We Indians seem to live with complicated paradoxes, without serious strain.
We Indians seem to live with complicated paradoxes, without serious strain. For centuries we have lived with contradictions of all sorts. Right now we have alternate waves of Islamic terrorism and fundamental Hinduism.
What could be more contradictory than the man of the pink chaddis, playing moral policeman, theu00a0 attack on girls on the Konkan coast and the pretty obscene TV programmes. ad films,u00a0 ad print specimens... and so on.
u00a0
And yet we are both an economical power and spiritual superpower.
|
|
RICH CULTURE: India has expressed its soul in its varied culture, particularly sculptures. FILE PIC |
But for paradox watch the new TV program: 'The Indian 7 wonders of the world'.u00a0 The lascivious proximity of bosomy females with unabashed male nudes can hardly be considered more outrageous than a college girl sitting next a boy in a public bus. We who visit Khajuraho, Belur, Halebid and other shrines without embarrassment. We cherish them with pride. And why not? The Gomateswara of Sravana Belagola, despite all his unabashed nudity isu00a0 unquestionably a wonder of the word: a feat of engineering, an exquisite piece of sculptural art and a religious inspiration to the Jains of India.
But the saffron pink goondas are a disgrace to the Indian holy people. Contemplatives who sacrificed a great deal for self realization and were not looking for petty politiial gain by cowards counter attack.
India has expressed its soul in its varied culture, particularly sculpture. Indian music has been travelling the world. And so has Indian dance. Temples, mosques and sculptures are difficult to transport to other locations, though foreign conquerors vandalized many holy places, many temples breaking off bits of an arm, or a leg or any other projecting organ. But now their value is being recognized by the world at large. They are kept in museums in other countries and studied.
The world developed by this kind of cross fertilization. A monster species which strives to thrive by rampant attack on anything different is bound to meet its end soon (or sooner!!). History brings its round of paradoxes. Europeans and US people (originally Christian) now come to India to get married in Hindu temples or lakes, by Hindu rites. An organization of US people has set up a rich body for the promotion of Krishna worship (ISKCON). Some people try to turn the clock back, by demolishing temples or churches and mosques,
But what is culture? What is our culture? Our traditional heroes and icons were ascetic men (and women of contemplation and wisdom). This recent brutality towards women is hardly what we would cling to as our culture.
In bygone days there were female ascetics, who were greatly respected. (There are still Holy women who draw thousands of devotees.)
The bhakti poet mystic Akkamahadeviu00a0 renounced all wordly temptations, to worship her Lord. She wore no clothes, no beautification, no ornaments. But she grew her hair long to cover her nakedness. Her opponents teased her as to how long she would find this necessary. 'When the fruit is ripening the skin will automatically fall', saidu00a0 Akkamahadevi serenely.
Maybe there is hope for Indian fundamentalist too.
