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Dangerous People


More than 2200 years ago, The Chinese philosopher Hsun Tsu wrote: “When stars fall or a sacred tree groans, the people of the whole state are afraid.  We ask “Why is it?”  I answer: there is no (special) reason.... These are rare events.  We may marvel at them but we should not fear them.  For there is no age which has not experienced eclipses of the sun and moon, unseasonable rain or wind, or strange stars seen in groups ... but when human ominous signs come, then we should really be afraid.  Using poor ploughs ... spoiling a crop by inadequate hoeing and weeding ... these are what I mean by ominous human signs.”

Han Fei Tzu, a contemporary of Hsun Tsu, wrote: “If the ruler believes in date-selecting, worships gods and demons, puts faith in divination, and likes luxurious feasts, then ruin is possible.”

We Indians are bogged down by both of the above problems.  Replace the examples given by the philosopher with contemporary examples.  We have contractors and engineers, for example, who construct roads or buildings that have  very short lives.  Our food is adulterated, our water is no more free, our air is unbreathable... The cow is more sacred than human beings.  Our religious leaders demand sterilisation of people belonging to particular faiths.  Human ominous signs are rampant putting us on our guard.

It is not the gods in the mythology or the heavenly bodies of astrology that control our lives.  It is us.  Especially our leaders who form the policies and shape public opinions.  Quite many of our leaders are yet to acquire a fraction of the wisdom that some of our forefathers possessed more than 2200 years ago. 


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Comments

  1. UnknownApril 13, 2015 at 1:39 PM

    I had read that article on sterilization yesterday. While many opposed the sadhvi's views, I am afraid there were some who supported it too. Right there, in the comments section, there was a religious fight going on.
    I don't understand why some elements are out to provoke people rather than bringing in peace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 13, 2015 at 2:11 PM

      Varieties of evils exist in every society all the time. An efficient govt is able to keep a check on dangerous trends and vices. But there are certain govts which directly or indirectly encourage certain vices and evils to take the front stage. Reasons are more political than religious or any other. We now have such a govt at the centre led by a man whose credentials are known to all Indians. Some sick people are taking advantage of the situation.

      Delete
  2. magiceyeApril 13, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    The writing is on the wall!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saru SinghalApril 13, 2015 at 6:12 PM

    Right! We control our lives. Problem is we are allowing such jerks to feed us wisdom and believe all they seek while they are filing their coffers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 13, 2015 at 7:07 PM

      The leadership matters, matters much more than I had ever imagined.

      Delete
  4. UnknownApril 13, 2015 at 6:37 PM

    A very real analogy with our lives and the world we live in today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 13, 2015 at 7:09 PM

      We will have to live through it for a few years more, I guess.

      Delete
  5. Kokila guptaApril 14, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    very true and sad ... we don't 'learn' anything from History and mythology .. but yes we do 'know' how to twist a line/story/anything for our convenience ... dangerous .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 14, 2015 at 10:53 AM

      It is dangerous, no doubt, Kokila. By the time they are done with before the next elections, much damage will have been done already to the nation.

      Delete
  6. copinlightingNovember 10, 2022 at 12:12 PM

    Thank you for your post. This is excellent information for me. keep up it! led light strip for automatic gate

    ReplyDelete

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