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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 Hindoos with much needed information
that can help them protect their Hindoo Dharm’.
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 that has nourished our soul. To
them, we owe something. A little that I can do before departing;
I am trying to do that.
Hindoos - 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 humanity, 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.
Hindoos 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.
Hindoos 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 Hindoo 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 in 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 (details in other works), 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.
By birth I am a Hindoo, 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 Parsi Temple are
the places where I spent 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. Years 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 Shri 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.
But why would I do all this? An average Christian or an average
Muslim would not accept Prasaad distributed after Pooja at a Hindoo
temple. Donating at temple of idolaters would be out of question
for him. A Jew would be much the same. But then I did it, and so
would do most Hindoos. This might sound strange to those who do
not understand Hindooism, because over the centuries Vatican has
done everything in its power to destroy the image of Hindooism.
Therefore, I need to explain why I did it, or why an average Hindoo
would do so. It is because a Hindoo does not believe in "my God,
and 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 Hindoo 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 Hindoo or a Muslim or a Christian when I hired many Hindoos, 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.
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.
At birth, my grandfather named me Yashodharman (देवनागरी - यशोधर्मा)
. 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 (here I refer to formal education) 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 Hindoo
Bengali family. I have been an ardent devotee of Shri Raam Krishn
Param'Hans Dev, whom Swami Vivekananda termed as his 'Master'.
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 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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मैं किसी राजनीतिक दल, किसी सामाजिक संगठन, या किसी
धार्मिक पंथ का सदस्य नही हूँ। कुछ सच्चाइयाँ मुझे हिंदू माँ-बहन-बेटी,
पिता-भाई-बेटों तक पहुँचानी है। इनमें से कुछ जानकारियाँ उनके
वर्तमान-भविष्य के लिए सहायक सिद्ध हो सकती हैं। मेरी चेष्टा
यह होगी कि मैं आपको वह दृष्टि भेंट कर सकूँ जिसके सहारे आपकी
नज़र धुंध को भेद कर उसके परे देख सके।
सर्वधर्म समभाव की भावना से प्रेरित
मैं हिंदू पैदा हुआ - हिंदू हूँ - हिंदू ही मरना चाहूँगा।
अपने इष्टदेव श्री सिद्धि विनायक गणपति को मैंने प्रत्येक
स्थान पर पाया चाहे वह मंदिर रहा हो, या मस्जिद, या गिरजा।
अपने पाकिस्तानी ड्राइवर मलिक के साथ मैं शारजाह के मस्जिद
में गया और उसके बगल में बैठ कर अपने इष्टदेव को याद किया,
जबकि उसने अपनी नमाज़ पढ़ी। तंज़ानियन-ओमानी हमूद हमदून बिन मुहम्मद
के घर पर, उसके परिवार के साथ, एक ही बहुत बड़ी थाली में से,
हम सभी ने एक साथ भोजन किया, उनके एक करीबी रिश्तेदार की मौत
के बाद, मस्जिद से लौट कर। मुम्बई में एक कैथोलिक चर्च के
"मास" के दौरान मैं गिरजे में मौजूद था। कैनेडा के एक प्रोटेस्टेंट
चर्च में "सरमन" के समय मैं उपस्थित रहा। मुम्बई में यहूदियों
के "सिनगॉग" एवं पारसियों के टेम्पल में गया। कैनेडा में बौद्धों
के एक मंदिर में मेडिटेशन किया। मैने यह सब किया एक हिंदू
के रूप में जो यह मानता है कि (1) ईश्वर एक है (2) लोग उसे
विभिन्न रूपों में अनुभव करते हैं और (3) प्रत्येक व्यक्ति
स्वतंत्र है, अपने ढंग से उसे अनुभव करने के लिए।
अपने आप को भुलावे में रखा कि सभी धर्म समान हैं
एक हिंदू को यह "नहीं" सिखाया जाता कि केवल मेरा ईश्वर
ही "सच्चा" ईश्वर है और बाक़ी सभी के ईश्वर "झूठे" ईश्वर हैं,
जैसा कि यहूदियों को सिखाया जाता है, ईसाइयों को सिखाया जाता
है, और मुसलमानों को सिखाया जाता है। धरती के जिस किसी भी
कोने में मैं रहा, मैंने सभी धर्मों को एक जैसा जाना, और माना।
जाने कितने लोगों को मैंने नौकरी दी, पर कभी यह न सोचा कि
वह हिंदू था, या मुसलमान था, या ईसाई था।
उन दिनों मेरी सोच धर्मों की भिन्नता की ओर न जाती क्योंकि
मैं "अनजान" था। मैं जानता नहीं था कि विभिन्न धर्म क्या सिखाते
हैं। मैं एक ऐसी काल्पनिक दुनिया में जीता रहा था जिसमें सभी
धर्म "समान" हुआ करते थे। अभी भी मैंने उस कड़वी सच्चाई को
न जाना था, क्योंकि मैंने इस बात की आवश्यकता कभी न महसूस
की थी कि मुझे "स्वयं" विभिन्न धर्मों का अध्ययन करना चाहिए।
एक अज्ञानी के रूप में वस्तुतः मैं बड़ा "सुखी" था, उन ज्ञानियों
पर पूर्णतया विश्वास कर जिन्होने मुझे उस "महान असत्य" का
पाठ पढ़ाया था कि सभी धर्म "समान" हैं एवं "सभी धर्म प्रेम
व शांति की शिक्षा" देते हैं। उन्होंने ऐसा क्यों किया? क्या
वे स्वयं अज्ञानी थे, और उसी अज्ञान को, अपने अनुयायियों में
बाँटते रहे थे? या फिर सत्य की प्रतीति थी उन्हें, पर किसी
निहित स्वार्थ की पूर्ति हेतु वे असत्य को सत्य का रूप देते
रहे थे?
फिर एक दिन हुआ सच्चाई से सामना
जीवन के पचास वर्ष बीत चुके थे, और तब जाकर मैं बैठा, विभिन्न
धर्मों की शिक्षाओं का अध्ययन करने। मैंने पाया कि ये शिक्षाएँ
बहुत ही स्पष्ट रूप से झलकती हैं, उन धर्मों के अनुयायियों
की "सोच" में एवं उनके "आचरण" में। गहराई में गया तो मैंने
जाना - किस प्रकार से प्रत्येक धर्म ने, मानव "इतिहास" एवं
"वर्तमान" की घटनाओं को रूप दिया। मैंने देखा कि धर्म, इतिहास
एवं वर्तमान की घटनाओं के बीच एक गहरा, और सीधा संबंध है।
निष्कर्ष बहुत ही स्पष्ट था - हम इन जानकारियों को नज़र अंदाज
तो कर सकते हैं, पर अपनी ही क्षति करके। जब तक मैं सत्य से
अनजान रहा, तब तक बड़ा "सुखी" रहा। जब सत्य से सामना हुआ तो
एक बवंडर उठा मेरी भावनाओं के क्षितिज पर। जब ज्वालामुखी शांत
हुआ तब बहुत कुछ पीछे छूट चुका था।
पारिवारिक पृष्ठभूमि
एक ऐसे परिवार में जन्मा था मैं, जहाँ "अध्यात्म एवं उच्च
शिक्षा" का प्रचलन अनेक पीढ़ियों से रहा था। मेरे पिता स्वर्णपदक
प्राप्त इंजीनियर थे। पितामह डॉक्टर थे। प्रपितामह शिक्षाविद्
एवं लेखक थे। पितामह के पितामह, व्यवसाय त्याग कर, अपने जीवन
के अंतिम काल में, संसार में रह कर भी, एक योगी बन गए थे।
सभी के कुछ-कुछ अंश मुझे मिले। मातृपक्ष के पितामह एक जाने-माने
शल्यचिकित्सक थे। माता अपने जमाने की दृष्टि से यथेष्ट शिक्षित
थीं। अपने माता-पिता की प्रथम संतान होने के कारण, परंपरा
के अनुसार, मेरा जन्म, मातृपक्ष के पितामह के घर, बाँकुड़ा
(पश्चिम बंगाल) में 11 माघ (25 जनवरी 1952) को हुआ था। इस
प्रकार मैं एक "हिंदू बंगाली" परिवार में जन्मा, पला और बड़ा
हुआ। 1999 से 2001 तक श्री राम कृष्ण परम हंस देव का अनन्य
भक्त रहा।
मेरा नाम 'मा' से प्रारंभ होता है, जो है नारायणी माँ भवतारिणी
के प्रति समर्पण का प्रतीक — इसे मनोज का अपभ्रंश न समझें।
जन्मोपरांत पितामह द्वारा दिया गया नाम यशोधर्मन (यशोधर्मा)
शिक्षा एवं कार्य
विश्वविद्यालय की डिग्री एवं भारतवर्ष तथा विदेश से तीन
प्रोफ़ेशनल योग्यताओं के आधार पर, मुझे कई देशों के निगमित
क्षेत्र में उच्च स्तर पर, व्यापक प्रशासनिक कार्यभार सँभालने
का अवसर भी मिला। इस बीच, बीस विभिन्न राष्ट्रीयता के व्यक्तियों
के साथ निकट संपर्क में कार्य करने का, एवं उन्हें जानने का
भी, समुचित अवसर मिला।
अमरीका (शिकागो) से 100 वर्षों से अधिक समय से (1899) प्रकाशित
"मार्क्विस हूज़ हू" के "हूज़ हू इन द वर्ल्ड" के 1987-88 संस्करण
में समावेशन हेतु 34 वर्ष की आयु (1986) में निमंत्रित। पचीस
वर्षों तक अथक परिश्रम के पश्चात, अब मैंने कार्य निवृत्त
होकर एकांत वास का आश्रय लिया है।
व्यक्तिगत महत्वाकांक्षाओं की तृप्ति
श्री नारायण की दया से मेरे जीवन की "व्यक्तिगत" महत्वाकांक्षाएँ
तृप्त हो चुकी हैं। अब मैं, अपने समय एवं परिश्रम के बदले
में, कुछ भी नहीं चाहता। इस कारण, मैं कार्य में पूर्ण मनोयोग
के साथ, एकांत ही चाहता हूँ।
किसके लिए है मेरा आज का यह कर्म
मेरा कार्य, केवल उन्हीं लोगों के लिए है जो इसकी महत्ता
को पहचानने की योग्यता रखते हैं।
मुझमें अब कोई इच्छा नहीं रही कि मैं उन व्यक्तियों को
समझाने में अपना समय एवं अपनी ऊर्जा नष्ट करूँ जो मेरी बात
को समझने की स्थिति तक अभी नहीं पहुँचे। ऐसे व्यक्ति, इन लेखों
की महत्ता को तभी समझेंगे, जब पानी सर तक आ पहुँचेगा एवं डूबने
की संभावना उन्हें बहुत ही "निकट" से दिखने लगेगी।
फिर भी मुझे अपना दायित्व पूर्ण समर्पण की भावना के साथ
निभाते जाना है, एवं उस कर्म को श्री नारायण को अर्पित करते
हुए, आगे बढ़ते जाना है। आज यही मेरी "पूजा" है।
ईश्वर के निमित्त किया गया तथा ईश्वर को समर्पित यह कर्म
काल की परिधि में नहीं बँधेगा।
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