THE CURSE OF “AAM AADMI”

                        We Indians have a term for the common man i.e. “Aam Aadmi”; a term I believe that has been much abused and misused and something symbolizing the apathy of the political class towards the general public. I have this great objection to being labeled as Aam Aadmi. I believe that everyone is special in their own right. While the politicians and celebrities are labeled as VIPs and VVIPs and are granted special facilities whereas the rest have to bear the curse of the label “Aam Aadmi” and fight it out for even their fundamental rights and even basic necessities.

            The political class have freely used this label of “Aam Aadmi” and propagated their agendas and displayed how they work hard for the benefit of the “Aam Aadmi”. But the fact remains that even after more than 60 years of independence, most of the people have remained “Aam Aadmi” and haven’t graduated to “Khaas Aadmi”. What’s happened is that the “Khaas” have become even more “Khaas” and the “Aam” has remained “Aam”. The political class has fooled the “Aam Aadmi” and has benefited greatly at their expense. If you haven’t been blind enough then you must have seen clearly that the most of the politicians today come from the political families. Hardly you see a political leader in recent times who has made it on his/her own merit and work. The worst joke of it all is that the Congress party which has for its slogan “Congress ka Haath, Aam Aadmi ke Saath” is a dynasty worshipping party. The Nehru – Gandhi clan still rules the roost within the Congress party. In blatant insult to the democracy, a man who is the Prime Minister of this nation seeks approval from the party president before doing anything. Manmohan Singh appears to be nothing but a puppet of Sonia Gandhi. That man has degraded the post of Prime Minister enormously.  With all the special treatment given to the Gandhi family including the son-in-law Robert Vadra, by the people within the Congress party and the Main Stream Media houses, democracy is dying a silent death.

            Each election period comes with the new promises of how the government is diligently working for the upliftment of the “Aam Aadmi” and how self sacrificing our honourable politicians have been. But the truth is there for the people to see. It’s not the “Aam Aadmi” who is uplifted but the “Khaas”. The proof can be seen from the exponential rise of the assets of the political “Khaas Aadmi” class that’s in the power and their relatives. It does not matter whether the country or the world is undergoing recession; this “Khaas Aadmi” class miraculously finds a way to increase their incomes and assets. So while you remain “Aam”, the “Khaas” is enjoying at your expense.

            I cannot lay the entire blame upon the political class for this state of affairs. The blame also lies equally upon each and everyone of us. The political class has sold you the myth of your being “Aam” and you have accepted it and believed it. It’s become part of the thinking of the common man that he/she is at the mercy of this political class and nothing can be done about it. We have allowed ourselves to become weak. The power to vote hasn’t been exercised diligently. The lack of self-belief has led to the downfall of the “Aam Aadmi”. It’s time that we realize our “specialness”. Yes, you, I and everyone else is special in their own way. Why are you happy with being labeled “Aam Aadmi”? Each and everyone of you is “Khaas”! Realize that! Don’t be fooled by this political class. Don’t bemoan your fate. You have the power to change the current situation and state of affairs. It has to begin somewhere and that somewhere is your self. You cannot keep waiting for someone else to begin. You have to start and start now. Assert your specialness and reject this tag of “Aam Aadmi”. You have as much right over this nation’s resources as the political class. The political class is meant to serve you, not rule you. Your inactivity and lethargy has allowed your servants to become your masters. Its time you show them who the real boss is. Democracy has become a mockery today and its true promise and function will be restored when you and I start acting upon it and not sleep upon our rights and duties. Remember that democracy is “of the people, by the people and for the people”. The tag “Aam Aadmi” has become a curse and its time this curse is repealed.

            Like Swami Vivekananda said : “Arise, Awake and Stop Not Till The Goal is Reached!”

The Secret of the Prosperity of Ancient Hindu Civilization

          From the ancient scriptures and histories and even mythology we get a glimpse of the great prosperity of the ancient Hindu Civilization. One will surely wonder what the secret was behind this prosperity which was sustained throughout the centuries where the other contemporary civilizations collapsed and went into obscurity.  Historians have given varied reasons from the availability of the fertile lands and natural resources and so on and so forth. But I will proceed on a different ground altogether; one which you may choose to believe and apply or reject without applying.

             

             We know that the Hindus worship numerous deities representing almost every known and unknown energy in this Universe. Some have said that is pure superstition and ignorance on the part of the Hindus. But before these people congratulate themselves on their “intelligence” let me remind one and all that the Hindus are the ones who have given the world the highest philosophy of “Advait Vedanta” – the highest Monism. So why the worship of so many deities? Well the Hindus consider that everything in this Universe is the expression of that one Infinite God and since this finite mind cannot conceive of the Infinite, they worship this Infinite God in all forms. The worship of the different forces of the nature is their way of expressing gratitude to those forces. Every activity of the Hindus began and ended with this expression of gratitude. Gratitude is what keeps the flow of abundance running. By continuous expression of gratitude, the ancient Hindus kept this flow of abundance running. This was the great secret behind their immense prosperity.

           

             By invoking the various forces of the nature like the sun, earth, fire, water, air etc. and expressing continuous gratitude to these forces and through it to the Infinite One, the masses attuned themselves to these forces and kept the balance of the forces of the nature. Abundance was therefore a foregone conclusion. The Hindus knew the law of attraction and used it to their advantage. The Secret wasn’t a secret then.

         

         Over the period this very knowledge was turned into a “Secret” and the various rituals cloaked in the garb of “fear” instead of “love”. Slowly the degeneration started and the mindless rituals took the place of the knowing and loving worship. The knowledge of the law of attraction forgotten and this great civilization started a slow but sure journey towards exploitation and poverty. This degeneration saw the rise of rigid caste system and exploitation of the weaker sections of the society. The women who enjoyed great freedom in the heyday of Hindu civilization were now forced into subjugation. This accumulated bad karma led this great civilization being ruled and oppressed by the Muslim invaders and rulers and the British Imperialism. The effect of law of attraction reversed.

             

              What we are witnessing now worldwide with the increasing violence and rise of natural calamities in the recent years is the result of the humanity being in out of tune with the forces of this Universe. What we can learn from the ancient Hindu Civilization is the respect for these forces of Universe and expression of continuous gratitude towards them. What’s required is the continuous expression of love rather than fear. Everything that is, is an expression of the Infinite One. Let’s express our love, respect and gratitude for it continuously and pave the way for a better world.

Thank You All!