Need of the hour?

And here comes the result of the long awaited, verdict on the Ayodhya dispute:
Allahabad High Court ruled that the 2.77 acre disputed land in Ayodhya be divided into three parts among Hindus and Muslims and held that the place where the makeshift temple of Lord Rama currently exists belongs to Hindus. (0.33+0.33+0.33? so where is the balance 0.01?) A temple would be constructed at the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya and "national unity will be strengthened"? Would the verdict be a catalyst for national unity or a road for further chaos?

"The atmosphere at the national level has been positive with religious leaders of both the communities, political leadership as well as the media. It would not be wise if politically motivated statements which could vitiate communal harmony are issued now," said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli, the Niab Imam of Idgah and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. This was said when there were some political party trying to create chaos…(Mulayam/Modi:Ram Rajya-Gandhi’s dream)


What ‘Madhushala’ said was meaningful. This was written in 1935 when the Ayodhya issue was not even thought of -

Musalmaan aur Hindu hain do, ek magar unka pyala,

Ek magar unka madiralaya, ek magar unki haala

Dono rehte saath na jab tak, mandir masjid mein jaate,

Bair badhate mandir masjid mail karaati Madhushala !

The Muslim and the Hindu are two but their cup is one. One their drinking place, one their wine.

Both remain one till to Mandir Masjid they go. The mandir and the masjid bring the differences and tear them apart. But the House of Wine brings them together again.

Written in 1935. So many years ago, but so topical even now in these prevailing circumstances. The symbolism strong and meaningful.

Wondering how the people from Kerala would have managed two consequtive dry days?


True as said in My Experiments with truth: Those who say what religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion or politics is.

Here I remember Swami Vivekananda’s words in his Chicago address: ‘ I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as ture. ……….’

Though a small booklet, it is something I cherish, with:
 The Background story: On how Vivekananda reached Chicago.
 Response to Welcome: The forceful, mesmerizing introduction.
 Why we disagree: Frog in the well story.
 Paper on Hinduism.
 Religion, Not the Crying Need of India.
 Buddhism: The fulfillment of Hinduism
 Address at the final session.

‘Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.’