'The Great Tale of Hinduism' book by Author Prathviraj Singh

The Great Tale of Hinduism is an inspiring, colourful and engaging story that brings Hindu culture and spirituality alive in a unique way for the modern reader to carefully examine and appreciate. 

In this book authors have covered in a short space an extensive ground of Hindu teachings. IT provides a panoramic view of a Hindu approach to religion, philosophy, science politics, mythology, art, the role of women and the past and the future of humanity. The book brings Hinduism alive as a continual development of wonder and creativity that renews itself in every generation, honoring the Divine in every name, form, facet and manifestation. 

Foreword of this book is written by Vedacharya Padma Bhushan Shree David Frawley.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frawley)

Namaste (Introduction).

Muriel Rukeyser, an American poetess and writer said “the universe is made up of stories, not of atoms”. Muriel specifically talks about human society. Which is woven on the skeleton of stories, folklores and popular tales about their genesis and reason of existence. Every society’s attitude, their moral and general behaviour is derived from the stories they believe in. Hence this book ‘The Great Tale of Hinduism’ developed on the premise of popular “tales” of Hinduism which distinguish classic Indian society from others. 

All nine chapters of this book deal with different ideas which are the basis of core Indian philosophy. To exemplify these involved ideas, we have taken support of classic tales of ‘Hindu History’. Tales about the human traits of gods and godly traits of some humans. Popular stories which show that not even gods are always correct and even they will not be spared of the law of karma when they are wrong. Classic example of Vishnu is used to corroborate this point where Vishnu in his Krishna avatar shot from behind of a tree by Jara hunter (Bali of his previous birth) for the same act he had done in Ram avatar with Bali. Here are tales which show how a mere mortal by his courage and determination can outgrow his human desires and attain a position reserved for gods. 

A Tryst with Hinduism

This chapter revolves around the core Hindu idea that reality doesn’t lie on extremes. All truths are subjective hence always lies in the centre or in grey areas. This book rejects the demarcation of truth and false on the basis of white and black. Because every white is a brighter shade of grey and every black is a darker shade of grey. As the most gruesome villain of ‘Hindu history’ Ravana is praised for some of his good deeds and even Ram, the most favourite Hindu god is questioned by authoritative religious texts for some of his decisions. Which demonstrates that no one is absolutely good or bad. Every character is an interplay of Triguna and the most dominating guna defines a character in terms of good or bad.

The Real Nature of Myths

The second chapter talks about the significance of religious texts and their stories which has been side-lined by calling them mythology. But these are the tales along which our society and our basic character is intertwined. Keeping our progeny aloof of what actually they are made up of is a big injustice to them. These religious texts actually tell us how our society has evolved through various changes and what made Hindu religion survive through this long stream of time. 

The Vedic Harappan

The third chapter “The Vedic Harappan” tries to fill the gap between antedated Vedic-kal and ancient history. There are myriads of written work of great scholars which try to fix Vedic origin way before the Indus Valley Civilization and not as it is explained through Aryan Invasion Theory. But there is dire need to corroborate the Vedic behaviour of Indus Valley people, in case they were part of continued Vedic Culture. Hence with the support of scholarly work done in the past we tried to prove our point and its significance for present society.

 

The Beginning of Game of Thrones

Fourth chapter “Beginning of Game of Thrones” is an extension of the previous chapter which bridges the gap between primitive Vedic society and the history of present India. Here we describe the inception point of Human society and its evolution along with frequent changes taking place in its nascent stage. The explanation also includes the role of Vedas in moulding the Hindu society and the corruption came with time into the core teaching and how we dealt with it. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we succeed but we never succumbed to it. 

The Era of Empowered Women

Chapter number five is dedicated to the other half of human society, the half neglected from centuries. A rational analysis of the reason for the present condition of women, which is based on the scientific theories of human evolution and Social Dominance Theory. How much Vedas and other religious text are responsible for the social discrimination of woman is also discussed here. Some tales and references from Vedas are given to assert the point that Vedas endorse equality among all living creatures and confer equal position to women but it was counter forced by the inertia of patriarchal ascendancy.

When The Ancient Wonders of Bharatvarsha were Carved

Chapter six talks about the great structural acumen of early Indian society. Examples of structures like Ajanta and Ellora caves are given, which took faith of generations and efforts of centuries to take its present form. These structures are evidence of the power of spiritually immersed human brains, when it strives to transcend its human limitations, when it thinks beyond survival. 

The Pioneer of Vig-Gyana

Authors have tried to claim seeds of many scientific discoveries that can be attributed to Indians. Yes, it would be imprudent to claim the material manifestation of every great discovery on some Indian name. But at the same time we have to give credit to Indian minds who thought and wrote these ideas thousands of years ago. When half of the world was busy in securing their living. Some convincing arguments and valid references are produced to make our readers believe in the author's point and to not look lopsided while advocating the rich scientific heritage of India.

Fortune Favours the Brave 

Eighth chapter starts with a mention of Alexander and the story of the Gordian knot of his life and then shifts to discuss Indian style of administration. Various Indian Emperors Ashoka vs Janaka and Chandragupta vs Dasharatha and their style of administration with the commonalities in them on different aspects. In this chapter, the reader will learn how rich ancient India was politically and about the different experiments India’s democracy has evolved through.

Conclusion

Ninth chapter has the conclusion of every idea discussed extensively in this book. A reference tale from ‘Yog-Vashishth Maharamayan’ is taken to describe the real nature of Hindu Dharma. Here every being is allowed to be elevated to the status of divine and even Gods are relegated to lower status. Misunderstanding between religion and culture is held responsible for tension in the present society and therefore an explanation of both is also given here for better differentiation.

Hinduism is the most talked about word of recent time but unfortunately Hindus are the people who are either not adequately informed or mis-informed about their culture. Authors do not claim this book to be a guide book for Hinduism but this book will definitely raise interest of people to know more about Hinduism from the classic and authentic sources. 

बॉलीवुड का धर्मयुद्ध या मीडिया की सनसनी?

आज सुशांत सिंह राजपूत मामले के 4 महीने पूरे होने पर अगर हम ठगा सा महसूस नहीं कर रहे तो मान लीजिए कि देश का मानस सही दिशा में नहीं है। हर संभव मुश्किल से जूझते वक़्त जिस शालीनता के साथ हम ने मीडिया और बॉलीवुड के बीच मचे छीछा लेदर का लुफ्त उठाया है वह या तो कोई बुद्ध समाज कर सकता है या कोई बुद्धु समाज।

भाई भतीजावाद के झंडा बरदार घोषित हो चुके बॉलीवुड के 18-20 के लड़के लड़कियां जो कि भारतीय न्याय तंत्र के हिसाब से अभी कुछ महीने पहले ही समझदार हुए है, उन्हें हाशिए पर चड़ता देखने की उत्सुकता मे अंधे हो चुके लोगो ने जब इस के शांत होने के बाद वास्तविकता से आंख मिलाई होगी तो एक बार मन ग्लानि से जरूर भर गया होगा। कई सवाल है जो मेरे चारों तरफ से भी सुनाई से रहे है। उनमें से एक बड़ा सवाल यह है कि क्या मीडिया का रवैया सही था? जिस में सबसे पहले फैसला सुनाया, फिर अपराधी ढूंढे और उस के बाद खुद ही जांच बिठाई जिस में शुक्र है कि थोड़ी बहुत मदद सी.बी.आई की भी ली। और फिर ऐसा माहौल बनाया कि मानो इस धर्मयुद्ध के जीतते है देश की सारी परेशानियां खत्म हो जाएंगी। और समाज फिर एक बार स्वर्णिम युग में प्रवेश करेगा। ये तो भला ही हुआ कि प्राइम टाइम पर किसी को लाइव फांसी नहीं हुई। मीडिया की वक्र दृष्टि से बच बच कर कई बिद्धिजिवियो ने यह सवाल भी उठाया कि क्या पूरे देश का बमुश्किल 500-600 लोगो से बने बॉलीवुड में इतना रुचि लेना सही है। जब की करोड़ों  बेरोजगार और आर्थिक तंगी से पीड़ित लोग किसी को अपना दुखड़ा सुना तक नहीं पा रहे। और अगर हम यह मान भी लें कि ये 500-600 लोग देश के लिए इतने अहम है तब भी क्या उनके अंतरंग जीवन में किसी का कैमरा ले कर घुस जाना सही है? 

मेरे लिए इन सवालों का जवाब मिला इस है इंडस्ट्री के सबसे प्रमुख निर्माता द्वारा चलाए जा रहे एक टीवी शो में। चाय पर चर्चा का अंग्रेजी रूपांतर यह शो जिस में वह सभी बॉलीवुड सितारों से पूछते है कि आप अगर सुबह किसी और के बेडरूम में जागती या जागते है तो आप क्या करेंगे? या फिर इन सभी सितारों में से किस से आप सिर्फ वन नाइट स्टैंड वाला रिश्ता रखेंगी, किस से आप प्रेम प्रसंग चलना चाहेंगी/चाहेंगे और किस से शादी करेंगे? इस ही शो के माध्यम से हमें यह बताया गया कि किसी के जीवन की अंतरंग बातो मै कितना मजा लिया जा सकता है। किसी फिल्मी कलाकर के वैवाहिक जीवन के बाहर चल रहे प्रेम प्रसंग आम जनता को कितनी खुशी देते है। और सब से ज्यादा मजे कि बात की इन सितारों को भी ऐसे बर्ताव या सवालों से कोई अपात्ती नहीं होती। खुद ही को चरित्रहीन और बेपरवाह होने का सर्टफिकेट देते वक़्त इन फिल्मी सितारों को अंदाजा भी नहीं होगा कि जो बबूल आज वो बो रहे है इस के कांटे इन्हें कितनी जोर से चुभेंगे। जिस ड्रग पार्टी का वीडियो खुद ही शेयर कर ये इतरा रहे थे वहीं वीडियो इन के गले की हड्डी बनेगा, इस बात का अंदाजा भी इन बेचारों को नहीं होगा। यह पूरा घटनाक्रम हमे भी सीख देता है कि आज के इस युग में आप मर्यादा भंग तो बड़ी आसानी से कर सकते है पर फिर बाद में इस कि कोई सीमा या दिशा तय करना किसी के भी आपे से बाहर की बात है। 

खेर इन्हें फिल्मी सितारे कहा भी इसीलिए जाता है क्यो की फिल्मी कि ही तरह इन की चमक भी बनावटी होती है। और इस में कुछ ग़लत भी नहीं। आखिर किसी अच्छे कलाकर से यह अपेक्षा रखना की उस की राजनीतिक, सामाजिक, न्यायिक सूझ बुझ भी उतनी ही अच्छी हो जितनी अपनी कला में है, यह तो उस के साथ भी ज्यायती होगी। इसी ही लिए मैंने खुद को उस फूहड़ टीवी शो के होस्ट कि जगह रख कर देखा और विश्वास मानिए उस कि परेशानी का एहसास भी मुझे हुआ। किसी भी साक्षत्कार की जान होता है उस में बुलाया गया मेहनाम जो वास्तविक दुनिया और जीवन के अनुभवो से ओत प्रोत हो। जिस के सीधी सदी बाते और किस्से भी लोगो को लुभाती हो। किसी भी क्षेत्र में अपनी मेहनत से नाम कमा चुके लोग जब कुछ बोलते है तो वह अपने आप ही दर्शक को सुहाना लगता है, प्रेरणा देता है। आप अगर एक सफ़र तय किए व्यक्ति जैसे अमिताभ बच्चन, शाहरुख खान, जावेद अख्तर या देवानंद को सुनेगे तो मुझे नहीं लगता कि उस में अश्लील और फूहड़ बातो का तड़का लगाने की आवश्यकता किसी को भी महसूस होगी। पर जब इंटरव्यू किसी ऐसे सितारे का हो जिस की चमक भी मां या बाप की उधर दी हुई हो या जिस का सबसे बड़ा टैलेंट जबान से अपनी नाक छू लेना हो तो कार्यक्रम को मनोरंजक बनाने के लिए ओछी बातो का सहारा तो लेना ही पड़ेगा। पर अब आखिरी में यह समझ नहीं आ रहा कि देश के 5 महीने बर्बाद करने का इल्जाम किस के माथे डाले। पहले ही खुद को थल में परोस कर प्रस्तुत कर चुके बॉलीवुड पर या उस थाल में दावत उड़ा चुकी मीडिया पर या फिर खुद पर जो इन सब बातो में ड्रग्स के नशे कि तरह पड कर अपनी सुद बुध भुला बैठे है।

लेखक:- प्रथ्वी राज सिंह

Harvest of Hope

When the fear of Covid19 still has a tight grip over the entire world a new fear of collapsing economies is ready to strangle the neck, especially of the developing nations. Any proper assessment of the actual effects of this pandemic on the global economy is yet to come. But one thing is sure that it has hit-hard already-slowing Indian economy. Financial experts say that this crisis will leave a permanent scar on India's growth story. According to Mumbai based credit rating agency CRISIL a huge contract will be in GDP numbers for 2020-21 and to catch-up a surge of 11%  would be required for the next three fiscals; which is quite unprecedented and less likely to happen in the case of India.

Among the many negative impacts of the greatest lockdown happened in India in the end of March 2020 the biggest ones are the erosion in job-base and consumer spending. The household spending which has been shifted to subsistence (survival) level during lockdown will remain cautious and timid under threat of a second wave of virus followed by another lockdown. Indian consumers will likely to save their resources for survival for the case of any recurrence.

For a country like India where major parts of demand and investment both come from domestic spendings and savings respectively. A revival in consumption is much needed, as Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw  said, "Demand is going to play a very big part in economic revival, and if we cannot kick-start demand I fear then we cannot have economic revival.”

To rebound the economy a lot of emphasis is being paid for revival of the manufacturing and service sector by liquidity infusion and easy credit access. But the question rises that unless there is a revival of demand who will they sell their goods to? In this toughest time can Agriculture emerge as a saviour?  

Indian Agriculture sector which still accommodates more than 50% of the population and largest labour force of 145 million is also the least hit sector during worldwide spread of Covid 19. Many farm produce counted as essential goods the agriculture sector had exemptions to sell their produce even in the complete lockdown. 

Due to PM Kisan Sammam Nidhi and KCC loan, farmers reported that there has been a negligible impact on household consumption during lockdown. At the same time rabi production of 2020 especially wheat yields was record high. The Civil Supplies Corporation and Marketing Federation of Madhya Pradesh procured 128 lakh tonnes of wheat against 84.89 lakh tonnes yields of last year. The total wheat procurement in the country has touched 386 lakh tonnes as against 368 lakh tonnes of last year. In the process of rewarding the higher yields of farmers of Madhya Pradesh, the State government has infused  liquidity of 21 lakh crores into the market through 14.22 lakh bank accounts of farmers. This fiscal stimulus straight into hands of farmer/farm-labourer has become the fuel to restart the growth story of the country, which had been on halt for 3 months. Negligible tax burden and increased income has raised the purchasing power of farmers which is very necessary for industrial growth. As agriculture supplies the raw material to various agro-based and FMCG companies. A good harvest plays a vital role in both internal and external trade of India. 

Moreover, the forecast of higher production of kharif crops due to good monsoon this year has filled farmers with positive sentiments. And even the top economists believe that demand in a huge and developing economy like India is mostly sentiment driven. Euphoria of good harvest can be the required impetus for positive consumer behaviour. Hence Agriculture can definitely be the silver lining in this darkest hour of Indian economy.

We living in the manufacturing and service driven economy sometimes undermines the facts that India is the largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute, and ranks as the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruit, and cotton. Additionally being the second largest producer India is also the largest exporter of rice and wheat, it can also fulfill the demands of the countries which are dependent on imports for their food security. Decreasing rates of crude oil and increased export of agriculture produce can definitely subsidize  the trade deficit of our country. Especially in the time where many major exporters have withdrawn from the international market to avoid the exposure of Coronavirus.  In this crucial time any small stimulus given to the agriculture sector by the government can re-track the entire economy. The recent forecast by CRISIL shows agriculture will still depict an impressive growth of 5.9% in Q4 of FY20, when GDP may register negative growth.

All the aforementioned facts show that when all the other businesses grapple with losses, the reopening of the economy poses fresh challenges for tackling the second wave of Covid-19. Agriculture is the only bright spot or the harvest of hope for India.