Discourses From the East
India’s multi-religious founding ideals are presently being reshaped by a majoritarian formulation of the relationship between the state and religion. Hindus are a majority in our country constituting nearly 80% of the population. The future of the nation will be decided by the course the ordinary Hindu decides to choose today. He must adopt inclusive and liberal Hinduism to preserve the best tenets of his faith and the democratic fabric of the nation. It is time for Hindus to reclaim the moral leadership the country deserves among the nations of the world. India’s ethos of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam” strives to create an empathetic and harmonious world. India is a representative democracy, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Hindus need to promote politicians who are ardently Hindu in their beliefs but non–partisan in their governance. Politics motivated by service rather than ambition and political power exercised with righteous intent is Dharmic. Like all others Hindus, the politician should also aim to achieve Moksha through Karma Yoga, the path of action.
As religion has no single definition, most people perceive religion as belief in an invisible Supreme deity, rituals to worship the deity and live life according to its laws. Some people do not believe in God or any supreme power and are termed Atheists. Then there are some who believe in divine power but do not adhere to formal rituals and organized religious institutions and are called Spiritual but not religious. Religion is a crucial agent of socialization that instills moral values to guide social behavior, promote cultural traditions to build communities, enforce ethical standards to maintain social order ultimately helping individuals navigate societal roles. Religion is primarily taught in the home and by the family and relatives. It starts with daily routine such as praying at the family altar (Gosain Ghar), reading scriptures, chanting slokas and celebrating religious festivals. While at home the focus is on practicing religion, in schools the focus is on learning about religions. Teaching religion in school supports inclusive learning about religious diversity, instills empathy and inspires compassion. Essentials of all religions are the same viz. love, compassion and forgiveness. The non-essentials differ but all religions aim to create good humans and establish peace. Disbelief in the religion of others is reciprocal and results in epistemic impasse.
Most will agree that religion is not merely an identifier, ritual or a community, but a daily practice of being humane. Religion is to be perceived in the life we live and not solely in some ritualistic observance. Attempt to incorporate concepts of impermanence, mindfulness, compassion, empathy and non-attachment in daily life define religion. It is a personal pursuit, a journey to connect with supreme power. The range of human hearing and vision is just a fraction of the total range of sound and light frequency. Hence Empirical science is futile in understanding the Supreme. Religion makes us accountable to ourselves (conscience), to others and to a higher truth. Albert Einstein believed that science without religion was lame, and religion without science was blind. Mahatma Gandhi changed his formulation from “Truth is my Religion” in his initial life to “Truth is God” in his final years. To sum up we should stop creating “God of convenience” who can fulfill our desires and guarantee success of our plans. Rather we should submit ourselves to the “God of conscience”. Honesty, humility and ethics stems from a desire to honour God and not merely to avoid punishment.
Hinduism is the religion of truth. It is the world’s third largest religion and its adherents make up 15 percent of the human population. Rooted in righteousness, it teaches respect, compassion and harmony. The emphasis in Hinduism is on self-realization, moral living and pursuit of truth. It does not have one founder or core doctrine but rather it is an assembly of ideologies and cultural practices. It grants every human the freedom to imagine God in any shape or form and worship natural elements –water, air, earth, fire and space, often referred to as the Pancha Mahabhutas. The core principles include Karma (action and consequences), Dharma (duty), Samsara (reincarnation) and Moksha (liberation). Hinduism considers time as a wheel, with creation(Shristi), sustenance(Stithi) and dissolution(Pralaya) repeating. It encourages doubt as the portal to wisdom and focusses on self-improvement by pursuing unbiased truth. Undeniably, Hinduism with its pluralistic approach is the most inclusive religion in the world.
Politics is fundamentally a duty and service driven vocation. Rather than a business for profit, it is a calling for sacrifice. A politician needs to act as a steward and caretaker of the society. He needs to ensure that people have access to the resources (food, housing, healthcare etc.) required to live flourishing lives. Human nature prioritizes self-interest and politicians overcoming it for the benefit of others perform a profound and spiritual act of service. By ensuringsocial justice, protecting human rights, fostering peace and by acting with integrity, politicians can honour God. The role of running the society is already filled by the bureaucrats but the ultimate direction of the society is the responsibility of politicians.
Any Hindu, entering politics carries a profound responsibility towards the nation, as the democratic fabric survives on maintaining constitutionalism and pluralism under adversities. Hindu principles of ethics and duty, strategic vision and wise leadership and dedicated service are exemplified by Lord Rama, Lord Krishna and Bajrangbali respectively. Thus Hinduism provides a framework for leadership applicable to politics, communities and personal life. A true Hindu political leader has the ability to see imperfections perfectly in himself and in others by listening to his inner self. While Ratnakar, a ruthless and violent robber became Sage Valmiki when Sage Narada made him realize that even his own family was unwilling to share his Karma, Alexander the Great, who conquered kingdoms, was humbled by the wisdom of a Yogi, who had conquered himself. Even today world leaders espouse the teachings of Gandhiji, a Hindu, to get credibility. A Hindu politician should be the champion of Ahimsa but should not hesitate to act with the force of Kalki to protect the innocent and the sovereignty of the state. By practising honesty, integrity, selfless service – Karma and by aligning with righteousness –Dharma, a true Hindu politician can transform his public service into a spiritual service ultimately aiming liberation – Moksha.
