Ahimsa Parmo Dharma - a half baked ideology from Mr Gandhi.

Ahimsa parmo dharma. Really? This is largely ok, when there is no conflict, not in turbulent times. For example "ahimsa parmo dharma". This theory is propagated by Mr Gandhi over the last century.

Time and again it is proven, that more than a instution, a monument, it is the ideology that impacts generations to come. This ideology has certainly had a deep impact on our society for the last around 100 years.

I have opened this topic not because I have any ideological issue with mr gandhi. But it is his failure to see the long term impact of the (half) truth, quoted out of context. For generations to come.

If the conduct of Ram and Krishna our gods can be questioned, why not question the idealogy of a mortal man, Mr Gandhi?

My mind had a fundamental question. "Ahimsa paramo dharma" This is told in our scriptures many things thousands of years ago. It's certainly not Mr. Gandhi's invention. Then why did Rana Pratap fight the Mughals, why did shivaji maharaj fight? They should have been non voilent. Why do all our gods and goddesses have weapons and beautiful things like lotus, laddu, veena etc. in their hands.

The exploration began. To understand anything, the context must be clear. The actual Sanskrit verse is as follows.

अहिंसा परमो धर्मः | धर्म हिंसा तथीव च ||

Ahimsa Paramo Dharma. Dharma himsa tathaiva cha.

Non-violence is the ultimate dharma. So too is violence in service of Dharma.

What is violence

Let's understand the concept of himsa or violence first. A thought of voilence is also himsa. A word of violence is also himsa. The action of violence is also himsa. Ahimsa means not even the thought of voilence coming in the mind.

Himsa means acting the role, thinking, doing, announcing violence in protecting the dharma (role) being fully aware of what is happening is necessary to be done. It is not an emotional reaction, but a balanced act, designed to produce a result. Japanese samurai is a good example of balanced, controlled, voilence. This was the norm earlier. Restraint. Thinking. Before taking action.

Dharma - The actions necessary for a role.

Lets take an example of shivaji maharaj and ranapratap. The preservation of someone's own cultural identity, the protection of his people and their well being, fighting the enemy is the role of the king. The Raj dharma. They did their dharma. Fighting, negotiating, winning, losing and ultimately dying or living while carrying out their dharma, role and it's duties.

Similarly, like the king, the primary role of the self is self preservation. Even in law, you were pardoned, if you kill someone in self defence!

Ancient culture of Bharat

In this context, the surrender to the oppressor does not make any sense. It simply makes the whole community a coward, not willing to confront the wrong, accept things, suffer, accept defeat. Our culture had never been like this.

I am not a blind follower

Being an engineering student, I validate ideas based on process, logic, input, assumptions, output, variations, consistency, authenticity, sources etc. I do not accept anything just because it was said by someone or a certain number of people have approved it, however large the number it may be.

Bharat was and is always a veer bhumi. Where we did not attack, but when attacked, even common people have come with whatever they could find in the house, utensils, knives etc. There are many historical events in this. No wonder our culture has survived wave after wave of aggressions.

People have outsourced their critical thinking now

Our education system does not encourage anyone to think. Ancient Bharat had so many schools of philosphy, sankha, adwaita etc. all encouraging thinking and debate, bringing balance to the social structure.

Today, people have a heard mentality. they just dont think. what is brainwashed for generations, comes to be accepted without any questions.

The only reason I know this fake idea is non voilence was propagated, was the destruction of gurukul system and the British education which wanted us to be their slaves. And what better way, but to have a non violent slave! Superb.

Key factor for Independence

By the way, British after the world war 2 were scared post the naval mutiny and were sure that they could not control India anymore. Hence they left officially, but their supported ideologies still impacts us. The ideas of Gandhi were an influencing factor, not a deciding one. Lets us face the facts.

Slapping

The theory of putting the other check forward when someone slaps you is not relevant today. The reason is the very few people will first not slap you, most will. Most don't care. If you offer the other cheek, they will keep slapping you!

Think, Explore and Decide

The time has come for us to independently think, explore, read, study and then decide based on our logic and understanding on any subject, be it for health, peace of mind, ideologies. Only then will Bharat become great again. May the time come soon.