Photographs: Farmland near our village in Bihar

 

- Rahul 

Movie Review: Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023)

I watched Zara Hatke Zara Bachke on JioCinema. 

Starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is a comedy film. 

I had seen the promos of the film when it was released and expected it to be a lighthearted comedy based around the theme of "divorce". But I did not know that the movie had much more to offer. I found this movie as a lovely take around the theme of survival of marriage in a world plagued by corrupt government agencies. Vicky Kaushal has done an amazing work and establishes himself as a 'natural actor'. And Sara Ali Khan has given her best in another movie worth remembering. Rest of the cast is also very effective. 

With 8/10, I would rate Zara Hatke Zara Bachke as a lovely family entertainer with a good social message. Especially married couples should watch it to get taste of a life untouched in usual movies. 

- Rahul   

  

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 9

It is very interesting to see what Raama thought of Raavana.

When Raavana was killed, Vibheeshana started lamenting seeing his brother’s body fallen on the ground. Raama spoke:

“Raavana fought like a true warrior and fell fighting like a hero! Death has washed his sins. It calls for no mourning. Raavana has entered Heaven.”

Raama cleared all confusion from Vibheeshana’s mind and made him do the funeral rites for his departed brother.

Said Raama: “It is for you now, his brother, to do the rites. Death ends all enmity. I, his former foe, even I can rightly perform his obsequies. Your brother is my brother too, is he not?”

(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Ch LXXIII; End of Raavana; P462-63)

If we go back in time, in the initial stage of the war, once Raama had left Raavana unhurt. Here is the episode:

Then Raama, riding on Hanumaan’s shoulders, gave battle to Raavana. The Raakshasa king was sorely wounded. His golden crown was broken. So was his chariot. Deprived of every weapon, he stood before Raama.

“You may go now,” said Raama. “You have fought well today. Go away and rest and come back tomorrow, refreshed and with weapons.” And Raavana retreated shamefacedly to the city.

(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Ch LXX; Raavana’s Defeat; P442)

What comes clear from these incidents apart from the many other virtues of Raama; is also the fact that Raam held high views of the good part of Raavana’s character. This is right; because none is all evil as none is all good. Therefore if Rama appreciated and respected Ravana as a warrior; he only elevates his own position in our minds and hearts…

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 6

Many world religions give too much importance to us ‘surrendering’ to God’s will. At one place in the Ramayana, Lord Ram also shows the same attitude. Though his gesture also shows his royal lineage and dharma of a king; we can think more on the lines to come up with our conclusions.

Surrender to the Lord

When Vibheeshana comes to join Raama’s side; not everyone is ready to accept him. The Vaanara king Sugriva shows a strong protest, as do many other warriors. But Raama thinks otherwise and among opinion on statesmanship, says this:

“But there is a stronger reason. When one comes to me for refuge, I cannot reject him. This is my dharma. It does not matter if as a result of this I suffer. Even at the cost of life I must do this duty of mine. Never can I deviate from it. Verily, I tell you, even if Raavana himself came to me for sanctuary, I would accept him without hesitation. How then can I reject his brother who has done me no wrong? Go and fetch Vibheeshana.”

In the Vaishnava tradition, this episode, in which Vibheeshana is taken by the Prince into his camp and innermost council, is held to be as important as the Bhagawat Gita episode in the Mahabharata.

It illustrates the doctrine that the Lord accepts all who in absolute surrender seek shelter at his feet, regardless of their merits or defects. Their sins are burnt out by the mere act of surrender.

This is a message of hope to erring humanity. It is the heart of the Vaishanava faith that there is hope for the worst of us if only we surrender ourselves to the Lord.

Those who look on Raama as an avatar of God find in this utterance the essence of scriptures. The solemn assurance which Krishna gives to Arjuna later in the Gita, that assurance the Prince of Ayodhya declares in the presence of Sugreeva and others in this Vibheeshana episode of the Raamayana.

This divine assurance is the life and light that a world filled with sin and darkness, needs.

(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Ch LXV; The Doctrine of Surrender and Grace; P413-414)

- Rahul

Book Review: Myth = Mithya by Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

‘Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology’

By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

Penguin

ISBN 0143099701; ISBN 13: 9780143099703

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is one of India’s most popular present day mythologists. My curiosity to know more about Hinduism and to get real meaning of our mythology or the inherent symbolism found a savior in him. His pen is so powerful, knowledge so deep and expression so simple that I think he is changing the way we look at Hinduism and Hindus, and revitalizing the world’s interest in Hinduism and India.

‘Myth = Mithya” is aptly termed a Handbook of Hindu Mythology. In its pages you would find descriptions and elaborations on numerous Hindu mythological stories and their real meanings and symbolism. I think this is one book which has given me most knowledge points per page than any other book I have ever read.

In my opinion this book is a must read and must kept book for all Hindus or anyone really interested in understanding Hinduism.

- Rahul

Book Review: Words of Freedom: Ideas of a Nation by Bhagat Singh

‘Words of Freedom: Ideas of a Nation’

By: Bhagat Singh

Penguin Books

ISBN 9780143068884

Shaheed Bhagat Singh is an icon of India’s freedom movement. His life-story has inspired thousands to do something worthwhile for their nation and continues to inspire the youth, generation after generation. He was a lion-hearted young man who spent his life, blood and death for the betterment of his nation called Bharat (or India). At the time he was hanged by the British, he was only 23 years old. Penguin has done a great work by compiling some of his writings, letters and revolutionary literature in the form of a small book. Readers get to know Bhagat Singh better and also delve into his “ideas” for our nation.

The book would also serve a very good means of waking us up to the realities of our nation. Have we in all these years proven the sacrifice of our freedom-fighters worth the efforts? Are we doing something for a better future of our nation? Or are we still stuck in the webs of religion, caste or location, which divide us and make us weak? In these pages, Bagat Singh puts his views very strongly. He also challenges those (Congress members) who were apparently soft on the British policies and believed in small incremental gains towards the freedom. His ideas on religion are also very strong and provocative, but well-grounded. Here is a sample of some lines from the first article:

“While we Indians, what are we doing? A branch of a peepal tree is cut and religious feelings of the Hindus are injured. A corner of a paper idol, tazia, of the idol-breaker Mohammedans is broken, and ‘Allah’ gets enraged, who cannot be satisfied with anything less than the blood of the infidel Hindus.” (P-7)

“The conservativeness and orthodoxy of the Hindus, extra-territorialism and fanaticism of the Mohammedans and narrow-mindedness of all the communities in general are always exploited by the foreign enemy.” (P-9)

“We want people who may be prepared to fight without hope, without fear and without hesitation, and who may be willing to die un-honored, unwept and unsung.” (P-10)

(From manifesto of The Naujawan Bharat Sabha, founded by Bhagat Singh in 1926 in Lahore)

(I think his idea of freedom-fighters to be ready to fight even without hope points to the eternal teaching of Lord Krishna in Gita)

Reading Bhagat Singh’s letters and speeches to the British, I couldn’t stay without being in awe of his intellect and brilliance! I think if the British gave him a fair trial, he would have got himself free, given the way he explained the matters and debated in the court. But alas, the British were bent on hanging him and ignored crucial evidence and facts, and went about their own determined ways. Bhagat Singh asked to be shot dead by a gun rather than being hanged, but no surprise that the British didn’t want to grant him his last wish too.

Sardar Bhagat Singh’s story is worth being read, told and sung with all our heart, until each Indian counts one’s nation above one’s other priorities. It also points towards self-reflection to the communities who count some other nations and their foreign beliefs above our nation, or those Indians who harm our nation’s prospects in the name of business and trade.

I find myself lucky to have read this book. Highly recommended to all India-lovers.

- Rahul