from the central asian hordes of Huns.

11. Baladitya against India: Baladitya achieved this goal by foolishly forcing Yashodharma, king of Malwa and leader of Indian federation which defeated Huns in successive battles in Punjab while capturing the invader king "Mihiragula" alive. Baladitya Gupta forced Yashodharma to give clemency to captured huna king Mihiragula.

12. Chach against predecessor king - This treason by Chaach caused the rule of Sindh to be passed on to brahmin dynasty from a Buddhist Rai Dynasty. Chach fought well and defended Sindh against Arabs. His son, dahir in his later life fell to qasim's invasion giving first stronghold of Arabs in Indian subcontinent.

13. Sabuktijin against Shiladitya of Gazni - This resulted in first political entry of Islam in politics of India. Sabuktijin's son the infamous Mehmood Gaznavi went on to destroy Somnath temple and massacre millions. More strategically this coup resulted in fall of India's outpost - Gandhara province which we today know as Afghanistan. Afghanistan, has been alien to Indian way of life, since this coup.

14. Jaychandra against Prithviraja - Jaychandra invited Muhammad Ghori to invade India against to settle personal vendetta against king of Delhi and Ajmer - Prithviraj Chauhan. While this act of treason is not verfied as completely true in terms of historical veracity, it is immensely popular nonetheless. This was a folly akin to that of Jarasandha.

15. Plenty of such mistakes in Islamic sultanate period - But the system in this era was foreign anyways. Hence in either case, Dharma and India suffered.

16. Najib inviting Abdali - This was a folly akin to Jarasandha. To know more, read this series of articles on Panipat Campaign of Marathas.

17. Peshwa Bajirao-2 against India - Foolish peshwa surrendered himself to British due to his fight against Holkar and Shinde. He single handedly doomed the pan indian maratha empire in matter of 6 years. This has no parallel in annals of history, IMHO.

18. Various collaborators against Indian army of 1857: They helped British in bringing down the efforts of those fighting for India's independence in Anglo-Indian war of 1857.

19. Establishment of INC in 1885: Infiltration of Indian National Congress by the people with interests and agenda which were sympathetic towards British was the main reason why India's freedom movement was compromised and resulted in partition of motherland along with throngs of other problems facing the nation in modern day. Perhaps, this will demand a separate article.

Political Treason - Part 2 - Paritala Ravindra's bloody story - Rakta Charitra

2012-02-08T04:31:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

*In collaboration with Shri. Devesh Garu.

Variants of Organized Crime

1. Crime arising out of necessity and poverty is easily taken care of by good governance and effective utilization of carrot and stick.

2. Ccrime arising out of mentality which derives pleasure from "doing something different" or "breaking rules" cannot be tackled by good governance.

3. Crime arising out of faulty laws can be corrected by means of changing laws and social counselling.

To elucidate with an example, smuggling of gold was illegal in independent India. But people have been trading and importing gold for ages in India. Due to policy decisions by govt, certain networks and their routes were deemed illegal and the import was branded as smuggling. This gave them incentive to continue trading while avoiding taxes. While they grew powerful and wealthy, they found new commodities to trade[like drugs and weapons] using the already perfected means and routes of smuggling less harmful product.

The drug traderoute of kabul-karachi-mumbai-vizag-SE asia has been existent for centuries now. One cannot stop it merely by making it illegal. What is law, but a mere sentence, if state isn't in position to enforce it. The biggest and only "gunda" in nation-state has to be the state. But there is no such compulsion on a civilizational state, as long as these fringe elements are kept under the hold of Sanskriti so that their services be used when the time arises, in lieu of certain price.

The significance of the tale of Paritala Ravindra.

With respect to Hyderabad-Secunderabad, the 80's and 90's did see the emergence of politicos in the "right direction". However, before the action could get into the den of the entrenched Islamist networks, one such MLA (not native to Hyderabad) was put down due to a Jaichand like character. You will get a clear picture by watching a Ram Gopal Verma biopic - Raktacharitra.

Paritala Ravindra (depicted as Prathap Ravi in the film by Vivek Oberoi) is a good case study. The man had much potential but YS Reddy, after coming to power in 2004, allegedly had him killed in a shootout. From 2004 to 2005, about 1000 active and resourceful members of Telugu Desam Party were killed off in various operations.

The slow infiltration of Andhra Pradesh by various interests began right after NDA came to power in 1999. The first victim was Alimineti Madhava Reddy. He was a powerful man from Telangana and commanded lot of respect from all over AP. He was Chandrababu Naidu's right hand man. It was said that Naidu's success was only possible because of Madhava's steadying hand by his side.

Madhava Reddy was killed off in a Naxalite attack. It was for the first time in history that a sitting Home Minister and Deputy CM of any state was murdered in this way in spite of having Z-security. Back then and even now, many people consider his death as the work of his political opponents. Madhava Reddy's death was a tragedy for many reasons. Firstly, he was a Hindu with strong affiliation to the religion. Ssecondly, he wasn't in bed with the mining and drug mafia which supposedly has close connections with INC network. Thirdly, he was a shrewd politician who knew how to get his way without being dictatorial. And finally, he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty or have others do it for him.

He didn't care for the "established" regime in Hyd. That is the entrenched Islamist mafia of Hyderabad since days of Nizam and Razakars and now with alleged political backing of few pro-Islamist political parties and leaders. The situation is further complicated with boiling Telangana issue. In many ways, Madhava Reddy's political savvy exceeded Naidu's and could have rivaled that of YSR's, had he lived to steer the hand of TDP.

As stated earlier, the timing of Paritala Ravindra's death should be kept in mind. From July 2004 to August 2005, close to a 1000 "rising stars" with strong potential at the organization level of the Telugu Desam were killed. This is usually covered by the media as "factionism"/"family feuds"/etc. But what is hidden or is conveniently ignored is that all of the deaths happened to those belonging to a certain orientation politically. Usually the deaths are covered up as "revenge" from "old enemies".

Let's take the case of Paritala Ravi himself. He is shown, in the film, to be killed by a guy who is thirsting for vengeance. Howsoever true this may be, but how come this guy, Surya Narayana Reddy aka Maddelacheruvu Suri, who was wronged in the 90's, took him so long to get his revenge. I mean in the end, all he had to do was attack Paritala Ravi when he was traveling in a car. How come it was only after INC/YSR came to power that the Suri became so emboldened and found the means to take out Ravi?

The real life Suri, as opposed to filmy one, was a felon. His family wasn't that better off either. The acts committed SN Reddy 'Suri' are some of the worst atrocities by any political family in India. Paritala Ravi, believe it or not, was a relief to the people there. He gave them security that the goons under INC-network couldn't care to give.

The Role of Intelligence Bureau in the episode of Paritala Ravi

The last scene of film Rakta-Charitra 2, when the IB officer confronts 'Suri' says a lot. It is implied that IB allowed the assassination of Ravi to happen. It is both disconcerting and disturbing since there is a pattern here. Ravi's background would give people too much of "power" by setting a precedent. To be clear, Paritala Ravi's career was not the usual one for the reason that he was the first guy in AP (perhaps in India), since 1947, who actually waged guerrilla warfare on an entrenched network of criminal-politico gangsters, defeated or at least dented their power base enough to make inroads for himself and the agriculturalist interests that backed him. For several years in the 80's he really did go into the hills and jungles and waged war on the local Congress networks and eventually earned enough of a reputation and attracted enough business and labor networks to get himself elected and also create a base for Telugu Desam.

Ravi did not have the right "foundational background" to transform his fight into something bigger. His father and him were both Left-leaning. their careers started on the social justice plank. His father was instrumental is curbing the powers of the local land-owning mafia. His son carried forward his work and established his own political space.

To truly give the "social justice" issue a much wider base and bigger fight, Ravi's ideological background was not enough. His radicalism was fueled by personal grievance based on the "pro-poor" activities of his father. But for a "first phase" of rebellion against INC in the region, it was a good start.

For about 10 years, he was basically waging asymmetric warfare. during all this time, the major antagonists - INC elites of the region - were in power and continued to make his life miserable. IB did not really "help" in Ravi's power. Perhaps, they just ignored him as another "naxalite" and left it at that. It was only after he became a long-term thorn in INC's side because of his charismatic personality and the ability to persuade and cajole certain important networks, especially the Leftist unionist/agriculturalist type people, that INC and their helpers started targeting him. In this phase, it is alleged that Jagan Reddy and his followers provided Ravi's killers with info and equipment while they were in jail. This is not easily covered up without having the local police-wallahs and intelligence inputs in their pockets.

When probed diligently beyond the surface, even voters of INC in recent times remember Paritala Ravi, Alimineti Madhava Reddy, and few others like them, whose lives were basically a story of commitment against INC and who ultimately all were murdered.

Relevance of Paritala Ravindra in this narrative of political treason and organized crime

Paritala Ravindra was perhaps first non-Hyderabad based "tough man" who after coming to power, rounded up the mafia based in Hyderabad. This mafia is the important link in the trade route mentioned in opening section. No other political party showed the balls to take on the interests of the politician-gangster nexus operating in this trade-route anywhere. Be it in kabul, Karachi, Mumbai or Hyderabad, those in power dare not touch this network heads on.

Paritala Ravindra will pay for all his bad deeds in next birth, according to Indian theory of Karma. But he sets one important precedent of daring to perform a deed which Vijaynagar empire, Marathas did not. That is attempting to bring the Hyderabad node under civilizational influence of Pro-India and pro-Dharma forces.

Paritala Ravi cannot be called "Dharmik" in truest sense. But he surely level the playground for the time he was in power. Our narrative learns many important lessons from the example of Paritala Ravi.

Political Treason - Part 1 - The curious case of Dawood Ibrahim

2012-02-07T19:45:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Organized Crime and Civilization

Crime is one crucial aspect of a "Rashtra". Indian Sate should have had facilitated the emergence of nationalist crime-networks. More efficient would be religious crime networks. sometimes, I see the point of thugs and chandaals in ancient India controlled by the tantrika school. This might be antithetical to India as a "nation-state" but is it really antithetical to India as a "civilizational state" which exists for protection and expansion of Indic Sanskriti?

Remember role of Gopal Paatha in kolkata riots of 1947? Perhaps Chhota Rajan was one such experiment. However, talking about western coast and Mumbai, the Indic ganga never grew big enough to rival or hinder the emergence of Karim Lala, Haji Mastan continued as Dawood Ibrahim. The Pujari gang, Amar Naik, Rajendra Nikalje (Chhota Rajan), Arun Gawli, Sadamama Pawle could never outfight and outgrow Lala-Mastan-Dawood nexus. In her current form, Mumbai is an epitome of India's mercantile mentality where everything is for sale. The city forms a critical part of the Kabul-Karachi-Mumbai-Hyderabad-Vizag-SE Asia opium trade route extent for centuries now. Almost everything big in Mumbai is illegal. There is too much of dirty money coming in through that route.

The only indic criminal who gave The Lala-Mastan-Dawood nexus a tough fight was Varadraajan Mudaliar (aka Varada bhai OR Bada Raajan). While he was around, the Lala-Mastan network did not gain complete control over the crime networks and routes. Unfortunately, no indic continued the "legacy" of varadabhai on India's western coast (i.e. controlling Mumbai). One interesting counter-factual question to ponder upon is that if Varadabhai would have been calling shots today instead of Dawood would the black money rolling in and out of India through bollywood would have still been used as blatantly against India as it is being done now?

It becomes more difficult for pious Islamists to carry out Jihad against kafirs when it is the kafir criminals who are controlling the sea-routes of smuggling.

The curious case of Dawood Ibrahim (DI).

If we look at the rise of Dawood Ibrahim and his life of crime and compare to Cali cartel and other criminal gangs we find that India will not be able to bring down DI as the powers that be are too intertwined in the gang's fortunes. We need to get other nations involved. However, the right question to ask here is - what does "bringing down" mean to Indian establishment?

The phrase is usually used in a sense - X brought Y down..

X brings Y down because -

1. it is in the interest of X to do so

2. Y was trying to bring X down as well

3. X is an agent of chaos.

In case 1 and 2, the prerequisite assumption is that X is a rational player. There are few things that I know and many things that do not know. But what we all know for sure is that the certain section of Indian power-centres (lets call them X) which ensured rise of DI (lets call him Y) in 1980's do not think that it is necessary to "bring Dawood Ibrahim down".

DI operates in mostly Sunni states which either control trade-routes or control oil-supply. He himself stays openly in Karachi, perhaps under nuclear umbrella of Pakistan. The fact that he operates from Karachi with brazen openness means that -

1. Either Pak has conveyed to "X" in India that taking out DI means war with Pakistan.

2. If India makes an attempt on his life and fails, they will make DI sing and X will be in trouble as many old scandals and skeletons will tumble down the cupboard.

3. Perhaps, his life is insured by the founding fathers of Pakistan (UK-PRC-USA-Saudi), perhaps upon the insistence OR silent agreement of X.

In either of the above three cases, the elimination of Y does not seem to be in rational interest of X. Otherwise, India has the capability of knocking down one individual.

Revisiting old Power-Treason equation

Thus, going back to my subject of exploring treachery and defection, its a question of which values the person holds dear and that brings us back to civilizational learning or Sanskriti. Also are tales of treachery even with a modicum of truth are basically 'blaming the other' type of deflecting accountability/responsibility?

Previous articles of mine on similar lines-

1. Addiction of Power and Treachery
2. Power and Permanence

If X is agreeing (albeit silently) upon safety of Y, is "X" committing treason against "India"? Can the actions of X be called as treason at all?

Modelling this in context above, keeping the information from this unusual and rare article at the back of our mind, we arrive at following three questions. Asking right questions is always the key.

1. Who is X in Indian establishment?

2. Which values does X hold dear?

Are those values in sync with Indic values?
Are they not?

(a) If they are in sync, then no problem, material solution exists
(b) If they aren't in sync, then one has to answer one of the harshest question - Are we Sajjana people or not?

3. What if X happens to be dominant faction of central power of India? or one of the dominant factions?

If yes, then perhaps that is the "Yuga-dharma" one has to abide to.
If no, then the challenge given by time can be answered by time alone. Every instance X is lenient towards Y, shows (assuming X is non-compassionate, rational player) somebody has balls of X tightly in the grasp, thereby forcing X to behave the way X actually behaves. One can say that X is under the influence of Imperius curse.

To be continued...

The Seven prohibitions self-imposed by Hindus - Sapta-Bandi

2012-01-23T21:19:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

I was attending a conference when people were serving non-vegetarian food (beef) as part of main course. The conference was in Europe. There was general curiosity on how come I had no qualms in consuming beef, which led to question why is "Cow" holy.

As I have made clear previously, I am mostly a "Nirishwar-vaadi". I explained them the historicity of culture and evolution of certain traditions which sometimes are misconstrued as "roots". The ultra veneration of cow is one of them. There are many other instances. The fact that fanatic veneration of cow led to other 6 famous "restrictions" on an Indic mind was the first thing I explained to them.

The famous 7 restrictions (Sapta-Bandi) are

1. and 2. Sindhu bandi (one should not cross river Sindhu and cross ocean). Marathas stopped their pusruit of pathans in 1758 on the banks of river Sindhu on Attock, because they were scared of loosing their caste and religion if the crossed the river. Holkar then famously proclaimed that he is ready to convert to Islam and cross the river to punish Abdali.

Lokmanya Tilak, Gandhi and many others who returned from abroad by boat (either for studies, profession or punishment) had to do a Shuddhi-Sanskaara for readmittance in Dharma. Thus, restriction over crossing river Sindhu and ocean (also referred to as Sindhu in sanskrit literature) formed the is Deracination number 1 in India's Dharmaarthik (Socio-politico-economic) System.

3. Shuddhi Bandi - Once a non-hindu for more than 4 years, he is not allowed to return and reconvert. This is referred to in Deval Smriti. This is deracination number 2.

4 and 5. Jaati-Bandi - The Roti-Beti Vyavahaar is allowed only within the caste. Thus, restriction over indulging in food exchange and marital exchange formed deracination number 3 in India's dharmarthik system.

6. Cow veneration - killing of cow and consumption of beef are "Mahaapaatakas" without any prayaschitta. even if they are made to be consumed forcibly, one is lost forever. (deval smriti puts a limitation of 4 years, after which a convert cannot be taken back). The holy cow became chink in India's armour.

There is one incident described by Savarkar in his memoirs of Kalapani days. The muslims were converting Hindus by forcing them to consume beef. However they were afraid of Buddhists from myanmar because they had no qualms in consuming both beef and pork. Under Savarkar, Hindu prisoners started consuming beef and pork, whenever chance arose. The conversions stopped drastically.

The crystalline form of Islam makes it impossible to adapt, we have the luxury of adapting, then why not. This is deracination 4. Hindus are known to venerate everything, after all Sarvam Khalu Idam Brahma (everything that "is" is Brahman). But the fact that they allowed one veneration to become their weak spot led to their down-fall.

7. Sparsha bandi (Untouchability) - no need to say more about this, it is very clear - this is deracination number 5.

Just like everything else, the idea of "god" or any such tradition has a "Kaarya-Kaarana Bhaava" (Law of Causality).

In fact, it is only Indian system which encourages to actively seek power and money and material wealth. More than encouragement, Artha is one of the "mandatory Purushartha (achievement)" which has to be done in order to be called "successful". Others cannot manage the confluence of the Justice, power, desire and liberation in one life.

What is Deracination?

Hence, when we say "loosing roots", I say hold on. What are the roots we are referring to. Many "traditions" which we considered as "roots" are in fact remnants of Islamic and Victorian moralistic bondages. If young people are slowly getting rid of them (which they are), I say well done and keep it up. The idea of "Pre-Islamic" moral high-ground is the holy-grail which is being sought, especially in this thread. By pre-islamic, i mean from 400 AD to 1000 AD.

In this period (after defeat of Mihirakula by Yashodharma of malwa), there was no foreign invasion on India for 600 years (except for the brief invasion of arabs which was thoroughly routed by Rajputs). It was scientifically, technologically, ideologically, culturally very vibrant society with very wide range of ideas and memes supported by the emphasis on Justice (Dharma). The code of this Dharma was very simple - every opinion has right to exist as any other opinion. Opinions are allowed to collide and best one survived, others perished. When opinions perished, opinion-holders did not. This system of just opportunities for all ideas in all aspects is Dharma.

What is remedy?

When we say reverting to "pre-islamic system" it is not suggested that we loose everything we have earned in between and go back 1000 years. The trajectory of Indian system in 2012 would have been different if we were still following that pre-islamic Indian system in essence for past 1000 years. The islamic and Victorian influence has affected our trajectory, all I am asking for a course-correction so that we will be where we ought to be in modern times. I guess this process of course-correction started in 1947. We need to re-calibrate it and accelerate it, nothing else.

Shubham Astu..

Understanding USA's political Spectrum - Part4 - Conclusion

2012-01-12T14:28:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Author: Rudra Devacharya

Continued from Part three

In conclusion, is not easy to identify any one of these groups as the “best” from India’s point of view.

Also, it is important to realize that no one group typically has complete dominance over a particular US administration’s foreign policy. The actual policy is often a vector sum of competing influences brought together by political expediency and self-interest.

For example, Clinton’s initiatives were planned by Clinton-Wilsonians but strongly modified to accommodate Hamiltonian interests (which became extremely powerful during the Reagan years.)

Bush’s Iraq War was a Bush-Wilsonian policy initiative to bring an American-controlled “democratic” regime change to Iraq. But to enact it, the Bush administration relied on support from both Hamiltonians (interest in the oil fields of Iraq) and Jacksonians (strong popular opposition to Islamism following 9/11.)

Obama is a Jeffersonian who is torn between his Jeffersonian electoral base, which favours a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a Clinton-Wilsonian foreign policy establishment, which pursues a flawed policy based on alliance with Pakistan and negotiations with “good” Taliban.

It seems clear that the Clinton-Wilsonians are the most implacable foes of India among all these groups.

Others, particularly Bush-Wilsonians and Hamiltonians, can be engaged on some specific points of convergent interest, but must be handled carefully because other aspects of their agendas are inimical to Indian interest.

Ultimately, a Jacksonian President is perhaps most likely to nuke Pakistan or take a confrontationalist posture towards China… but depending on various factors, the specific circumstances and consequences may or may not be in India’s interest.. We will have to be quick on our feet to translate any advantage out of such situations.

And finally, if India ever rises beyond the confines of the region to the beginnings of global superpowerdom… probably our best bet is for the United States to follow a Jeffersonian line of limited intervention, leaving a power vacuum that we can endeavour to fill.

To close, the Indian equivalents of the W.R. Meade spectrum.

Hamiltonian—PV Narasimha rao vadi

Wilsonian—Indiravadi

Jeffersonian—Jawaharlalvadi

Jacksonian—Thackerayvadi!

Understanding USA's Political Spectrum - Part3 - Jeffersonians and Jacksonians

2012-01-12T14:26:00.004+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Author: Rudra Devacharya

Continued from Part two

The Jeffersonians, compared to the Hamiltonians or Wilsonians, are decidedly inward-looking. They believe in a largely non-interventionist foreign policy, and in concentrating resources on domestic reforms.

Of the four groups of Meade’s spectrum, the Jeffersonians are most inclined to oppose the rise of the “military-industrial complex”… something that Eisenhower famously warned against as he was leaving office, and which is an important source of political influence for both Hamiltonians and Wilsonians.

As I mentioned earlier, many common Americans are either Jeffersonian or Jacksonian in their outlook. If you talk to an American about the India-Pakistan situation and he says something like “sort it out yourselves, it’s none of our business”… that American is most likely a Jeffersonian.

The typical Jeffersonian is to the “left” of the American political spectrum, upholding traditional “liberal” ideas such as increased Federal Government involvement in social and economic development, upliftment of underprivileged sections, civil rights, environmental conservationism, regulation of corporations, global initiatives against poverty/disease/global warming and so on. Such politicians as Dennis Kucinich are at the extreme left of this group.

However, not all Jeffersonians are leftist. Libertarian Isolationists such as Ross Perot and Ron Paul, who believe in a Fortress America model where the US military is exclusively employed to guard America’s borders and enforce illegal immigration laws, also purvey an essentially Jeffersonian foreign policy.

Jeffersonians with respect to India: As such, the Jeffersonian attitude towards India tends to be neutral… but this is largely irrelevant. That is because Jeffersonian Presidents tend to hand over control of foreign policy to Wilsonians. Jimmy Carter relied on Cold-War-Era Brzezinski, and Barack Obama relies on Clinton-Wilsonians such as Joe Biden, Richard Holbrooke and co. with Brzezinski still present as a mentor-figure. The advantage India has today is that it has cultivated a constituency with the Hamiltonians, who are much more powerful at present than they were during the Carter regime. With the Bush-Wilsonians largely in disgrace, the Hamiltonians are our primary channel of influencing American foreign policy in a positive manner at present.

4) The Jacksonians are also, primarily, inward-looking, though they differ dramatically from the Jeffersonians in terms of their domestic policy agenda. While the Jeffersonians tend to be idealists, the Jacksonians are fervent populists. In the tradition of Andrew Jackson, they stand for increased power of the executive branch (the President) relative to the legislature or judiciary; limited federal government role in the affairs of the country; the “patronage” policy of actively placing political supporters into appointed offices; expanded states’ rights; and decentralization.

Also in the tradition of Andrew Jackson, who pledged to expand the United States “from sea to shining sea”, the Jacksonians believe in America’s Manifest Destiny as the natural leader of the world and in securing America’s influence overseas by any means necessary… not shying away from unilateral military action whenever required.

Some articles on Meade’s spectrum describe Jacksonians as the only group that believes in American Exceptionalism. From an Indian point of view, this is not strictly true… ALL the four groups believe in American Exceptionalism… but the Jacksonians are the ones who most prominently wear it on their sleeves.

Jacksonians tend to be issue-based in their politics, rallying around anti-abortion movements, restriction of gay rights, defence of second-amendment gun rights, unapologetic Christian influence in schools and government institutions etc.

Jacksonians, unlike Jeffersonians, do not make “non-intervention” a cornerstone of their foreign policy views; they are quite happy to intervene in a muscular fashion whenever they deem it necessary to do so. However, their perspective is largely focused on internal priorities, so again, Jacksonian Presidents of the United States have traditionally handed over control of foreign policy to other groups. Reagan depended on Hamiltonians like James Baker and Cold-War-Era Wilsonians such as Alexander Haig. George W. Bush also depended on Hamiltonians, but ceded a large amount of policy space to the new Bush-Wilsonians or Neoconservatives of his day.

Continued to Part four

Understanding USA's Political spectrum - Part2 - Wilsonians

2012-01-12T14:25:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Author: Rudra Devacharya

Continued from Part One

Wilsonians: They are Ideological Expansionists. They seek to use the economic, political and military might of the United States to create a world where all nations look to the United States for ideological leadership. Their goal is to have all other nations willingly subject themselves to the geopolitical dominance of the United States in a global Pax Americana.

Wilsonians pretend to be “anti-imperialistic”, and conceal their intentions behind rhetoric of “democracy”, “American moral compass” and “multi-lateralism.” In this sense, the Wilsonians are the most hypocritical of all the four groups.

The Wilsonians favour democracy in other nations, only when such democracy is guaranteed to be dominated by essentially pro-American parties who will toe the American line when it comes to making policy. They are intolerant of democratic systems which could potentially be dominated by independent parties who put their own national interest ahead of America’s.

Wilsonians with respect to India: In this sense, Wilsonians are the most likely group to be anti-India. They are relatively happy with Manmohan Singh because of his willingness to accommodate American interests; but they are deeply distrustful of Indian babudom, and they are completely against nationalist Indian parties like the BJP.

In fact, even though they claim to stand for “democracy”, Wilsonians prefer dictatorships that can be successfully manipulated by America, to democratic countries that are independent enough to oppose America. The Wilsonian path to American global dominance involves “balance of power” games which essentially amount to divide-and-rule. The Wilsonians see America as the true legates of the British Empire, even though they would like to couch their subsidiary alliances in the guise of “independent democratic regimes” that only seek the leadership of America because America is morally superior.

One important thing to realize about the Wilsonians is that, since the end of the Cold War, they have actually split into two competing camps.

As long as the Cold War was in progress, Wilsonians were more or less united in seeing international Communism, specifically Soviet Communism, as the chief obstacle to ideological dominance of the world by the United States. Henry Kissinger could be described as the archetypal old-school, Cold-War-Era Wilsonian. However, following the USSR’s collapse, there is disagreement among the two camps of Wilsonians as to what America’s priorities should be.

These two camps of Wilsonians:

2A) The “Bush Wilsonians”, also commonly known as “Neoconservatives”, who gained prominence during the George W. Bush regime. They include Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rice, as well as lower-profile figures such as Robert Blackwill. Think-tanks of the Bush-Wilsonian persuasion include the CATO institute, the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Project for a New American Century.

The term “Neoconservative” is actually a misnomer for this group, because they are actually less conservative than the other camp. They sought to radically reconstruct the American foreign policy establishment’s view of the world following the end of the Cold War.

From the Bush-Wilsonian perspective, the demise of the Soviet Union was the start of a brand new era in which America had a unique opportunity as the sole superpower to shape the world for domination. Ideologically, the Bush-Wilsonians subscribe to the notion that America must be the unilateral forerunner of Western civilization, inspired by a Judeo-Christian (mainly Christian) perspective.

They deviate from the old-school, Cold-War-Era Wilsonians in no longer seeing Russia as the chief threat to the United States, and rejecting the idea that American dominance must be pursued multilaterally through such organizations as the UN.

The Bush-Wilsonians regard China as the major future threat to the United States, followed closely by international Islamism. They are fervent supporters of Israel, owing to a strongly Biblical ideology.

As a means to ensuring American global dominance, the Bush-Wilsonians have sought to reconstruct the geopolitical framework of alliances and strategic partnerships that prevailed during the Cold War. They have tried to rope in India into the American camp by offering such carrots as the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. They have also strengthened America’s ties with former Soviet Bloc nations in Eastern Europe, bringing Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia into NATO.

On the other hand, the Bush-Wilsonians have downgraded the American reliance on allies in Continental Western Europe, which they dismissively describe as “Old Europe”, even as they have sought to shore up a few key alliances of the Cold-War Era such as with the UK, Australia, and Japan.

Similarly, they have made some moves towards engaging Russia as a potential strategic partner rather than a competitor, especially in light of the challenges Russia appeared to be facing from a resurgent China and from Islamist terrorism in the early 2000s.

However, their approach to Russia has been wary, and often contradictory, as seen in the American support for the “Orange Revolution” in Ukraine, American initiatives to station missiles in East European countries such as Poland, and American backing of such individuals as Georgia’s Shakashvili who were belligerently anti-Russian. In such cases, some of the old-school Cold-War-Era Wilsonian prejudices seemed to re-establish themselves with regard to Bush-Wilsonian foreign policy.

These contradictions also manifested themselves when, after invading Afghanistan, the Bush-Wilsonians decided to rely on Pakistan as an ally against the Taliban, with fatal consequences.

The highlight of the Bush-Wilsonians’ dominance over the US Foreign Policy Establishment was of course, the Iraq War… something which has ended up destroying their credibility for the present.

Bush Wilsonians with respect to India: As far as India is concerned, the Bush-Wilsonians have made overtures to India that sharply contrasted with the dismissive attitude of the Cold-War-Era Wilsonians. However, the growth of predatory Evangelical missionary activity as Washington’s influence increased in Delhi during the Bush administration, is a warning sign that not all was well with US-India relations during this period. Additionally, the Bush-Wilsonians have repeatedly insisted that India “prove” its sincerity towards Washington, by downgrading its relationship with Iran for example.

When and if the Bush-Wilsonians regain their influence in Washington, India should game them deftly… securing all the benefits we can from their willingness to abandon Cold-War Era policy, but remaining careful not to cede an undue level of influence that might prove to be detrimental to our national and civilizational interests.

2B) Clinton Wilsonians: The second camp of Wilsonians that has emerged following the USSR’s demise are the “Clinton-Wilsonians.” They are actually more conservative than the Bush-Wilsonian “Neoconservatives”, in that their attitudes more closely reflect the classical Cold-War-Era Wilsonians’ worldview.

The Clinton-Wilsonians are the closest group to what Sanjay M likes to call “Atlanticists”. They are deeply distrustful of Russia, and less averse to China; they are also strongly invested in the idea of revitalizing the trans-Atlantic alliances with Western Europe that America maintained during the Cold War. For the rest of the world, the Clinton-Wilsonians firmly trust in the British techniques of divide-et-impera, and in our region in particular, they are the modern torchbearers of Olaf Caroe’s geopolitical agenda. They are more likely than any of the other groups to entertain the idea that Jihadi Islamism can continue to be a coercive policy tool in America's hands.

Think-tanks of the Clinton-Wilsonian persuasion include the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Most of the Non-Proliferation types who bash India while ignoring Chinese/Paki proliferation, are Clinton-Wilsonians.

The Clinton-Wilsonians showed their eagerness to reshape the world in America’s favour following the end of the Cold War, most prominently in two instances. One was the war in Yugoslavia, which was deliberately split up into ethnic nationalities, providing additional levers of control that the West could easily manipulate. The second was the secession of East Timor from Indonesia.

In both of these cases, it should be noted that the Clinton-Wilsonians proceeded to fulfill their agenda under the cover of “international consensus”, using the UN to pull together “coalitions” of nations which supported the American initiative. This modus operandi is a key point of differentiation between Clinton-Wilsonians from Bush-Wilsonians, who have been much more prone to reject the authority of multilateral bodies like the UN and carry out unilateral actions such as the Iraq war.

Clinton Wilsonians with respect to India: As far as India is concerned, the Clinton-Wilsonians (who include such functionaries as Strobe Talbott, Richard Holbrooke and Robin Raphel) are an inflexible, implacable enemy. This is the single worst group that could come to dominate US foreign policy, from our point of view. They continue the most anti-India traditions of the Cold-War-Era Wilsonians, supporting Pakistan to the maximum extent possible and winking at Chinese nuclear proliferation to Pakistan, even while they bash India for developing its own nuclear arsenal. They refuse to see India as a potential strategic counter to China, and prefer to cultivate China in a “G2” model of cooperative partnership for the short-to-medium term.

The Clinton-Wilsonians are the group who most fervently support Pakistan as a counter to India’s regional dominance, as described in George Friedman’s Stratfor article. They are the most likely group to retain the India-Pakistan hyphen wherever possible, bombard India with equal-equal psyops, and overtly rake up the Kashmir issue as a pressure point against India. They seek to restrict Indian influence to a sub-dominant level even within the “South Asian” region. This is in sharp contrast to the Bush-Wilsonians who made some attempt to dehyphenate India and Pakistan, with a view to bolstering India as strategic rival against China.

I do not see how the Clinton-Wilsonians can be won over… when they are in charge of US foreign policy, it makes more sense for India to engage with other powerful interest groups such as the Hamiltonians so as the modulate the virulence of the Clinton-Wilsonians’ initiatives against India.

Speaking of Wilsonians in general, Lyndon Johnson (who began the Vietnam war) was a classic Wilsonian president, as was his successor Richard Nixon (who reached out to China via Pakistan to form an alliance against the Soviet Union). This is an illustration of how the policy groups of Meade’s spectrum can often cut across Republican/Democrat party lines.

More recently, Bill Clinton has been a Wilsonian president who was, however, always careful to secure the backing of the Hamiltonians (whose power greatly increased during the Reagan years.)

It should be noted that there are many in the US Foreign Policy Establishment who do not fully commit to either the Bush-Wilsonian or Clinton-Wilsonian camps. Robert Gates is one such. Other examples include academics like Stephen Cohen and Christine Fair, who pretend to an independent "maverick" image but in reality always make statements that are in line with the Wilsonian flavour-of-the-month in Washington.

Continued to Part three

Understanding USA's Political spectrum - Part1 - Hamiltonians

2012-01-12T14:23:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Author: Rudra Devacharya

If we want to analyze the dynamics between ideological groups that determine US foreign policy, let’s begin with a taxonomy based on existing scholarship. A good example would be the ideological classification proposed by Walter Russell Meade. He divides US policy groups into four classes: Hamiltonian, Wilsonian, Jeffersonian and Jacksonian, based on their broad imperatives. Here are a few articles explaining Meade’s “spectrum” and its four subdivisions from the American point of view:

http://www.lts.com/~cprael/Meade_FAQ.htm

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/01/04/the_carter_syndrome

To be useful to our analysis, we must reconstruct this “spectrum” from an Indian point of view. Here’s an attempt.

In general, Hamiltonians and Wilsonians are the more “outward looking” of the four groups. Jeffersonians and Jacksonians are the more “inward looking.”

Also in general, most of the American public tend to be either Jeffersonian or Jacksonian in their broad geopolitical outlook. The Hamiltonians are mostly represented by a powerful elite of corporate and business interests. The Wilsonian base is a well-entrenched Washington intelligensia with strong influence over institutions like the State Department and the Pentagon (the “babudom” of America.) Wilsonians also dominate American academia and think-tanks.

Let’s look at these four groups one by one.

1) Hamiltonians: named for America’s first treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, this group stands for Economic Expansionism. They support global political and military involvement for the purpose of creating and maintaining a system of trade and commerce dominated by the United States, with an American agenda at the helm.

Bretton Woods was the cradle of the modern Hamiltonian movement. The Marshall Plan, and the Roosevelt-Ibn Saud agreement (which formalized the USD as the currency in which international oil prices would be set) were early initiatives undertaken with Hamiltonian support to establish American economic supremacy.

Domestically, Hamiltonians are backed by big-business corporate interests.In nations where a climate favourable to international commerce exists, Hamiltonians try to further their agenda by political means (through American-dominated institutions such as the World Bank, G8 and WTO.)

In regions where a climate exists that is unfavourable to international commerce, the Hamiltonians are most concerned with making sure nothing happens to threaten the domination of global commerce by the United States. Chiefly, this means using the military, and shoring up military alliances, to ensure America’s energy security… and sometimes, to deny other nations the energy security they would need to compete economically with America. Hamiltonians insist that American foreign policy in the Middle East and Central Asia focus on enhancing American influence over the oil and mineral resources of those regions.

Hamiltonians with respect to India: Hamiltonians generally ignored the socialist avatar of India as a lost cause, but they have begun to take increasing notice of India since liberalization and economic growth began in the early 1990s.

The most pro-India Hamiltonians would like to shape the rise of India into an economic partner and hedge against other potential economic competitors such as China. This sub-group of Hamiltonians were fully supportive of the India-US Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. They are generally in favour of outsourcing and guest worker programs, as long as American corporations continue to receive growing access to Indian markets.

The least pro-India Hamiltonians, on the other hand, are skeptical about the relatively “slow” rise of India, about the obstacles to economic liberalization posed by the exigencies of India’s democratic system, and instead choose to support China as a relatively “sure bet.” They are the ones who would gladly overlook human-rights abuses or nuclear proliferation by China as long as market access and profit mechanisms remained intact.

As India continues to develop economically, it is likely that of all the four groups, the Hamiltonians will adopt policy attitudes most favourable to India. Along the way, however, there will be hiccups: India refusing to sign the Nuclear Liability Bill (thereby denying access to American energy corporations into the reactor-building market), or India choosing not to opt for an American-made MRCA, will be detrimental to the support we have among the Hamiltonians.

All Hamiltonians are realists for whom the bottom line is all about the money.

They see the maintenance of a running trade deficit with China as the best insurance against an inimical, confrontational US-PRC relationship in other spheres of competition. They figure that as long as China is invested in the economic well-being of the United States, its will to threaten the political interests of the United States will be limited.

Very few US presidents have been overt Hamiltonians, chiefly because being overtly associated with big business interests could be detrimental to the electoral success of a US presidential candidate. However, ALL US Presidents since Ronald Reagan have relied on the support of Hamiltonians to exercise their policy initiatives, and no president since Reagan has managed to enact a policy that was opposed by the Hamiltonians.

The most overtly Hamiltonian president so far might be George H.W. Bush, who actually ran the first Gulf War in such a way that America ended up making a profit! In recent years, meanwhile, some potential and actual Presidential candidates have been openly Hamiltonian, in background as well as in terms of their policy platforms. These include Steve Forbes, Mitt Romney and the mayor of NYC, Michael Bloomberg, who make no secret of their connection with US corporate interests.

Continued to Part two

Thoughts on FDI, Falling Rupee and associated Geopolitics

2011-12-20T04:10:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

FDI issue coupled with falling rupee, it is indeed an interesting phenomenon. The Euro zone appears to have played well, and UK is caught out in its bluff. But more importantly : several disturbing and historically era-changing pointers coming together. They are as follows.

A Chinese political meltdown within the party - with several internal feuds now taking on wider dimensions. City based nearly autonomous politics appears to be developing. Somewhat like the closing stages of USSR - regional-city party bosses transitioning to satrap status. The economic changes through urbanization-industrialization appears to be accelerating the process. The implications of reference 1 will be explained in greater detail towards end of this email. [1]

The Euro will tighten its belt. But it will tide over. More power to Germany and secondly to France. But UK may now take steps to try and see how to thwart this process. It is worthwhile to explore the model that UK serves now as a front for a global financical network [nearly transnational] - and such interests, through its widespread legacy of surviving connections and subnetworks from the imperialist phase throughout the world. In a crisis they are likely to desperately use any compromises to keep their high flying capital safe and grow - including religions such as islamism, limited wars, and other forms of national level subversion. [2]

Ref 2 is extremely important speech given by polish president which will be remembered in annals of history where he literally called the bluff of UK. it also shows how comfortable poland is for first time in thousand years to be between russia and germany. There is a change in Poland how it views Germany and Russia. With Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine to the East of Poland, Polish fears of Russia have substantially winded down. Similarly after being incorporated within the EU, Polish fears of Germany have also calmed. Today thousands of Polish people are living and working in Germany and they feel at ease.

This is not to say that the old rhetoric of World War 2 is fully gone. That probably never goes. Just see UK and France! Germany and Russia are now connected through a Gas Pipeline going under the Baltic Sea and are not dependent on other pipelines through Ukraine, etc. For the rest of traffic, transit, logistics, there is no problem in Europe. Nobody is going to stop people from traveling and goods from being transported. There are many land routes, and if they are for some reason blocked, there is always the sea route. Anglo-Americans have lost the influence they had a decade ago in Eastern Europe. Germany has been able to consolidate the region within the EU.

Furthermore, Polish are also Catholics and not Eastern Orthodox! That has got a large effect on the overall perspective. Juxtapose the ban on Bhagvat Geeta in Russia happened yesterday in response to a PIL filed in russian high court backed by Eastern Orthodox Church of Russia (showing that ISKCON and hinduism is overall growing rather rapidly in Russia). One data pointer to keep in mind to guess about how India-Russia relations might turn up in coming decade.

Meanwhile apparently UK is not liking it that germany is again regaining the prominent position. here is the article from a pro UK paper whining about rise of german empire in melodramatic language. [3]

The Eurozone war has upended one millenia of European history by making Germany the sole European financial power. Bismarck and Hitler would be proud of Angela Merkel. the Eurozone debt crisis is a economic war between Anglo-Saxons and the Continentials (Germany and France). Hence UK has to be aloof. They were constant blockers of European integration for it negates their silly Balance of Power strategy played since the early 1700s War of Spanish Succession. BOP works when the opponents are divided. Once they unite they can show the door to the game players.

This particular video in Ref 4 is from BBC classic of 1970s Yes Minister was particularly popular on youtube. BBC has taken down this video from youtube and metacafe based on copyright issues. funny part is it was uploaded by BBC itself. shows how clueless has UK and the anglosaxon lobby has become. I found it on this obscure website by some other host. this video shows what I am speaking of in previous paragraph. [4]

So continental Europe has called UK's bluff. Scotland is talking of independence and joining Scandinavia union. [5]

What is happening in anglo-saxon lobby of UK and USA?

well for starters, the hot topic middle-east:

However this is just one part of it. Recent developments which I remember happened in past year vis-a-vis US and China are as following..

Up to six months back, US officials shuttled to China to urge it to appreciate Yuan.
China thought it has become a middle kingdom again and planned to expand rapidly with its reserves, even into Europe. It even talked some warmongering.
Unable to persuade China, rest of the world decided to devalue their currencies 20-30% against dollar, thus making Chinese exports costlier. (In Indian case there are no significant FII outflows, yet it gone from Rs. 44 to Rs. 54 in a short span of 4-5 months). Its better for the rest of the world to devalue themselves WRT to dollar, if China refuses to appreciate its Yuan.
To stop European conquest by PRC (marked by heir aggressive investment in Greek debt), Euro appreciated 20-30% so that investing in Euro is not that attractive (Yuan->Dollar->Euro).

Few Facts which materialized in recent history to Ponder are that

Gold now ~$1580/Oz. Used to be ~$1800 a few months ago .
Indian rupee devalued ~17% this year
Euro/$ peg still there
Euro market and US market still in doldrums
PRC cant consume what it makes

What this might lead to in coming few months?

Please keep in mind the ref 1 about internal problems which china is facing in past few months. We do not get many data points about china's internal environment. Things may not be as rosy as they try to portray.

Following is the game which anglo-saxon lobby of US-England might play in collusion of EU and docile Manmohan Singh Govt at helm of India. Given the military unpreparedness of India, she has no other option for next 15 years anyways. As mentioned other day, even if BJP comes to power, FDI in retail will not stop from happening. The percentage of good which the retail chains will acquire from India will be the key bone of contention. UPA is too liberal here, I wish and hope if NDA comes to power, they are more conservative and put the bar above 30% to 35%.

Continued unrest in China, due to loss of jobs and economic recession.
Some sort of protectionism in US and Europe through import quotas.
Partial collapse of WTO, thus making free trade unjust for the prospects of developing countries. This might already be in pipeline now as this particular reference hints at. If true, it is indeed alarming and the silence of Indian media on this issue is deafening. Are they incompetent or are they complicit? . [6]
Rupee range bound at 53-57, so that Indian IT companies will give flat 30% discount to US.
Once Rupee stabilizes around 53-57 range expect huge inflows FDI inflows in India in infrastructure and manufacturing, and there is as geopolitical angle to it (India giving them 20-30% discount at starting by Rupee depreciation).
FDI in retail will be cleared with backhand understanding that Western countries will move most of low manufacturing jobs from China to India. (the recent policy behavior of India in South African climate summit stalling the treaty which infringes upon the developing countries for pollution caused by west in past is also indicator. Do they really want the low cost manufacturing jobs to move from China to India? Will it convert India into another China with environmental problems? The tendency of US establishment find quick fix for the problems without looking for long term implications gives me shudders in spine)
Complete encirclement of China with careful balance of power, so that India or Japan cannot become military powers. This can be achieved by killing the R&D projects of ISRO and DRDO while forcing India to buy American war-toys. Japan is screwed for a decade anyways due to tsunami and Fukushima disaster.
Pakistan will be defanged and will be used as a low punching bag.
Continued stalemate in Middle East, thus keeping Turkey, GCC and Iran at bay.

The Political Dipoles of Maratha Polity - Their horoscopes and life-patterns

2011-11-25T03:44:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

I was wondering about this fact. Why is that all Maratha stalwarts did not cross the age of 50?Hence I thought of compiling the Horoscopes of these Stalwarts. Although I do not understand much of astrology, may be few people who do, might come up with some explanation. Follow the links in red, in order to read more about the mentioned historical character.

The Reference for this material are two books - Raja ShivaChhatrapati by Babasaheb Purandare and Peshwe Gharanyacha Itihaas by Pramod Oak.

Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsle (Known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj)

Died - age 50

Lagna: Simha (Maghaa nakshatra)

Soorya: Kumbha (Purvabhadrapada Nakshatra) - 7th Bhaava

Chandra: Kanya (Hasta Nakshatra) - 2nd Bhaava

Mangal: Mithuna (Punarvasu nakshatra) - 11th Bhaava

Shani: Tulaa (Swaati Nakshatra) - 3rd Bhaava

Brihaspati: Kumbha (Dhanishtha Nakshatra) - 7th Bhaava

Raahu: Mithuna (Ardra Nakshatra) - 11th Bhaava

Ketu: Dhanu (Moola Nakshatra) - 5th Bhaava

Budha: Meena (Uttara nakshatra) - 8th Bhaava

Shukra: Mesha (ashwini nakshatra) - 9th Bhaava.

The Emergence of Political Dipoles in Maratha - India

It seems that state and politics was always controlled by a team of two. This duo-pattern is interesting feature of Maratha history. Actions of one member of the duo is inexorably and severely influenced by other (both positively and negatively) and vice-versa. Hence while looking at performance of Kings and Peshwas one should examine the effect of this second-half. All these duos or dipoles emerged together on their "kaarmik stage", rose to power together, performed together and exited the stage together.

This pattern arises immediately after death of Shivaji Maharaj in 1680. This is seen from 1680 to 1857. First such inseparable duo emerged after death of Shivaji Maharaj. Sambhaji and his minister Kavi-Kalash was first of this series. They rose to prominence together after death of Shivaji Maharaj and were brutally murdered together by Aurangzeb in 1689.

Thereafter, second dipole emerged under leadership of Rajaram Chhatrapati. Two of his generals led Marathas against Mughals. They were Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav. After exit of second dipole, third emerged immediately in form of Shahu and Balaji Vishwanath who rose and exited political scene together.

Fourth dipole emerged after exit of third in form of Bajirao and Chimaji. They died and exited the scene in span of 1 year. Immediately afterwords, their sons Nanasaheb-Sadashivrao bhau were next set of dipoles. Interesting to note that Nanasaheb was more close to cousin Bhau than his own real brother Raghunathrao. Both of them rose, ruled and exited together (died 6 months apart).

In antagonistic sense, Uncle Raghoba and Nephew Madhavrao-1 was a similar Duo. Uncle Raghoba rose to prominence 4 years before Madhavrao-1 rose to Prominence. Raghoba Exited the political scene and became utterly irrelevant 2 years after Madhavrao-1 left this world. After death of Madhavrao, Nana Phadnavis-Mahadaji Shinde emerged as next duo immediately after exit of Raghoba-Madhav dipole. Even they exited political scene together in span of 2 years after ruling India for 20 years. Finally during 1857, Nanasaheb-2 and Tatya Tope was such a duo to rise and exit together.

Duo -1 : Sambhaji Bhonsle and Kavi Kalash - Ruled Maratha state (engaged in fight to death with Mughals under Aurangzeb) for 9 years (from 1680-1689)

Sambhaji Shivaji (Known as Sambhaji Maharaj)

Died - age 32

Not much known to me yet. What is known for sure is that He had Mesha Lagna (in Bharani) and Vrishchika Moon (In anuradha).

Duo - 2: Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav - They served under Chhatrapati Rajaram Bhonsle. They were so inexorably drawn to each other and formed an inseparable team that they influenced the success and later bitter animosity after certain differences arose amongst them. They influenced the policies of Marathas and Resistance movement to Mughals for 7 years (from 1689 - 1696). The partnership ended with murder of Santaji. Dhanaji continued to play important role for a 14 years more.

Duo - 3: Chhatrapati Shahu (Son of Sambhaji) and Balaji Vishwanath - Ruled India for approx 10 years (1710-17120).

Political exit age of Shahu (in 1720 after Bajirao-1 took over office of Peshwa. Thereafter he preferred to remain a titular head) - 40
Death age - 75

Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath

Died - age 58

Lagna: Simha

Sun: Simha - 1st Bhaava

Chandra: Makara - 6th Bhaava

Mangal: Simha - 1st Bhaava

Shani: Simha - 1st Bhaava

Brihaspati: Vrishchika - 4th Bhaava

Budha: Kanyaa - 2nd Bhaava

Shukra: Kanyaa - 2nd Bhaava

Raahu: Simha - 1st Bhaava

Ketu: Kumbha - 7th Bhaava.

Duo 4 - Bajirao-1 and Chimaji Appa - They ruled India for 20 years (1720 to 1740)

Peshwa Bajirao Ballal (Thorle (elder) Bajirao known as "Raau")

Died - age 40

Lagna: Kanyaa

Sun: Simha (Magha)- 12th house

Chandra: Kumbha (Shatataaraka) - 6th house

Mangal: Vrishchika (anuradha)- 3rd house

Brihaspati: Makara (Shravana Nakshatra) - 5th house - Retrogade

Shani: Kumbha (Shatataaraka) - 6th house - Retrogade

Budha: Kanya (hasta) - 1st hosue - Retrogade

Shukra: Simha (Uttara-faalguni) - Retrogde

Rahu: Simha (Magha) - 12th house

Ketu: Kumbha - 6th house

Chimaji Ballal (known as Appa)

Conqueror of Vasai and younger brother of Bajirao-1. One who stabilized western coast of India against European and Abyssinian invaders. His victory of Vasai si strategically extremely event in history of India. Made Europeans in General and Portuguese in particular a non-entity in Indian politics of western coastline until 1804. The credit of the fact that western coast did not suffer the fate of eastern coast single-handedly goes to Chimaji Appa and his ruthless campaign against Portuguese.

Death - age 35

Lagna: Mesha

Sun: Mesha - 1st house

Chandra: Karkata - 4th house

Mangal: Mesha - 1st house

Brihaspati: Mesha - 1st house

Shani: Mesha - 1st house

Budha: Vrishabha - 2nd house

Shukra: Vrishabha - 2nd house

Rahu: Kanya - 6 house

Ketu: Meena - 12th house

Duo - 5 : Balaji Bajirao and Sadashivrao Chimaji - They ruled India for 20 years (1740 to 1761)

Peshwa Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb -1): Third great peshwa in line.

Death - age 40

Lagna: Simha

Sun: Dhanu - 5th house

Chandra: Vrishchika - 4th house

Mangal: Mesha - 9th house

Brihaspati: Vrishchika - 4th house

Shani: Vrishchika - 4th house

Budha: Vrishchika - 4th house

Shukra: Vrishchika - 4th house

Rahu: Mithuna - 11th house

Ketu: Dhanu - 5th hosue

Sadashivrao Chimaji (Known as Bhausaheb)- The hero and commander of Panipat campaign

Death - age 32

Lagna: Tulaa (Swati)

Sun: Karkata (Ashlesha) - 10th house

Chandra: Mesha (Ashwini) - 7th house

Mangal: Tula (Swati)- 1st house

Brihaspati: Karkata (Ashlesha) - 10th house

Shani: Kumbha (Purva-bhadrapada) - 5th house

Budha: Karkata (Punarvasu) - 10th house

Shukra: Simha (Purva-Falguni) - 11th house

Rahu: Makara (Uttarashadha) - 4th house

Ketu: Karkata (Punarvasu) - 10th house

Duo 6 - Madhavrao-1 and Raghunathrao (the antagonistic duo but equally intense) - This duo ruled India for 10 years (1761 - 1773)

Raghunathrao Bajirao (known as Raghoba dada) - The fly in the ointment

Death - age 48

Lagna: Vrishabha

Sun: Simha - 4th house

Chandra: Makara - 9th house

Mangal: Tulaa - 6th house

Brihaspati: Dhanu - 8th house

Shani: Mesha - 12th house

Budha: kanya - 5th house

Shukra: Tulaa - 7th house

Rahu: Mesha - 12th house

Ketu: Tula - 6th house

Peshwa Madhavrao Ballal (known as Swami)

Death - age 27

Lagna: Simha

Sun: Pisces - 8th house

Chandra: Simha - 1st house

Mangal: Makara - 6th house

Brihaspati: Dhanu - 5th house

Shani: Karkata - 12th house

Budha: Kanya - 2nd house

Shukra: Tulaa - 3th house

Rahu: Mesha - 9th house

Ketu: Tula -3rd house

Peshwa Madhavrao Narayan (known as Sawaai Madhavrao) - the infant peshwa.

Death - age 23

This is the period of Duo-7: Nana Phadnavis - Mahadaji Shinde partnership. Their horoscope details not available as of yet. Duo-7 ruled India for 23 years (1773-1796).

Lagna: Karkata

Sun: Mesha - 10 house

Chandra: Karkata - 1st house

Mangal: Meena - 9th house

Brihaspati: Mesha - 10th house

Shani: Kanya - 3rd house

Budha: Meena - 9th house

Shukra: Meena - 9th house

Rahu: Kumbha - 8th house

Ketu: Simha - 2nd house

Peshwa Bajirao Raghunath (Son of Raghoba who ruined it all - Known as Palputa(Coward) Bajirao)

Death - age 65

Lagna: Simha

Sun: Simha - 1st house

Chandra: Makara - 6th house

Mangal: Simha - 1st house

Brihaspati: Vrishchika - 4th house

Shani: Simha - 1st house

Budha: Simha - 1st house

Shukra: Simha - 1st house

Rahu: Simha - 1st house

Ketu: Kumbha - 7th house

Duo 8 - Nanasaheb-2 and Tatya Tope - They did not rule India but planned and executed 1857.

Last Peshwa Dhondopant Bajirao (Known as Nanasaheb-2, the famous hero and freedom fighter Nana Sahib of 1857 war of independence) - Adopted son of coward Bajirao-2. His "Jodidaar" was Tatya Tope.

Death - age 34 (In 1858)

Death age of Tatya Tope - 44 (in 1858)

Lagna: Makara

Sun: Vrishabha - 5th house

Chandra: Vrishabha - 5th house

Mangal: Vrishabha - 5th house

Brihaspati: Karka - 7th house

Shani: Vrishabha - 5th house

Budha: Mesha - 4th house

Shukra: Vrishabha - 5th house

Rahu: Mithuna - 6th house

Ketu: Dhanu - 12th house

India - A Civilizational State - Part 2

2011-10-03T17:11:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Remembering a quote from TV series "Chanakya". This article is in continuation with the thoughts expressed in a previous article. Click on this link to access that article.

"यवनों ने भिन्न-भिन्न जनपदों के आस्था के भेद को नहीं देखा था. आक्रान्ताओं ने सभी के साथ एक जैसा व्यवहार किया था. दुर्भाग्य ही था की सभी जनपदों ने मिलकर यवनों का सम्मिलित रूप से प्रतिकार नहीं किया. क्यों?? क्योंकि हममे राष्ट्रीय चरित्र का अभाव था. यदि सभी जनपदों ने राष्ट्र के रूप में संगठित होकर यवनों का प्रतिकार किया होता तो क्या यवनों के लिए इस धरा पर विजय पाना संभव था? यदि सिन्धु की रक्षा का दायित्व सभी जनपदों के लिया होता तो क्या यवनों को सिन्धु को पार कर पाना संभव था? पर कठ, मद्रक, क्षुद्रक और मालव गणराज्यों को ये विश्वास नहीं हो रहा था की उनके प्रदेशों की सीमाओं का द्वार भी तक्षशिला हैं. जहाँ तक हमारी संस्कृति का विस्तार हैं, वहां तक हमारी सीमाए हैं. हिमालय से समुद्र पर्यंत ये संपूर्ण भूमि हमारी अपनी भूमि हैं, हमारा अपना राष्ट्र हैं. और इस राष्ट्र की रक्षा हम नहीं करेंगे तो इस राष्ट्र की रक्षा कौन करेगा. यदि हमने अबभी संगठित होकर राष्ट्र के रूप में अपना परिचय नहीं दिया तो आक्रान्ताओं का पुनरागमन हो सकता हैं और इतिहास की पुनरावृत्ति. यदि हम अबभी संगठित नहीं हुए तो आक्रान्ताओं का मार्ग प्रशस्त हैं. आवश्यकता हैं हमें एक छत्र के नीचे एकत्र होने की. ताकि ये राष्ट्र सुदृढ़ और सक्षम हो, शक्तिशाली हो, गौरवशाली हो, और हम अमृत के अमर्त्य पुत्र कह सकें की प्रशस्त पुण्य-पंथ हैं, बढे चलो बढे चलो.."

Translation: It should be noted that the invaders did not distinguish between us based on our subtle differences in political frameworks and local traditions and culture. They identified all of us as Indians and treated everybody of us who came in their way with equal brutality and suppression. It was the misfortune of ths land that all the kingdoms and states did not put forth an united front against invading Macedonian army. Had we done so, would it be possible for them to invade India and cross Sindhu River? But Kath, Malav, Kshudrak, Madrak, Kekay were unable to grasp this common-sense that Taxila is door to thier kingdoms as well. The boundaries of our Rashtra lie as far as the expanse of our Sanskriti. This entire land from Himalayas to Indian ocean is our own Rashtra, is the seat of our own Sanskriti. It is nobody's but our duty to protect the sovereignty of this land. If we do not unite now, invasions will be recurring and the history will be repetitive. What is required primarily is to unite politically under one umbrella, thus facilitating the rise and revival of this glorious Rashtra.

In different places and times, different factors make people come together as a Rashtra. In europe that factor has been language since westphalia treaty times (broadly speaking). In China, that factor is race. In India, that factor has been Dharma or sanskriti. In Pakistan, that factor was religion (of course that stands defeated now, but that is what was envisioned). The role of common Sanskriti springing from dharmik traditions is the single biggest factor keeping India together. All regions where Indics are less than 50% in population are trouble spots. The Dharmik states like nepal, bhutan, myanmay, sri lanka were not antithetical to concept of India (LTTE and Nepali Maoists are minor nuisance. If India declares itself as protector and upholder of "Dharma", I wonder how many Nepali people or buddhists from SL, Myanmar etc will remain untouched).

Unlike Westphalian states with unchanging boundaries where we require passport and visa regime, sanskritik state model does not require such considerations. Of course there were other methods in place in this model to avoid "contamination" of native life style (one of the measures being caste system). As an Indian who has roots in Indic sanskriti and way of life and trying hard to remove the deracination in my mind, I wonder why isn't Europe one country, for example. If India can exist as a nation-state, so can Europe. then I remember the differences.

A Maharashtrian guy will not complain about wealth generated by MH used up on regions like J&K and BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya-Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar-Pradesh region). Yes there are fringes who do yell (Raj Thakre et al), but they do not have issues with center using revenue generated in MH in BIMARU. Their concerns are more local (no jobs for locals and hence hate the migrants). Raj Thakre does not oppose using the funds to develop BIMARU regions. This is starkly in contrast with Europeans. Take a German, or a Dane or a french for example. He is really pissed at Greeks, Spanish, Italians, Irish, Portuguese etc. While he is right that money he creates is used up for nincompoops of Mediterranean region, he not ready to allow it happen for larger good. In exchange they want to control the policies of the PIGS region (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain - European equivalent of Indian BIMARU), which further pisses off the PIGS. A Chief-Minister of Maharashtra won't expect that BIMARU frame their policies favorable to Maharashtra in response.

Why such behavior? because the glue of Sanskriti is present in India and Indians know and cherish that glue. While this glue is present in Europe as well, they do not want to cherish or use it. Hence in current format, EU cannot exist as one rashtra, in spite of sanskritik unity. The local satraps in modern times cannot expand beyond the boundaries of westphalian state they are part of, this puts tremendous pressure on the frame of westphalian Rashtra.

e.g. The forces which control or are part of Kabul-Karachi-Mumbai-Hyderabad-Vizag-ASEAN drug trade route have been in this game for centuries. Even after 65 years of partition the separation of these forces isn't complete. Yet, India tries to act as westphalian nation-state. But a nation-state modeled on Westphalian system should have taken all the measures to stop this trade route, which would have drastically reduced the terror incidents. For large part of history, we did not accept the partition. that gave pakis a taqleef in mushy. Now the younger generation is slowly breaking off from partition. the youngistanis who support aman ki asha are silent over prospects of having pakis amongst us in form of unified India. The fact that India and Hindus are slowly accepting partition in their minds and severing all emotional ties with Pakjab, is what is making pakis go suicidal, because this connection was nourishing their raison d'être.

But how does it fare to a complex system as that of India? In this process, Government of India (GOI) is slowly becoming an "exchange" (akin to a grain exchange or a stock exchange). Various lobbies control their respective ministries instead fo vice-versa. (e.g. No matter who is in power, Mukesh Ambani controls petroleum ministry). The cumulative effect of these lobbies shape the GOI policies (remember Infosis and Reliance forcing Prime-Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during Operation Parakram). Contrast this with China. They seem to have declared that they will take back all those regions under their influence which they think are "China". And what is the motivation to do that? where to do turn to seek justification? History, of course. PRC is nation of hans, by hans, for hans.

What is India's reason of existence? I have asked this question time and again. GOI will have to come clean on this one and it better be a right answer. State of India exists for Indians is a vague answer which none will believe given the recent behavior of politicians and babus. The typical answer found in preamble will not ease the situation as it is not consistent with actions of GOI ever since that preamble was written down. If they answer, India is rashtra of hindus, they have to define what hinduism is. Thus, even the opposition (the hindutva-vaadis of VHP and RSS and Bajrangis) are part of same fallacy. They are identifying Rashtra with something which they cannot comprehend of define. When asked, the sarasanghachaalak says," what is need to define a Hindu?". It is needed as that is what they are asking for, to be declared India as "Hindu rashtra". Thus, in my humble opinion, the "genuine secularist" side and the "H" side are seen as two sides of same coin. (Genuine secularist is one who is not working on pay-role of Islamists, EJs and/or Communists. others are sickularists). We are slowly becoming a westphalian rashtra, but doing that will widen the fissures amongst us as well. those fissures may or may not be linguistic, but may be urban-rural for example.

Westphalian state require enormous centralization of power. Is this really necessary in the gram-swarajya vision of Mahatma Gandhi? If India exists for welfare of Indians, how does centralization of power and economy help welfare of such vast and diverse set of people? It will be more efficient if government is decentralized and district size states are created. smaller the states, easier and more coherent is the administration. But this also gives rise to parochialism. These same questions are posed to Indian army as well. What is doctrine of Indian army? What is it that they are protecting? and against whom? Given the refusal of Indian Army to fight against maoists and satyagrahis, show that this serious thought is being given by the army brass.

We find from this previous article that people usually have tough time in rising over their "jaati connections". The Indic scriptures give a model which might work for India, but has it been tested and do we have data?

I Don't Know !!!

लोहे के पेड़ हरे होंगे - Lohe ke Ped hare Honge

2011-09-25T23:37:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

लोहे के पेड़ हरे होंगे, तू गान प्रेम का गाता चल,
नम होगी यह मिट्टी ज़रूर, आँसू के कण बरसाता चल।

सिसकियों और चित्कारों से, जितना भी हो आकाश भरा,
कंकालों का हो ढेर, खप्परों से चाहे हो पटी धरा ।
आशा के स्वर का भार, पवन को लेकिन , लेना ही होगा,
जीवित सपनों के लिए मार्ग मुर्दों को देना ही होगा।

रंगो के सातों घट उँड़ेल, यह अँधियारी रँग जायेगी,
ऊषा को सत्य बनाने को जावक नभ पर छितराता चल।

आदर्शों से आदर्श भिड़े, प्रज्ञा प्रज्ञा पर टूट रही।
प्रतिमा प्रतिमा से लड़ती है, धरती की किस्मत फूट रही।
आवर्तों का है विषम जाल, निरुपाय बुद्धि चकराती है,
विज्ञान-यान पर चढी हुई सभ्यता डूबने जाती है।

जब-जब मस्तिष्क जयी होता, संसार ज्ञान से चलता है,
शीतलता की है राह हृदय, तू यह संवाद सुनाता चल।

सूरज है जग का बुझा-बुझा, चन्द्रमा मलिन-सा लगता है,
सब की कोशिश बेकार हुई, आलोक न इनका जगता है,
इन मलिन ग्रहों के प्राणों में कोई नवीन आभा भर दे,
जादूगर! अपने दर्पण पर घिसकर इनको ताजा कर दे।

दीपक के जलते प्राण, दिवाली तभी सुहावन होती है,
रोशनी जगत् को देने को अपनी अस्थियाँ जलाता चल।

क्या उन्हें देख विस्मित होना, जो हैं अलमस्त बहारों में,
फूलों को जो हैं गूँथ रहे सोने-चाँदी के तारों में ?
मानवता का तू विप्र, गन्ध-छाया का आदि पुजारी है,
वेदना-पुत्र! तू तो केवल जलने भर का अधिकारी है।

ले बड़ी खुशी से उठा, सरोवर में जो हँसता चाँद मिले,
दर्पण में रचकर फूल, मगर उस का भी मोल चुकाता चल।

काया की कितनी धूम-धाम! दो रोज चमक बुझ जाती है;
छाया पीती पीयुष, मृत्यु के उपर ध्वजा उड़ाती है ।
लेने दे जग को उसे, ताल पर जो कलहंस मचलता है,
तेरा मराल जल के दर्पण में नीचे-नीचे चलता है।

कनकाभ धूल झर जाएगी, वे रंग कभी उड़ जाएँगे,
सौरभ है केवल सार, उसे तू सब के लिए जुगाता चल।

क्या अपनी उन से होड़, अमरता की जिनको पहचान नहीं,
छाया से परिचय नहीं, गन्ध के जग का जिन को ज्ञान नहीं?
जो चतुर चाँद का रस निचोड़ प्यालों में ढाला करते हैं,
भट्ठियाँ चढाकर फूलों से जो इत्र निकाला करते हैं।

ये भी जाएँगे कभी, मगर, आधी मनुष्यतावालों पर,
जैसे मुसकाता आया है, वैसे अब भी मुसकाता चल।

सभ्यता-अंग पर क्षत कराल, यह अर्थ-मानवों का बल है,
हम रोकर भरते उसे, हमारी आँखों में गंगाजल है।
शूली पर चढा मसीहा को वे फूले नहीं समाते हैं
हम शव को जीवित करने को छायापुर में ले जाते हैं।

भींगी चाँदनियों में जीता, जो कठिन धूप में मरता है,
उजियाली से पीड़ित नर के मन में गोधूलि बसाता चल।

यह देख नयी लीला उन की, फिर उन ने बड़ा कमाल किया,
गाँधी के लोहू से सारे, भारत-सागर को लाल किया।
जो उठे राम, जो उठे कृष्ण, भारत की मिट्टी रोती है,
क्य हुआ कि प्यारे गाँधी की यह लाश न जिन्दा होती है?

तलवार मारती जिन्हें, बाँसुरी उन्हें नया जीवन देती,
जीवनी-शक्ति के अभिमानी! यह भी कमाल दिखलाता चल।

धरती के भाग हरे होंगे, भारती अमृत बरसाएगी,
दिन की कराल दाहकता पर चाँदनी सुशीतल छाएगी।
ज्वालामुखियों के कण्ठों में कलकण्ठी का आसन होगा,
जलदों से लदा गगन होगा, फूलों से भरा भुवन होगा।

बेजान, यन्त्र-विरचित गूँगी, मूर्तियाँ एक दिन बोलेंगी,
मुँह खोल-खोल सब के भीतर शिल्पी! तू जीभ बिठाता चल।

-रामधारी सिंह 'दिनकर'

The Triad of Quartets - A Indian perspective of Varna-Ashrama-Purushartha system

2011-09-22T23:17:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Interrelation of Varnas, Ashramas, Purusharthas system. Designed by Sri. Raama Yeleswarapu.

While describing "Indian way of life" as Hindu religion is defined, one needs to understand these three quartets and their interrelation in all spheres of human life (spiritual, personal, social, political, economic). Please follow the reference links in red font, in case you need to read more about the term or phrase.

The Triad of Quartets

First Quartet: The Ashrama system: Human life is divided into four stages.

1. Brahmacharya: The child would live with his family till he was at the age of 5. He would then be sent to a Gurukul (house of the guru) and typically would live with a Guru (teacher), acquiring knowledge of science, philosophy, scriptures and logic, practicing self-discipline and celibacy, learning to live a life of dharma (righteousness).

2. Grihastha: The householder life is spent in enjoying family life, carrying out one's duties towards family and society, and gainful labor.

3. Vaanaprastha: After the completion of one's householder duties, one gradually withdraws from the world, freely shares wisdom with others, and prepares for the complete renunciation of the final stage.

4. Sannyaasa: Completely withdrawing from the world, this is a time of complete dedication to spiritual pursuits, the seeking of moksha (freedom from the cycle of rebirth), and practicing meditation to that end.

Having divided the life in these four stages of Child, householder, retiree and Peace-seeker, Indian way of living asks each individual to pursue four Purushaarthas (Achievements).

Second Quartet: The Purushartha system

This four-fold system deals with defining a complete life with some purpose. For leading a successful and "complete" life, the four basic achievements need to be addressed. They are to be pursued in second stage that is Grihasthashrama stage of human life by each individual. They are as follows.

1. Dharma: What dharma is has been elaborately described in the previous posts of this blog. Interested readers should follow following links to read further elaboration on this fundamental concept.

A. Dharma - A Fundamental and unique Indian world-view

B. What is Dharma - the question revisited

To summarize, Dharma is a framework of rules OR constitution which is arrived upon by every component of ecology which ensures just opportunities to every component of the ecological system to pursue their inherent drive to evolve and excel and attain stable position vis-á-vis other components. A just constitution.

2. Artha: The individual, once enrolled in to the "just" system OR "Dharma" has to pursue the material ambitions using "just" means (that is without breaking "dharma"). An individual has to strive hard to attain wealth, power, resources and enrich his life materially using "dharmik means". To be addressed and pursued in second stage of life (Grihasthashrama)

3. Kaama: While an individual is attaining and accumulating power and wealth in his capacity using Dharmik means, he has to fulfill his material desires using dharmik means. The desires range from sexual to artistic. All the desires are to be fulfilled. Fulfilling desires is not only just and righteous, but necessary in order to lead successful life. The only pre-requisite is the means and actions while fulfilling the desires should be "Dharmik" and "Just". To be addressed and pursued in second stage of human life (Grihasthashrama).

4. Moksha: While one is fulfilling the material needs and desires and acquiring wealth and power, one also has to give time towards higher questions which deal with "Adhyatma" (literally - "Deep introspection"). The human being is marked by his tendency to question and marvel about question about self, universe and purpose of life and finding peace and answers to these questions in his capacity. This is fundamental trait and tendency of human-beings which sets us apart from rest of our animal and plant siblings. This aspect of human existence is addressed in the "Moksha" aspect of life. A human being is expected to find answers to such questions and attain peace or die while trying to do it. Typically addressed by human beings in third and fourth stage of human life.

While Artha and Kaama Purushaarthas (achievements) are limited to second stage of life (Grihasthashrama - House-holder), Dharma is to be followed by every individual from birth to death. The Moksha aspect typically is addressed by human beings in later stage of life after the Artha and Kaama achievements are addressed. Although this is not a rule and there are plenty of examples of individuals who turn towards addressing deep introspective questions (Adhyatma) early in life stage. However, Indian system emphasizes that the other achievements should not be abandoned for this fourth Purushaartha, unless one is completely sure. More often than not, if an individual turns towards Moksha aspect of life without fulfilling the Artha and Kaama Purushartha, the individual ends up frustrated and disillusioned in later stages of life. Hence extreme caution is prescribed by the learned individuals to those who abandon wealth and desire for introspection.

Third Quartet: The Varna System

The four-fold Varna system is the most infamous and misunderstood aspect of Indian civilization. While the misunderstanding and misinterpretation has been largely owing to the deeds and actions of many individuals who missed the point of this system and abused it for many a century, it is never too late to smell coffee and find the truth.

Out of human population in a given nation and civilization, the section of society in second stage of life is most productive and back-bone of the nation. The section of population between the age 23 to 60 is the productive population. This productive section of society is referred to as "Grihasthashrama" stage of human life described earlier. The other sections of society like children (age 0-23, referred to as Brahmacharya-ashrama, the first stage of human life), the retired senior citizens (60-onwards, referred to as Vaanaprastha-ashrama, the retiree stage of human life) are dependent on the second block of society for survival.

Thus, the population belonging to Grihasthashrama stage of life generate wealth for the other three sections of society and for nation and civilization. It is during this stage of life, people indulge in various "Dharmik" professions to fulfill their Artha and Kaama achievements. While every individual has to pursue all the achievements in their capacity, not all human beings have uniform drive towards a particular achievement. E.g. For an professional artist, the Kaama pursuits are much more important than artha pursuits, although he is earning his livelihood via selling his art. On the other hand, for a businessman, acquiring wealth is promary concern than learning and indulging in Kaama pursuits more than necessary. This rather simplistic picture is further complicated when we take into account the professional liabilities and responsibilities of individuals.

To address this issue, the productive section of society was divided into four categories. The other three sections (children and retiree population) are exempted from this social division. Another factor which contributed towards this four-fold division was the assessment by Indian sages that the power of "productive section" of society manifests herself in four different sources.

The four sources of power are:

A. Intellectual Power

B. Military and Physical Power

C. Financial and commercial Power

D. Technological, Numerical power and Land-possession.

The Indian system argued that these four sources of power SHOULD NOT be concentrated in hands of any one section of "Grihastha-Ashrama" pursuing block of population at any given time. Hence the house-holders were divided into

1. Brahmana Varna: Professional scholars, teachers, priests, intellectuals, poets, scientists, philosophers and sages. This profession was not allowed to possess any wealth, weapons and land. In return, they were accorded higher respect in society. They were supposed to live off on the donations and grants given by kings, businessmen and farmers.

2. Kshatriya Varna: Professional kings, warriors, soldiers, sportsmen and rulers. They were the section of productive society which possessed military, physical and official strength. However, they were not allowed to possess land, indulge in trade, and frame policies of nation without consultation and approval of the Brahman Varna.

3. Vaishya Varna: Professional merchants, businessmen, traders. This section of productive society was part of society which was generating wealth for rest of society and controlled the finances of nation and civilization. Hence, this was the richest section of society. However in return, they were not allowed to possess arms, military and frame policies without official approval of intellectual class and ruling class of society. Furthermore, Indian polity does not allow a king to tax more than 16% of income during peace time (which was extended to 25% during wartime). Hence this class was allowed to retain 84% of the income they generated. Hence they were mandated to indulge in charity and contribute towards developmental projects designed by intellectuals and authorized by kings. Although richest section, their social status and respectability wasn't dependent upon the wealth they possessed but charities they indulged in.

4. Shudra Varna: Professional farmers, agriculturists, labourers, craftsmen, engineers, technologists, doctors, lawyers and artisans (developers and propagators of various technologies prevalent in different times and places). This section of society possessed the power of numerical superiority. Along with this, they possessed rights to till the land, develop and propagate technologies and various crafts. However in return they were not allowed to indulge in long-distance trade, possessing arms and weapons, and frame state policies.

There was fifth varna known as Panchama varna (in modern times referred to as Dalits), This was the section of society which were "excommunicated" either due to indulgence in criminal activity (Chaandala) or due to pursuing professions which were considered as "impure" and "dirty" by rest of productive society. Such professions included leather-work, butchering, or removal of rubbish, animal carcasses, and waste. Dalits work as manual labourers cleaning streets, latrines, and sewers. Engaging in these activities was considered to be polluting to the individual, and this pollution was considered contagious. As a result, Dalits were commonly segregated, and banned from full participation in Hindu social life.

With time and space, the severity of this social ostracism varied. But largely in later phase of 2nd millennium C.E, the severity was on the rise until independent India banned the social ostracism and introduced corrective measures in form of affirmative actions to rectify the injustice done to this section of society in history.

The Confluence of three Triads

Being "Indian" refers to living on the confluence point of these three quartets described above. While this point of confluence where all three quartets were in perfect harmony with each other was mercurial and capricious, India and Indic society has been around this point of perfect equilibrium for considerable duration of history.

According to a famous verse from Rigveda, the message of life is Charaiveti (Keep on walking). This phrase also describes the efforts of Indic and Dharmik civilization based in India to remain close to this point of equilibrium through the currents of history. While doing so, certain excesses were committed in each of the three quartets.

India, Indics and Dharmiks have to keep this mind and keep on walking and striving to be as near as possible to this perfect point of equilibrium as individual, community, society, nation, civilization and ecology.

Shubham astu!!!

India's Pakistan appeasement policy - The China factor

2011-09-07T14:13:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Continued from previous post relating to Pakistan appeasement policies by Mombatti brigade

By - Rudra Devacharya

The state of Pakistan, or at least those groups with the capacity to exercise any sort of central authority there, have lost confidence in their ability to preserve the identity and viability of Pakistan. Allah, Army and America were the pillars of the state, the guarantors of its survival through the previous century. Today Allah and Army are fighting each other in a purer-on-pure conflict, and America is repeatedly sticking bamboos in the butt of the Pakistani state. The present and potential ruling elite, the empowered classes, are in a state of panic, reaching out desperately to all sorts of potential benefactors to guarantee the continuance of their empowered status. These include:

A) Maha-Islampasand Pakis: including many within ISI and Paki-army, who are still holding out in the hope that a pan-Ummah caliphate can be established and subsume present-day Pakistan. However, this group is grappling with twin calamities that have publicly exposed and undermined the fantastic and unsustainable nature of their goals; firstly, the exhaustion of fighting a ten-year war against drones, airstrikes, Afghan National Army (ANA) artillery and US special forces in the Northwest, and secondly, the crisis of credibility that has resulted from the decapitation strike against Bin Laden. Additionally, the increasing transformation of the Taliban into a Pashtun nationalist movement has undercut the legitimacy of the Maha-Islampasand Pakis' argument that being Purest of All is the solution to saving Pakistan.

B ) Chinipakis: the remaining portion of Paki-army and ISI, plus many elements of the "Pakistani anglicised elite" political class (such as Zardari) who are relying on the Chinese to save the day. They are the ones doing their damndest to mortgage the whole Pakistani state as the newest province of China. These, from the Indian point of view, may be the most dangerous... for reasons I will go into later. They are playing for a coup. a two-front war prosecuted by China and Pakistan against India, that will at once humiliate India, make America less relevant, and seize Kashmir in a move that will confer political legitimacy on the leadership claims of the Chinipaki group.

C) Pro-West Pakis: A very small number of Paki elite and Paki-army who are still pro-America, and cling to the hope that America will not leave the used condom shredded in the garbage when it pulls out.

D)India tolerating Paki-liberals: An even smaller number of Paki elite who are, not pro-India, but at some level hope that India can sort things out and save Pakistan's skin (since the alternatives are all worse.) These are the Pak-tea-house type Paki liberals, who still hate India and Hindus, who still justify the creation of Pakistan, but all said and done feel more affinity for India than for China, Ummah or America.

E)Les petit-bourgeoise (small zamindars and lower middle class): A substantial number of Pakis who do NOT belong to the traditional echelons of power, i.e.Army/ISI Top-Brass or "anglicised political elite" class; and who still hold out the hope that Pakistan as they once knew it can survive all this. Of all the categories this is the ONLY social class which actually has a vested interest in the survival and success of Pakistan as an *independent* nation state when all is said and done. They also consist of a les petit-bourgeoise (not-exactly-middle) class, ranging from shopkeepers to professionals and bureaucrats to smaller landowners who are not quite big enough to be "anglicised political elite" class" in the Zardari/Sharif mould.

What India is trying to accomplish is not "strategy", at least not a Pakistan strategy that is viable in the long term. What India is trying to do is to make the best of a bad situation and strengthen Section D by drawing Pakis of Section E to it. We are playing to gain time, and avoid a two-front war with Pakistan+China; not to destroy Pakistan or redeem Pakistan or reclaim POK or any of those grand designs. We are playing for time. That is all.

Section A is hopeless, and gives us entertainment value (IED blasts in Pakistan, Drone strikes in FATA) at best while conducting terrorist attacks against Indian targets at worst.

Section B is very, very dangerous and their plans must be thwarted at ALL costs.

Section C is small enough to ignore entirely as a power bloc, but they may serve some limited purpose in advancing those few aspects of the Indian and American agendas that overlap.

However, there is still some hope for Section E (along with Section D) to create the sort of temporary respite that might postpone the inevitable collapse of Pakistan for a few decades, while neither engendering an overwhelmingly dangerous situation on our borders nor swamping us with a massive humanitarian disaster just as we are beginning to make economic progress.

Section E, it must be noted, does have considerable presence in the paki-army... the sons of petit-bourgeoise Pakistanis who joined the armed forces, and who have lost confidence in the Elite-origin generals to run the country after seeing the disaster perpetrated over the last ten years. Some of these Section E Pakis may even be as high up as Brigadier and Major General. These guys, as well as the Section C (pro-US) Paki-army brass, are the intended audience of our dovishness that everyone from Dr. Manmohan Singh to B Raman to Bharat Karnad have been prescribing ("non-threatening posture" et al.)

India is hoping that these Section E Paki-Army officers will become a pro-Indian (or at least, "not-anti-Indian") constituency, and forestall the designs of either Section A Maha-Islampasand elements of Paki-army, or Section B Chini-pasand elements of Paki-army.

Make no mistake, the Section D/E Pakis do not love India, they do not necessarily favour forgive-and-forget with India, they do not necessarily see the Indian position on Kashmir as justified; but they DO see that India/Kashmir is far from the greatest problem that Pakistan faces right now, and they will take India's help in strengthening their position to ward off those other, bigger problems. For now. Or so India hopes.

So. Why are Section B are the MOST dangerous Pakis?

Because it may be that China really wants a war. Preferably against India, with Pakistan as its ally.

China has been acting for the last several years, more aggressively than ever towards all its neighbours. Not ONE conciliatory move is made, but panga is taken with Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines AND India at every opportunity. Why?

Because China or at least, one very powerful faction in the Chinese govt, including the PLA, is convinced that China needs a war.

Why does this faction think China needs a war?

It's like this. Throughout the 1990s, the Chinese accumulated what they thought was going to be their greatest source and permanent guarantee of wealth; forex reserves of Western currencies, and more importantly, debt owed by Western governments. Mainly the US government.

That component, the debt holdings, in the form of US treasury bonds and such, grew enormously through the 2000s, as the US borrowed money to finance its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Chinese export markets in the US also grew enormously in the 2000s until things reached a point where Chinese industries relied on US consumer markets to absorb a very large portion of their output.

When the 2008 financial crisis hit the Western world, especially the US, China's b@lls went into their mouth. It was a double-threat for China. On the one hand, all the US debt they held could become devalued in case of a depression. On the other hand, if US consumers stopped buying things, Chinese industries (which relied on US markets to absorb their output) would suffer. The resulting impact felt at home, by the Chinese economy, could have devastating consequences for a totalitarian regime.

What option does a country have when so much of its wealth is in the form of debt? It must monetize the debt. It must turn the debt into something real, as soon as possible, before that wealth (in the form of treasury bonds) becomes more and more devalued as a result of its debtor's financial troubles.

How can China monetize the debt it holds? Here are some ways.

1) It can demand that the US pay up. But the US doesn't have money. If the US prints money, then China's own holdings become further devalued (as it happened with QE2, which further aggravated the situation.) Same for other Western countries, such as EU nations, which are also reeling financially.

2) It can print money and inject it into its own economy to increase domestic consumption. But this will inevitably lead to inflation, and cause civil unrest. Very bad idea, beyond narrow limits. Keeping tight control over money supply is much healthier from a totalitarian regime's point of view.

3) It can invest money into tinpot countries and gain goodwill. To some extent China has been doing this. But sooner or later, some returns have to be there no? So far, what returns have been generated by China's magnanimous projects in Sudan, Zimbabwe etc.?

4) It can start a war. It can arm up, invest wholesale in defense R&D, in procurement of foreign weapons systems and manufacture of its own weapons systems. And it can use these weapons systems in the pursuit of other kinds of power i.e. geostrategic power. An additional benefit to this method of monetizing its debt is that it does not lead to civil unrest (at least as long as China can claim victory) but rather, to an upsurge in jingoistic nationalism that strengthens the position of an authoritarian government.

There you have it. Starting a war is likely considered a good option, given the prevailing economic situation, by a powerful faction within the ruling establishment of China. The US and West do not care if China starts a war with India; it will damage two of their biggest competitors. And Pakistanis of Section B, above, very much want this to happen and want to participate on the Chinese side.

The ONLY thing that would make the Chinese hesitate in starting a war with India would be India's possession of a credible nuclear deterrent. And what has Bharat Karnad, Dr. Santhanam told us few months ago about India's thermonuclear bomb, between the lines, about that?

In summary, I am guessing that the GOI has understood all this. It understands that the danger of a two-front aggression by China and Pakistan is not just real but imminent. It has calculated that we cannot win, and that we cannot count on external help to win. It may have calculated (ref: Dr. Santhanam) that we do not even have a credible nuclear deterrent to prevent this from happening.

So in a sense, just as we are the only hope for Pakis of Sections D and E, Pakis of Sections D and E are our only hope to avert disaster. That's why we're seeing the appeasement policies.

Discerning the intentions of Mombatti Brigade

2011-09-07T13:44:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

By - Diggaj Babu

Posting this few hours after today's terrorist attack on Delhi-High-court. How true are the intentions of the candle-lighting brigade of India, which comes out after every terrorist attack, to light candles and profess the "aman-ki-asha" type projects? How true are the intentions of those who wish for peace with Pakistan, ignoring all the imminent threats posed to India in general and Hindus/Sikhs/Buddhists of India in particular, owing the rabid hatred of pakistanis towards latter? It seems that everyone from Prime-Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to ex RAW chief Sri. Bahukutumbi Raman, to strategic analysts and thinkers like Sri. Bharat Karnad have been towing the lines of "aman ki asha" type projects.

The information coming out from various sources seems to be confounding and confusing, given the general understanding in Indian community that a stable and prosperous Pakistan is not in India's interest, but neither is a failed and Talibanized Pakistan. The only pakistan that is in India's interest is one which is in constant struggle within itself. When this is known, why the deliberate misinformative posturing by Government of India and strategic and intelligence community?

First danger is that of "tagging". If a person is officially in a position where he is known to be getting information/seeking information/ and analyzing them for potential policy decisions - then he may attract deliberate misinformation, or cleverly entwined misinformation within correct ones. Of course superior intelligences would have thought of all of this and keep multiple sources for cross-checks. But it is still possible to release informations from centralized disemination mechanisms combined with tactical visible ground movements - which will give a coordinated "disinformation".

Second danger is that there can be a saturation of false/semi-false/true information all mixed up together - so that a time comes when the analyst no longer sees value in any of them. This is a process of conscious rejection and wipe-out of what is seen as old ideas which are no longer working - without perhaps being aware that some of this rejection could the result of an earlier failure to recognize the real processes.

Over and above all this, perhaps the larger issue is whether an analyst also consciously analyzes himself. Is he aware or constantly trying also to explore the basis of his own ideologies - value-systems - and axiomatic proclivities, and their changes over time and experience? If he had really made that "stereotyping" Hindutvavaadi comment - did he stop and think as to what internal or subconscious processes brought out that reaction in him?

Trying to be "neutral" is a sadly funny business - because it forces one to be constantly over attentive to the two extremes one is trying to be neutral - relative to. Thus the "purely" neutral person is in constant and unsure undefined "middle ground", and perhaps much much more aware of "extremes" than those he clubs as extremists.

Because of lack of clear cut ideological or value-system commitments that can order given situations or positions, over-anxious to be "neutral" persons in constant touch or with a heightened awareness of "extremes" are always at the risk of at one point of time, identifying with one of these extremes as a means of ideological certainty.

I think it is most important to encourage what we call Mombatti brigade. There is no point in badmouthing and lambasting the Paki aam-Janta. People are not targets of criticism - it is what they do, their ideological apparent drives, as matching with actions [people run multiple identity forgeries - they may represent themselves as one of many according to opportunity and hopes for gains - not necessarily of silver but also of esteem and power] - which are targets of criticism. Perhaps my sympathy for Mombatti-brigade shows in this too - because I have always stood for a future of absorption of both the people and the land into India.

A huge test of proper Mombatti-ism comes up when anyone expressing overwhelming softness for parts of Pak - people/culture/gov/society whatever, is asked his feelings about whether he would be ready to accept inclusion of Pakistani people and territory into an enlarged future India. Inevitably - the greatest love for Pakis in the form of Mombatti-ism mostly appears to accompany an intense anguish at even the thought of incorporating these dearly beloved people and lands into close societal proximity.

Not wanting Pakis in our midst - while becoming "soft" on them as a rashtra/people - is the height of self-deluding deception. But then again, such turns of ideological attitudes over a life time, and given high-ranks and exposure to "information" - should be studied. I would see it as almost inevitable and a good illustration as to how people in position could have gone towards greater accommodation with hostile ideologies in our history - while having fought such ideologies for a major part of their lives. This is no accusation against B.Raman ji - but for me a curious window into a very real intellectual process. A very crucial process needing observation and studying.

Rajput-Maratha relations of 18th century - Pointers towards future course of Republic of India

2011-08-25T16:43:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Rajput-Maratha relations are very interesting. By 16tth-17th century, Rajputs had been intricately networked with Mughals. The Islamic rebellion of 1580s was quelled by Akbar using rajputs. They were linked to Mughals and their other networks by means of marital alliances as well. Thus, for all practical purposes, 18th century Rajputs were extensions of Mughals (so some extent, there are notable exceptions, but that will be out of scope here). For Marathas who were new to this politics of north, there were too many undercurrents which they took time to understand.

Bajirao-1 had kept amicable relations with Rajputana states by far and large. After his death, the empire became so heavily entangled in politics of North and South (Kaveri basin and south of Krishna-Tungabhadra river) that it was very hectic for nanasaheb to maintain his personal presence everywhere. Furthermore, unlike his father, he was not a soldier by character. He was an armchair politician of excellent calibre.

The questions asked frequently by those interested in socio-politico-economic history of 18t century India are that -

1. What were the reasons for Marathas to get entangled in politics of Rajasthan?

2. Could we attribute it to the lack of a national identity? Or was it payback time for all the harm that rajputs did in Maharashtra under the employ of the mughals?

As far as I understand, cash was major reason for this entanglement. The trade routes of Indian ocean were controlled by Europeans, by the time Mughals were defeated and marathas in Pune started framing India's policies. Shivaji began to raise navy after gap of about 650 years. Meanwhile, the ship-building tradition had almost vanished amongst "hindus". Along with it vanished the tradition of naval warfare.

Mughals and Islamic kings were from central Asia and gave no importance to navy and neglected the traditional hold of India (and Indian powers) on Indian ocean for 5 centuries (From early 1100s to 1650s). In those 650 years, the necessity of Europe to reach out to India grew dire and in that process they developed better tools to reach India some way or the another. Most important of those tools were better ships loaded with better guns.

Marathas had to reinvent the wheel of Ship-building and naval warfare completely. While they were the ones who started meddling with european powers, Maratha navy was essentially a brown-water navy (which is still the case in modern republic of India, who is successor of maratha India). With this navy they did conquer bases like Andaman and other islands, they could not encourage Indic mercantile ventures to go out and trade with rest of the world under the aegis and protection of Maratha navy (something which even modern Indian state isn't doing much).

There are various reasons for this, one of them being by that time Hinduism had acquired many negative self-flagellant attributes, one of them being "Sindhu-Bandi" (First of the seven legendary "prohibitions" on Hindus). Sindhu-Bandi prohibited Hindus from crossing Indus river and Indian ocean. The Vaishya-class of India was more of less following this norm.

The process which "generates surplus wealth" is trade. One who controls trade-routes, has access to surplus resources which he can use at his disposal. While agriculture and taxation also contribute towards "sustenance", they cannot create impetus for growth.

The predecessors of Maratha-India that is Mughal-India and Sultanate-India had lost this control. Hence policy makers of Maratha India were perpetually cash-strapped, even when the taxation of the territories ruled by them was quite efficient. They were not much indulgent rulers, nor did they spend money on private or public construction projects, except religious revival (all temples destroyed by muslims were rebuilt in Maratha-India).

Shivaji had abolished the mansabdari system and started paying fixed salary to all his soldiers and employees with a calibrated pay-scale. However, when Aurangzeb invaded deccan, he started luring the deccan satraps by offering them Mansabs and jaagirs (fiefdoms). To prevent this attrition of men, the third Maratha king (Rajaram) abolished the reform brought in by his father (Shivaji) and implemented by his elder brother (Sambhaji) in spite of adverse conditions and started offering Jaagirs to Maratha chiefs.

He decentralized Maratha resistance (which is why they could outfight Mughals for 27 years and emerge victorious thereafter). This decentralization implied Maratha chiefs could win territories from Mughal occupied India and could extract the chauth (25% revenue) to sustain themselves. They would not receive any assistance from Maratha state, except authorization.

This school of thought sustained after Mughals died out and marathas retook India. War and expansion require revenues. With no access to trade and revenue generated therein, the options left in hand was agriculture, taxation or loot. The output of war-ravaged country in form of taxation and agriculture is very less (it takes time for farmers to come back and confidently till their lands).

Rajputs had allied themselves with Mughals since days of Akbar. many of the Rajput kings were intimately linked with Mughals (mother of Aurangzeb was a Rajput princess, if I remember correctly). Hence the wealth was intact in Rajputana. While Rajputs showed no tendency to regroup and expand outside Rajputana (akin to Marathas), they were sitting on pool of wealth, part of which had escaped Mughal retribution for at least 100 years prior to expansion of Marathas. Furthermore, Marwadi people had knack of trading and accumulating wealth (in fact, Peshwas encouraged Marwadis to migrate to Maharashtra and start their ventures there). This Marwad region too is in Rajputana.

Marathas which emerged out victorious, belonged to the school of Rajaram and not Shivaji and Sambhaji. Hindu society was not yet ready to venture out to trade. To do so, they had to depend on Europeans and Indians had lost the technology to build ships which could compete and outmatch europeans due to negligence of 600 years. These cash-strapped expanding Hindus needed money to fuel their expansion. Territory controlled by Rajputs had that money stored in their coffers. Marathas had no qualms in looting or asking for 25% chauth, in fact it was righteous thing to do as that would fund their expansion and temple-rebuilding ventures.

Furthermore, Rajputs were divided, hence comparatively easier to cherry-pick. They belonged to "Hindu" side (and hence kafir side) of Mughal network, so attacking them won't provoke Indian "Ummah" to give a clarion call for Abdali-like Jihad again (which resulted in Panipat), hence attacking Rajput was more "politically convenient". There are many other factors (like Shinde-Holkar-Peshwa triangle which emerged after 1745, entanglement of Marathas in politics of Ganga-valley and few more). All these factors resulted in Maratha-Rajput relations. Similar other region was Bengal, something similar happened there from 1740 to 1751.

The Indian national identity was very much present, hence we cannot attribute the infighting of Indians and Hindus to lack of national identity. There are numerous letters from period of Shivaji to later Peshwas (until 1802) where "India for Indians" sentiment is spoken of and acted upon time and again. Panipat campaign is pinnacle of this sentiment. So we cannot attribute it to "lack of national identity" in Marathas. Marathas, after 1715, were "India", just like from Samudragupta onwards, Guptas were "India".

Nor can it be attributed to vengeance. Most Maratha-clans claim their Rajput ancestory (Shivaji came from Sisodiya clan). Marathas did not even avenge the Jaipur Massacre of 1748 by Madho Singh, when they were at their peak, forget the Mughal invasion of Raja Jaisingh century earlier in 1660s.

Marathas had not yet consolidated Ganga-plains to profit from agricultural revenue. They could not profit from trade revenues for reasons mentioned above. Taxation can do only so much. They were in process of consolidating and eventually controlling two agriculturally most productive regions of India (Ganga Valley and Punjab). For doing so, they needed to keep armies. For that they needed cash. and hence whenever they needed cash, they turned towards Rajputana.

Did Marathas have choice of allying with Jats, Rajputs, Sikhs against Muslims? Was it really a "Hindu Vs Muslim" conflict? No, IMHO. It was more of "Dharma Vs. Islam" conflict. This again does not imply that all actions of marathas were Dharmiks. But what they were aiming for, were fighting and dying for since the oath of 14-year old Shivaji in 1645, was idea of Dharmik India ruled by Indians (Hindavi Swarajya and Surajya).

History is for learning. The mistakes of Marathas are known to everyone. Why did they commit them? What were the reasons which forced them to choose this style of governance? Few of those reasons are elucidated above. Modern republic of India will be facing exactly similar choices as Maratha India in near future. They have committed few mistakes akin to Marathas, without learning from them. But the "Panipat" of modern ROI is yet to happen, they moves have started.

Modern Abdali (taliban) is mustering armies in Northwest and indigenous najibs and Shujas (radical islamist groups of Indian origin) and Holkars (Hindu leaders and parties like Digvijay Singh and Congress respectively) have begun showing their cards and playing their moves. If they want stable and peaceful India, ROI must embrace Maratha legacy and not shun and shy away from it. Whether ROI likes it or not, after Maratha-India, they are the "Successor iteration" of Hindu-India. They should draw their ideological inspiration and legacy of power from Marathas and not from British and Mughals.

The vision of "Dharma" or the "End game" was clear in Maratha minds.. Is it clear in the minds of their current successor? What is the reason of existence of Republic of India? Has ROI defined and answered this critical question yet?

सिंहासन खाली करो - Dynasty!! vacate the throne, people approaching

2011-08-20T09:11:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

सदियों की ठंढी, बुझी राख सुगबुगा उठी,

मिट्टी सोने का ताज पहन इठलाती है;

दो राह, समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,

सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

जनता? हां,मिट्टी की अबोध मूरतें वही,

जाड़े-पाले की कसक सदा सहनेवाली,

जब अंग-अंग में लगे सांप हो चूस रहे

तब भी न कभी मुंह खोल दर्द कहनेवाली।

जनता? हां, लंबी-बडी जीभ की वही कसम,

"जनता,सचमुच ही, बडी वेदना सहती है।"

"सो ठीक, मगर, आखिर इस पर जनमत क्या है?"

'है प्रश्न गूढ़ जनता इस पर क्या कहती है?"

मानो, जनता ही फूल जिसे अहसास नहीं,

जब चाहो तभी उतार सजा लो दोनों में;

अथवा कोई दुधमुंही जिसे बहलाने के

जन्तर-मन्तर सीमित हों चार खिलौनों में।

लेकिन होता भूडोल, बवंडर उठते हैं,

जनता जब कोपाकुल हो भृकुटि चढाती है;

दो राह, समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,

सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

हुंकारों से महलों की नींव उखड़ जाती,

सांसों के बल से ताज हवा में उड़ता है,

जनता की रोके राह,समय में ताव कहां?

वह जिधर चाहती,काल उधर ही मुड़ता है।

अब्दों, शताब्दियों, सहस्त्राब्द का अंधकार

बीता; गवाक्ष अंबर के दहके जाते हैं;

यह और नहीं कोई,जनता के स्वप्न अजय

चीरते तिमिर का वक्ष उमड़ते जाते हैं।

सब से विराट जनतंत्र जगत का आ पहुंचा,

तैंतीस कोटि-हित सिंहासन तैयार करो

अभिषेक आज राजा का नहीं,प्रजा का है,

तैंतीस कोटि जनता के सिर पर मुकुट धरो।

आरती लिये तू किसे ढूंढता है मूरख,

मन्दिरों, राजप्रासादों में, तहखानों में?

देवता कहीं सड़कों पर गिट्टी तोड़ रहे,

देवता मिलेंगे खेतों में, खलिहानों में।

फावड़े और हल राजदण्ड बनने को हैं,

धूसरता सोने से श्रृंगार सजाती है;

दो राह,समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,

सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

Poet - Ramdhari Singh "Dinkar"

Kshama Dayaa Taap Tyaag - A moving poem by Ramdhaari Singh "Dinkar"

2011-07-14T02:20:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

क्षमा, दया , ताप , त्याग , मनोबल सबका लिया सहारा

पर नर व्याघ सुयोधन तुमसे कहो कहाँ कब हारा?

क्षमाशील हो रिपु समक्ष तुम हुए विनीत जितना ही

दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको कायर समझा उतना ही

अत्याचार सहन करने का कुफल यही होता है

पौरुष का आतंक मनुज कोमल होकर खोता है

क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को जिसके पास गरल है

उसका क्या जो दंतहीन विषरहित विनीत सरल है

तीन दिवस तक पंथ मांगते रघुपति सिन्धु किनारे

बैठे पढते रहे छंद अनुनय के प्यारे प्यारे

उत्तर में जब एक नाद भी उठा नहीं सागर से

उठी अधीर धधक पौरुष की आग राम के शर से

सिन्धु देह धर त्राहि-त्राहि करता आ गिरा शरण में

चरण पूज दासता ग्रहण की बंधा मूढ़ बंधन में

सच पूछो तो शर में ही बस्ती है दीप्ति विनय की

संधिवचन संपूज्य उसीका जिसमे शक्ति विजय की

सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को तभी पूजता जग है

बल का दर्प चमकता उसके पीछे जब जगमग है

-रामधारी सिंह "दिनकर"

Mercy, resolve, tact, tolerance you've tried everything and some

But o my king of men when did Suyodhan succumb?

The more forgiving you were In your humane compassion

The more these rouge Kauravas pegged you as cowardly ashen

This is the consequence Of tolerating atrocities

The awe of machismo is lost When one's gentle n kindly

Forgiveness is becoming of The serpent that's got venom

None cares for the toothless, Poisonless, kind, gentle one

For three days Lord Raam kept Asking the ocean for a passage

Sitting there he petitioned Using the sweetest words to engage

When in response there was Not a whisper from the sea

A raging fire of endeavor Rose from Raam's body

The ocean took human-form 'N supplicated to Raam

Touched his feet, was subservient A slave he had become

Truth be told, it's in the quiver That lies the gleam of modesty

Only his peace-talk is reputable Who is capable of victory

Tolerance, forgiveness and clemency Are respected by the world

Only when the glow of strength From behind it is unfurled

Poet - Ramdhaari Singh "Dinkar"

The Engineered Language of Sanskrit

2011-07-05T21:10:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

In continuation with the thoughts from this article.

Sanskrit is the language which is seen to be used by all post Paninian composers. Prior to codification of grammar by Panini, there were similar languages prevalent in subcontinent. The vedic language and the many forms of Prakrit languages were extent in the subcontinent and beyond. The new language which emerged after its coding by Panini, managed to incorporated and created following things..

1. alphabets which accommodated the linguistic patterns and requirements of many of the contemporary languages spoken (including Vedic "Vaak").

2. it created a means to use many of the customized Prakrit words in context one wished to use for describing an emotion OR a phenomenon OR an idea. Few syllables were omitted, few vowels were omitted which were not utilized by bulk of Indian populace. It is similar to way we twist and bend English language today to put in whatever words we wish to use. The Indian OR the Mumbaiyya English is an example of that "tendency" of human beings. I feel similar tendency existed then, although not as mundane as mumbaiyya. I know it is a clumsy metaphor but nonetheless..

Thus there was a language which was partially "engineered" and not completely evolved by random process of natural selection as is the case with Prakrit language (the very word Prakrit says that it is naturally evolved language). Since this language was engineered, it belonged to no one and everyone who understood it. It could be used with extreme flexibility and accommodation for describing very complex emotions and ideas which otherwise would have remained abstract and "asphuta (unspoken)".

Sanskrit was not to be used by sabziwalas.. when chanakya's mother went to buy commodities in market of Patliputra, she must have conversed with the merchants in Ardha Maagadhi language. Even chanakya spoke with his disciples and public in similar local languages. But he had Sanskrit available to write his "arthashastra". This Sanskrit could be accessed and understood perfectly by that class of society which was trained in grasping this knowledge. It was duty of this class of society to "download", translate and simplify whatever knowledge was "uploaded" on Sanskrit to his local language and disperse it amongst his audience and pupils. Thus, Sanskrit was a common platform where everyone "uploaded" the fruits of their deliberations. And this is what is the primary function of this language. Much similar to today's computer languages like COBOL and C++ etc...

The fact that a particular database is accessible to all who can use it, is easy to compose poetry in and hence easy to memorize, easy to write (extremely phonetic) and easy to speak marks the features of this common linguistic platform.

The question "what was" or rather "who was" being linked is very important and pertinent one. What is the purpose and motive behind "linking" people OR certain set of people from different "Jaatis"?

As I said in previous paragraph, those who could understand this language flawlessly were linked. It takes 6 years to learn and understand Sanskrit grammar with all its complexities. Hence "Vyaakarana" is one of the most important domains of knowledge in Indian system. There was a large pool of individuals who had taken this intensive training in this language present all over India. This pool was networked by means of their schools, universities and laboratories. Whilst I do not much know whether the technology too was uploaded on Sanskrit platform, the presence of books like "Vaimanika Shastra" give us the hint that it was so. But we do not have much of the technological literature available in Sanskrit which was uploaded by the technologists (mostly from various trade guilds categorized as Vaishya and Shudra varna) then. But then we have also the record of millions of manuscripts burnt down when our temples and libraries were destroyed in medieval era. The contemporary people chose what to save and what not to save based on their ability, capacity and inclination. But that is different matter altogether.

Pool of individuals is made up of individuals and individuals are born in Kula/gotra/family belonging to particular group. This group is what we call as "Jaati". When a particular member of a particular "Jaati" get connected to this "Sanskrit platform", it is natural his immediate family will be connected too. it is also logical to expect that the member will teach the language to his progeny, if progeny is interested. Hence the progeny might "think" of connecting to the network by following the foot-steps of his/her father. Once this becomes widespread, there arises a new "Jaati" of those who has access to this database.

They again might be proficient in local language, but they might start indulging in marital relations with those families which are similar to them in access to this platform and ideas therein. This is where the varna turns into a new "jaati". If this continues we have network of these newly formed "Jaatis". This defeats the original purpose but still keeps the system vibrant as long as the members of these "Jaatis" are at least proficient at what they are "reputed" of doing. Most of the "brahmin" jaatis were and are unable to speak OR understand Sanskrit in medieval and modern times. This is complete defeat of the very reason why this idea of varna, ashrama and purushartha were propped up. The moment this started happening, Sanskrit stopped "linking" and necessity to engineer and create a new "Sanskrit 2.0" arose. That necessity still has not been met yet.

We need a Panini 2.0 today. I have an idea of "Panini Project". But then it is too big, slightly abstract and will require refinement and inputs in terms of ideas, finance and efforts from many influential players. But time to create a new "Sanskrit 2.0" has come. A new "further refined" language (Pra-sanskarit) which will accommodate the needs of modern India which is trying to rise above the abrahmic shackles of previous millennia. A language which will be as flexible as Panini's sanskrit to accommodate new words, phrases and ideas of Greek, Latin, Germanic, English, Arabic, Persian and Indian origin, complex clauses, poetic and technical flexibility and huge "Bandwidth" to carry the ideas generated by modern day intellectuals.

This is one of the most important steps towards tackling deracination. We need Maharshi Panini to reincarnate in spirit...

Parashuraam - A metaphor bridging Caste System and Varna System

2011-06-28T20:20:00.003+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

In continuation with thoughts from this article

The story of Parashurama has many serious repercussions because to understand Parshurama, one has to understand caste system, varna system and their interrelation.

India has been and will remain the land which is occupied by various "Jaatis" which share this land and are linked by a common thread of "Sanskriti". Here I present another view of looking towards India from socio-political PoV.

1. Jaati or Castes are those networks of family which lived nearby and were indulging in "roti-Beti vyavaahaara" with each other. Roti-Beti means social security and marital relations to propagate and strengthen the network and its stake in geography or "Desha" of India. Each "Jaati" has their own customs traditions arising out of and modified according to demands and constraints of space and time.

As described elaborately on this blog on countless occasions, Dharma is set of rules which accommodates the drives of each of the components of ecology to evolve and excel. In sociological context, it is set of rules to accommodate needs and aspirations of all the networks/clans/Jaati/castes (all are interchangeable) in desha of India. This dynamic equilibrium of jaati based networks rooted in land of India and connected to each other by thread of dharma is known as "Raashtra".

2. Combinations of such Jaatis living together formed village and so on and so forth. Until the level of village, there is no need of linking these Jaatis together because everyone knowns everyone else.

3. As political, sociological, economic and sanskritik consolidation started, there became necessary to have certain groups which could look at the bigger picture. One of the main pre-requisite of such group is that this group itself should be root-less and possession less. Because since India is very rich geography, it needs to be protected over period of time from newer tribes coming from outside India to settle here. For defending the territory, military consolidation is essential and for that to happen, weaving all the indigenous "Jaatis" in one thread of "sanskriti" is essential since it is real pain in arse to control a huge and diverse geography, that is India without participation of most of Jaatis. This participation comes by giving them stake in "common neighborhood watch".

4. This is where the need to have a Brahmana and Kshatriya arose. Brahmin varna was supposed to draw its cadre from all "Jaatis". Some members of "Jaati" should give up their possessions and become "Jaati-less" and start interacting with similar other "Jaati-less" individuals from other regions, Jaatis. Slowly, there arose necessity to have a link language and an artificial language of "Sanskrit" was designed.

5. The "Kshatriya" too has to be "Jaati-less". A raaja although the "owner" of "rajya", was not supposed to have any property of his own. Raja was head of state and state owned the land and Raja owned the land by the virtue of being head of state. A Kshatriya cadre, just like brahmin cadre, was drawn from all Jaatis. Simply because every Jaati wants to have a "stake" in this order so that they are represented and their issues are addressed.

6. This is difference between Varna and Jaati. Varna is selected cadre drawn for purpose of administration, linkage and sanskritik conversation across the "desha" of India so that India remains not only a "desha (geography)" but also a "Rashtra (nation)" with common civilizational heritage.

7. With time, these Varnas became new "Jaatis" since they started owning property and possessions individually. This owning of property suddenly converts one's vision from civilizational to parochial.

8. There is a reason why it happened so.. Purushaartha system asks every individual to pursue artha and kaama (wealth, power, desire) using just (dharmik) means. Whereas, the Varna specifically asks a person to give up pursuit of individual OR parochial artha and kaama for national or civilizational artha and kaama.

9. This is the reason why in one of my previous posts, I said that Indic dharma requires a certain level of prosperity for functioning. In less prosperous geography and climate, the tree of dharma cannot take root. anyways..

10. While it is known that the members of Brahmin and Kshatriya "Varna" become property-possessing "Jaatis" over the period of time, there was a system which was churning out new individuals to form new line, to replace the "fallen" varnas and take their place and continue the "tantra" (system). During Abrahmic invasions, and more so during British invasions, this system where property-less networks were suddenly churned up to make national level decisions was damaged. The last example which see is house of Peshwa. Of course there are many such examples, Peshwa is just one of them for demonstrating the point.

Example - The caste of Peshwa was "Chitpavan brahmin community". It is interesting to know that this Jaati did not exist before 1720. It was during Marathi translation of Skanda Purana funded by Balaji Vishwanath (father of Bajirao-1) put in the story of 14 dead bodies resurrected by Parashurama and hence origins of Chita(Pyre) Paavan (purified/resurrected) brahmin class. In all previous literature, there is no special word for brahmins from Konkan. They are simply referred to as brahmins. Furthermore, there are many "theories" on origins of this caste (including Jewish, persian, greek, afghan, Berber origin and what not). But this is not the point. The point is, when this community suddenly rose to prominence, they catapulted the expansion of Indic dharma (Bajirao-1, Nanasaheb, Madhavrao-1). They churned the society of India and along with them rose many other lower castes (Shindes and Holkars which were from shepherds and agricultural labour caste) to "Varna" of "Kshatriya" bypassing the traditional 96-clan Maratha kshatriya class of Deccan.

After 3 generations, this community too let go all the steam and Post Madhavrao-1 (post 1772), the maratha movement simply kept existing due to initial momentum generated by these three kings. The reason of their fall (which started from Nanasaheb himself) is their sense of "property" and their attachment to it. Bajirao-1 had nothing to lose as he owned nothing worthwhile. The seats of Baroda, Kolhapur, Nagpur were from elite property owning class and were not much instrumental. Seats of Pune, Indore, Dhar and Gwalior became like Kolhapur,Baroda, Nagpur seats after 1790s. And all this when the Varna-system was totally collapsed in India for 600 years. Whatever manifested in form of this social engineering of India in 1600s and 1700s, was not ideal, yet had its roots in a faint memory of an "utopian Raam Rajya".

11. Everyone gets attached to one's achievements. Once attachments arises, vision narrows and priorities change from expansion to preservation. While both qualities and visions are essential. Dharma withstood the onslaught of 1000 years due to the firmly rooted property owning class which sustained the possibility of dharmik ressurection in India by preserving the bond of Sanskriti. Dharma expanded when the property-less class was propped up to overcome the inertia of rooted class.

12. This is the dynamic of dharma. When "Brahmin" becomes a "Jaati", it loses all its potency. Same is with "Kshatriya".

13. This is where the Parashurama comes in. Parashurama not only shows the struggle to achieve equilibrium sharing of responsibilities, duties and hence power associated with it between the "Brahmin" cadre and "Kshatriya" cadre which is drawn from "all jaatis" in geography of India. It also shows the tendency of inertia and ruthless preservative instinct of those networks which have found roots in property (represented by kaartavirya arjuna) and who go to any extent to preserve their power and keep "things going".

14. The power of Parashurama is in his ability to rebuild a "brahmin" cadre by drawing individuals from "all Jaatis". To be precise, all those Jaatis who in given space and time are dharmik but are not owing much of property, and with bleak prospects. By rebuilding Brahmin cadre, I mean by convincing the property-less "Jaatis" to give up some of their members. And by convincing those members to give up the Jaati-based identity and priorities, give up their personal aarthik and Kaamik aspirations and channelize them towards civilizational and national arthik aspirations. This convincing is tough job.

15. If point 14 is not taken into consideration, within no time, Parashurama becomes Hitler.

Jaati-system (castes) is mainstay of India, while various Jaatis in India (networks/clans/castes/Lobbies) come and go, move up and down. Varna and Ashrama system along with Purushartha system links these Jaatis towards a common goal - that is establishment, preservation and protection of Dharma in prosperous geography of India. If the fail-safe measures to ensure the cleanliness of four-fold systems of Varna-Ashrama-Purushartha are not kept optimally operational with rigorous self-check at regular intervals, the new lines to replace the "fallen" members of Varna won't come up and system will start collapsing. As it did in past 1000 years.

This is one of the main aspect of our "Dharmaarthik" deracination.

If you like this line of thoughts, please continue reading this article.

India - A Civilizational state

2011-06-28T20:12:00.001+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

I am beginning to question the very premise of associating the word "nation" with geography.

see,

there is a word nation.

there is a rashtra

there is a desh

there is state

there is nation-state

while nation-state has confined the people-traditions-language with geography, the other words are not confined by this.

A Jew, his nationality on passport might be french or american or roman or bantu or yuan, his nation was always israel (even if israel did not exist as a nation-state). Ever since Judaism has existed, the rashtra of Jews is Israel. It did not matter whether the rashtra actually associated with geography was materialized. Jews thought and still think their "nation" as Israel. here too, what they mean is exactly similar to when our people talk about rastra and rashtra-vaada.

Desh is any point (or set of points) in space-time. a small dot on your wall is desh and so is asia. this is how patanjali yogsutras define desh. In popular terms it has been used as town OR province OR nation-state in different eras. Until 1950s, the word pardesh was used for vidarbha by a villager living in marathwada (both are regions of Maharashtra). So, the word "desh" has strictly geographical connotations and no ideological OR heritage based connotations. Desh does not describe a group of people with particular common heritage. Rashtra does.

What is nation? What is Rashtra? it is sense of belongingness which people feel arising out of shared heritage. When people feel they are a nation, they become a nation. Ever since Judaism exists, Israel has been the "nation" of Jews. the actual israel came into existence after WW2. But, the nation of Israel existed. Association of "Rashtra" and "Desha" is what is made mandatory by modern socio-polity. While it works in today's world, one has to acknowledge that there existed different systems in different places and times. The shared heritage which produces sense of belongingness can come from anything - language, religion, culture, race. usually, it is complex mixture of all of them with one factor dominating over others. In Europe, that factor is language. In China, that factor is Race (Han ethnicity). In India, that factor has been sanskriti.

There was and is a common sanskritik thread which weaves all "Desh" (Regions) in India. While the rulers of different "Desh" were interacting with each other, the factor which kept the janta interlinked was sanskriti. So whenever a Raja from particular desh would unite substantial portion of subcontinent, other Rrajas would adjust their policies in accordance to the behaviour of the raja of central power. That central power need not unite entire subcontinent politically to create a nation.

In desh of India (which includes entire subcontinent from afghanistan to myanmar), at different times, different quasi-rashtras existed. These quasi-rashtras were ruled by raajas (leader/leaders) either elected or appointed. The commonality which defined quasi rashtras was never language. None of the Indian empire was based on language, in spite of such huge linguistic disparity, this is hallmark of India which sets it distinctively apart from Europe. Otherwise, India is like Europe in many aspects.

Then how did these quasi-rashtras exist? quasi rashtra is term referred to describe regional OR caste based satraps who foster narrower identity than rashtriya one, more and rise to power. Usually on jaati (caste). In history and even today, there are different groups, vying desparately to have larger stake and share in "desh's" property and produce. Its akin to different lobbies trying to win contract. This struck me when I read somewhere that the argument which karunanidhi et al were giving after 2G scam that they brought more money in TN for people of TN. While people have thrown him out of power, showing that there still some good left in the country, this puts a light on how these "rajas" representing their "quasi-rashtras" view "desha" and desha's property.

The Government of India (GOI) functions in similar fashion. Imagine a project is to be discussed to revitalize the transportation of nation and to have a coherent transport policy in India which will efficiently link rail-road-air-ship (riverine and maritime) based means of transport. One has to understand that there is a road lobby, rail lobby, air lobby and two lobbies of ship. these lobbies will fight out with each other like drunk cocks in order to get larger share of funds and more importantly, importance. The problem of India today is importance and money go hand in hand. GOI is infact a place where various lobbies vying for different agendas for India as "desh" on different issues interact with each other (either together or against).

Various rajas of various quasi-rashtras behave similarly in course of history. But then if this was a feature of India dominantly, india would have been perpetually balkanized. this is not the case, like europe, India shows cyclical consolidation. Cycles where these quasi-rashtra identities break down to form a huge monolith and subsequent fragmentation of that monolith with fragments of different shapes. It holds equally true for entire subcontinent. Once a common social-economic-spiritual code is enforced throughout, the political unity does not matter much in India. When that common code is endangered, the fragmented political power unites in India (willingly or forcibly, catalyst of this fusion differs in different times).

Hence I like to talk about river based rashtras. In India the rashtriya identities have been arising along river valleys. now, when we talk about India as a civilizational state based on geography of india, we are in fact talking about sanskriti based on concept of dharma.

The operating system of Sanskriti

Sanskriti is incorrectly translated as culture. Sanskriti's more accurate translation would be "operating system". It has two word roots Complete (Sam) action (KRt). A complete code of justifiable "actions" to be taken in various aspects of personal, spiritual, social and political life of different individuals is sanskriti.

Sanskriti of dharma is an operating system which has been installed and updated in the desh of Indian subcontinent since ancient times. Hence this "sanskriti" is also referred to as "sanatana dharma". Hence most of the rashtra, quasi-rashtras and jaati based identities and polities which emerged, flourished and vanished in this geography were in accordance of this eternal set of guidelines (sanatana dharma) aka Indian operating system.

While this is accepted by everyone, the biggest defeat and one of the fundamental deracinations of Indian sanskriti post 1857 was that the political connotations associated with this word vanished. If it deals with all justifiable actions, the justifiable actions also include war. But Sanskriti has now become a "soft-power" tool onlee. Sanskriti became culture and dharma became religion and Indians lost the identity. Savarkar is very right when he says there are two rashtra's living in India - Hindu and Islam. But I think he meant it in reference of operating system (sanskriti). There is nothing against any particular religious or spiritual view-point in India. We have entertained views and ideological schools of vast degrees. And there was nothing in it which hinted at partition of desh to accommodate two rashtras.

The Road Ahead

India is today at partially consolidated stage. at this stage, a moment of choice will come when India will have to expand OR will collapse. It cannot hold on to this fail-safe point indefinately. Stability after a while in "desh" like India fosters quasi rashtras and pseudo rajas (DMK in kaveri valley, sharad pawar in krishna-godavari valley, many rajas in Ganga Valley). They are modern versions of many of their predecessors in same regions.

A small determined minority can bring in structural change in polity of India. Which are the popular candidates today? Indian army is one such small but determined minority. There are few others maoists, Mullah and Jihadis.There are few more candidates too which I would not enunciate here because that is not the point. Which one of these determined minority will succeed? I don't know. What is the use of any dharmik but silent majority? no use. However, this is just one aspect of coin.

Other aspect is when silent majority is "forced" to take a stand. This is usually brought about by philosophers, saints, thinkers working in tandem with some visionary Raja who has "right" frame of mind and has will, determination and ability for complete reconquest of "desh". Such type of changes bring about overhaul of system.

Once the fissures are produced, it is always in interest of one group to maintain those fissures. It depends upon how well financed that group is and what is their depth in time (in how many generations, will that group fatigue out). In this aspect, Indians are the best. They usually win by tiring out the adversaries (ideas OR enemies) and prevail. But for that there has to be a networking of society. Earlier this was done be roaming brahmins, sanyasis, saints etc.

In modern times, largely owing to their own karma and partially due to political compulsions, the brahmin-sanyasi-sadhu class does not command similar respect. Is there a group which can replace this and do similar function? If yes, then we are moving towards complete overhaul of system which were forced to live in past 1000 years. If not, one of the determined minorities mentioned above will succeed.

If you liked this post, please continue reading this article..

Kaal - Chiron now on Facebook...

2011-06-17T07:22:00.002+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaal-Chiron/122400217846138?sk=wall

Thank you..

How to Establish Dharma?

2011-06-17T05:46:00.008+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Disclaimer: Due apologies, if this article sounds cryptic. Actually it is not and cursory knowledge of Indian world-view will make this post crystal clear.

For the purpose of establishing dharma, first and foremost, one has to understand the subtle undercurrents of Mahakaala Mahadeva (great time). One has to do the tapasya(to strive for) to ensure one is in sync with the mind of Mahadeva just like Sri Raama worshipping Rameshwara before invading Lanka and Arjuna obtaining Paashupata before Kurukshetra great war. Once we are sure that one is in sync with Mahadeva and that He is amicable with the way you are and the way you intend to do your further tapasya, one has to do following.

1. Understand one's own swabhaava or Prakriti (one's true nature, potential)

2. Understand the swabhava and sthiti of the system and decide whether one is better suited to uphold word of dharma OR spirit of dharma. This is very crucial choice. One may wish to be a "Krishna", but one has to analyze in step 1 whether one possess the capability to be one? Perhaps one is more akin to Uddhava OR Bhishma OR Shikhandi and doing that role would suite one. This has to be decided. Wrong choices lead to heart-breaks and incomplete tasks. This happens due to wrong judgement of self out of misplaced sense of self-righteousness. This is the first filter where most of the "candidates" fail.

3. Understand the swabhava and the sthiti of the Loka (people/target market) whom one wishes to mobilize

4. Understand the swabhava and sthiti of recipient. If possible gain the knowledge using all three proofs acknowledged by Shaastras in Nyaya and Samkhya - Pratyaksha (direct observation), Anumaana (intra and extrapolation), Shabda (history).

5. Do necessary changes and make 1, 2 and 3 mutually acceptable and comfortable.

6. Try and judge whether Mahadev requires Dharma to be upheld in Word OR in spirit. This is second filter where many other candidates fail.

7. Once one has accomplished (Siddha artha) these 6 six steps, action must begin.

If one has passed through these 6 rigorous steps of self-examination (Aatma-Pariksha), the confusion seldom arises. Of course, one has to keep returning to each of steps 2-5 and check how system is behaving and change 1 accordingly. One cannot change 1 indefinitely (different "jeevas" have different degree of malleability. Once one reaches that point, stop and hand over the reigns to your shishya (disciple/successor).

This is the most important parameter. While one is going through these 6 steps, one has to train disciples and pass on your understanding in them and let them blossom in their own capacity. When one reaches the point when one can no longer remain malleable and hence relevant, one retires. the civilzed disciples take over the mantle and the movement continues. Failure to produce disciples is the third filter.

For establishment of dharma, one may need to perform in various actions which are dharmik OR asurik over long period of time. The ability of making right choice at right moment depends upon how truly has one made Mahakaala amicable.

If this is done, the deeds per se do not matter. The deeds are usually judged OR perceived by people based whether they were dharmik or not. Some times, it is necessary to follow the system with strict adherence to the premises and laws, just to imprint about the minds of followers the necessity and urgency of doing so.

Sometimes, however, for the greater good, some rules need to be bent, others need to be broken so that the spirit of dharma is salvaged which is being held hostage by puritans and literalists. Both orthodox literalists and unorthodox mavericks are required for the cause of establishment and protection of Dharma in society. One can understand their role by understanding the following simple 2/2 matrix.

Spirit of Dharma followed Spirit of Dharma not followed

Word of Dharma followed Sri Raama Duryodhana

Word of Dharma not Followed Sri Krishna Ashwatthama

For dharma to be established, one needs to make examples. And for making examples, Ravana is as important and necessary as Raama.

What is Asura? What is meant by being Aasurik? Does being "aasurik" always mean being "Adhaarmik"?

Asura refers to a compulsive leadership model. Compulsive and seemingly autocratic leadership per se is not Adharmik on its own as long as there is a robust mechanism of relieving the compulsive leader from his responsibilities once he has served his purpose of establishing OR protecting the Dharma. This is done is two ways- either by changing the leader OR by changing the behavior of leader. More often than not, it is difficult to let go power after having acquired it so meticulously.

This is where being Krishna OR Raama OR Parashurama comes into picture. These "leaders" gave away their power effortlessly after achieving what they had decided of achieving during their tapasya (the 6-step thought process mentioned above). Being Krishna is not enjoying joys oflife alone. Being Krishna is being able to give everything up in moment and stay "untouched" by all attachments.

Only such leader can do what Parashurama OR Krishna OR Raama did and digest the "Karma-Fala" arising out of those actions. Otherwise, one descends into being Ghori OR Gazni OR Aurangzeb or Stalin OR Hitler OR Sahastraarjuna OR Raavana and countless other Asuras in space and times. This is where the circle of this thought process completes itself which started with this article on necessity of concept of Avatar in Indian narrative. It is far more beneficial if society performs the duties well avoiding the total breakdown of the dharmik system. Dharma will be re-established at all costs, if it breaks down, this is sure. But the cost required for the same can be avoided if the state, society and individuals follow and protect the Dharma in the system by taking the necessary small but timely measures.

Saavadhaan !!!!

स्वतन्त्रता - अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी - Message to Pakistan- Poem by A B Vajpayee

2011-06-06T13:40:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

एक नहीं दो नहीं करो बीसों समझौते, पर स्वतन्त्र भारत का मस्तक नहीं झुकेगा ।

अगणित बलिदानो से अर्जित यह स्वतन्त्रता, अश्रु स्वेद शोणित से सिंचित यह स्वतन्त्रता ।
त्याग तेज तपबल से रक्षित यह स्वतन्त्रता, दु:खी मनुजता के हित अर्पित यह स्वतन्त्रता ।

इसे मिटाने की साजिश करने वालों से कह दो, चिनगारी का खेल बुरा होता है ।
औरों के घर आग लगाने का जो सपना, वो अपने ही घर में सदा खरा होता है ।

अपने ही हाथों तुम अपनी कब्र ना खोदो, अपने पैरों आप कुल्हाडी नहीं चलाओ।
ओ नादान पडोसी अपनी आँखे खोलो, आजादी अनमोल ना इसका मोल लगाओ।

पर तुम क्या जानो आजादी क्या होती है? तुम्हे मुफ़्त में मिली न कीमत गयी चुकाई ।
अंग्रेजों के बल पर दो टुकडे पाये हैं, माँ को खंडित करते तुमको लाज ना आई ?

अमरीकी शस्त्रों से अपनी आजादी को दुनिया में कायम रख लोगे, यह मत समझो ।
दस बीस अरब डालर लेकर आने वाली बरबादी से तुम बच लोगे यह मत समझो ।

धमकी, जिहाद के नारों से, हथियारों से कश्मीर कभी हथिया लोगे यह मत समझो ।
हमलो से, अत्याचारों से, संहारों से भारत का शीष झुका लोगे यह मत समझो ।

जब तक गंगा मे धार, सिंधु मे ज्वार, अग्नि में जलन, सूर्य में तपन शेष,
स्वातन्त्र्य समर की वेदी पर अर्पित होंगे अगणित जीवन यौवन अशेष ।

अमरीका क्या संसार भले ही हो विरुद्ध, काश्मीर पर भारत का सर नही झुकेगा
एक नहीं दो नहीं करो बीसों समझौते, पर स्वतन्त्र भारत का निश्चय नहीं रुकेगा ।

कवी एवं वक्ता - माननीय श्री अटलबिहारी वाजपेयी

Translation:

Not one, not two, sign as many agreements, the head of free India will not bow
This Freedom !!!which is earned after millions of martyrdoms,
This Freedom !!! which is irrigated by our blood, sweat and tears,
This Freedom !!! which is protected by sacrifice, penance and hardwork by us,
This Freedom !!! which is dedicated for upliftment of humanity in sorrow,

Declare this to those who plot against this freedom, that the game of a "spark" is always dangerous,
One who wishes to burn the house of neighbor, More often than not ends up burning his own home...
Do not dig your grave by your own hands, O Foolish neighbours...

O Myopic neighbours, open you eyes and don't try to barter this freedom, it is priceless
But what do you know, what freedom is?? When did you ever fight for it?

You won two pieces under the protection of British, Didn't you feel ashamed while partitioning your Motherland?

Don't ever think that you shall protect this kind of freedom by buying American weapons
Don't ever think you shall evade the coming destruction by taking economic aid from Americans,
Don't ever think you shall win Kashmir by threats, Jihad and atrocities...

Attacks, atrocities, massacres won't make you bow the head of India..
Till Ganga keeps flowing, till the tides in ocean persist,
As long as fire still has heat and Sun radiates light,
There will be millions of lives and youths ready to willingly sacrifice their life on the altar of Motherland for protection of her freedom

Not Just America, even if entire world is against us, they won't be able to snatch Kashmir from us,
Not one, not two, sign as many agreements, the resolve of free India shall never break....

Poet and Orator - Mr. Atalbihari Vajpayee

जाबार दिने - On the day of my departure - Gurudev Ravindranath Thakur

2011-06-01T19:10:00.000+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

जाबार दिने - Jaabar Dine - A Bangla poem by Ravindranath Thakur in Devanagari script..

जाबार दिने एइ कथाटी बले जेन जाई

जा देखेछि जा पेयेछि तुलना तार नाई..

एइ ज्योति: समुद्रमाझे

जे शतदल पद्म (पद्द) राजे

तारह मधुपान करेछि

धन्य आमी ताई..

जाबार दिने.....

विश्वरुपेर खेलाघरे

कतई गेलेम खेले

आपरूप के देखे गेलेम

दुटि नयन मेले..

जाबार दिने.....

परश जारे जाये ना करा

सकल देहे दिलेन धरा

एइखाने शेषे करेन जदि

शेष करे दीन ताई..

जाबार बेला एइ कथाटी बले जेन जाई

जा देखेछि जा पेयेछि, तुलना तार नाई...

On the day of my departure, let these be my parting words,

whatever I saw, whatever I experienced in my life, is incomparable...

I have tasted the nectar of magnificent lotus

bloomed in the infinite and luminescent ocean (of Parabrahman),

I am fulfilled...

In the theater of this world

I played many games and assumed many roles

While doing so, "I" "saw" "me" (Aatmagnana-Moment of Moksha/Nirvana)

With my own eyes... (here eyes are metaphorical - I perceived my "self")

"Beings" which cannot be perceived, (faculties of aatman(I), mind, intellect, body etc)

I have "retained" them in "me" (Dhaarana - to retain, maintain, resolve)

Now if "they" wish to stop here,

"they" are free to do so...

At the moment of departure, let these be my parting words....

Bandi Bir - बंदी वीर (An imprisoned warrior) - Ballad of Sri Banda Bairagi by Rabindranath Tagore

2011-05-25T14:02:00.002+05:30

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Bengali Poem Bandi Bir written in Devanagari script. the Poem is composed by Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur on legendary Sikh warrior Banda Bairagi.

पंच नदीर तीरे,
वेणी पकैया शिरे
देखिते देखिते गुरुर मन्त्रे
जागिया उठिछे सिख
निर्मम निर्भीक..

हजार कंठे गुरुजीर जय
ध्वनिया तुलिछे दिक्
नूतन जागिया शिख
नूतन उषार सुर्येर पाने
चाहिलो निर्निमिख...

अलख निरंजन
महारब उठे, बंधन टूटे
करे भयभंजन
वक्षेर पाशे घनउल्हासे
असी बाजे झनझन
पंजाब आजी गरजी उठिला
अलख निरंजन...

एसेचे से एक दिन
लक्ष पराने शंका न जाने
न राखे कहारों ऋण
जीवन मृत्यु पाएर भृत्त
चित्त भावनाहीन
पंच नदीर घिरी दशतीर
एसेचे से एक दिन

दिल्ली प्रासाद कुटे
होथा बार बार बादशाहजादार
तंद्रा जेथेचे छूटे
कादेर कंठे गगन मंथे
निबिड निशीथ टूटे
कादेर मशाले आकाशेर भाले
आगुन उठेचे फूटे

पंच नदीर तीरे
भक्त देहेरे रक्त लहरी
मुक्त होइलो की रे...
लक्ष्य वक्ष चीरे
झांके झांके प्राणपक्षी समान
छूटे जेनो निज नीरे
वीर गण जननी रे..
रक्त तिलक ललाटे परले
पंच नदीर तीरे

मोगल शिखेर रणे
मरण आलिंगने
कंठ पकड़ी धरिलो आंकरी
दुई जन दुई जने
दंग्शन खटो श्येन विहंगो
जूझे भुजंगा सने
से दिन कठिन रणे
जय गुरुजीर हांके शिख वीर
सुगभिर निश्वासे
मोटो मोगल रक्त पागल
दीन दीन गर्जने..

गुरुदासपुर गढे
बन्दा जखन बंदी होइलो
तूरानी सेनार करे
सिंहेर मत शृंखल गत
बंधी लए गेलो धरे
बन्दा समरे बंदी होइलो
गुरुदासपुर गढे

सम्मुखे चले मोगल सैन्य
उड़े इ पथेर धूलि
छिन्न शिखेर मूँद लोइया
वर्षा फलके तुली

शिख सात शत चले पश्चाते
बाजे शृंखलगुली
राजपथ पढ़े परे लोक नाही धरे
वातायन जाए खुली
शिख गरजे गुरुजीर जय
प्राणेर भय भूली
मोगल ओ सिख उड़ालो आजिके
दिल्ली पथेर धूलि..

पड़ी गेलो कडा काडी
आगे केव प्राण करिबेक दान
तारी लागी तरातरी
दीन गेले परे घाटकेर हाते
बंदीरा सारी सारी
जय गुरुजीर कही शत वीर
शत शिर दे दारी..

सप्ताह काले सात शत प्राण
नि:शेष होए गले
बंदार कोले क़ाजी दिलो तुली
बंदार एक छेले

कहिलो इहारे वधिते होइबे
निज हाते अवहेले
दिल तार कोले फेले
किशोर कुमार बंदा बाहुतार
बंदार एक छेले..

किछु न काहिलो बानी
बन्दा सुधीरे छोटो छेलेतीरे
लोइलो वक्षे तानी
क्षण काल भोरे मथार उपरे..
राखी दक्षिण पानी
सुधु एक बार चुम्बिल:
रंगा उशनीश खानी..

तार पर धीरे कोटि बास होते
छुरिका खासाए आणि
बालकेर मुच चाहि
गुरुजीर जय, कनेकनेर कही
रे पुत्र भय नाही
नविन बदन अभय किरण
ज्वाली उठी उत्साही
किशोर कंठे कांपे सभातल
बालक उठिल गाही
गुरुजीर जय किछु नाही भय
बंदार मुच चाहि..

बन्दा तखन वाम बाहू पाश
जरैलो तार गले
दक्षिण करे छेलेर वक्षे
छुरी वसैलो बले
गुरुजीर जय कहिया बालक
लुटाइलो धरा तले.
सभा होलो निस्तब्ध
बंदार देहो छिंरिलो घातक
संराशी करिया दग्ध
स्थिर होए वीर मरिल, ना करी
एकटी कातर शब्द
दर्शन जन मुदिल नयन
सभा होलो निस्तब्ध

English translation of the Poem:

On the banks of the five rivers,
Up rise the Sikhs spontaneous;
With hair coiled above their head
Inspired by the Mantra their Guru spread
Fearless and unyielding.....
"Glory to Guruji" - thousands of them
Resound the horizon;
At the rising sun of the dawn
The Sikhs stare with deep emotion
With new awakening.

"Alakha Niranjan!" (means 'Holy Spotless'= God)
The war cry of the rebellion;
Let loose their chilvalry;
On their ribs clank swords luminary;
In wild joy was Punjab's insurrection
"Alakha Niranjan!"

There came a day,
Thousands of hearts were on their way
Without any binding or fear,
Life and death at their feet slaves mere;
There on the banks of those rivers
The tale of that day still shivers.

At the tower of the Delhi palace,
Where the Sikhs are apace -
The Badshajada's drowsy spell

Time and again they quell;
Whose voices there, the dark sky tear?
Whose torches set the horizon afire?

On the banks of the rivers five,
For supreme sacrifice was their dive,
Unleashed there was the flood
Of the devotee's blood.
From thousands of hearts torn apart
For destination divine in their lark -
The heroes putting their sacred blood mark
On the forehead of their motherland
There around the five rivers so dear and grand.

In the Mughol and Sikh battle
Their embrace to each other throttle
Like the fight between the eagle and snake,
Deep bruise one to the other did make.

In the fierce fight of that day -
In blood craze "Din Din" the Mughols bay,
"Glory to Guruji" - was the Sikh's commotion
In their divine devotion.

At Gurudaspur castle
When Banda was captured amidst all bustle
In the hands of the Turani troop,
As if a lion fettered with his group;
To capital Delhi they were taken,
Alas, at Gurudaspur Banda was beaten!

The Mughol soldiers march ahead,
Kicking up the road dust in sneer,
Hoisting the Sikh's chopped head
At the blade of their spear.
Follow them Sikhs seven hundred,
Tinkles their chain,
Throng people on the road widespread,
Windows open - a glimpse they fain,
"Glory to Guruji", the Sikhs roar,
For fear of life none is sore,
Sikhs with the Mughols to-day,
Stormed the Delhi road all in gay.

Started the scurry,
For lead in the carnage was their hurry;
They line up at the dawn
Defiant till their execution.
"Glory to Guruji" was their slogan
Until they were done.

Thus over a week,
The arena turned bleak;

With seven hundred lives gone -
Upon the martyrs' immortalization.
On the last round of cruelty
Banda was ordered by the Kazi
To kill his own son,
At ease to be done.

In mere teen was the boy,
With hands tied thrown as a toy
Into the lap of Banda and without a word
He drew him close to his heart.
For a while he put his hand on his head,
Just once kissed his turban red.
He then draws his dagger,
Whispers in the child's ear -
"Glory be to Guruji - fear not my son"
A virile in the boy's face did burn -
In his juvenile voice the court did ring
"Glory to Guruji" as he did sing.
With his left hand Banda held the boy,
With right struck the dagger in his ploy,
"Glory be to Guruji", was all he did implore
As he took to the floor.

Silence fell in the court,
Guruji's inspiration still not abort.
Then with tong red hot
Banda's body was pieced apart;
A word of moan he uttered not
And all in calm did he depart.
As stopped his heart throb
Witnesses closed eyes - silence choked pin drop.