Sunday, March 20, 2016

BHARATMATA KI JAI



                                                                      BHARATMATA KI JAI
Victory to our Mother, Bharat! This slogan that reflects our national pride and affection for our motherland has suddenly become the object of debate and controversy!  It is regrettable that a few persons of a community have declared that they will not utter the words even at the peril of their lives! From time immemorial the institution of motherhood is given prominence in society. The preceptor, after instructing the student in the Vedas sends him out into the world with the mandate—“ matru devo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharya devo bhava, atithi devo bhava”  Consider Mother as God. Consider father as God. Consider the Guru as God. Consider the unexpected guest as God! First and foremost importance is given to the mother, who bears the child in her womb and suffers many difficulties before she delivers the child! Sometimes she lays down her life in doing so! Bharat is our motherland. Is it not our duty and obligation to revere our country and shower affection on her?
         Even our sasthras have glorified our motherland! “ janani  janmabhumischa swargadapi gariyasi”  says the maxim, Mother and motherland are greater than paradise or heaven!  We know the saying “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” We are first and foremost Indians and Hindus, Muslims, Christians , Parsis Buddhists , Jaims and others later! It is our prerogative to exult over our birth in the sacred land of Bharat which is called ‘Dharma Kshetra’ and ‘punya bhumi None should feel sorry for his birth in this land! National feelings  should not be given a political coloring. What is there to debate on the slogan? You want to oppose the utterance of ‘Bharatmata ki Jai’?  This seems to be silly as far as the Indian citizen is concerned.
           The Indian constitution has not asked the citizen to repeat ‘ Bharatmata ki jai’ yes.What if ? The constitution did not envisage the occurrence of such a situation where an Indian will refuse to repeat the slogan! Nothing is lost in repeating it but the spirit of national pride and patriotism are revealed in making the statement! The question of compulsion and force to repeat the statement arises here. There is also the problem of freedom of speech and expression! None should be compelled to say the slogan as it infringes on his liberty of speech! But being an Indian, born and bred on the Indian soil and receiving all the benefits of being an Indian, it is not fair to refuse to say’ Bharatmata ki jai’
            India’s glory consists in its unity in diversity. Like the ocean that receives all the waters of the  rivers , India has received different cultures in the past, digested and assimilated them into its fabric! Hindus, Muslims, Christians and innumerable communities and sects thrive here peacefully and add color and grandeur to the nation! We should remember that there were no Christians and Muslims in ancient India! Historically many original Hindus were converted to Islam during the Moghul period! In the same way, after the British came into India , many Hindus were converted to Christianity! The process of conversion of Hindus to Islam and Christianity is still continuing!
              Let us forget that we are Hindus or Muslims or Christiana or Parsees or Buddhists or Jains and others! Let us firmly remember that we are all first and foremost Indians maintaining peaceful coexistence!  As Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba says, “There is only one Religion—the Religion of Love; there is only one community – humanity’ Many nation s have an eye on India and wonder how a country with such diversity of languages and religion is able to manage itself. Off and on some problems may arise but on the whole India has set an example to the world in managing such cultures that have come into it! There are certain social mores and principles that every citizen has to follow. He cannot abuse or misuse the sacred freedom at his disposal! Speaking or acting according to his whims and fancies is tantamount to abusing his freedom of speech and expression!
           





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