Reservation for Muslims

The National Commission on Religious & Linguistic Minorities Leaded by Justice Ranganath Mishra former Chief Justice of India recommended:

• 15% Reservation for Muslims in Education & Employment
• Inclusion of Muslim & Christian Dalits in Schedule-Caste List

With this report as the base, Andhra Pradesh government gave 4% reservation for the economically backward muslims in the employment and education, which was quashed by the 7-judge bench in the Andhra Pradesh High court.

Recently our apex court has given the unprecedented interim judgment allowing the Andhra Pradesh government to go ahead with their reservation and also referred this case to the higher bench as this has the constitutional impact. The higher bench will hear this case in August.

(The 3-judge bench of the Apex court quashed the earlier judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High court’s 7-judge bench. Our legal system is bit weird here!!!)

While passing the order bench observed, “The government is of the view that certain sections of the Muslim community are socially and educationally backward. What is wrong in it? It is only a question as to how you identify them...It is not a question as to whether they are Hindus or Muslims but the question is social and educational backwardness. Merely because they are Muslims they cannot be denied”.

Personally I am not convinced with the judgment:

• As the apex court observed that the objective of the reservation is not based on the religion and only for the economically backward people, then why not it applies to the economically backward Hindus or Christians? Why it doesn’t question the existing reservation which doesn’t consider the economic status?

• If a government can identify the BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, whats the issue in changing the reservation system to benefit the people in BPL instead of mere caste system? Why not Apex court raise this question?

• Even though reservation helped few sections of people to come forward, it also divided them further into multiple smaller groups. This judgment will further divide the people based on their religion and also within the religion they will be called as Dalits/Backwards.

• This judgment will indirectly help the minority communities to continue their conversion.

• Till now I know that only in Hinduism, the Dalits/Backward castes were existing. But I don’t know where do these Dalit/Backward-muslims/christians have come from? If the dalit gets converted to Christianity, why he should be called as a Dalit-Christian? He should be just a Christian, right? In fact, one of the main argument being made by non-hindu religions is that there is no casteism in their religion. If that’s the case why they want to be called as Dalit-muslim or Dalit-Christian? We should first fight to remove the caste system in Hinduism, instead of spreading it to other religions.

The way politics being played in our country I don’t think we can really get away with the reservation soon.

How to remove the reservation?

Even though the existing reservations have become a necessary evil, all of us would agree that reservation is not the way to go forward and all the existing reservations should be slowly removed. The existing reservation system seems not helping the needy and creamy-layer in that caste is continue to enjoy the benefits.

Irrespective of your religion/caste, if you have benefited from any kind of reservation and have grown economically better (I know economically better is very subjective, I leave it to your fair judgment), do NOT avail the reservation benefits for your kids. Declare them as No-Caste (Or Forward-Caste if No-Caste option is not available). Since you can provide your kids proper education and guidance, he/she can compete in the open quota.

This will make sure the reservation benefit can reach the right people and help all sections of people to come up. I believe this will speed-up the process of removing the reservation completely.

Instead we all talking about reservation in length, lets make difference at our level and thereby better future to everyone.

Interesting Train Journey

I was returning back from Davangere, where I traveled for a weekend to see my son and wife. I boarded the return train Jan Shathabthi at 4:45 pm in Davangere. Train departed in 10 minutes, and I immersed myself into a big pillow by Leo Tolstoy, ‘War and Peace’. I was reading the war part of the book and as many reviews said, the book is fascinating.

Train stopped at some station after an hour or so and an old man (in his late 50s) with a long white beard, white shirt-dhoti entered my coach and sat in my row on the other side. From the look of the old-man it’s no wonder in identifying him as some Swamiji.

Along with him came a young and athletic guy (maybe mid 20s), who looks like a student and seems to be like a follower of this old-man. The young guy was sitting few rows away from the old-man, but he was available every time to help the old-man.

Swamiji started reading some book and I was also not keen to look into him anymore.

I was reading the book on and off and writing something on my recent encounter. The train suppose to reach Bangalore at 9:30 pm, but it is late as usual.

During the last half-hour of my journey, the Swamiji just stood up and came near my seat, picked-up my book and asked me “How you are able to read such a huge book, that too with small fonts?”

I said, “Yeah… it’s difficult to read such a huge book and I am also a slow reader and it takes lot of time for me”

“So, do you like Leo Tolstoy writings? I haven’t read his books, but Gandhiji liked his writings a lot”, enquired Swamiji.

I replied, “This is the first time I am reading his book… very interesting and I liked it”

When I talk, Swamiji was leaning forward to listen to me. Then I realized that he was not able to hear me clearly in the train movement and I stood up and started talking to him. And I also raised my voice a bit to help him. He had a very serene look and smile throughout our conversation.

Swamiji said, “Recently I read the book ‘The Future of Freedom’ by Fareed Zakaria, a very thought provoking book. He did not give any solution, but asks questions”, and asked the young guy to show that book for me.

He continued, “The Islamic Terrorism has started spreading beyond control and it’s not good for the world”

I become curious about the subject of the book and asked him what is that book is all about. He said it’s about politics and democracy. Immediately I got interested in that topic and noted down the details of the book.

I said I have read few political writings about the middle-east and I liked Noam Chomsky’s writings. Swamiji with his usual serene smile, “Ohh.. that MIT professor.. I too read his articles and it’s really good”. He acknowledged my comment on Chomsky that he is a very intelligent guy.

Again he switched the topic to the Islamic Terrorism and I got bit skeptical about his intentions on repeating it. I thought maybe he is trying to brand one religion as terrorist’s religion? And to cut down this conversation as I am not comfortable in branding any religion and I exclaimed, “I am an Atheist”. He just leaned forward to listen to my words again and I too repeated it. To my surprise he just smiled at me and said “So what? You should always question anything being told to you. You should not accept what others are saying blindly. So it doesn’t matter till you are able to think and question it. I am happy that you did that”

I am very much relieved now and was happy to know that Swamiji was able to accept me with a smile and continued his conversation as usual.

We talked about the issues of middle-east for sometime and he asked if I have read the books written by any middle-east authors, because it has lot of substance in it. I said I haven’t read many but I have read the writings of Orhan Pamuk, a Turkish writer from Istanbul. He was very happy to know that and he said, “Istanbul is the perfect place to witness the struggle between western and muslim cultures and people’s confusion on what to follow”

I said, “That’s what exactly Orhan Pamuk has written in his books” and I suggested some books of Orhan Pamuk namely; My Name is Red, Snow and Musuem of Innocence; I wrote it in his personal notebook and briefly explained about each of these books.

He liked the name ‘Musuem of Innoncence’

“Have you read the book “The virtue of Selfshiness, by the lady Ayn Rand?”, Swamiji enquired.

I said, “Yes. I like her writings but I am not able to appreciate all her views”.

Swamiji said, “Ayn Rand was able to influence many people and few people have become great leaders. I know a lady from Canada who headed the HP India and she is a great leader”

“Yeah… I agree. But don’t you think her thought kills the Humanity itself?”

Swamiji had a very inquisitive look on me for few moments and returning to his big smile he acknowledged my view and patted me on my back and said “You are correct my dear boy! But that lady says it will not destroy it and puts the things nicely. Everyone talks about Rights and no one talks about Duty. Anybody can write whatever they want but it should solve a purpose. It’s like Osho’s preaching… ‘Rebel’ - don’t listen to anyone. If you are a moderate you cannot become famous, only extremists get attention in this world” (I just remembered these words from Noam Chomsky’s book)

I started very enthusiastically, “Don’t you think it’s the problems with the people to follow it? I think they should be able to judge what is right or wrong. Who are we to say they are wrong?”

Swamiji replied, “Who will say no if someone preaches to have lot of sex? Is there anyone doesn’t like it? It’s like pricking the wrong nerve of people”

I was astonished to see a Swamiji talking about sex and with bit of courage I asked him, “Then what you think of celibacy? What anyone will achieve from it? I don’t think celibacy can get you anywhere or anything”

Again he leaned forward with a smile and said as if whispering in my ears, “Both are two extremes and both are bad”

Train entered the Bangalore station. Swamiji gave a small pamphlet with his mobile number and kept his right hand on my head and said “May God bless you my boy! Call me when you find time”

I got down from the train following Swamiji and there were few youngsters waiting to invite Swamiji and they all shouted some Hindu god name.

Swamiji turned back to me and said bye with big smile.

I started moving out of the station reading the pamphlet given by Swamiji. Swamiji is a Computer Science Engineer, Management Graduate and Computer Scientist. He is proficient and teacher of Vedic Mathematics. He runs a school and also a Gurukal teaching Vedas, Yoga and Meditation.

Mahabharat…Truly an Epic

Most of us would have read the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharat in our childhood days. I was always fascinated by the story of Mahabharat; its number of characters, volume of the story, complexity of the characters etc. Each character themselves could be a separate story and Mahabharat can be called as a collection of stories. The credit goes to Vyasar for his extraordinary thought and narration in 1500 B.C.

I believe it’s truly an epic and it’s the best ever written novel (if you don’t look at it as a religious book)

Recently I was reading the book ‘The difficulty of being Good’ by Gurcharan Das, and happen to recollect Mahabharat. Eventually I ended up learning few new things in the story (or maybe I had forgotten) and thought its worth sharing.

Birth of Pandavas

We all know that Karna is a son of Kunti born for Sun god. Also we know that the Pandavs – Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadheva are also sons of Kunti. But Pandu, husband of Kunti is not their biological father. One day while hunting, Pandu killed a deer while it was mating. He did not realize that deer was an ascetic in animal form, and Pandu was cursed to die the moment he tried to make love to woman.

Kunti had a boon that she can become a mother of godly children. She invoked that mantra and thus three children Yudhishthira by god Dharma, Bhima by god wind, Arjuna by god Indra.

Kunti taught that mantra to Madir, second wife of Pandu who gave birth to twins Nakula and Sahadeva for god Ashvins.

Droupathi – Wife of Pandavas

Atheist and Feminists often question the bizarreness of the relationship of the Droupathi with the five sons of the Kunti. How a woman can be a wife of five men? How it’s allowed in the religious text?

We all know that Arunja won the heart of Droupathi by displaying his skills on bow (Karnan too would have performed equally but Droupathi refused to marry him because he is a charioteer). He bought her home in the company of his brothers. At the door, they shouted to Kunti, “See what we have brought, mother”. Without looking up, Kunti had replied, “Well, I hope you will share it equally”. And they did!!!

Droupathi’s Courage

Yudhishthira lost his wife Droupathi in a dice game against Duryodhan and hence Droupathi will be dragged to Darbar by Dukshadhan. When Droupathi enters, the assembly was shocked at the sight of queen being dragged. But no one condemns the incident. Astonished by the behavior of the elders in the assembly for not questioning it, Droupathi asks Yudhishthira, “Whom did you lose first, yourself or me?”

For me it seems to be a very valid legal question even in the present time.

1. How a person who lost himself and slave who doesn’t own anything can bet on his wife?

2. If Yudhishthira owns (?) his wife, then everything owned by him would be lost once he lost himself. Then how he can bet on something which he owns no more?

3. If Droupathi is a wife of five brothers how Yudhishthira alone can decide on her?

I am surprised that such a question was raised by a woman around 1500 B.C

Heaven for Duryodhan

In the end Yudhishthira will go to heaven for his karma. To his surprise Duryodhan will be in heaven and all his brothers and mother Kunti will be in hell. Duryodhan will be in heaven for his shathriya duties and for his karma.

As usual I was confused with this Karma and its verdicts.

As Bhisma says “Dharma is subtle” and at least for me it’s always!

Secularism

In our contemporary political situations around the world makes this word more relevant now: Secularism - A doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations

It makes more relevant to the Indian politics as this is being used as a trump-card by major political parties during and after the elections. Also this is one which decides the fate of few political parties.

I have a fundamental doubt on secular parties/government; which party/government is called truly secular?

If it considers the religious sentiments of the people before making any policy decisions

or

If all its decision a be independent of the religious believes.

In our country or for that matter most of the countries around the world do consider the religious sentiments of the people. But the truly secular government should NOT consider religious sentiments of the people or at least NOT give more importance to it and instead takes the decision based on the merits of the case alone. This is extremely important for the multi-religious county.

I would like to mention few incidents where Secularism laughed at our secular decisions.

Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

All major political parties except BJP oppose the Uniform Civil Code. The so called Atheists, the communists too oppose this proposal. This is been looked as a brain-child of the BJP and hence it’s been looked as an anti-minority agenda. We should not be worried about the intention of the BJP, but look into this proposal with an open-minded and see what this proposal can bring to us.

If the parties/governments are truly secular they should drop their short-sighted religious vote bank politics and stand up to their secular credentials.

I believe that UCC will bring all the religions and people together. It’s every party’s responsibility to sit together and discuss this UCC and pass the resolution in the parliament.

Don’t you think every citizen in this country needs to be treated the same way? Don’t you think every citizen in this country belongs to the one rule of law? Why we need every religion to have their own set of rules?

Forced Conversion

This has been the accusation against the few religious institutions in India for long time. Being an atheist I am not able to understand why any religion should indulge in such activities? If every religion believes in oneness of God, then what’s that they are going to get by converting people to their religion?

In India, this is being run like a business for many years by the few missionaries. I too came across few people who try to market that their god is great.

If a government is truly secular, it has the responsibility of stopping this forced conversion too. But none of our parties/government has the guts to question it because of their vote bank politics and also due to external pressure from the Christian nations.

If this issue gets unnoticed it can lead to lot of incidents like Kandhamal.

There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it. ~George Bernard Shaw

Sethusamudram Project

This project proposes linking the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal and thereby it would provide a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula. This is the dream project for tamil people for almost 150 years.

From the story of Ramayana we know that bridge was built by Ram’s monkey army but the scientists said that sand and bars at the bottom of the straits are actually a natural phenomenon. (similar formation is seen in many places around the world)

While, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has informed the Supreme Court the story of the existence of any man-made bridge is baseless and there is no any evidence that the bridge was built by Lord Ram’s monkey army or the events of the Ramayana ever had happened. The ASI later said that it couldn’t declare Ram Sethu as national monument because of no established scientific evidence that might prove the existence of the characters or the events of the Ramayana.

But due to political compulsions and not having true secular thoughts, we have stopped this project for the religious sentiments.

It looks like Secularism is a new religion and everyone wants to get converted to it without following it!

Roles and Responsibilities of God

Being an Atheist I tried to argue on the possibility of “no god” with few of my religious friends. Later I realized that faith is the one which cannot be debated logically because it’s ‘faith’, and hence doesn’t need reasoning. Now I no more question them on the existence of god but instead started asking different questions. (I too search for answers).

• What are the roles and responsibilities of god?
• God is for us or we are for the god?

My further discussion will be with the following assumptions:

• God exists and he only created everything in the universe
• God is omnipotent
• God is omnipresent

I will also discuss with the human point of view as I am mostly associated with them.

What are the roles and responsibilities of god?

If this universe had been created few billion years ago, what are his roles and responsibilities after that? Is he sleeping? Is he busy creating more universes?

I got multiple answers from the religious people and I am highlighting 2 of them for our discussion:

• God controls or responsible for every action of the human
• God has given the freewill to the humans and will not involve in the day-to-day activities of us. But he will maintain an account of every good and evil you do.

If God had already decided your every action, it means we are living in a Matrix.

What’s the greatness of the omnipotent person in creating humans and controlling them? If we are controlled by a creator, then why do we need to pray him or praise him for what he is? What he is getting by making people suffer? What’s his objective behind it?

If God has given us the freewill, then we are responsible for our actions and not god. All he does is just maintaining the account of our good/sins. We pray to him to guide us to the right path, save us from suffering and we also believe he listens and acts on it… if that’s the case, don’t u think he is an emotional idiot, who listens to the prayers and help them?

If God is not listening to our prayers, then why we pray?

God is for us or we are for the god?

I often hear that people wanted to reach god and its their objective. We have built many temples, mosques, churches just to spread the god’s noble characters.
In fact many of the religious fanatics become a martyr to reach the god. If god wants everyone to reach him, why he created us? What’s noble cause in it?

If god is for us, then he is responsible for guiding the people who pray to him. Why we need to pray to god for every suffering we go through, don’t you think he should help us voluntarily?. “If he can cure a blind person, why not he cures the blindness itself”, asks Christopher Hitchens in Got is Not Great.

As Orhan Pamuk points out in Snow, "Faith in God was not something achieved by thinking sublime thoughts and stretching one's creative powers to their limits. Its just being part of a community"

Even if god exists, to me he seems to be a Selfish, Sadist, Tyrant, Emotional..., who needs to be fought against instead of praising/loving him.

Lets not spend our energy, money and time in praying god; lets leave the god freely and start living our lives. Our lives are in our hand.

As Bella says in Notting Hill, “The more I think about things, the more I see no rhyme or reason in life”.