Nature: Frogs and Flying Insects!

When I go to our village, I can see a lot of animals, birds and insects which I never see in cities. Fireflies (jugnu) come at night, Indian Blue Jay (Neelkanth) bird can be seen, I can spot a pair of parrots (tota) sitting on a tree nearby and in the end, “frogs” (medhak) popup every night. So, I was at my village and every night a lot of frogs would come out of nowhere and start hunting for insects. I wondered where they were all through the day; since they came out only during the night!

One day, I heard the sound of some frogs during the day time! I tried to look in that direction and I found that the sound had come from a packet which was kept on the stairs. So, the frogs were either inside the packet or below it. I removed the packet with the help of a stick. And I could see three frogs below it!

One of the frogs was bigger than the others. All three frogs looked frightened and within a few moments, they started moving and changing positions to find a safer position. In the end, the bigger frog covered the smaller frogs below its body! I was surprised to see how the smaller frogs were comfortably hiding below the body of the bigger frog; as if they had no shame! But in the end, I concluded that perhaps the bigger frog was the mother of the smaller frogs and that was why it was protecting them.

The other day my mother pointed out to another scene. A flying insect which is perhaps found mostly in villages near farms, had collected soil at the corner of one wall near angan and had covered all its eggs with it. After a few days, the soil became dry and then the flying insect would come and one by one made holes in the clay structure and took out its kids! We wondered how nature had given that small insect enough intelligence to know how to protect its eggs and how to take the kids out at the right moment.

Such small incidents point to fact that nature has given all species with enough intelligence to do the best for their children. There are very common traits which are common in all, but the willingness to make all efforts to ensure safety of children is a trait which is common in all species.

Hats off to the miracles of nature!

- Rahul Tiwary

India: The Migrant Crisis of Year 2020

Newspapers and media these days are covered with images of migrant workers walking their way home. It paints a pitiful picture. There are pictures of people carrying small kids in their arms and walking; where men are trying to ferry their family in a makeshift cart; a man carrying his mother on his back; a woman pleading for help while her husband is lying injured in a road accident; people being looted on their way home; men walking for several days dying from exhaustion; and the list goes on. It is a humanitarian disaster.

I have been trying to avoid exposure to too much media on such negative news. But then above image caught my attention. The primary reason was the young boy who reminded me of my son; with his long hair and an innocent look. In fact, his look startled me, and I was left frozen for some time. This kid does not know what is happening around him. He just knows that his mother is carrying him. He seems slightly thirsty. His hand is in dropped position, perhaps indicating that he is a bit tired; or perhaps he had just woken up in the morning when this journey started and hence he is in a bit ‘hangover’ from the sleep. Or perhaps he is a bit “disappointed”.

“Disappointed” is a great word for the current situation.

As we all know, our government made a quick and abrupt decision to impose complete “Lockdown” all over the country without giving any advance warning. If there was such a warning period, people could have prepared for the long turbulence that was to come. People at unsafe places or in unsustainable situations could have reached safer places or home. While it started as just a three weeks’ lockdown, it was clear from the beginning that the virus was not going to get away just in 3 weeks (as we had seen from China’s experience) and there would be need to extend the Lockdown. But our government did not share any of the future roadmap with people. People did not know how long Lockdown would go on. It created a ground for unconfirmed news and rumors to go around. There were fake WHO guidelines circulating on Whatsapp and people sharing whatever junk news they could get hold of; since such a crisis was unprecedented and government seemed to be equally clueless. Since State governments were in touch with people on the ground, they played regional and divisive politics with the migrant workers. Most migrant workers came from poorer States to richer States and in the States where they were stuck, most of them were not enrolled as “voters”. The migrant workers became “no one’s baby”. Their current State did not want them in since they saw them as a “liability”. On the other hand, their home States did not want to take them fearing that they would bring virus along to their villages where there were no medical facilities. The situation was a perfect ground for exploitation and severe helplessness gripped migrant workers.

These poor migrants would have seen worse times. The feeling of “helplessness” would not be something new to them. So, they packed their stuff, sold some, carried what they could and started on a journey. Hence, we are witnessing one of the worst internal mass migration situations since the partition of India. It may not be worst in a physical sense, since we now have better roads, safer law-and-order situation and occasionally helpful people and govt organizations helping these travelling migrants with food and water. But it is worst in the sense that it could have been largely “avoidable”.

What if our government gave 7-10 days window at the beginning where people could travel and get to reach a safe place before Lockdown would start? What if our State governments did not see these migrants as “another state’s problem” and provided them with food and house rent since most migrants had lost their jobs, so that they could just survive where they were! What if their home States tried to take them home without having them to travel long distances under the sun on foot? What if there was a better way to manage this crisis? What if this is largely a “man-made crisis”?

The feelings of helplessness and disappointment are not only in these migrant workers who are tolerating hardships and trying to survive and protect their dignity. The feelings of helplessness and disappointment are also in other citizens of our country who are watching their fellow ones suffer in this manner. We have collectively failed these migrant workers. We have collectively failed our poor. We have collectively failed our country.

In these circumstances of sadness and disappointment, we can only pray that this crisis goes away quickly and does not aggravates further. May migrant workers be able to survive and live with some dignity. May our politicians are less divisive and more sensitive to poor people’s plight. When this crisis is over, may we can still be proud of our country.

- Rahul Tiwary

Watching Old Movies During Lockdown

During Lockdown, I watched several old movies and it was very different from the way movies of current times are. It reminded me of how time is changing, relationships are changing and our society is changing too.

Gardish: In this movie, the relationship between father and son was really interesting. Amrish Puri played the role of “old fashioned” father who was a very strict, authoritative figure in the house and Jackie Shroff as son who was always misunderstood and shown little empathy towards. Watching this movie, it seemed I was watching a movie from some different world. It was very engaging and interesting. Even Mukesh Rishi has done an epic role of a dreaded villain.

Ye Mera Dil To Pagal Hai: https://youtu.be/7AjiKd07N5I

Wo Lamhe (2006): This movie shows the other side of life of movie starts very well, especially the actresses. Kangana Ranaut plays the role of an actress fighting mental health issues. She looks very different in this movie. In fact during her younger days she looked very different and kept changing with time. She has played this role of a disturbed actress very well. Now Shiney Ahuja played the role of a not-so-famous film-maker. I had not watched his movies so far and perhaps this is his first movie that I watched. And he totally impressed me. He has a slightly sad look on his face. And he is able to express various moods of the story very well. Perhaps he has remained an underdog, or perhaps his career was cut short due to the allegation against him and he could not achieve his full potential. Shaad Randhawa has played his role very well. He too is a great talent who underachieved if we look at the potential. The songs of this movie are great. I am surprised why the movie could not do very well on box office. I read that this movie was based on Parveen Babi’s life story.

Chal Chalen Apne Ghar: https://youtu.be/mzEWcwDmUKs

Kya Mujhe Pyar Hai: https://youtu.be/Gg6NMU4ivXM

Bin Tere Kya hai jeena: https://youtu.be/IP1f7yDp4qk

Tu Jo Nahin Hai To Kuch bhi Nahi https://youtu.be/3dSLo0EUK-g

So Jaaun Main: https://youtu.be/NRjaeYRITHc

Taal: Watching ‘Taal’ the second time seemed like going through a wonderful world which has gone now (forever). I remember the time when this movie had released, and it had generated a great craze and it was super hit! It had set a benchmark for the future movies at that time. What a great picturization of a simple story, what a sensitive portrayal of roles, and how each character has done a great justice with one’s roles. What a fantastic story. Aishwarya was at her best and Akshay Khanna and Anil Kapoor are epic. I also remembered now how I used to be a fan of Akshay Khanna during those days. This is also a movie which I think can be watched many times. And its songs are epic songs and evergreen ones.

Nahin Samne https://youtu.be/bNK94h7vUeA 

Bali Umar Ko Salam (1994): I happened to watch this movie now. When it was released in early 1990, I was too young and I did not even hear about this movie or its actors. But now after watching it, this looks like a cult movie or one of the cult movies of its time. I saw its actors Kamal Sadanah and Tisca Chopra for the first time and both have been great in this movie. Both were so talented that I wonder why they did not become superstars! This is a movie where an Angry Young Man meets an Angry Young Woman – both are absolutely hot blooded youth who go around doing what they wanted. In one incident, Kamal saves Tisca but the later accuses him of doing a “staged” fight, accuses him of rape and gets him arrested by the police! In another instance, she drives a truck and flattens the auto-garage where Kamal worked! The whole treatment to the story has been done so differently as compared to the movies from current time. It was indeed like watching a movie from another time and space.

Dastak (1996): Dastak was a psycho thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt and written by Vikram Bhatt. It was also the first movie of Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. I guess her voice would have been dubbed, but she did a fine performance in the movie. And she looked so different at that time and I had no memory of her looking like that. This movie had Sharad Kapoor and Mukul Dev, both newcomers at that time, and both are my favorites. Both Sharad and Mukul have done a good performance in the film and it does not look like their initial period film. I read that this movie flopped, perhaps because it was a different kind of movie at that time and it did not have big names in it. But comparison can be made with SRK’s Darr which was also a movie based on story of a psycho man following a girl. It was interesting to watch this movie from an old world since I did not know about this movie till now even though it had my favorite actors in it.

Kanubhai and Shivalakshmi Gandhi: Mahatma Gandhi’s Grand Son and Grand Daughter-in-law

During the famous Dandi March or Salt March, a photograph of Gandhi ji had 'gone viral' (using the modern term for 'becoming famous') where he was shown walking with a small kid holding his walking-stick. That small kid was his grandson Kanubhai Gandhi. Kanubhai Gandhi was son of Gandhi ji's third son - Ramdas Gandhi.

Kanubhai Gandhi went to the USA and served as a scientist in NASA for 25 years. He was married to Shivalakshmi. In the year 2013, the couple returned in India and settled in Surat, Gujarat. The couple did not have any children. Hence they started living in an old age home (Ashram). In the year 2016, Kanubhai passed away. After demise of her husband, Shivalakshmi ji lived in Ashrams and of late she had settled in Bhimrad village of Surat.

Shivalakhsmi ji had made a Shivalakshmi Kanubhai Ramdas Gandhi Charitable Trust in Surat and gave away all life-savings of the family to it. The trust worked for education and healthcare for women and children as well as spreading the message of Gandhi ji. The family left total of around Rs 12 Crore for the trust to be used for social cause.

There is a news from yesterday that Shivalakshmi ji has passed away due to old age related ailments at the age of 94. Om Shanti.

- Rahul Tiwary

Society: Children Reaching Police Stations with Piggy Banks

Today, our world is facing the Coronavirus crisis and Lockdown related economic challenges. In midst of this crisis, we do get many news of personal courage and sacrifices. We keep hearing news where doctors, medical staff, policemen or even common people are shown going out the way to help the needy including stray animals. But there is one news which keeps appearing and I feel displeasure seeing it. It is the news about children going to police stations carrying their ‘gullak’ (piggy banks) and giving away all their savings for the cause of our nation. Many times, parents also accompany them. Such news keep appearing in the news portals and media; for example here. But what objection do I have against such humble gesture?

Every time I see such news, I feel sorry for the “risk” these kids are taking on themselves. Every time they are venturing out of their homes to go to the police station, they are taking a risk of being exposed to the Coronavirus infection. Why do they do it? Why are their parents supporting them in taking this risk? Do they want to make their kids compassionate by helping them in such activities? Or, are parents doing this to get themselves and their kids in the News? Do they plan to frame such newspaper cuttings and hang on the wall? Is this worth taking the risk?

There are alternative ways in which parents can help their kids show compassion and do something for their nation. For example, if kid insists on donating the money, perhaps inspired by the TV news channels or by someone else from neighborhood who did this, parents can get the kid take out the money, count it, then take it and do equal contribution to the PM Cares Fund using digital methods like BHIM UPI or Wallet Apps like Paytm. They can show the kids how money is getting transferred and how they are getting a confirmation or “Thank you” message on the screen and kids would understand that. If there are families who do not have access to digital media, one can simply convince the kids to keep the money counted and to donate the money only when the Lockdown is over.

I seriously think that the risk these parents are taking is not worth it. The Police should also stop posting such news on social media and encouraging more kids from taking such a risk.

I hope we shall see less such news going forward. It is really nice to raise compassionate kids, but it is equally necessary to keep them safe. Remember: “Safety First”.

- Rahul Tiwary

Hinduism: Mahabharat: Why Abhimanyu Had a Short Life

In the great war of Mahabharat, although many great warriors fell and a lot of them touch readers, there is one Abhimanyu who touches one and all like no other. It is because of his age – he was only 16 years old at the time he was killed fighting – and the manner in which he was killed by a group of 7 Kaurava warriors while Abhimanyu fought alone. It is one of the most tragic events of the great war.

Some people ask why did Abhimanyu have a short lifespan. Why Lord Krishn let it happen to him, why he did not protect him like he protected Draupadi. I tried to search about it and found the explanation here.

Why Did Abhimanyu Die Young

In Mahabharat, it is mentioned that Abhimanyu was the re-incarnation of son of Chandra, the Moon-God. When Chandra was asked to let his son incarnate on earth, he made a pact that his son will only remain on earth for 16 years, as he could not bear to be separated from him any longer than that. So, Chandra's son was born as the son of Arjuna and Subhadra.

From Mahabharat [Link]:

"And, O monarch, learn that king Yudhishthira was a portion of Dharma; that Bhimasena was of the deity of wind; that Arjuna was of Indra, the chief of the celestials; and that Nakula and Sahadeva, the handsomest beings among all creatures, and unrivalled for beauty on earth, were similarly portions of the twin Aswins. And he who was known as the mighty Varchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna. And before his incarnation, O king, the god Soma had said these words to the celestials, 'I cannot give (part with) my son. He is dearer to me than life itself. Let this be the compact and let it be not transgressed. The destruction of the Asuras on earth is the work of the celestials, and, therefore, it is our work as well. Let this Varchas, therefore, go thither, but let him not stay there long. Nara, whose companion is Narayana, will be born as Indra's son and indeed, will be known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This boy of mine shall be his son and become a mighty car-warrior in his boyhood. And let him, ye best of immortals, stay (p. 144) on earth for sixteen years. And when he attaineth to his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are born of your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a certain encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (taking any part in it). ...... Then when numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will return to the charge towards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall reappear before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shall continue the almost extinct Bharata race.' Hearing these words of Soma, the dwellers in heaven replied, 'So be it.' And then all together applauded and worshiped (Soma) the king of stars. p. 145

Message from Abhimanyu’s Story

At the same time, I remember from my childhood how this story is remembered among the masses. In folk stories among common people, it is often mentioned that if Subhadra did not sleep, then Abhimanyu won't have to know only half of the method to handle Chakravyuh. Hence message is that while listening to Satsang or religious programs, we should not fall asleep and need to be attentive otherwise half knowledge can be harmful for us.

Why Shri Krishn Did Not Save Abhimanyu

The reason why Shri Krishn won’t have saved Abhimanyu may also be simply because he would already know about his fate. Hence, he won’t have interrupted in it.

There is another reason which explains how things happened and how different and multiple reasons are responsible for some event.

How Abhimanyu Was Killed

Kauravas had planned a Chakravyuh to trap and kill many warriors from the Pandavas army. It is said that among the Pandav army, only Arjun knew how to handle a Chakravyuh. But on that particular day, he had gone too far away fighting and hence could not reach there in time. Then Abhimanyu came forward and volunteered to try and destroy the Chakravyuh since he had heard about the way to enter it while being in his mother Subhadra’s womb. Although he had not heard about the way to come out of the trap, since the story got interrupted as Subhadra had fallen asleep. Hence it was agreed that while Abhimanyu will take the lead and enter the Chakravyuh, his uncles Beem, Nakul and Sahdev will follow him and also enter it, so that they could tackle the difficult part together and ensure safe return.

But while Abhimanyu went inside the Chakravyuh as planned, Bheem and others were stopped outside by Jayadrath who was a great warrior from Kaurava’s side.

How could Jayadrath stop these great Pandavas?

Jayadrath was king of the Sindhu rajya and married to Duryodhan’s sister Dushala. While Pandavas were serving 12 years “vanvas”, once Jayadrath had seen Draupadi in the jungle and tried to take her as his queen by abducting her. Pandavas got to know about the abduction, chased Jayadrath down and defeated him. Since he was their relative (Duryodhan’s brother-in-law), they did not kill him, but Bheem shaved his head as a mean to disgrace him. Jayadrath wanted to take revenge on Pandavas for this disgrace and hence did harsh penance to earn a boon from Lord Shiv. He asked for a boon that he would be able to defeat the Pandavas. But Lord Shiva told him that it was not possible to defeat Pandavas, but he can give him a boon that for one day, he would be able to control the Pandavas except Arjuna. It was because of this boon, that Jayadrath was able to contain Bheem and other Pandavas outside the Chakravyuh itself.

Therefore, we can see from this incident that Abhimanyu’s death was an event of a big misfortune. Jayadrath’s boon came into play due to which Pandavas' plan of Bheem and others entering Chakravyuh along with Abimanyu did not work. And Arjun was not around that day otherwise he would have been successful in defeating Jayadrath and saving Abhimanyu. And then, all this was not possible since it was planned by fate that Abhimanyu would die young so that he can return to the celestial god Chandra.

Btw, the next day of the fight, Arjun defeated and killed Jayadrath.

Legacy of Abhimanyu

It is another touching story of how Abhimanyu’s wife Uttara was expected at the time of this battle and she gave birth to a son later on - Parikshit. Parikshit goes on to inherit the throne of Hastinapur after Yudhisthir and expands the kingdom and its civilization immensely. After Parikshit, his son Janmejaya goes on to rule.

Therefore, Abhimanyu, even if he died young, in fact shaped the history of our country Bharat Varsha. 

Abhimanyu will always be remembered by one and all for being a great son, a great warrior and someone who sacrificed his life for his Dharma.

- Rahul Tiwary

रामायण: क्या सीता परित्याग तर्कसंगत है? | Hinduism: Was Banishment of Sita a Logical Incident?

क्या सीता परित्याग तर्कसंगत है? ऐसा सोचते ही दो बातें पहले ही आ जाती हैं - क्या धर्म के मामले में "तर्क" का प्रयोग व्यावहारिक है? और क्या "रामायण" को सिर्फ धर्म ग्रन्थ मानना चाहिए या फिर एक ऐतिहासिक अनुलेख भी? पहले, धर्म में तर्क पर आते हैं। किसी भी विषय में यदि तर्क का प्रयोग न किया जा सके तो वह विषय क्या एक सिर्फ "अंध विश्वास" में परिवर्तित नहीं हो जाती? 

मैंने स्वामी विवेकानंद आदि को पढ़ा है। इससे मैंने सीखा कि हमारे धर्म में तर्क करना अच्छा माना गया है। शाश्त्रार्थ के ऊपर पंडित लोग तो कई दिनों तक बहस किया करते थे। आदि शंकराचार्य ने भी किया था। यह ज्ञान मार्ग है। सिर्फ "भक्ति मार्ग" में ही "अंध विश्वास" ठीक माना गया है शायद। पर सिर्फ अंध-विश्वास किसी भी धर्म को आगे नहीं ले जा सकता। अंध विश्वास की कमजोरी को क्रिस्चियन मिशनरीजन ने काफी उपयोगी माना है। वे तर्क के आधार पर हमारे भगवानों को गलत साबित करते थे और लोगों को अपने धर्म को खराब समझाकर धर्मान्तरण कराते। अगर हम खुद ही तर्क करके अपने विश्वास को व्यवहारिकता के आधार पर रखकर प्रतिष्ठित रखेंगे तो कोई बाहरी हमें बेवकूफ नहीं बना पायेगा। 

अब सीता के परित्याग और "उत्तर कांड" या "उत्तर रामायण" के ऊपर आते हैं। रामायण में बहुत सी घटनाएँ हैं जो व्यक्तिगत रूप से मुझे पसंद नहीं हो सकती हैं - जैसे राजा होकर भी उन्होंने केवट को गले लगाया, जो भी जैसा भी हो उनके शरण में आया तो उन्होंने अपनाया - ये सब मुझे "अनावश्यक" और "अति भावुकता" लगी। पर उन्होंने किया और मैंने माना - मैंने इन घटनाओं में अच्छे पक्षों को देखा और इनमे अच्छा सन्देश देखा। इससे ये घटनाएँ मुझे श्री राम की महानता के उदाहरण लगे। पर सीता त्याग और उत्तर रामायण में मुझे एक भी अच्छाई नजर नहीं आई। मैंने खोजकर पढ़ा इस बारे में - तो चक्रवर्ती राजगोपालाचारी और अन्य विद्वानों का लिखा पढ़ा कि उत्तर रामायण बाद में जोड़ा गया खंड है, वाल्मीकि के मूल रामायण के कई शताब्दिओं बाद उसे वाल्मीकि रामायण से जोड़ दिया गया। तब मुझे बात समझ में आई। मैं ऐसा मानूंगा और इसके कारण हैं: 

श्री राम का जन्म एक "आदर्श राजा" का जीवन दर्शित करने के लिए ही नहीं हुआ था। राजा हरिश्चंद्र "आदर्श राजा" का जीवन सन्देश दे चुके थे। तो फिर रामावतार को किस रूप में समझें? जैसा श्री कृष्ण ने गीता में कहा, जब-जब धरती पर पाप की अधिकता होती है, भगवान पाप का नाश करने हेतु अवतार लेते हैं। यही विष्णु के हर अवतार ने किया, नरसिंघ से लेकर परशुराम अवतार से कृष्ण अवतार तक - बुद्ध ने भी अपने तरीके से पाप का नाश ही किया। 

इसीलिए हमें राम के जीवन को विष्णु के अन्य अवतारों से तुलनात्मक रूप में देखना और समझना चाहिए। शिव जी से तुलना नहीं कर सकते, शिव विनाशक हैं, विष्णु पालनकर्ता - राम के जीवन को किसी और देवता से तुलना न करके, विष्णु के अन्य अवतारों के साथ देखकर ही समझना चाहिए।

तो मेरा समझना है कि राम अवतार धरती से राक्षसों (अधर्म) के विनाश और धर्म की स्थापना के लिए हुआ था। (हनुमान जी के अवतार का भी कारण यही था - और श्री राम के कार्य में हाथ बँटाना था।) रावण वध से पहले उन्होंने असंख्य राक्षस मारे और रावण वध के साथ राम अवतार का प्रयोजन पूरा हो गया - ऐसा समझा जा सकता है। तो रावण वध के बाद ,अयोध्या लौटकर राजसिंहासन पर बैठकर राम अवतार ख़त्म हो जाना चाहिए था। विष्णु के अन्य अवतारों को देखकर सोचिये - उनका "प्रयोजन" पूरा होने पर सब चले गए थे। अवतार एक खास प्रयोजन के लिए ही होता है और उसके बाद उसकी जरुरत नहीं रहती। जैसा परशुराम ने भी कहा कि राम के आने पर मेरा प्रयोजन नहीं बचा अब। जैसे राम के आने पर परशुराम अवतार का प्रयोजन समाप्त हो गया, वैसे ही रावण वध और सीता को वापस लाने के बाद राम के अवतार का प्रयोजन समाप्त हो जाना चाहिए था।

"सीता त्याग" से राम के अवतार का कोई प्रयोजन पूरा होता नहीं दीखता। मुझे इसमें सिर्फ एक सन्देश समझ में आता है और वो है कि "अगर प्रजा गलत सोचे तो राजा को प्रजा की गलत धारणा को सुधारने के बदले प्रजा को सही साबित करने के लिए खुद के धर्म का त्याग कर देना चाहिए"। इसे निम्नांकित बातों से समझें: 

१. राम का धर्म था सीता की रक्षा करना 

२. राम ने शादी के समय सीता की रक्षा का वचन दिया था और अग्नि के समक्ष प्रतिज्ञा ली थी 

३. सीता निर्दोष थीं और निर्दोष को सजा देना अधर्म है 

४. प्रजा की धारणा गलत थी और अगर राम सीता का त्याग कर देते तो प्रजा की गलत धारणा सही हो जाती - "देखो सीता ने कुछ गलत किया था, तभी तो राम ने उनका त्याग किया?", लोग ऐसा सोचते 

५. सीता की अग्नि परीक्षा हो चुकी थी और इस कारण फिर से परित्याग की घटना अतार्किक लगती है 

इन कारणों से मुझे सीता परित्याग की घटना तर्कसंगत नहीं लगती। श्री राम के धर्मपरायण जीवन से यह घटना और ऐसे व्यवहार की कल्पना तर्क संगत नहीं लगती। यही लगता है कि यह कहानी बाद में जोड़ी गई है, जैसा सी. राजगोपालाचारी जी ने भी लिखा है। क्या ऐसा "बाद में जोड़ना" संभव था? हिन्दू सनातन धर्म के सारे ग्रन्थ पहले "मौखिक" रूप में ही थे, लिखा उन्हें बहुत बाद में गया। पुस्तक रूप हमारे ग्रन्थ में तो हाल में प्रिंटिंग के अविष्कार के बाद आये। मौखिक से लिखित रूप में भी लेखन एक बार में नहीं हुआ, और इसी दौरान त्रुटियों या जोड़-तोड़ की पूरी सम्भावना रही होगी। 

कुछ लोगों के ख्याल से सीता त्याग प्रभु राम की ही एक "लीला" थी और इससे श्री राम की कोई शिकायत नहीं होती। ऐसा भी माना जा सकता है। 

खैर, मैंने जो पढ़ा और अपने विचार से सोचा, उसे तर्क के आधार पर तौल कर अपनी धारणा बनाई है कि सीता परित्याग की घटना तार्किक नहीं लगती। 

- राहुल तिवारी 

Earlier Posts in this Series: 

Did Seeta’s Exile really Happen?

Shri Ram Never Banished Ma Sita to Forest 

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- Rahul Tiwary

बत्तमीज से दोस्ती का परिणाम | Making Friends With Bad Behavior

एक महानुभाव ने फेसबुक पर एक फ्रेंड (दोस्त) बनाया। शुरू में ही समझ आ गया कि दोस्त "बत्तमीज" था। पर "मेरे साथ ऐसा नहीं होगा" के अति-आत्मविश्वास से ग्रसित महानुभाव ने कोई कदम नहीं उठाया। बत्तमीज दोस्त आए दिन एक-एक कर किसी न किसी को अपने गुस्से का शिकार बनाता। महानुभाव सौम्य स्वाभाव के थे, डर जाते पर कुछ किया नहीं। "निगेटिव" को नजरअंदाज कर "पॉजिटिव" पर ध्यान केंद्रित किया। बत्तमीज दोस्त की लिखी बातें ज्ञान-वर्धक जो थीं! 

एक कहावत है - "मेमने की माँ कबतक खैर मनाएगी"। एक दिन महानुभाव का बुरा दिन था। बत्तमीज दोस्त के "हत्थे चढ़ गया"। बत्तमीज दोस्त ने अपनी "परंपरा, प्रतिष्ठा और अनुशासन" का प्रदर्शन कर सबके सामने महानुभाव की आरती उतारी। ऊपर से दोस्ती तोड़ ली सो अलग। 

महानुभाव पछताए कि क्यों इस दिन का इंतजार किया - "मेरे साथ नहीं होगा" की मानसिकता पर उन्हें खेद हुआ। 

बत्तमीज से दोस्ती का परिणाम अच्छा नहीं हो सकता। आज नहीं तो कल, उसके दुष्परिणाम भुगतने को तैयार रहें! हमारे ऊपर वाले महानुभाव जैसा न बनें। 

- राहुल तिवारी 

Society: Should Marriages Be Saved At All Costs?

I remember an old incident. There was a viral video being shown on TV and circulating in the media at that time. It was a scene from CCTV camera of some home in Gujarat where a daughter-in-law was beating up her mother-in-law with a wooden stick. The old lady was sleeping on a cot when the daughter-in-law enters and starts beating her up brutally with a wooden stick. She beats her up black and blue. The incident had invited large scale condemnation. To that, one person said something which remained in my memory forever. He said, “When the man tries to save his marriage at all costs, such things happen”.

I think what he would have tried to say was that every big incident had some background. If a person does a small wrong thing and gets away with it, the person may be encouraged to feel safe and might do a bigger wrong deed next time. If that is also ignored by others, the person may do still bigger act next time. This goes on and one day we hear news like the above incident. No one becomes a hardened criminal at once – normally there is a “background”, as we see in the movies too.

Realizing this, it can be argued that the above woman may have done some smaller sins before and would have gone unpunished. Hence, she would have ended up doing the above. What is the message for married people from this?

The message is that one should not ignore small incidents of bad behavior from one’s spouse. It is true for men as well as women. If they would ignore small incidents of abusive behavior, the spouse may be encouraged to do worse next time. The idea is to stop the evil from sprouting into a big tree by stopping it while it is just a small thing.

At the same time, if the threshold has been crossed, one should have the courage to “let go”. One should not tolerate abuse just to save one’s marriage. Of course, this does not mean that one should always expect “perfection” from one’s spouse. Mistakes happen and we all do mistakes. But intentional abuse is a different thing and we all can identify when it happens. In such cases, one should be ready even to sacrifice the marriage rather than keep tolerating the abusive behavior from one’s spouse. What is the threshold and when to know that time is up? It is an individual case and one can decide this for oneself. And of course, never feel shy to take expert help from others before making the decision.

- Rahul Tiwary