The Young and The Rebellious

“These new changes are a Diwali gift to the youthful nation announcing again the irrelevance of blind traditionalists and practitioners of doublespeak. The vibrant new generation is becoming the Brahma of nation's destiny. A new track, rebellious mood, unyielding to the stale preachers, lighting their own lamp in their own way, is the new song of young Bharat. Those who want to see it, feel it.”

Aah, I was so delighted to hear these words. These words are from a recent article by Shri Tarun Vijay, the editor of RSS mouthpiece, Panchjanya. And it reinforces my long-held belief that we Indians have been in the grips of blind traditionalists for way too long. The very foundation of Indian culture is change; it is the sangam of old and new. Following everything in our “old culture” would be ok if everything old was perfect, or almost perfect. But what right do we have to call our culture to be an ancient and sophisticated one, if it leads to thousands of dowry deaths every year? Where is our sense of shame when we (or our close relatives) kill infant girl children (For every 10 boys, there are less than 9.3 girls in India. That means we have killed over 50 million girls since independence. Another reason why I think guys like me are still bachelors :))? Where is our sense of equality when women in the villages have to keep their face covered with a ghoonghat in front of men? Where is our moral standing when the second richest temple in India happens to be the one devoted to a 14-year old girl who committed sati (Yeah, I am talking about Rani Sati temple in Jhunjhunu)? Can anyone, anyone with a little sanity, make a case for a 14-yr old girl committing sati? And then erecting a temple out of that act? And then giving donations so that the temple authorities can become rich?

But the bigger question is this. Why do we always try to maintain status quo in order to appease the society? Do we not realize that societal rules are not God-given but made by society, and therefore not immutable? Where is our spirit of rebellion? Why do we need a Raja Rammohan Roy to tell us that sati pratha is wrong? Or an Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar to promote the integration of widows in society? Or a Shri Shri Ravi Shankar to tell that untouchability is completely out of context in this new century? Should not these ideas spring out from the heart of each and every Indian and each and every human-being because of our respect of all-life forms? Doesn’t the great religions of India proclaim the idea of equality, as when Sri Krishna in Bhagwad Gita proclaims “Samo ham sarva-bhuteshu”?

The young generation realizes the problem, but partly because of their desire to agree with the old generation and partly due to their insecurity, they decide to follow these practices. But no more. This century belongs to the new India. And we would not be bound by the diktats of these blind traditionalists. Not only are we the creators or the Brahma of a new order, as Shri Tarun Vijay mentioned, but we also have to be the destroyers or the Shiva of all rudimentary and out-of date practices. Agreed, the young generation has many drawbacks (for example over-consumerism, over-aggression, and alcoholism to name a few). But then, there is never a perfect solution. And I believe these are just initial stages of experimentation of the new generation where there would be ten failed or partially-successful experiments before we reach a final perfect solution. Isn’t this is what evolution all about?

There are many great things about the religions and traditions of India (yoga, ayurveda, dance and music, self-discipline, focus on family and emphasis on dharma (or personal duty)). But many of the other old ideas have to die. After all, our great nation is about constant change. Those who want to maintain the same old continuity have no place in the new scheme of things.

P.S.: Something I read recently
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-set-for-the-marriage-squeeze-UN/233685/