WHY GOD NEEDS PROTECTION

WHY GOD NEEDS PROTECTION

A highly disturbing phenomenon has been steadily taking roots in the country during the last few years. I am referring to the way religious frenzy has been enveloping our society in a strangle-hold never seen before.  Not that it is entirely new. It has often raised its ugly and dangerous head in the country during various times and had left a deep scar in our nations psyche. However, each time, level headed people with better human values, had managed to get the derailed county back on track. Often, it had engulfed only a section and a part of the country.  During such times, various extreme elements belonging to either Hindutav types, Islamic, Sikh  or some such dispensation, had ignited religious passion among ordinary and innocent people, caused deep wounds in their heart  and sowed hatred in their minds. 

Of late, one of such groups, mainly representing the right wing, had attained political power which gave them , for the first time in Independent India , the right and courage to  invoke religious sentiments,  not only among its already tutored cadre and supporters but also among the ordinary people. All religious groups have done so with varying degrees of impact and are equally responsible.

 It is relatively easy in a country like ours to do this as most men and women have deep rooted belief in myths, fables and superstition. These continue to be a part of their life though one must note it was very personal and mostly did not interfere in other people’s belief system. The strangle-hold of many babas , mullahs ,  priests or monks on the lives of millions of people is testimony to this. Education had failed to make any significant dent on this mindset and many retained their belief system in their lives and used education only as a means for obtaining livelihood. Education failed to ignite the mind. It failed as a catalyst that could have resulted in a questioning and enquiring mind and liberated it from exploitation. Only wealth and fame, achieved by a small percentage, not necessarily through hereditary means, assisted consequently by world exposure, pushed them away from such outdated but exploitable mindset.
One has just to witness the extend ordinary people, of all age groups but predominantly middle and elderly ones, in Kerala, has been converted to a highly frenzied mob willing to lay down their lives for protecting the so called tradition in Sabrimala. Never did any of them bother about the deep-rooted corruption in the places of worship, never did many shy away from paying someone in authority to be allowed to skip a queue. Take the case when few of those who do the rituals belonging to several religious groups, were accused of rape  and no one took to the street in numbers! But under the tactically capable political dispensation’s devious instigation, these very people are ready to lay down their life’s now. All this is a state known for an" educated mass" living in communal and religious harmony!  

One fails to understand how humans now are protecting God when it was always supposed to be the other way around.  The SC ruled on a state high court’s verdict later backed with legislative acts and said that it was constitutionally invalid. Any women devotee is free to avoid going and having darshan but she  or anyone else has no right in this modern world to prevent others from going. But this simple principle is camouflaged by religious arguments so as to suit the purpose of a few. Those claiming to be representatives of their religion take upon themselves to be the sole guardian and protector of their God and expect rest of the common folk to obey their command.

  
Similar incidents have happened elsewhere. Ajodhya,   Jallikattu, Triple talak etc. to name a few.  The ease with which the well being of cows was firstly intervened with religion and myth and then people manipulated to take it as a assault to their religious beliefs, indicates the potency of this weapon. As if the bullock, the hen , the goat or other animals were lesser ones not befriended by one God or the other.
It reflects the power of religion. It has destroyed nations, been the biggest reason for men killing other men, over the ages and across the continents. Its healing ability, at least on a mass scale, is doubtful, but, yes, possible at an individual level. This opium is the most potent of all mind control methods known to humans. 

The glorification of a non-existent history, the denial of the immensely exploitative nature of caste system which forced common people to gravitate to newly formed religion like Buddhism and Jainism, the endeavour to promote sadhus and yogis as head of political and administrative process, the curtailment of the freedom to interpret historical events and personalities etc are all part of the effort to nullify the concept of a democratic India and usher in a theocratic state.

This phenomenon will soon forever change the basis post independent India was envisaged and evolved. There may not be any turning back. We may steadily resemble the divided group of people the Moguls and British found in the earlier centuries. Those who claim to be the sole representative of their religious group will then define public behaviour, norms and be the judge and prosecutor of right and wrong. The very foundation of democracy and constitutional governance will be negated and replaced by a theocratic state . Back to the 15^th century.

Look at how religion was used and exploited to destroy the middle east.
It is not that such a phenomenon is unseen in many other parts of the world. But one may ignore those countries who had never trended on the path India took after 1947. The others, am sure , are resilient enough to overcome this. The danger is real and present for us. Are there enough Indians, irrespective of their political leanings, who recognise this as unacceptable and take affirmative action? Through the ballot box.  Those among them with a inclination to lead public causes, to lead and conduct a movement as large as the independence movement, to weed away these instigating elements. I for one felt that I must do my bit and hence this piece.