Let us make a pledge on Dussehra today to banish the demon of communal hatred forever and make Ram and all the other avatars that have come down on earth proud of the human race, urges OSWALD PEREIRA
On October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, I attended Gandhi Leela, a music and dance evening where a Hindu-Muslim group of people, with a Muslim as music director, happily sang soul-stirring bhajans and depicted the life of Gandhi. Seated in a front row, I could see the Muslim lead singer’s face radiate with bliss, his eyes moist, as he sang praises of Lord Ram. His accompanying singers, both Hindus and Muslims, exuded ananda or extreme happiness.
The musicians on the mridangam, sarangi, harmonium, santoor, sitar, flute and tabla seemed to be inspired by Divinity as they played flawlessly, enhancing the perfection of the exquisite singing and dancing.
More than a musical and dance evening, it seemed like God-communion. There was no Islamic music or Christian hymns that evening. But, we the audience, people from all faiths were in raptures, some humming along, others clapping their hands ecstatically, some recording the singing and dancing on their mobile phones.
But why am I narrating this while writing an article on Dussehra, a festival that signifies triumph of good over evil, as Lord Ram vanquished the demon King Ravana? We celebrate Lord Ram’s victory on this day with so much fanfare, burning effigies of Ravana to satisfy ourselves that all his evil traits have been destroyed.
Shouldn’t we instead burn effigies of the demon of communal hatred that seems to have gripped a section of misguided people, attempting to spread their tentacles to the rest of the sensible people in our beloved country?
The people, who attended the evening of dance and music, seemed to be living in an isolated world, almost like in an ivory tower. In their 90 minutes of bliss of music and dance, they seemed to have forgotten the real world outside.
Wait a minute! Instead of burning effigies of Ravana on Dussehra, wouldn’t it have been a better idea to instead form groups of people of all faiths and go out on the streets singing praises not only of Ram, but also of Krishna, Christ and Allah?
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa had said, “I practised each religion for a time — Hinduism, Islam, Christianity. Furthermore, I followed the paths of the Saktas, Vaishnavas, and Vedantists. I realized that there is only one God toward whom all are travelling; but the paths are different.”
We, as Indians, known for respecting each others’ faiths should follow the example set by Sri Ramakrishna and practise the different faiths of our country to experience the goodness of each religion.
That would be an India of dreams ― yours, mine and ours.
So, let us make a pledge on Dussehra today to banish the demon of communal hatred forever and make Ram and all the other avatars that have come down on earth proud of the human race.
Featured Image Shows Hindus and Muslims singing happily together ( Pic Courtesy: Suranya Aiyar)
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written eight books, including The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
True Oswald Ji, when we are in the very best of ourselves, we become selfless and that exactly is the state of universal self.
The soliloquy then becomes universal, the sing out then becomes universal, the experience then becomes a peak experience, the vision from atop that state becomes a God vision which is universal.
But, how we manage with the normalcy of our life after the retreat from the highest state of our rapture is the real challenge, we must very authentically take care. No doubt, Swami Paramahamsa Yogananda and Sri Ramakrishna have succeeded in that and stand as a testimony of the actualisation of the highest possibility of man which is latent as such in each of us.
Transcending the emasculating state of individuality having our personal identity as a member of a religion, a sect, or a community is indeed the greatest personal as well as collective challenge indeed. This metaphysical reconstruction as such is the moot call of all the faiths and religions which makes the nutshell of Spirituality which so painfully gets eclipsed in the fanfare of religious celebrations, rituals and practice.
May we all wake up to the essence of it this Vijaya Dashami so that we get genuine victory by overcoming the demon of our religious bigotry which hinders the possibility of the higher order of human evolution which can guarantee us all on earth a genuine Divine Life.
Happy Vijaya Dashami Oswald Ji 🙏🏻
Dear Baturam Ji,
You have summed up the essence of the article well, when you say, “May we all wake up to the essence of it this Vijaya Dashami so that we get genuine victory by overcoming the demon of our religious bigotry which hinders the possibility of the higher order of human evolution which can guarantee us all on earth a genuine Divine Life.”
Very well expressed
Thank you, Preeta