This and that – Recognise change.

This and that – Recognise change.

“Divisive politics…”, “dividing the country” ; I hear this parroted too often by various commentators,  authors and sundry arm chair critics in recent times in reference to current events. I am not a student of history as it is not a science. History is often distorted and dictated, knowingly or unwittingly, by those who record it.  History is one narration that has to constantly change while the historical events are the truth and constants.

In the recent times authors like Amish Tripathi, Devdutt Pattnaik and others are giving varied perceptions to epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana among others, (recommended reads if you have not already a fan…). It is obvious that the Gita could not have been ‘taught’ to Arjun by Krishna in a day or two and not even in the eighteen days of the duration of the great battle at Kurukshetra. All scriptures of all religions have been composed and written by human beings with various capacities of intelligence and prejudices. Just believing them blindly without an understanding of the whys, when and where these were composed is utter foolishness to say the least. To that extent authors like Amish give different perspectives to historical and mystical events.

The recent comments from certain individuals regarding the Taj Mahal or RSS involvement in the Mahatma’s killing, nor similar comments from anybody on any event of the past, are certainly not a crisis situation as made our by some sections of the press. In a democracy advocating free speech such comments are only to be expected. The 4000 odd legislators are also citizens of the democracy. They too have their views…and some of their views need not conform to the views of the party. That is democracy.

To illustrate a point, let me state that even as a school going kid I have always believed that Gandhiji and his movement are not the sole reason for India’s Independence. I have always argued my point as such in my circles and not for a moment I have considered myself less of an Indian than the other.

The only permanence is change. We have to learn to adapt to change. Change in religious “beliefs”, societal behavior, politics, governance, way cricket is played and everything. Culture is not wearing a Sari, a bindi, a burqua or a hijab, it is all about relationships between humans. Culture is about embracing change and adapting.

If the mind is pure and unprejudiced and we as citizens have our priorities right, no force can be divisive or divide the country.

Recognise change and adapt.