Friday, May 16, 2003

Non Violence v/s Violence:
This has been a topic of debate right from my childhood. All through my school I was taught that non-violence is 'the' thing. Violence begets violence, one should always follow the path of peace and non violence. It all seemed ridiculous for me at a tender age. Though I am a very timid person by nature I somehow never believed in non violence. In fact in my 8th standard our English teacher put an open question to the class as to how many didnt like Gandhi. I was the only one who valiantly stood up and the reason I quoted at that time was that I didnt adhere to principles of non violence which resulted in partition etc.
Very recently I read "My experiments with truth" in order to learn about the principles of non violence which the Mahatma followed and got freedom to the nation. Only then I realised that non violence is such a force that it can make the impossible possible. How could the great Mahatma lead crores of people ? How could people blindly trust him ? All these intrigued me so much that I started to read Leo Tolstoy's "Kingdom Of God Is Within you". The Mahatma mentions in his autobiography that he was vastly influenced by this book. It is only here in this book that I discovered the real crux of non-violence. It implied complete submission to one and everything in this world. It is then I realised that it is something that is not practical in today's world.
If we see the chronology of events in the history, one can harldy get a mention of non-violence other than probably the indus valley civilization. It is simply because of the fact that 'non-violence' is simply not applicable to this world. Referring to Indian mythology, Thretha yuga was supposed to be the most prosperous time where in peace prevailed everywhere. Even in such a great time Lord Rama had to wage a war to get back Sita. Gradually in Dwapara Yuga ( the period of Mahabharatha ) jealousy, treachery had set into the minds of people. A much more fiercer battle was fought where people were killed by deception and treachery. All for the win of good over evil. Now we live in kali yuga where in the mind is filled with treachery jealousy and what not. In today's world it has been proven it is only violence that prevails. Instances:

The whole world has been amassed by Europeans only by violent means.

America gained its independence only by violent means. It is the number one nation in the world today.

France could become prosperous only because of French revolutiuon.

Russia became a great nation only by a Bolshevik revolution.

Only people to be named 'the great' namely Alexander the great, SamudraGupta the great and Ashoka the great were all kings and established their kingdom only by violence. ( Ashoka is an exception since he took up a non violent path later).

The mighty Roman empire was established by massacaring thousands and not by any non violent means.

The first nation to obtain independence from its invaders by non vioelent means was India. Look at where we stand today ? The only difference as I see is before independence we were paying tax to the British now we fill the coffers of the politicians. Is it really worth gaining such an independence. The whole independence saga was a big political game played by the congress led by Nehru. The Britishers very well knew this. They had instilled enough corruption amongst Indians that they were certain we would never try to become a super power. The congress saw it as the easiest means of making money over generations. They used Mahatma Gandhi as a pawn because they knew that he would succumb to every word of theirs. Nehru very intelligently got the name of Gandhi to his family to seek public sympathy after Gandhi's assasination. They have looted the country ever since. Under Britishers this would'nt have been possible. So they encouraged people for freedom under the leadership of the great Mahatma. How should that simple souls know of these atrocious thinkings of the Nehru family. For more than 30 years the congress party led by the Nehru family have pludered most of the tax payers money, created ill will between hindus and muslims, allowed terrorism to grow in kashmir and punjab oh the list is endless. All because of the non-violent path treaded by the great Mahatma. He simply succumbed to the congress while remaining adamant on freedom. The great man's efforts have all gone in vain. Today we lead an independent life or should i say a life of 'false independence' ...

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