Dr G Ramakrishna

M S Muralikrishna

Dr Gampalahalli Ramakrishna is one of the leading Marxist ideologues of our country. Popularly known as Dr GR, he has been a guiding spirit to many pro-people movements in Karnataka for many decades. Hailed as a pro-people scholar, he has been espousing many causes in the overall interests of our polity especially the marginalized sections.

Dr G Ramakrishna (26 January 2014)

Dr GR has been a keen student of Indian as well as western and eastern philosophies. He was a long time associate of Dr Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, a Marxist scholar and philosopher of repute, who made seminal contributions to the alternate discourse on Indian Philosophy among others.

Born to Sri G Subrahmanyam and Smt Narasamma on June 17, 1939, in Halenahalli, a small village about 32 miles from Tumkur in Karnataka, GR had his basic education in Kempasagara, Magadi Taluk, about 35 miles from Bangalore. For his intermediate education, he moved over to Tumkur. Later, he joined the Sanskrit B. A. Honours Course in Maharaja College, Mysore in June 1955. He did his MA (1959) and PhD (1965) at Mysore University. The thesis for his PhD was ‘Origin & Growth of the Concept of Rita in Vedic Literature’. His guide was Prof. S. Ramachandra Rao. GR earned his Master Degree in English from Pune University (1965) and, again, from Wales University (1968).

After a short stint at Accounts General’s Office (1959), GR turned his attention to academic research. He was a UGC Research Fellow at Mysore University (1960-1962), Research Assistant at Osmania University (May-October 1962), and Research Assistant at Kaivalyadhama Research Institute, Lonawala (1962-1965).

From 1965 to 1967, Dr GR worked as Assistant Professor at Dr Ambedkar College, Mahad. From 1967 to 1993 he was Professor of English at National College, Basavangudi, Bangalore. He was a Visiting Professor at Kannada University, Hampi from 1994 to 1996, during which period he wrote the book ‘The Path of Indian Science’.

Dr GR has been associated with numerous associations. He served as the Secretary and later as President of the Bangalore University College Teachers’ Association for many years in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the President and General Secretary of the Federation of University & College Teachers’ Association of Karnataka. He also served as Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the All India Federation of University & College Teachers’ Organization for a number of years. He was associated with Indo-Soviet Cultural Society (ISCUS), Karnataka State, of which he was the General Secretary for many years. He was associated with the Karnataka State Peace & Solidarity Organization too.

A widely traveled person, Dr GR was in United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (1967-1968), visited Afghanistan (1971), Soviet Union (1971,1982,1985), Tibet (1984), Nepal (1987), United States of America (1995 & 2011), Cuba and Peru (2011), China (2012) and Europe (2013).

Dr GR has been an invitee to a number of international seminars and conferences, presenting papers on a wide variety of subjects. In 1985 at Friendship House in Moscow, he spoke on the topic ‘Victory against Fascism’. In 1995, at Sky Foundation, Philadelphia, USA, he gave a talk on an entirely different subject - ‘Yoga and Mind’. In 2011, he gave lecture on ‘Consciousness as reflected in English Poetry‘.

Hosatu, the Kannada monthly

Over the years, Dr GR has been conferred a number of awards. He was a recipient of Karnataka Literary Academy Award for three years for his literary contributions in Kannda- Munnota (1980), Aayatana (1995), Bharatheeya Vignaanadha Haadhi (2002). He was presented Manu Award for Education in 1998 and Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi Award for Translations in 2010. In 2002, the Government of Karnataka wanted to confer Rajyotsva Award to Dr GR, but he declined accepting it.

As an independent publisher, Dr GR established Ma–Le Prakashana in 1980 to bring out progressive literature in Kannda and English. For 25 years, he was the publisher of ‘Achala‘, a women’s monthly magazine in Kannada of Jagruthi Mahila Adhyayana Kendra.

Dr.GR has been a prolific writer in Kannada as well as in English. In Kannda, his works include Munnota (‘Vision‘ - 1980), Vaichaarika Jaagruthi (‘Awareness about Rationalism’ – 1992), Deviprasad and Lokyatha Darshana (1994), Bharatheeya Vignaadandha Haadhi (‘The Path of Indian Science – 1997), Fredrich Engels (2003), Yogapravesha (‘An introduction to Yoga’ – 2003), Yugadarivu (2004), Nudibimba (‘The Wordly Image’ – 2005). The biographies he wrote on revolutionaries such as Yugapurusha Lenin –1979), Bhagat Singh (1984), Bhupesh Gupta (1986), and Che Guevara (1994) have been very popular, especially his biography on Bhagat Singh, which has been reprinted 13 times so far. Some of his booklets in Kannda include The Strange Culture of M.S. Golvalkar (1971), The features of the Anti-Fascist Movement (1975), Friendship – Culture (1978), RSS – A Poisonous Tree (1979), and On Hindutva (1993).

Dr GR was the editor of a series of books (“Golden Jubilee Series) published in 1998 commemorating the Golden Jubilee of India’s independence. The books published in this series are The Heights of the Women’s Movement (N Gayathri), Media and Freedom (G N Mohan), Education at the end of the century (KK Thekedath), Social Movements (R K Manipal), India and the International Situation (C R Krishna Rao), An alternate path to India (B V Kakkilaya), Footsteps of the Indian Freedom Struggle (B V Kakkilaya), Peoples’ Health (C R Chandrashekar), Agriculture in Post-independent India (Y V Krishna Rao), Economy – The Challenges (Kamalanayan Kaabra), Fifty Years of Independence (Vyasaraya Ballal), Science and Technology ( J R Lakshman Rao & M A Sethurao), Constitution and Law ( Krishnamurthy Sirsi), Studies in History – Past and Present (Dr H S Gopala Rao).

Dr GR (Courtesy: The Hindu)

Some of Dr GR’s translations include Spider and the Fly by Wilhelm Liebknecht (1973), The Role of Labour in the transition from Ape to Man by Engels (1978), Wage, Labour and Capital by Karl Marx (1979) and Lokayata (2012).

Dr GR’s books in English are The Strange Culture of M.S. Golvalkar (1971), The Living Marx (1983), Philosophy in China (1990, translated into Hindi in1990), The Gorbachev Phenomenon (1991). The books he edited include An Encyclopedia of South Indian Culture (with Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya & N.Gayathri – 1983), Studies in Indian Culture (A felicitation volume to Prof S Ramachandra Rao – 1986), Towards a Redefinition of the Educational Policy (1992), Vision & Wisdom (Letters of Kuvalayananda – 1995), Some thoughts on Marxism (with Dr Sanjay Biswas – 2002), Musings in Ideology (with Late Dr Sanjay Biswas – 2002).

An avid trekking enthusiast that Dr GR is, he had been to Kailas Manas Sarovar (1985), Mount Everest Base Camp (1987), Chandarakani Pass in Himachal Pradesh (1998), Yamunotri, Gangotri & Gomukh (2002).

Dr GR has been the Chief Editor of Hosathu, a progressive monthly magazine published in Kannada since 1999. He was also in the Editorial Board of the newsletter of Samudaaya, a reputed cultural troupe of Karnataka, known for its espousal of people’s causes through theatre.

Presently, Dr GR is the Chief Editor of the Kannada Version of the series Global Philosophy for Everyman, comprising eight volumes, published first in English by Navakarnataka Publications Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore in December 1993.

Dr GR turns 75 today, 17 June 2014.

MS Muralikrishna (left) with Dr GR

MS Muralikrishna, a trade union activist, works in a nationalized bank in Bangalore. A longtime friend of Dr GR, he has been associated with a number of social movements. He periodically contributes articles to Kannada magazines. He has recently translated into Kannada a book written by Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, which is being brought out by Navakarnataka Publications as part of the series Global Philosophy for Everyman, edited by Dr GR

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Will The Biases About Terrorists Remain Permanent?

Ram Puniyani

We have witnessed number of acts of terror in India, during last two decades. While those involved in the acts of terror have been coming from individuals of different religions, the net outcome of the actions of investigation agencies and police has been to arrest Muslim youth, to put charges against them and in most cases to release them after the charges are not proved on any ground. This pattern had a ‘mini-break’ for sometime after the Malegaon blast of 2008. The professional, unbiased and meticulous investigation of the Malegaon blast by the then chief of Maharashtra ATS, Hemant Karkare came as a big step in getting to the terrorists. Due to this; starting from Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pandey, Swami Aseemanand and many others belonging to the ideology of Hindutva nationalism are currently cooling their heels in the jails. Investigations into Malegaon and many other blasts are showing the imprint of these Hindutva groups and people. One thought that this major breakthrough into acts of investigation will change the mind set of police authorities and they will overcome their biases and do a more professional job in investigation into the acts of terror.

Alas that was not to be and guided by Pavlovian reflex, in a knee jerk fashion, police continues to repeat its pattern of giving statements immediately after the acts of terror in which the organizations like Indian Mujahedeen. Lashkar and others continue to be being named without a thorough probe. This is followed by the usual arrests and framing them. Recently first in the case of Hyderabad twin blasts on 21 February 2013 in which 17 people died and over hindered were injured. These bombs were kept on a bicycle and Indian Mujahideen were blamed for this dastardly act. Later in Bangalore on 17th April a bomb exploded 300 meters from the BJP office. For this blast a motorcycle was used. In this blast around 16 people were injured. It was propagated that the blast took place near BJP office! As usual Indian Mujahedeen were blamed. In this blast again there was an additional factor about propaganda that blast took place near BJP office, when in reality the blast was 300 meters away from the spot. Congress spokesperson Shakil Ahmad said that this blast and the propaganda of its being near BJP office will benefit BJP in the forthcoming elections, while another Congress spokesperson and BJP countered the statement of Shakil Ahmad.

In Bangalore blast, the preceding incidents are very disturbing and revealing. Just ten days before the Bangalore blast, on sixth April in Kannur (Kerala) a blast took place from the motorcycle and RSS swayamsevak A. V. Dileep Kumar who was carrying four kilograms of explosives died. One recalls that the RSS associates also got killed in blasts in Nanded, Kanpur and many other places. This Kannur incident was underplayed and not much is known about the investigation so far as such. It is interesting that police authorities who immediately named Indian Mujahidin have been totally silent on the Hindutva connection of probable terrorists, as by now the nation knows the involvement of Hindutva groups in many acts of terror. The real loser of these biases held by authorities and common people is the country as a whole. The real reason being that if we don’t nab the real culprits and remain trapped in the usual prejudices and biases, the real culprits will continue to carry on their nefarious work over and over again.

As such apart from other things on this trend of Muslim youth being arrested a good amount of documentation and people’s investigation has been done by various human rights groups. ANHAD held a people’s tribunal and published it report, ‘Scapegoats and Holy Cows’. Lately a significant report by Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association led by Manisha Sethi has published 'Framed, Damned, and Acquitted’. This report in a analytic way tells us the stereotypical manner of police investigation and actions and the plight of those who were arrested particularly by the Delhi Police Special Cell on charges of these youth being part of terrorist outfits. In most of these cases they were acquitted by courts. This report as such should have created awareness about the police methods and a pressure on police to mend its ways. The report also points that the biased atmosphere has been created as media is publishing the police version uncritically. This is in contrast to the journalistic ethics where the official versions have to be checked, cross checked and examined critically before publishing them. The human rights groups also have been struggling for getting compensation to these victims in good measure but to no avail so far. And then the question comes up as to what about the police officers who are guilty of these acts of wrongful investigation and implicating innocent youth, ruining their life in a serious way? Should they not be punished?

The pattern of police reporting is also very stereotypical and needs to be seriously criticized. The question is what the senior leadership is doing in the face of findings of these reports. Is it not important for the policy makers to take cognizance of such important reports and respond to them in the form of policy change for the investigation authorities? Amongst others another human rights group, Rihai Manch from Uttar Pradesh is also campaigning on this issue and trying to get the innocent youth released. UP Government had appointed a Nimesh Commission to investigate these cases, but for reasons known to itself the government is not releasing the report and is doing some patch work here and there.

While UP Government is dodging over the issue of implicating the Muslim youth, one of its ministers is having the taste of these biases in United States, where he was detained at Boston. While he is blaming Indian External Affairs Minister for this, he is forgetting that these biases against Muslims are equally widespread and before him, people of the stature of ex President Abdul Kalam and the celebrity like Shah Rukh Khan have faced similar situations. Is it not an indication enough for the UP minister to set his own house in order as for as the implication of Muslim youth in acts of terror are concerned. The real worrying point of all these incidents is the way biases against Muslims are becoming rooted more and more. What efforts are needed to counter this stereotypical nature of understanding security agencies and perceptions at popular level needs a serious course correction on urgent basis.

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God: Early Concepts

A.N.Moorthy Rao

  

Thousands of years ago, when self-consciousness blossomed in man and he began to look at the world around him with curiosity, what did he see? Volcanic flames leaping into the sky: molten lava racing down, reducing to ashes everything in its way: blinding lightning: forests devoured by huge fires: turbulent oceans, and fierce waves dashing against the shores : and the roar of the thunders and crash of the thunder-storms! "How am I going to survive in this terrifying world?", he must have shuddered.

But man, who saw such a fierce face of nature and its deadly effects, saw also its other face: the glory of the colourful sunrise and sunset: the enchantment of the rainbow: the festive splendour of forest and field drenched in rains (which arrived in the company of thunders and storms): the fragrance and the softness of the flower that swayed to the breeze: the stars twinkling in the night sky and the mysterious blue depths in the space between them: the grace of the star-lit night sky: the immense expanse of the sea, its majesty .....

Nature, so cruel before, had now turned pleasant. Innocent that he was then, man marvelled at this and was delighted. It was, for him, an inexpressible experience. He could not describe it nor analyse it. The world, both awesome and beautiful, grim and pleased, remained a riddle to him. Who could be its architect? Was it magic? Or miracle? There must be something magnificent behind it all. Was it (or he) a friend or a foe? It must be fickle ­minded. The breeze, gentle and caressing now, may, the next moment, become a hurricane. The ground right under his feet might crack up! In recent days, philosophers have spoken of a 'power' behind the phenomena of Nature; primitive man was probably incapable of such reasoning. His mind could only conceive of a strong person or object; not an abstract power. All the activities of a person or an object so imagined were the work of magic! This, probably, was how the concept of God took shape. Fear, wonder and the instinct to seek protection- all these can be seen behind this concept. The concept of God is something that continuously crosses our mind. The reasons could be: the fear that if we antagonise Him. He will bring us to harm, or the expectation that He will save us from the tribulations of this dangerous world or the feeling that God is the symbol of the highest of human values. This is the concept that has been with us over thousands of years and this is with us even today. Which explains why even non­believers routinely use such expressions as ‘My God!’ or ‘For God's sake!’ without a thought for what they mean. It is indeed no wonder that one feels that this God, so well entrenched in the minds of people all over the world must, in fact, exist.

But can we trust this feeling? It would be better, before deciding on this, to be clear about what 'God' means and what His nature is. It is hot easy to define God, though. Even philosophers are not agreed on this question. So, let us not try to define God right now. What we could do now is this: we will learn, to the extent possible, what men of different ages and climes have regarded as God, and the nature of such Gods. Then, based on this understanding, we can try to generalize on the nature of God. This is the Inductive Method- the method of deriving general principles from a known set of facts.

The question 'What is God?' is prompted by the fac­ulty of reasoning. Even to answer this question, one needs that same faculty. But this, probably, was not what the early man asked. His question must have been : 'Who is God?'· One thing was clear to him : that God was power­ful not just physically, but also in some magical, mysterious way. To be able to deal with Him, one had to be similarly powerful and possess magical powers, too. Not everyone was capable of that: only some clever ones were. This is how witch-doctors and sorcerers came on to the scene. And they only strengthened this belief - for, after all, they had their own prestige to protect. Traces of this magic re­main in some of our religious rites to this day.

Beliefs about God

Who is the omnipotent God? Man has found many answers to this question. In many places, there was the practice of worshipping the ancestors and heroes of by­gone ages. And, to this day, the belief persists, that they exist somewhere after shedding their bodies here, that they still retain their interest in our welfare and that they ought to be revered. Consider the ceremonies we perform for our ancestors. In those rituals, there is, apart from the desire that they may attain an auspicious state and be pro­vided with food and drink, also an element of worship. The priest, in the course of the rituals, refers to them as 'Lord Krishna' or 'Lord Rama'.

Stones and trees may be Gods. In Maramma temples there is, usually, only a stone, not even a stone image. God­dess Maramma is believed to lend it divinity by inhering there. The most common instance of plant worship is the Tulasi Puja, widely practised even now. Tulasi receives worship and is also used to offer worship. The banyan tree is also God for us ­the divine ‘Ashwatha Narayan’. One who goes around this tree a hundred and eight times will be blessed with a child. There are those who believe, even today, that they acquire merit' (puny a') by growing a neem tree by the side of a ban­yan tree and uniting the two in wedlock according to religious rites

If trees could be Gods, why not animals? Some tribes in Africa, it seems, believed that crocodiles are God and of­fered sacrifices to crocodiles. We are quite familiar with the worship of cobras. Millions still believe that ‘Naga Prathishte’ (a form of cobra worship) would bless them with a child. In­deed, I know of even mighty scholars, not just illiterate people, resorting to this kind of cobra-worship. And, I have myself en­joyed sumptuous meals on those occasions! Even those who do not perform 'Naga Prathiste' do worship snakes during the 'Naga Panchami' festival with milk. It is a sin to kill a cobra! It is believed that one who kills it will be afflicted with skin diseases and the whole family will be haunted.

Then there are the instances of animals and birds at­taining Godhood through association with a first-class God. Garuda, being Vishun's vehicle, has become God and has also earned the title of ‘the Protector’. But Hanuman, Rama's associate, has scored over Garuda. I do not know of any temple dedicated to Garuda. But there is not a town in this country without a Hanuman temple, usually right at the entrance of the town. Devotees of Hanuman, it is said, will attain many 'siddhis'- supernatural powers. There are thousands of people who visit a Hanuman temple regularly at least once a day. The belief is that in the cOr(ling 'kalpa', or a long long era, Hanuman will, on promotion, become Brahma Himself.

One step above this level (or 'below this level', shall we say?) we encounter deities like Mari and Beera who are supposed to resemble humans in form and Ghost Dieties like Panjurli and Bobbarya. These are usually not referred to as Gods. It is not Maris or Bobbaryas that come to our minds first at the mention of God. Yet, the fact is that we have attributed superhuman powers to them and that we worship them.

Some ‘Ammas’[i] have won the reverence of people in their towns and have risen to Godhead. For instance: the 'Gudiamma' of the Vadda tribe in my town. She is an incar­nation of Godess Lakshmi and is not to be classed with the rest of 'Ammas'.

On these deities, we have bestowed a more or less hu­man form and the faculty of speech. These Gods can 'pos­sess' someone and through the 'possessed one' communi­cate to us their desires and instructions. This 'power' places these deities one step above the plant-deities. Yet, these are petty deities who cause pain, suffering, epidemics and even death. Only after extorting the 'offerings' do they grudgingly halt the epidemics- or, at least so we hope. Tulasi or Ashwatha tree or Garuda or Anjaneya never causes such disasters; their actions are always benign. But the 'Ammas' or the Ghost Deities unleash on us terrible diseases for petty reasons or sometimes for no reason at all. They may even demand the sacrifice of a hen or a sheep or a daily plate of curds rice. I am not aware of these dieties ever volunteering to do anything good for the people. This is how their style may be described: cause harm first, then blackmail and extort in order to halt (?) the harm.

The Forces of Nature

Our Indra, Agni, Vayu and so on are only forces of Nature whom we have endowed with names and forms. Bestowing divinity on these forces is an ancient practice. Zeus of ancient Greece was one such force of Nature. Like our Indra, he, too, once occupied a position of su­premacy. Just as our Indra wielded the Vajrayudha, lightning was Zeus's weapon. Helios was the Sun God, Artemis the Moon Goddess. Aeolus was the God of the Winds, Poseidon the Sea God. The reign of these Greek deities[ii] is over. Unable to bear the onslaught of Christianity, they are now hiding in the museum of literature.

While our Indra and other deities have managed to retain their divine status they do not belong to the highest orders. Their decline began in the Upanishadic Age itself. A verse in the Kathopanishad[iii] says, "In the presence of the Supreme, electricity itself has no brightness; what, then, is Agni?" In the story narrated at the end of the Kenopanishad, Agni, unable even to burn a blade of grass (without the grace of the Supreme), stands humbled. Vayu is similarly humiliated.

Similarly, Indra also has stepped down from his exalted position. Only when some one performs 'tapas' and obtains a boon which harms the interests of gods and men (and the gods are foolish enough to grant such boons) Indra collects the gods and rushes to Shiva or Vishnu desperately pleading for succour - to such a level has the might of Indra sunk!

Even today occasionally yagnas are performed to offer sacrifices to Indra and the other gods. But there are no temples solely dedicated to them, and they recieve no worship; only Surya, Agni and Vayu are exceptions. Surya has contested from two constituencies- and won from both. The scientist may not accept him as a true planet, but he is a planet to the common man and to the astrologer. Besides he has merged with Narayana to become Suryanarayana.

Madhwa philosophy has accorded Vayu an exalted position. Any auspicious function in a Madhwa household is 'motivated by Hari and Vayu'. All Hindu sects revere Agni and 'homa' is a very important ritual; naturally, Agni is important.

All this is true but yet the plight of the nature deities evokes pity.

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[i] The word ‘Amma’ is applied to all female deities of the Mari-Masani category; the deity who spreads chickenpox is the ‘Young Amma’; the deity who causes smallpox is the ‘Elder Amma’. Plague and cholera have presiding deities; with them are deities like 'Patalamma', 'Ranabheramma' and 'Kalluramma'. 

[ii] These gods were worshipped by the Romans, too, under different names. 

[iii] "Nemaa vidyutho bhanti kutoyamagnihi"- this verse is found in one or two other Upanishads, too.

Akkihebbalu Narasimha Murthy Rao (June 16, 1900—August 23, 2003) was an eminent Kannada writer.  He was the first Director of Kannada and Culture Department of the Karnataka Government.

His popular book, Devaru (God), won (1992) the Pampa Award instituted by the Government of Karnataka.

This is the first chapter of the book, which was translated into English by Prof LS Seshagiri Rao and published by Kannada Sahitya Parishath, Bangalore in 1995

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Federation of Karnataka State Rationalist Associations: First State Conference

We reproduce below a communication received from Karnataka Rajya Vicharavadi Okkootta (Federation of Karnataka State Rationalist Associations):

Federation of Karnatka State Rationalist Associations (Karnataka Rajya Vicharavadi Okkootta) is organizing the 1st state level rationalist conference at SHRAVANABELOGOLA on 18th & 19th of May 2012.

As you are aware, a get-together of more than 100 rationalist and humanist activists and sympathizers was held on March 14, 2010 in Bangalore. It was decided at the meeting to form a Federation of rationalist and humanist groups active in various districts of Karnataka in order to coordinate the activities of these groups at the state level. Subsequently, during the last two years, our activists visited about 22 districts of the state and held meetings with various groups and individuals. Those districts which we could not cover, we got in touch with activists over telephone.

To keep up the momentum generated through these contacts, to consolidate the gains and to build up the organization further, it has been decided to organize the first state conference of the Federation at Shravanebelogola on 18th & 19th of May 2012. In order to make the conference a grand success, we request your participation.

VENUE:

MANJUNATHA KALYANA MANTAPA (Near Bus Stand)

SHRAVANABELOGOLA,

Hassan District

Delegate Fee: Rs: 200/- only

(Towards accommodation, on 18th night. lunch, tea, & dinner & breakfast &lunch on 18th &19th respectively)

Delegates can sent the delegate fee of Rs.200/- by ECS transfer to

Srinivas Natekar
SB A/c No. 007201016498

Corporation Bank, Shravanabelogola

IFSC Code: CORP0000072

For Programme Details, the delegates may contact any of the following persons

1. B.V.V. Subbarao (Bangalore) - Mobile:  9886679088;   Land Line: 080 -41476288 
2. Srinivas Natekar (Shravanabelogola)  -  Mobile: 9844614676;  Land Line: 08176-257875
3. Dr.H.R.Swamy (Hassan) -   Mobile: 776004088

                                         Email: vicharavadi@gmail.com

Greetings:

I welcome the Karnataka conference and this is timely. We need to inculcate scientific attitude among students and youth which will take society in to future development. Today the reactionary forces gained upper hand and set the rational cloack backwards. The child abuse of inculcating religion to the kids from childhood onward should be stopped.

Innaiah Narisetti

USA

Wed, May 9, 2012 at 3:42 PM

***

Thanks for the invitation.

I am happy to know about the conference and I wish the conference all success.We are also celebrating the national conference at Hyderabad on 9th and 10th June 2012.I am forwarding the message to our friends.

With regards

Gumma Veeranna

President

A.P.Rationalist Association

Wed, May 9, 2012 at 3:59 PM

***

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The Norm of the Patriarch

Ram Puniyani

During middle of February 2012, BJP ruled Karnatka’s  two ministers, Laxman Savadi and C C Patil were watching the porn clip on the mobile belonging to another minister Krishna Palemar. All three had to resign the job and BJP huddled in to a Chintan baithak (Meeting for Introspection) to do the damage control. Whether these BJP ministers are also RSS trained swayamsevaks, like most top functionaries of BJP are, is not known. But surely these porn watching ministers do come under the broad umbrella of RSS combine, popularly known as Sangh Parviar.

There are many other incidents about those in the ambit of RSS combine, in incidents which involve gender related issues. By now the aggression of Pramod Mutalik’s Sri Ram Sene attacking and humiliating the girls in a pub is too well known. Mutalik is a RSS trained person. He joined RSS in 1975 and became convener Bajrang Dal for South India in 2004. He also helped BJP’s election campaigns. Later he joined Shiv Sena before forming his own Sri Ram Sene. The attacks on those celebrating Valentine day, by Shiv Sena, Sri Ram Sene and other groups who are fellow travelers of RSS politics is a sort of annual ritual.

RSS drill in Nagpur - Image courtesy: Wikipedia

Many of these elements have been attacking Muslim boys who were found conversing with Hindu girls. In Gujarat, Babu Bajrangi, who was very active in Gujarat anti-Muslim pogrom, who was caught in the Tehelka sting operation boasting about playing the ‘One day match’, killing the Muslims, was also the leader of a squad which was intimidating the couples in the parks. The most systematic attempt to combine gender issues, patriarchal norms with anti Muslim tirade manifested in the form of the propaganda about ‘Love Jihad’, a hoax deliberately floated to browbeat Muslim youth has been seen in many a places particularly in Kerala. As per this propaganda Muslim youth are being given money and training to lure way Hindu girls with the aim of increasing Muslim population.

The pathological dislike for the girls trying to get autonomy in choosing their life partners is being opposed in many a ways. The couples meeting the in the public places are advised to abhor love marriage and to go for the partners selected by their parents. As a counter to Valentine day celebration, Asaram Bapu suggested the celebration of Matri Pitru day (Parents Day) on that day (14^th February, the Valentine Day) and the BJP ruled Chhattisgarh Government has implemented this wish of Asaram Bapu and Matri Pitru day was observed in Chattisgarh this year. To cap it all the norms, morality and values followed by RSS combine were most in display in response to the statement of the Hyderabad police Chief Dinesh Reddy’s statement. Mr. Reddy (Dec 2011) linked the rape cases with the dress of women. Not the first time any police person or many others have said a similar thing. The difference this time was that when Mr. Reddy was being criticized for his crass statement, he received support from the un-expected or rather expected quarter of one women’s organization. This women’s organization happens to be Rashtra Sevika Samiti, an organization subordinate to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). While most of the incitements which have been observed are a manifestation of perverted sense of morality, a medieval mind set, the Rashtra Sevika Samiti’s support to Mr. Reddy in linking up women’s dress with rape, in turn holding them responsible for the crimes done against them, is very revealing.

The likes of Babu Bajrangi, Promod Mutalik may be dismissed as fringe elements, despite their association with RSS or its affiliates, and the porn clip watching BJP ministers may not be an exception in doing such a thing. But in the case of Rashtra Sevika Samiti’s action the attitude of RSS ideology toward women becomes more than explicit. RSS is an exclusively male organization. In 1936 Laxmibai Kelkar, a woman related to RSS members’ family, approached the then Sarsanghchalsk and asked permission to join the RSS. She was declined the membership on the ground that RSS is only for men. She was advised to start Rashtra Sevika Samiti instead. The nomenclature of the two organizations is very interesting. The dominating male organization has the word Swayam (self), while in the name of women’s organization the word Swayam (self) is missing, showing their subordinate position.

This deep adherence to patriarchy dictated by RSS keeps coming to surface time and over again. In the decade of 1980s the then BJP’s Vice President Vijaya Raje Schindia had supported the women committing Sati (self immolation by woman after husbands’ death), in response to the Roopaknwar Sati case. She asserted that Sati is a great glorious Hindu tradition. She also said that to commit sati, is the right of Hindu women. Somehow she herself never exercised this right herself!

Another major leader of BJP, Mridula Sinha, belonging to BJP Mahila Morcha (BJP Women’s Wing) had in an interview given to the Savvy Magazine in 1994 defended the wife beating and dowry. She said that women should not work outside unless there is a dire financial crisis’ in the family. The major ideologues of Sangh combine have talked gloriously about Manu Smiriti, the tome which ordains the caste system and subordinate position of women. The open preaching of patriarchal values is a core agenda of most of the communal organizations, irrespective of to whichever religion they belong to. RSS combine exemplifies it to the hilt, starting from its nomenclature to the ideology and practices undertaken by this multi headed hydra. In these matters the attitude of other fundamentalist organizations, deriving their legitimacy from Islam or Christianity may not be much different and they may hold hands together on such issues, the way they stood together on the issue of same sex relationships.

Our society during the period of 1950-1970s saw the strengthening of the process of caste and gender transformation. The period from 1980s has been a sort of reversal of the healthy elements of the process of social change. This reversal of the process of social transformation is an accompaniment of the rise of politics in the name of religion, the politics of RSS in India. While porn watching BJP ministers may not be the only ones’ in doing what they did, there is a need to look at the attitude to gender which is on display due to the politics of RSS, the Hindutva.

     

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Saffronisation of Karnataka

Narendra Nayak

It is a tragedy that while the developed world is talking of a society based on human values, we the people of Karnataka have to go back to religious texts for our value systems. In the past few years after the Bharathiya janatha party formed their first government in the South they have been trying to impose their superstitions on the population in the most blatant manner. The machinery of the state is being shamelessly used for this purpose under the guise of education and such high flown labels. the process is taking place in such an orderly manner and the target is the younger generation. As it is the Chief minister is not known for any leaning towards rational thinking. In fact, he has been utilising the resources of the state to promote religious institutions by a mechanism of sly actions by hook or crook.

 

The first thing he did on getting elected was to go around the maths and temples spending public money on rituals and donations to these places. During each budget huge amounts have been allocated as 'grants' to these institutions under the guise of education and development. That the expenditures of these are not under the scrutiny of any public authority must be one reason for this. These do not even call for tenders for their expenditure and everything is done in an arbitrary manner at the whims and fancies of the heads of these. The communalisation has gone to the extent that even the midday meals schemes are in the grip of these vested interests. When, eggs were proposed as a dietary supplement for children there was an uproar and the scheme was dropped due to opposition from the math heads who were against that. The nutrition of the children was sacrificed to pander to the whims and fancies of these so called religious heads. Th midday meal schemes are now being slowly taken over by a cult called as ISKCON. The International society for Krishna consciousness. These midday meals which were to be cooked in the schools and served hot to the children are being now taken over by this cult who are gradually ensnaring more and more schools into their web. This activity is being fully encouraged by the state govt. in the guise of serving quality food. This is creating unemployment among the locals who have been taken for this specific job to prepare food for the children. But, it is also a sly way to bypass the caste problem too! The food at ISKCON is supposedly cooked by the upper caste brahmins only! It is also a underhand way to spread Hindutwa by making children recite shlokas in sanskrit thanking Hindu gods for providing food paid for by the taxpayers money in a secular democracy.

Not content with this level of communalisation in public life there have been more recent happenings which are worsening the situation. Last month there was conflict between the present and immediate past Chief ministers. They made contradictory statements about a particular incident and each one stuck to his guns and said that his was the truth. Instead of letting the electorate or a court of law decide on that they chose to settle the dispute in the presence of a deity at a place called Dharmastala near Mangalore. The present Chief minister Yaddiyurappa issued ads in many news papers at a cost of millions to the state treasury that a trial for truth would be held at that place on a particular date. When there were protests about the misuse of public money to settle personal scores the cost of the ads was then borne by the party or rather that was what was announced in public. The much awaited confrontation was a damp squib literally as well as figuratively. The former was due to the pouring rain and the latter due to it that the conflicting parties went to the temple at different times! One gets a doubt as to why this confrontation did not take place. It is suspected that it was at the instance of the owner of the temple who requested them not to politicise a temple which was held in reverence by a millions of people. The deity of this place is allegedly so powerful that any one who utters an untruth in his presence would die vomiting blood soon. With two parties making exactly opposite statements it was imperative that one of them would have to face that fate! If that did not happen, what would have been exposed was the powerlessness of the deity! So, one does get a doubt as to why the whole thing was called off! This was a situation where one of the parties had to be right and obviously the other to be wrong! The presiding deity would have been forced to show his powers by punishing one of them!

The BJP govt in Karnataka or rather the Yaddiyurappa dispensation has survived largely due to the interference by the swamis of the various maths. Whenever there was some talk about his removal they used to spring to his rescue and warn the RSS leadership about touching him. He has already shown his gratitude to them by granting huge amounts allegedly for social service activities! What better way to repay that than by ensuring that he stays in office. He has taken back many important decisions based on their dictates too! Very recently, the land acquisition notice for the phase of the SEZ for Mangalore was withdrawn not because of any other reason but by the threat of the Swami of Pejawar math to go on a fast unto death if that was not done! There have been numerous irregularities in the notification and the protests have been going on since long. But, we are told that what clinched the issue was this threat of a fast unto death. The same has happened in another case at Gadag where land was to be taken over for a project by the multinational POSCO. There were protests from those who were going to lose their land. But, nothing much moved until the Swami of a local math called as Tontaradhya math got into the picture. Within days, the order for taking over the land was withdrawn and even those who were in favour of handing over their lands to this company were asked to seek the 'blessings' of this swami before they did so.

More recent of these controversies is the teaching of Bhagawadgita in schools for all the children. It is a per project of one swami which has now been given the sanctity of a govt. project all the time the ministers and party functionaries saying that it is not so. Students regardless of their religious affiliations or lack of one are all supposed the learn what is called as the 'essence' of the Gita. While it is a religious tract being followed by only one section of the society has been ignored here. What is more important is that that India is a secular and that the state cannot support any religious activity. All these things are being merrily carried on by a government elected by the people by the due process of democracy!

So, in Karnataka it is these maths and swamis who are ruling the state! The Yaddiyurappa govt. is a tool in their hands. All decisions have to be taken at their level and then passed by the govt. which is only a rubber stamp! The so called cabinet is busy lining their own pockets trying to save their chairs and from the allegations of corruptions etc. Any way this reminds of the system among the Roman catholics- everything they need from the institutions run by the religious set up needs a letter from the parish priest when it concerns a Roman catholic! That could be anything from a medical appointment to a seat in an educational institution! Most of the time this was applicable to facilities which belonged to them though the education institutions are govt. funded! These criteria are however not applicable to non Catholics! This terminology is used by them to divide the world into them and us. But, Yaddiyurappa and co have been generous. Their dictats have been applied to all people of Karnataka!

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