on the top!!

As children we have all read, learnt, and debated a beautiful line that seemed to be the vision of our country – ‘Unity in Diversity’. Unfortunately with the kind of communal tension that this country has seen in the past few decades, it seems that our early political leaders were a little too ambitious in their policy towards religion. A secular State with the right, not only to practice, but also, to preach any Religion has brought us to a bad situation where we have become intolerant towards each other. The presence of Religion and Law, two completely different forms of social control has led to conflict of interests. At many stages both systems have confronted each other on issues like Sati, Purdah, Caste System, Personal Laws, etc.

If we look into our history, Law and Religion have only worked when they corroborate each other. Take the example of the Holy Roman Empire. It survived till the time the religion was connected to the state. Whenever they have been juxtaposed it spelled disaster. Religious wars, Feudalism, Colonialism and other concepts have emerged and passed due to the presence of different controlling forces is society. And now with globalization, Religion has become one of the biggest dividers in this world. We are living in a world where, although, we have come to terms with different nationalities, we haven’t been able to overcome or even respect our religious differences.

Having experienced the world wars, having agreed to have peace among nations, having formed the UN, how come it is that we haven’t been able to address religion. How important is the whole concept of religion to us? Is it high time we make religion a purely private affair? Or must we all have single religion countries? In the face of Human Rights, does religion stand up to its worth? Is religion too retrograde a concept? Is it holding us back from achieving our potential? These are some questions, we, as humans, need to answer.

As a nation, our attitude towards religion and other forms of social order are ruining the lives of people. The manifestations range from Communal riots, Minority Communities, lack of Uniform Civil Code, Moral Policing, Reservation, etc. all of which are weakening us in our endeavour to become a developed Nation. Instead of giving strength to the people religion is providing the cracks in an already fragile foundation of a country. At this stage of our development it is an imperative issue that needs addressing. As Indians we need to think - how do we make ourselves a country of people who walk hand in hand with our heads held up high, ready to face as well as embrace anything that comes our way?

The urgency now is to realize that there is a problem, that it needs to be talked openly about, debated and resolved. We need to ask ourselves questions. And most important is the question we needed to ask long back, and one which is still not answered - “What is our chosen form of social control??”

is your blog - > to read or not to read?

why does one write a blog? Is it for people to read or is it for one to write?? there comes a time in every writer's life when s/he thinks about who the reader is going to be or even if there will be a reader!! it's good to ask such questions to oneself...(for improving content).... but never be bogged down by the answers. writing in the end is a balm to the soul...

i've always wanted to write blogs... it's so much simpler than the battle between the pen and the paper that takes place when u're venting onto that personal diary... i would know... i have atleast 4 of them... each with a different purpose i've got Crappy (my first), SNOREZ (my diary on dreams), the SMSer (where i write quotes for SMSes)... and Varuna (my haupt Diary - conatins my experiences and thoughts) and a poetry book. I still write in some while others have served their life and live on as tombstones of a time, an emotion, a dream, a hope, a prayer, a part of me!!

come to think of it...we all write our diaries...but who really reads our diary anyway?? blogs are just personal diaries which may become famous before one dies....and more than famous it may be of use to someone... it may be the balm to someone elses soul...a lost soul...looking for just something out there to get them through....something to let them know they're not alone... just like the writer

so whether or not there is a reader it's important to just write....right away....