One of those old wells in Kerala [Pic from Mathrubhumi weekly, 7 Jan 2024] |
The Bombay Samachar dated 19 Dec 1936 reported
a tragic event from Kalady [birthplace of Adi Sankara], Kerala. The report was
about the child of a young mother that fell into a well. The hapless mother
cried for help but no one rendered any assistance. Wells were not very common
in those days especially because Kerala had a large number of natural water
bodies such as rivers and lakes. The few wells that did exist were not
accessible to everyone. Most of the wells belonged to the high caste people.
The low caste people were not even allowed to go anywhere near the wells, even
the public ones. If they did, the water would become polluted. Then there would
be a whole lot of rituals to cleanse the well.
The Bombay Samachar reported
that a stranger happened to pass by and he readily got down into the well and
saved the child. The man was appreciated and congratulated for his goodness and
courage. But soon his caste identity became clear. In no time, the man was
beaten up brutally.
The other day, I wrote a fictional
anecdote titled Tenderness.
That showed the tender side of religion which is not quite common. Callousness
is more of an integral part of religions. Even today.
One example has been in the news for
two decades now. Bilkis Bano’s gangrape. Bilkis Bano was one of the many Muslim
women gangraped by Hindu men during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The rapists were
eventually arrested and sent to prison. But in Aug 2022, none other than the
Gujarat government ordered their release from prison. On their release, these
hardcore criminals were given heroic reception by some people of Gujarat belonging
to the Sangh Parivar. And today the Supreme Court has
cancelled their release by the government. The rapists have to return to
prison.
There is some kind of justice still
left in India!
Some questions that come up in my
mind are:
·
Will the Central government intervene to supersede the apex
court’s verdict?
·
Will the judges who passed this new verdict be transferred or
punished or even done away with? Will their houses be raided and false cases be
fabricated against them?
·
Will some elements of the Sangh Parivar take out a protest
march tomorrow against the Supreme Court’s decision?
·
Will there be demands to alter the laws pertaining to
gangrapes of women belonging to certain communities?
·
Will some riots be orchestrated in order to erase this
verdict from people’s memories since the parliament elections are around the
corner?
India’s Prime Minister will soon consecrate the most
ostentatious temple in the country at the putative birthplace of god Rama, thereby
making it explicitly clear that religion is going to be the real ruler of India
hereafter. No wonder, India ranks as one of the least happy nations in the
world: 126 out of 136 [World Happiness Index 2023]
But India should actually be happy because we are in
the celestial regions with a lot of gods constantly in touch with us. As one
Malayalam weekly puts it in a cartoon, when Modi goes to consecrate the Ayodhya
temple, it will be the first time in celestial history that one god is going to
consecrate another god’s temple. India, under Modi, will keep on ushering in
many such firsts.
"One god going to set up another god" - Madhyamam, 1-15 Jan 2024
x
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteNo religion advocates for callousness (or any other such dastardliness). It is the egocentric, power-hungry men (women are not immune but are rarer to this) who twist and misuse the tenets of their faiths who enact the evils done. In all religions, too, not just one. Sad, however, to see a nation I love and respect being towed, pulled, beaten along this line... That the faith philosophy which has so much to be admired within it is being 'raped' thus... YAM xx
We judge any system by the way it works in practical life. Religion will be judged by the deeds of its adherents and not by its creeds. The history of religions has been too savage for me to place my faith and hope in it anymore.
DeleteDon't even get me started on religion. That's one of the reasons I don't have one.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this. Those who have given up religion by conscious choice are better human beings in my experience.
DeleteI wonder whether the concept of "morality" would have ever emerged in the absence of religions, what's stopping you and me to end someone if it's not religion that's guarding the boundaries
DeleteWasn't Albert Camus moral? Bertrand Russell? There are so many great people who never believed in religion. On the other hand, we see thousands of believers who are terrible criminals...
DeleteThe Supreme court decision will be hailed by the Centre to show that they are secular and believe in justice, with an eye on the elections round the corner. Post elections the narrative could change.
ReplyDeleteYes, just anything is possible when all morality is suspended for the sake of self-aggrandisement.
DeleteIt's sad that what's supposed to bring us together tears us apart. Will we ever find justice in this world?
ReplyDeleteWhen political power games make use of religion and other institutions of morality, you can be sure that justice will be hard to find.
DeleteI agree with Lux G - it's disheartening that something intended to unite us ends up causing division. Seeking justice is a challenging endeavor.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday, Tomichan!
This problem is quite common all over the world now. Let's hope better sense prevails.
DeleteI took this judgement with a heaping side of nervousness, pondering the same questions you listed here
ReplyDelete