Comments 6

الحقيقة القاسية حول رجال الهند المقدسين

Sep 8, 2017 Shashi Tharoor

نيودلهي ــ في الشهر الماضي، عندما وقعت العاصمة الوطنية وولايتان هنديتان رهينة للغوغاء الذين انخرطوا في أعمال شغب احتجاجا على إدانة زعيمهم الروحاني بجريمتي اغتصاب لفتيات قاصرات، وجد العديد من الهنود أنفسهم في مواجهة عدد كبير من الحقائق المؤلمة حول بلادهم.

الزعيم الذي حفز هذه الاحتجاجات هو جورميت سينغ، وهو واحد من أبرز "الرجال المقدسين"، أو من ينصبون أنفسهم زعماء روحانيين وينتشرون في الهند على نطاق واسع. يدعو سينغ المبهرج المزخرف بالجواهر نفسه "بابا جورميت رام رحيم سينغ إنسان" ــ وهي تركيبة من الأسماء الهندوسية، والمسلمة، والسيخ، تليها كلمة "إنسان" في اللغات الهندية والبنجابية والأردية. وقد اشتهر الرجل باستغلال أتباعه من الإناث جنسيا.

في عام 2002، استجمعت اثنتان من أتباعه القدر الكافي من الشجاعة لتوجيه الاتهام إليه. وعلى مدار خمسة عشر عاما ونحو 200 جلسة عقدتها المحكمة قبل الوصول إلى قرار الإدانة، بذل أنصار سينغ جهودا عديدة في الضغط على المحققين ورجال الشرطة والقضاة والشاكيتين لحملهم على سحب القضية. ولكنهم لم يستسلموا، وفي الشهر الماضي، حُكِم على سينغ بالسجن لمدة عشرين عاما.

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Shashi Tharoor

Writing for PS since 2002
127 Commentaries

Shashi Tharoor, a former UN under-secretary-general and former Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs, is currently an MP for the Indian National Congress and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. He is the author of Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century.

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jagjeet sinha Sep 11, 2017

WHY INDIA'S ECONOMICS CAN NEVER BEGIN TO RESEMBLE CHINA

Caste is Religion in the India created by Seven Decades of Dynasty and Darkness.
Caste Sectarianism has been entrenched - to secure Power by The First Family.
Caste is the reason why Economics always finds the wrong remedies.
Caste is harnessed for the betterment of Caste Coteries not Sovereign Economics.
For Seven Decades, The First Family taught lessons - that was Caste Mathematics.
The Yadav duo - Laloo and Mulayam learnt Gandhi lessons - wreaked mayhem.
The NTR and DMK duo - replicated The formula to hang on to Power.
Without performance - Seats were assured by Caste Mathematics.
Without Sovereign Economics that found solutions - Caste Sectarianism flowered.
Without Medals in Global Economic League Tables - Caste was the road to dollars.

Tharoor cannot see through the Economics havoc The First Family unleashed.
The Godmen unleashed were a replica of the Caste Coterie that ruled.
Real Solutions remained elusive - because performance of the whole was a waste.
Real remedies inconsequential - because Caste Mathematics was uppermost.

The Twin Capitals - Financial and Political - remained oblivious.
Because the Marginalization that resulted - unleashed Migration.
With only Two Cities as destination - Valuations in Delhi n Bombay rocketed.
Real Economic Enlightenment - like The Thirty MegaCities in China - had no chance.
The Twin Capitals harnessed energies unleashed by Caste Mathematics.
Instead of Democratization of Finance - Dera@Delhi and Dera@Bombay.
The rest of India was marginalized - due to Dera-vision.
Dera-vision of Caste Sectarianism - perhaps Dynasty's Largest Legacy.

The only solution - The end of The Caste System.
The Buddha found that solution 2500 years ago.
The Caste System duly dispatched The Buddha.
The Rest of Asia is where The Light of The Buddha enlightened.
Leaving its home in perpetual darkness - blighted by The Caste System.
The disgrace of The Caste System - resulted in Muslim India n British India.
Both were duly dispatched - like The Buddha that India created.

The wonders of The Caste System - designed for India's Eternal Darkness.
China Europe Arabia - perhaps The Lands of Light that escaped India's darkness.
- P. Kamath Oct 18, 2017
  
  You write here pure rubbish. Caste system existed as part of Hindu religious life for millennia, blessed by holy scriptures.
  - jagjeet sinha Oct 18, 2017
    
    @PK
    Your mind believes "Caste System existed as part of Hindu religious life".
    Your mind believes"Caste System existence is blessed by holy scriptures".
    Your mind believes in posting disrespectful personal comments.
    Your mind is a reflection of how you think.
    You don't have to read my thoughts - just ignore them.
    You don't have to make personal insinuations on Any contributions.
    You can earn respect from all at ProSyn - by your own insights.
    You can, without resorting to rubbishing others thinking.
    
    Look forward to substantive affirmation of the benefits of the Caste System.
    Look forward to substantive insights on blessings bestowed on Caste System.
    Look forward to substantive understanding of "Hindu Religious Life".
    Look forward to substantive rationale for "existence of Caste System".
    Look forward to substantive explanation of "blessed by holy scriptures".
    Regards
    JS
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j. von Hettlingen Sep 10, 2017

Shashi Tharoor points out the "harsh truth about India's godmen," who are spiritual leaders, also known as gurus. With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, there are tens of thousands of such leaders - both for the rich and the poor. They command huge followings at home and abroad, with people from all walks of life being their devotees. Gurus exert enormous influence over politicians, who often approach them for advice - the proximity to "godmen" enhances a politician's legitimacy and boosts his popularity.
The author says, the inability of the Indian governent to address social grievances have been capitalised by gurus to cement their grip on power over hundreds of millions of Indians. Impoverished and uneducated, they are vulnerable to brainwashing . He lambasts "India’s much-touted economic development," which doesn't tackle the deeply-rooted social malaise, and provide for "caste equality and social justice to the underclasses."
Many of thesse gurus are successful entrepreneurs and run massive business empires, peddling traditional medicines, health products, offering yoga classes and spiritual therapies. They run schools, colleges and hospitals and provide employment. Gurus offer their followers not only a livelihood, they also dictate how their followers should live their lives, giving them a false belief that they have "a sense of worth and belonging."
Gurus are seen as a beacon of hope by an uneducated, frustrated mass in a fast-urbanising country, teem with ambition. The confused masses flock to their gurus, hoping for help and miracles. Most Indians believe in magic and superstitions. Gurus are essentially seen as magicians who promise miracles. No wonder devotees are manic about their gurus, many of whom are accused of sexual offences, crooked deals and even murder. But they "live above the law" and remain immensely popular with their faithful masses.
As government institutions in India "all too readily delegate their responsibilities," Christian missonaries, like Mother Teresa, and Western charity workers, have been active for decades. But they don't enjoy the same popularity as domestic sect leaders, some of whom believe in social responsibility, invest in communities and care for the impoverished. They supply drinking water to parched villages, run rehab programmes for prisoners and drug addicts, and open schools for poor children.
The recent conviction of the charlatan, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who headed a popular religious sect and performed at rock concerts and acts in films, "shows the fragility of law enforcement, which failed so spectacularly in the face of mass fury." It also lays bare "the hold of charismatic leaders over vast numbers of people who find validation and purpose in unthinking obeisance."
Calling himself the Messenger of God, Singh is worshipped by his devoted followers, who even let him share their wives and daughters. His Dera Sacha Sauda movement describes itself as a social welfare and spiritual organisation with millions of followers in India and abroad. The political establishment has turned a blind eye to his controversial and illegal activities. It even helped him overcome bureaucratic hurdles, like the censorship of his film - Messenger of God - which was seen as blasphemous.
Singh was so powerful that the popular comedian, Kiku Sharda got arrested for his parody of the guru. He was accused of offending religious sentiments after he mimicked Singh in a TV appearance in 2015, and he had to apologise for his act. Following Singh's rape charges verdict - a 20-year jail sentence, his devotees - mostly underprivileged, lower caste men and women - took to the streets, vandalising property, setting railway stations on fire, smashing cars and clashing with security forces. Several lives have been lost in the violence.
At the same time Singh "was flown to prison in a luxurious helicopter with an 'adopted daughter' in devoted attendance; he nibbled abstractedly at a piece of chocolate as a police escort carried his bags. The Baba may be in jail – but Indian society is still in the dock." As it shows, the protean leader of a dubious sect will - most unlikely - languish behind bars.
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vivek iyer Sep 9, 2017

Tharoor has lived in America where cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh flourished. Tharoor has visited Japan where the Aum Shinrikyo cult burgeoned until it used Sarin gas to attack ordinary people in the subway.
Virtually every advanced country has examples of religious leaders who have behaved as despots and who have sexually abused acolytes.

Yet Tharoor writes- 'The episode shows that India’s much-touted economic development has shallow roots, as it has failed to deliver caste equality and social justice to the underclasses.'
Japanese economic development has strong roots. Yet, discrimination against untouchables has not disappeared. There is a large socio-economic underclass which has not received social justice.
By contrast Germany has no caste discrimination and scores well for social justice. Yet there have been cases of sexual impropriety and financial wrong-doing involving charismatic spiritual leaders. Austria had its infamous Otto Muhl cult which was not however linked to any particular Religion.
It shows that official institutions of governance will all too readily delegate their responsibilities, enabling those who run religious orders to live above the law. It shows the fragility of law enforcement, which failed so spectacularly in the face of mass fury. And it shows the hold of charismatic leaders over vast numbers of people who find validation and purpose in unthinking obeisance.

Why is Tharoor pretending that crazy cults exist only where there is caste discrimination and poverty? The answer is that he is an Member of Parliament. It is his job to moot legislation designed to tackle specific problems. In this case, India needs relevant Laws to be amended ensure that cult leaders are scrutinised and held accountable. Will Tharoor work towards this end? Of course not. That would take intellectual effort. It takes no intellectual effort at all to iust dashing off a few hundred words on a topical issue, but then conclude by saying nothing can be done about it because India is very poor and will remain very poor for a very long time.
- vivek iyer Sep 9, 2017
  
  I'm sorry. For some reason, the comment above got garbled. Let me try again-
  
  Tharoor has lived in America where cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh flourished. Tharoor has visited Japan where the Aum Shinrikyo cult burgeoned until it used Sarin gas to attack ordinary people in the subway.
  
  Virtually every advanced country has examples of religious leaders who have behaved as despots and who have sexually abused acolytes. Yet Tharoor writes- 'The episode shows that India’s much-touted economic development has shallow roots, as it has failed to deliver caste equality and social justice to the underclasses.'
  Japanese economic development has strong roots. Yet, discrimination against untouchables has not disappeared. There is a large socio-economic underclass which has not received social justice. By contrast Germany has no caste discrimination and scores well for social justice. Yet there have been cases of sexual impropriety and financial wrong-doing involving charismatic spiritual leaders. Austria had its infamous Otto Muhl cult which was not however linked to any particular Religion.
  Tharoor thinks India is unique in that the Govt. delegates its responsibilities to religious sects. He is wrong. Such action would be ultra vires.
  
  Indian Law grants Freedom of Religion. So does American law and Japanese law and Austrian law which is why crazy cult leaders were able to commit heinous crimes on their own acolytes.
  
  Just like other countries, India convicts and sends to jail any and every criminal, against whom there is evidence, whatever his Religious standing or Spiritual claims.
  
  Why does Tharoor not know this? Why does he write-
  'It shows that official institutions of governance will all too readily delegate their responsibilities, enabling those who run religious orders to live above the law.'
  Does he not understand that this Godman is now in Jail?
  
  Tharoor writes-
  'It shows the fragility of law enforcement, which failed so spectacularly in the face of mass fury.'
  Mass fury did not succeed. The police opened fire. All 36 of the killed were from the Dera. Over a thousand have been arrested. Law enforcement is heavy handed in India. It is not 'fragile' at all. The argument could be made that the administration should have used preventive detention. However, this would have been challenged in Court.
  
  Tharoor says-
  '...it shows the hold of charismatic leaders over vast numbers of people who find validation and purpose in unthinking obeisance.' Is he perhaps referring to Rahul Gandhi's grip on the Congress party?
  
  Tharoor is an educated man who spent the greater part of his working life in New York. Why is he pretending that crazy cults exist only where there is caste discrimination and poverty? The answer is that he is an Member of Parliament. It is his job to moot legislation designed to tackle specific problems. In this case, India needs relevant Laws to be amended ensure that cult leaders are scrutinised and held accountable. Will Tharoor work towards this end? Of course not. That would take intellectual effort. It takes no intellectual effort at all to iust dashing off a few hundred words on a topical issue, but then conclude by saying nothing can be done about it because India is very poor and will remain very poor for a very long time.
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الحقيقة القاسية حول رجال الهند المقدسين

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