Trying to pass the litmus test

APROPOS of Sai R. Vaidyanathan’s article "The Litmus Test (November 21), it is evident that the Bhagavadgita covers all aspects of human life. The message of the Bhagavadgita is a practical one. As such, the practicality of the Bhagvadgita is unparalleled. In the Vedanta system, whatever remains in the form of dialectics, crystallises in the verses of the Bhagavadgita as attainable. The Bhagavadgita bestows peace, sustenance and contentment and unites knowledge with action. It elucidates the nature of knowledge, action and devotion. It is surprising that such an intellectual feat has been achieved in the Bhagavadgita within 700 couplets, known for their simplicity of language, method, approach and logic.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Guru Maniyo Granth

This refers to the article "Guru Maniyo Granth" by M.S. Aneja (November 21). The last para says that" Guru Gobind Singh’s (original injunction reads: Akal-Purakh ke bachan siun Pragat Chalaiyo Panth; Sabh Sikhan ko hukam hai....

The above-mentioned couplets are from the Rehatnama which has been written by Bhai Prehlad Singh who claims that these couplets were dictated to him by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji at a place called Abchal Nagar (presently known as Nanded Sahib) and the year of dictation has been clearly written in this Rehatnama to be Samvat 1752 i.e. 1695 A.D. which directly contradicts the whole concept of Sikhism as Guru Gobind Singh Ji had not even visited Nanded Sahib let alone created the Khalsa, an event which took place about four years later. The question of giving Guru Gaddi to Sri Adi Granth Sahib before the creation of the Khalsa is mind-boggling as there should have been no need to create the Khalsa after giving Guru-Gaddi to Sri Adi Granth Sahib. This anamoly has been pointed out by legendary Sikh historian Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha whose granth Mahaan Kosh, is the single known encyclopaedia of Sikh literature.

NAVTEJ SINGH
Ludhiana

Sunshine of soul

This refers to I.M. Soni’s article "Laughter is the sunshine of the soul" (November 21) No doubt laughter is the best and the most inexpensive medicine but there are moments in life when one is depressed and this medicine does not work. In today’s life there is so much of stress that depression, and a feeling of uselessness are common. We have to encounter such situations with power and intelligence. Despair is a natural emotion. The secret is to accept it and emerge stronger.

SURINDER KUMAR MARWAHA
Delhi

Obey the natural law

This refers to Taru Bahl’s write-up "Obey the natural law" (November 14). In my view, religions which claim to represent a universal truth and consider all those who refuse to fall in line as ‘infidels’ who have no right to exist, have become the greatest hurdles in the way of universalism.

The only way to change the situation is to temper religion with dharma. Dharma is a code of conduct based on moral and ethical values of universal applicaton. Ahimsa or non-violence was inherent in this code. But Vardhaman Mahavir, founder of Jainism and Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought that non-violence should be explicitly mentioned and emphasised. Therefore, Ahimsa or non-violence was accepted as a vital ingredient of dharma. Dharma has nothing to do with any religious dogmas or form of worship but it pertains to conduct and not to faith or belief.

Indian sages and saints stressed the universality of the soul — Parmatma — and oneness of truth or God. They, therefore, accepted the multiplicity of the ways and modes of approaching him. They thus reconciled monotheism with polytheism.

In due course of time, a number of paths of worship panths or sects — came into existence in India. But they all followed dharma because it was equally applicable to all human beings.

It would be quite pertinent to mention here that Hinduism is not a religion. In the words of Dr. Radhakrishan, Hinduism is a way of life, a cultural stream, a commonwealth of all the panths or sects of Indian origin and not a religion.

It is time that all those are really committed to globalism and humanism, understand the difference between religion and dharma. Religion divides mankind while dharma unites. Therefore, propagation of dharma and planned effort to temper all religions with the spirit of dharma is the only effective way of universal integration.

K.M. VASHISHT
Mansa

Fight for values

This refers to Rahul Kanwal’s article: "A fight for human values" (November 21). No doubt, corruption is a universal phenomenon but that cannot be justification of the corruption prevailing.

We should deal with corruption on a war-footing. Let us deploy the anti-corruption force and use it effectively in our fight against corruption. We must reform our government to reduce corruption, adopt fewer and clearer regulations, increase accountability to ensure free flow of information to expose corruption. Let us move before the damage being caused by corruption becomes irreparable.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Delhi

Durga Bhabhi

This refers to "Durga Bhabhi: A forgotten revolutionary," by K.K. Khullar (November 14). It has become a common feature in India to forget its great sons and daughters. Shahid Sukhdev Thapper, Col Sherjung of Himachal and Durga Bhabhi met the fate of forgotten heroes. Only a few persons know that Durga Bhabhi posed as the wife of a clean-shaven man with a felt hat to escape from the British to go to Lahore to attend the Congress Session at Calcutta. The clean-shaven man was Bhagat Singh

SATYA PURI NAHANVI
Nahan

Town that was

The article "Tearful memories of a town that was" by Sansar Chandra (November 21) brings out lingering memories of that vibrant town even 52 years after those traumatic events. The writer sheds light on the brutality, carnage and torture perpetrated upon the Mirpurians in a very calculated manner. Mirpur was destroyed Pakistani army mercenaries and Kabaili raiders who turned violent and heaped gruesome tortures upon those simple, innocent people. The writer’s graphic descripiton of how people were done to death or taken prisoner is gripping and tragic.

Indeed, freedom of India from the foreign rule was marked by untold brutalities which cannot be erased even by the flow of time by the victims; rather with the passage of time, the wounds get aggravated.

Even in those dark days, virtues of chivalry came to the fore, when survivors helped each other and provide succour. Invincible courage has been the hallmark of survivors who had to leave that beautiful, serene city and are now living in various parts of India.

The fall of Mirpur of October 25, 1947 and its aftermath still lingers on the survivors memories.

JATINDER KUMAR GUPTA
Panckhula

Poverty-stricken poets

Apropos of Roshni Johar’s write-up "Until debt do us apart" (November 14), highlighting the plight of some indebted celebrities, I want to mention a few Urdu poets who lived in penury.

Feroze Tughrai often sold his ghazals to avoid privation. Ratan Pandorvi, who made tremendous contribution in the field of literature, lived in penury. Meer Taqi Meer, known as Shaikh Saadi of Urdu poetry lacked even the ordinary necessities of life.

Once the British Governor of Delhi invested Mirza Ghalib with a costly robe of honour. Some peons went to his house to get baksheesh. He had no money and he sold the robe and distributed the proceeds from its sale amongst them.

Some creditors filed a suit against him in the court of Mufti Sadruddin Aazurdah for the recovery of their money. Mirza appeared before him and said: Qarz kee peetay they mai aur kaihtey they ke haan/ Rang laaey gee hamaari faaqa-masti ek din (I used to take wine on credit and knew that, one day, my cheerfulness in adversity would certainly land me in trouble). The Mufti smiled and paid the entire debts from his pocket.

BHAGWAN SINGH
Qadian