ETHICAL DILEMMA – EQUALITY OR SECULARISM?

We have read it in books, several times and wondered what actually a dilemma is like or how to get out of such situation? According to books, an Ethical Dilemma is a situation where there has to be a decision made between couple of options which may be right and justified at their ends.

Not long ago High Court of Maharashtra had an appeal from ‘Bhumata Brigade’ seeking judicial approval over lifting of all gender barriers for access to the inner sanctum where there is idol of ‘Shani or Saturn Shrine’ at Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The temple had a 400-year tradition of not allowing women to worship at the altar. On 26^th Jan, 2016, a group 500 of protestors in buses was stopped by police near town of Supa, 70 Kms from temple.

Since temple tradition was justified on religious believes it somehow denied women an equal right of worshiping as men. That’s an Ethical Dilemma, where on one hand there stood Religious belief and on another stood Right to equality. Indian Constitution laid equal emphasis on Secularism, where religious belief of every individual is equally respected, and Equality, among all citizens of India. Opinions raised all across the country likely arguing that a tradition should not be broken as it would have calamitous effects or something bad would occur.  While others argued that it is a superstitious belief being followed for 400 year that now should be debunked. In a country where religious sentiments bind billions together can even lead them falling apart. Unrest situations and riots over religious causes have been frequently countered in India therefore a tough call was to be made by the judiciary at Maharashtra High Court.

On 1^st April High Court held that it is the women’s fundamental right to go into places of worship and the government is duty bound to protect their right. Further temple trust welcomed Court’s decision and invited Bhumata Brigade to offer prayers at inner sanctum as it opened doors for women thereon. Many people are still of an opinion that, ‘Maharashtra is facing drought because Saturn Shrine is upset over debunking of tradition’, a mere superstition, maybe. Whatever the impacts may be, this decision certainly speaks eloquently of peaceful and progressive of Indian triumph.

On latest notes, Tripti Desai led Brigade is demanding equal access to women at Haji Ali dargah. Another challenging dilemma for authorities.


By Umang Daga

Be selfless to selfish

Two alter egos were sitting in a park met after a long time. One of them was fortunately me.

Me: Hey dude! Is everything all right? Why my all-time nuisance creating buddy is so serine today?

Friend: Leave me alone (annoyed).This whole world is 'Selfish'.

Me: Correct (politely). But what's wrong in being selfish?

Friend: For the one whom we care the most disappoints the most. And the one whom you love the most hurts the most.

Me: It's not actually not being selfish my dear. It's just you expected a lot.

We Homo sapiens grow up learning the newton's 3 laws. Most of us forget the initial two. But maximum remember the third one. 'Every action has equal and opposite reaction'. And with this beautiful law we initiate raising our expectations. But this law on practical grounds is not as tenable as it is applicable on scientific grounds. Life is not just about theories, derivations, numerical. But it's much more. Not every student who studies for 18-20 hours regularly clears IAS exam. Not every war leads to peace.

Friend: It's really turning out frustrating for me.

Me: Calm down. You know the major reason of our frustration at maximum times is Expectation. If we aid someone, we expect the same from the guy some or other day. And if he is not able to do so we tag him with one of the most mis-interpreted word of the world 'selfish'. Without knowing his circumstances we set our mindsets and instead of fixing problem we give rise to another problem.

Friend: Oh c’mon! It's human nature. Why should we not expect?

Me: Nobody is selfish in this world. It's just how the needs and demands alter according to circumstances. Nobody can live isolated. Not even the Jainism saints who have although taken moksha but still urge to share and enlighten their thoughts. They wish to see the change. They do expect. But before expecting any change. Change yourself first. Expect from yourself rather than others.

Friend: Well that's true. But the word selfish means arrogance resulting into arrogance.

Me: This is exactly where we are mistaken my dear. The word selfish is not always a negative connotation as we perceive. To survive in this world we need to be selfish. Selfish like at least fulfilling our desires and working on our basic needs.

Friend: Yeah! True. It does sound interesting.

Me: One of the greatest ironies in life is before being social we need to be selfish first.  I hope you are not misinterpreting the term selfish now. Being selfish here means polishing yourselves, working on your forte by learning from others.

I remember one of the beautiful lines spoken by superstar Mr Shahrukh Khan that, do not engage in psychological talks until and unless you do not achieve anything (gyan tab tak na baato jab tak khud gyaani na ho jao).

Friend: So it's better to work on our grass first. Right?

Me: Oh yeah! Exactly. We cannot completely discard our expectations. But still we can minimize them. Maximum problems will soon get solved then and there itself.  Before being social be an achiever first. And when it comes to aid 'Be selfless to especially those who are selfish. By doing this you will definitely fall in love with yourselves. Concluding my words, stop complaining start living.

By - Purva Banthiya

"नारी सशक्तिकरण और सम्मान"

आज के युग में हर कोई नारी सशक्तिकरण की बात करता है, पर किसी ने कभी ये नही सोचा की नारी की इस हालत का जिम्मेदार कौन है।

आखिर आज भी हमें इस मुद्दे पर इतना क्यों सोचना पड़ता है । क्या आज भी हमारी सोच इतनी छोटी है कि हम नारी को उसका सम्मान नहीं दे सकते । हम आज भी उस समाज में रेहते हे जहा नारी को देवी माना जाता है और उसकी पूजा की जाती है । आज हमें नारी सशक्तिकरण नहीं नारी सम्मान की अवश्यकता है । नारी तो पहले भी शक्ती का रुप थी और आज भी शक्ती का रूप है ।

अगर कुछ बदला है तो हमारी सोच और द्रष्टी जो आज नारी को अब्ला के रुप मे देखती है । नारी तो सदियो से पुज्य है, बस कुछ कुप्रचलित चलचित्र और छोटी मान्सिकताओं ने उसके सम्मान को ठेस जरुर पहुचाई है । हम सोचते बहुत हैं पर अभी सोचने की नही सोच बदलने की जरुरत है । 

सोच बदलनी हेै नारी के प्रती 

उसके सम्मान और उसके त्याग के प्रती 

जीवन दायनी हेै नारी 

परोपकार की देवी है नारी 

शक्ती का स्वरूप है नारी 

छमा की दाता है नारी 

त्याग की परिभाषा है नारी 

माँ का दूलार , बेहन का प्यार , पत्नी का विश्वास है नारी । 

“अगर हो सके तो लौटा दो नारी को उसका सम्मान, 

बदलो अपनी सोच को और समझो उसका बलिदान, 

यही है सच्चा नारी सशक्तिकरण और उसका मान । 

अगर हो सके तो लौटा दो नारी को उसका सम्मान” 

- By Devendra Pandey ©


pic courtesy : http://wellnessgospel.com/

" बूंद में जीवन "

किसी नल के नीचे बाल्टी रखना, खाली बाल्टी, नल को बंद करके थोड़ा सा खोल  देना, एकदम थोड़ा सा,

एक एक बून्द गिरे बाल्टी में इतना सा ही खोलना, एक एक बून्द जल्दी जल्दी बाल्टी में गिरने लगेगी,

कुछ समय के बाद बाल्टी भर जाएगी, अब थोड़ा सा ध्यान दीजिये,

बाल्टी मौत है, नल ईश्वर है , हमारा एक जन्म नल से बाल्टी तक का सफर है, हवा रस्ते की संसार है,

जितना पानी भरता जा रहा हमारे संचित कर्म है, और हम बून्द है, 

समय की रफ़्तार इतनी तेज़ है की पता नहीं चलता कब नल से छूटे और कब बाल्टी में समां गए,

बस इतना देखना है की क्या बून्द बाल्टी तक पहुंचने में ये जान पायेगी की वो बून्द नहीं बल्कि ईश्वर का अंग है,

जो ईश्वर में से निकल के ईश्वर में ही विलीन होने जा रहा है, अगर बून्द ने ये जान लिया तो फिर,

ना बाल्टी है, ना हवा है, ना सफर है, ना नल है , बस बून्द ही है ,

और अगर नहीं जान पायी, तो काल कालांतर तक ये ही चलता रहेगा |

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