Prof. M.K.Bhat
The application of any inherited knowledge whether Yoga, astrology or Ayurveda for the betterment of society is being termed as saffronisation by some while as others hold pride in applying such knowledge to every walk of life. The total neglect of this knowledge as dogmatic in the last 67 years of our independence had made it indifferent in India while as its acceptance worldwide has been growing over the years. The lack of political will to assess its validity or applying it also contributed to its decay. The best example in this context is Yoga, in America one out of every 6 families is performing yoga while as in India credit for reviving it goes to Baba Ramdev in recent years, otherwise the young generation was almost unaware of it. The governments even after knowing the better uses of this inherited knowledge have worked one step forward two step backward strategy for the political reasons. India may be perhaps the only country where people have to think twice before applying anything of yesteryears for the benefit of its people. Indian traditional knowledge has acquired laurels worldwide and is not against any sect or a community. Had it been so, the various faiths would not have flourished in India rather the Indus civilization could not have existed for so long when other civilizations of that era lost their breath much before? It is this adaptability that makes Indian ethos evergreen.
Swami Vivekananda had very well said that people of India would not have taken his sayings seriously, had he not got high acceptance in the Chicago conference. The situation has not changed despite attaining our independence in 1947. People try to accept things only after the west endorses such traditional knowledge. Many eyebrows were raised by the so called secularists against Yoga despite the world endorsing it as a good step for good health. It may be pointed here that the protagonists and antagonists of traditional knowledge are at loggerheads. Protagonists sometimes want to apply certain concepts which bear least relevance in the present time while as antagonists are out and out to suspect anything irrespective of logic or relevance. They pose themselves as self styled guards against safronisation and even try to find fault within the saffron on the bases of caste and so on. These people in fact have lead to the alienation of minorities especially Muslims from the main stream. These secularists see red in every move of the present government, but the fact remains that despite their rule in the country in the last 67 years of our independence, minorities have not reached to any remarkable position. They rather used minorities for their benefit over the years. On the contrary in the last one year of the Modi government, we have not come across a single policy with its sectarian outlook. Its star policies like JhanDhan Yojana or the insurance policies bear attraction for all and acrimony for none. There is no special attention for any sect so no division in the society. It seems that government realizes that everyone wants to have a comfortable life and problems pinches equally to all .The secularists applied the British principle of divide and rule for their self interest and are feeling nowhere due to the growing acceptance of the present regime among the minorities.
The big challenge before Indian Intelligentsia at present is how to use the traditional acquired knowledge for the betterment of society .Some believe it should be incorporated in schools and colleges across the country while as others want its proper scrutiny before application and there are still others who may try to restrict its application. There are too many questions being raised in favour and against, it is a hard fact that Vedas were written much before various religions came into existence so there is no chance of any bias in them, if they contain anything good why that should not be applied in the schools and colleges . If yoga leads to good health why it should not be taught in schools and colleges .why secularists feel pained in celebrating Yoga day when it was endorsed by 48 Muslim countries , Are Indian Muslims more Muslim than them. The stubbornness of secularists makes sometimes to suspect their intelligence and at other times makes one to suspect their intentions for the development of minorities by keeping them away from the mainstream for political purposes.
It may be said to the credit of various Muslim organizations that boldly supported yoga initiatives in the country. Their steps have conveyed to the pseudo secularists that Muslims better understand what is good for them and need not to rely on the advice of the secular brigade. The secular brigade has not only alienated minorities from the main stream for their self interest but their undue attention is getting reactionary from the majority thereby polarizing the elections or making it easy for the fanatic groups in majority to increase their influence.
Muslim being the biggest minority generally falls in their trap because of illiteracy and lack of leadership. It today people like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ‘Zakir Hussain to lead with a vision. Partition made it leaderless as the elites among the community opted for Pakistan and made those left as a pawn in the hands of people with low vision.
The Muslims of India feel proud of Indian culture and heritage because it belongs to them also .It is equally a history of their ancestors too. The big stories regarding eating beef, statement by a mad politician , doing yoga or getting places on rent are more a media creation rather than based on reality .It is beyond any doubt that average Muslim respects the sentiments of others like any other community. Secularists in order to keep their business intact rake up sentimental issues and make them point of prestige for the minorities. The matter of the fact is that average Muslim wants economic development, education, health and social well being of their people.
India bears different faiths, ways of living, customs, languages but its common culture binds it together. All the people of this country have same feelings. They have grown wayward because they get an education in schools and colleges which has least relevance towards their development as genuine human beings. They are taught self interest rather than social good .This makes them good technocrats but fail to be good human beings. The education based on the teachings of our ancestors can help us a lot in mitigating various social problems and can lead to integral human development.
The so called secularists raise their eyebrows against such an education system for cheap publicity, get an overwhelming support from media ,political class and the irrelevant educational set up. In the present education setup anything and everything foreign is being taught to propagate alien concepts in young minds. Criticism is good for the health of any democracy, but criticism for the sake of it is bad.
The tussle between secularists and saffronites must settle down for sometime so that an average Indian can think beyond flimsy grounds for his good.
(The author is Sustainable Development Deputy Director (M.A.I.M.S) Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi)
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