INTRODUCTION
Source: Gita Today Back Cover page 2nd revised edition published 25 Jun 2007
No Affiliations
I am not affiliated to any political party, any social organization, or any religious body. I am a writer not an activist. I have only one aim, and that is to empower Hindus with much needed information that can help them protect their Sanaatan Dharm.
Not for Money
I am not doing this work for money. I have given up a lot that life can offer for a Cause that does not have many takers. It does not pay; instead, it takes away, but then who cares? When we leave this world, we carry nothing of what we accumulated; so why bother? The Mother Earth has nourished our body, so has the Mother Religion which has nourished our soul. To them, we owe something. A little that I can do before departing; I am trying to do that.
Why I am doing this?
Hindus - mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, sons, daughters - have been kept in dark for long. Their heads and hearts have been filled up with misinformation that has been detrimental to their social and religious interests. They have been misguided for long with purpose, or out of ignorance, or a combination of both by their leaders, guides, gurus, educators. The environment has been engulfed by Aasuric tendencies.
Living on a lie has become much easier in today's world. Exposing a lie, on the other hand, has become lucrative business; so long it helps improve one's bank balance. But then, exposing a lie for a Cause, for greater benefit of the mankind, has become unwanted (and at times, dreaded) task, and therefore, is avoided by most. But then, at times, a small lamp dares the whole blanket of darkness around. Its fate in the end could be anybody's guess.
Hindus need to be made aware of those facts that have been deliberately withheld from them. Once they get to see the other side of the coin, it will be they who will decide for themselves as to what they need to do. I am here to show only the other side of the coin. Therefore, I shall throw light only on that side. I am not going to discuss pros and cons. I do not have to turn you into a book-wise drawing room debater. My sole intent is to help you with a vision that could penetrate beyond the smoke screen and reveal what remains hidden behind.
Hindus need to be made aware of the threats that engulf their world: threats that have been working 'silently' for past 'six generations' with one, and only one motive: that is to wipe out Hindu religion, culture and its value system. With time those destructive forces have gained momentum. They have now become very aggressive. They enjoy not only tacit consent and sympathy but also active support from those who are in power and politics; those who have acquired a suffocating grip over national education system; those who control the Press, the Media which is now flush with money that pours in from foreign shores, and they have assumed the position of the opinion makers to the nation! The policy is quite clear: certain category of news items must not find place in media reporting, and due care is exercised at the source itself to eliminate them; other category of news items must be blown-up beyond proportion, and every attempt is made to see that it does happen. At the same time the public must not get a scent of what is going on behind screen, the motive behind such manipulations; and therefore, a proper mix of news coverage is designed by the professionals specialized in image building, which acts as a protective umbrella beneath which common man's vision does not penetrate.
How I looked at different Religions?
By birth I am a Hindu, and therefore, I felt the presence of God wherever I went. It simply did not occur to me that a mosque, a church, a synagogue is any different from a temple. To me all of them housed the God. A Jewish Synagogue and a Paarsi Temple are the places where I spend some time, long ago. About the same time, after 'Mass' held at a Catholic Church the Christians present took 'wine and bread'; so did I as I remember. Later, with my driver Malik I went inside a Mosque because it was his Namaaz time. I could have relaxed in the comfort of air-conditioned car while he went for his Namaaz. But I sat by his side; he prayed to Allah, I prayed to Ganesh. Hamoud Hamdoun bin Muhammad lost his relative; he went to mosque and then, at his home whole family ate from one huge plate (Muslim tradition). I had no reason to accompany him to the mosque or eat from same plate but I did, because I did not think of him any different from me. After 'Sermon' at a Protestant Church, I donated to the church as did other Christians present there. Those present at a Buddhist temple witnessed me meditating with them.
Lived in a Make-Believe World of Religious Equality
But why would I do all this? An average Christian or an average Muslim would not accept Prasaad distributed after Pooja at a Hindu temple. Donating at temple of idolaters would be out of question for them. A Jew would be much the same. But then I did it, and so would do most Hindus. This might sound strange to those who do not understand Hinduism, because over the centuries Vatican has done everything in its power to destroy the image of Hinduism. Therefore, I need to explain why I did it, or why an average Hindu would do so. It is because a Hindu does not believe in "my God, your God". For him everybody's God is same. That leads to a significant question. Is his understanding correct? That is what I would want to demonstrate to an average Hindu through my various works, but it would be with a different perspective.
Disregard where I lived, in whichever part of this huge world, I looked at all religions equally. I never felt any difference between a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian when I hired many Hindus, Muslims and Christians throughout my career. To me it had been simply a question of who appeared to be the best suited for the job on hand. I was not yet organized to think in terms of religious divides because I was ignorant of religious teachings of different religions. I lived in a make believe world of Religious Equality.
Face to Face with the World of Reality!
I had not yet learned the bitter truth because I had not yet felt the need to study different religions myself. I had remained happy simply believing those who taught or preached or wrote that all religions are equal and they all teach love and peace! I did not know that they did so either out of their profound ignorance about other religions, or to protect their own vested interests, or a combination of the two in varying degrees.
Fifty precious years were lost in my life by the time I felt the need to sit down and study the teachings of different religions. And then, I discovered how well those teachings reflected in the thought process, as well as real life conducts of their followers. To my dismay I uncovered how each religion had shaped the history, and is continuing to shape current events. I noticed a direct correlation between the religion, history and current events. The message was loud and clear: we can ignore these findings only to our detriment. As long as I remained unaware of these facts, I remained happy. Once I faced the truth, a storm rose at the horizon of my emotions. By the time, peace regained around the volcanic eruption, a lot was lost behind.
Family Background
At birth, my grandfather named me Yashodharman. Only now this name is gradually assuming relevance to the current phase of my life. For several generations, our family has had spiritual tradition and higher learning. Father was a gold-medalist engineer. Grandfather was a physician. Great-grandfather was an educationist and writer. Great-great-grandfather had become a Yogi after renouncing business. Maternal Grandfather was an eminent surgeon. Mother had been well educated in comparison to her times. Being the first child of my parents, I was born, as per tradition, in the house of my maternal Grandfather at Bankura, West Bengal on 11th Maagh (25th January). Thus, I come from a Hindu Bengali family. I have been an ardent devotee of Shri RaamKrishn ParamHans Dev, whom Swami Vivekananda termed as his 'Master'.
Education & Work
With a university degree and three professional qualifications, I enjoyed positions in corporate sector in several countries at fairly senior levels, managing and overseeing many functional disciplines, which helped me with a very wide range of exposure to a wide variety of situations. During this period I had the opportunity to work in direct contact with people belonging to twenty different nationalities, and get to know them fairly well. After untiring work for quarter of a century, I took a retreat to total seclusion, renouncing all worldly ties for all practical purposes, as well as withdrawing from all prior acquaintances, so that I could stay focused entirely at my current phase of work. With the blessings of Naaraayan and Naaraayani Ma Bhav'Taarini my personal ambitions and worldly desires have been fulfilled.
I know it's going to be a long walk
I am aware that it will take time for people to appreciate what I have to say today. But as the time passes, they will come to realize the hidden truth in them. They may wake up when the water reaches up to their neck, and the threat of drowning becomes imminent. But then, dissuaded by this delayed response, I cannot give up my work. I cannot forget that 'to continue with the work' is within my power as of now, while the outcome of that work is not within my control. It falls in the jurisdiction of Shri Naaraayan. He will decide how long I have to be at this work; when this work will bear fruit, and what that fruit will be like. When I have surrendered my ‘Ego’ to Him, it means that it is He who will decide the future course of my life and work.
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Thursday, 20 November 2008 04:16 AM +0530