31
Jul

Positive Development

   Posted by: gargi   in India

I think that the Government has hit the nail on the head in asking religious leaders to intercede in stemming female foeticide.

The union ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has written to Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mata Amritanandmayi, Dinkar, Asaram Bapu and even popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev to spearhead a campaign to save the girl child. The MWCD has also sought help from Radhasoamy Satsang, Nirankari Gurukul and Churches of North and South India. “Since religious gurus have a huge following, a campaign by them will surely help people change their mindset about having daughters,

In a country ruled by various forms of orthodoxy -? and a general dislike of obeying the law, the concept of committing a sin may deter people more than the concept of committing a crime. And it is about time religious leaders looked beyond their religious texts and preached about living life as good citizens - following the rule of law

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006 at 2:04 pm and is filed under India. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

23 comments so far

bhupinder singh
 1 

Pretty soon, all the social responsibilties of the Indian State will be outsourced to religious organizations. The State can become a clearing house for big business and multi- nationals.

On a more serious note, just wonder if governments can kick start “religious” movements to movemnets for social reform/ causes. Historically, it is the reverse that has happened (specially in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and to some extent in Maharashtra)- social reform movements got converted into political movements.

Personally, I feel involving religious organizations into anything is playing with fire in the long run.

July 31st, 2006 at 9:17 pm
gargi
 2 

lol, bhupinder.

but… the kind of religious leaders that the Governement has approached tend to be those who are relative reformists.

A lot of laws/policies in India vis-a-vis social development are actually really progressive. The problem is that society as a whole doesn’t accept these. Be it dowry or caste or female foeticide. I think that middle of the road religious leaders - who have a tremendous follower base - can do a lot of good if they start speaking out actively against a whole lot of social ills.

On the last point - too much power in the hands of any movement can be disastrous in the long run - the trick would be to maintain the balance of power.

So long as the Government does not rely on one method or one pressure group to the exclusion of all, it really should be fine. And finally, it boils to down to us, the people, to make sure that no one group really ends up with the power to completely exploit the situation.

July 31st, 2006 at 10:08 pm
bhupinder singh
 3 

I dont see any of these “religious” leaders as social reformers- the Radhasoamis and Nirankaris perhaps to some extent, but those years have gone now. The common denominator I see in all these is they have turned religion into a mass, so shall we say, a mass consumerist, phenomenon, almost an industry.

But then, perhaps I am too blinkered, dyed in the wool pseudo secularist who still belies that religion is the opium of the masses.

August 1st, 2006 at 2:48 am
bhupinder singh
 4 

I meant “believes” and not belies.

August 1st, 2006 at 2:49 am
gargi
 5 

hi bhupinder
In India it is next to impossible to divorce religion from society. And socio religious groups have played an important role in throwing away shackes of orthodoxy and abject ritualism.

Whether it is the Bhakti Movement- that divorced religion from the priest or The Arya Samaj movement that introduced rationality and foresook rituals, spoke out against caste (unfortunately in modern days it has been hijacked by the rabid right) or the Bhramo Samaj movement. In today’s context people like Swami Agnivesh are doing stellar role in development.

I am a pragmatic rationalist. I believe in real politik - the state works with what it has to achieve certain objectives - within certain parameters. And, if it means acknowledging the role that religious leaders play in society, and using it achieve some ‘good’ - then so be it :)

August 1st, 2006 at 6:57 am
cogito
 6 

I think its a pragmatic and smart move. The ethical “punishment” (which mankind fears from God) is a more powerful tool than legal punishment.

August 1st, 2006 at 6:16 pm
gargi
 7 

absolutely cogito.
If religious leaders start speaking out against dowry and female foeticide (both issues are linked) and labelling them as sin - in no uncertain terms- i would think that it would go a long way in improving the lot of women overall.
I would like them to start speaking out against caste discrimination - starting with ensuring there is none at temples. Purohits and Poojari’s recruited from across the board - will send out such a strong statement as far as caste rights are concerned.
On performing last rites or being invested with the ’sacred thread’ - imagine if women were given both, or indeed those who aren’t brahmins or kshatriyas.
This kind of sociological change can only come about if society changes -and religious leaders will necessarily have to play a role in making sure that India can deliver what it promises to its people.

August 1st, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Sameer
 8 

This is shrewd move. But yes, it is a positive development. Hope it succeeds! It may pave the way for other reforms.

Just yesterday, I was reading the transcript of a chat on Rediff.com. The following point from that chat ties in so well to this move to stem female foeticide…

Put simply, it is difficult to hold or express unpopular ideas when the effects of public opinion are so strong. Religion can provide support for unpopular ideas, and remind us that public policy must have an essential moral component.

August 2nd, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Lal bansal
 9 

Although i agree that life is a life, and no matter even if it is a fmale we should love the baby , and give her chance .

but i won’t ever want my wife to go near asaram or his son to get advise on what to do with our baby.
Well Asaram is a crook himself who is responsible for murder, brainwashing people, and grabbing land and is involved din number of scams. Do you think he will guide morales to public ? he will get another topic to utilize and exploit females. Asaram will exploit all depressed females to come to his ashram and work for him as slaves. You need to really know what scams asaram has done with his sone narain swami (self called god) has done so far. Ok now a god who is a womenizer himself will tell females what to do with their baby.

August 6th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
gargi
 10 

Hi Lal Bansal
i don’t believe that our “sadhus’ and ’sants’ are particularly dharmic in nature.
but, i also recognize the power that they hold over their devotees. if these babas can do something ‘good’ with this power it can only add to the efforts done by all the others.
religious leaders -what ever they preach, or how ever they conduct themselves - have a following. And it is time to get practical and use this following to overall societal advantage.

August 7th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Lal bansal
 11 

you are right that a crook like asaram bapu has influence over his following, and devotees, But my point is when a person is corrupt he will find a way to exploit that situation. You are saying ASAram bapu is going to help young mothers to keep their babies ? seems like you don’t know asaram bapu yet as much as i know. Asaram will tell that mother to keep the baby and then give to my ashram so she can be my slave forever her life. Just check out asaram bapu ashram and how many females are there who are brainwashed in their so they can be used as slaves. even though each female will say they are living in his ashram at their own will, now ask the families of those girls, first you will never be given information of the family, if for some reason you are able to contact that girls family you will come to know the real story how their family is crying for help to every where in the world to ask for help to save their daughter, mother or their child from asaram bapus brain washing shop.

Asaram has so much influence even in Delhi government, that they are willing to close shoppes allover delhi and shut down the businesses of people make them jobless but delhi government didn’t do anything to Asaram ashram even though that is grabbed by asaram and he has encroached the land of forest department. Asaram bapu ashram is more important than green belt ? asaram bapu shop is more important than our forests ? I would recommend Delhi government to demolish asaram bapu shop first and then touch shops of other poor people who are trying to make a living. if delhi government has no guts to close asaram shop on ridge road first then delhi government should resign and let us make secular government who is free from helping any religious frauds. Asaram bapu is not a religious person he is not going to save a daughter rather he is going misuse the mother and child who may go to listen for his advise.

August 16th, 2006 at 1:32 am
Rohit Agarwal
 12 

I agree cent percent with you gargi. Saints like Asaram Bapu has a large following and people respect their sayings because they are really benefitted. This will add to their benefit and Country’s well being, which some people can’t tolerate.

Mr Lal Bansal, It is very much a Positive Developement and if you find negative in this, just tell me one positive act which you or people like you are carrying, other than narrating such fabricated stories.

Let us join hands with these Saints in bringing a change in the society.The dream of Swami RamSukhDas is coming true.

August 31st, 2006 at 11:05 pm
pankaj
 13 

Well said Rohit

December 26th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
ankit
 14 

oh mr bansal ,
as rohit says there is no use of such fabricated stories ,you must understand that . do you know why do some people hate our sants?
its because they are jealous of their achievement(ask urself).and the second thing is that media has transformed our view towards saints.whenever we see a saint we see him as a fraud-a baba working, illegally underground.
how can we say something so deliberately damn thing about our saints even when u have never met them………..
it seems angrez to chale gaye lekin vo gulami ka khoon kabhi nahin badlega …………
respect urself ………..
respect ur culture……..n ur culture says respect ur saints.
dont let it die ………

February 9th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
reena rao
 15 

first of all hari om to all,

now i m going to tell u about myself. my name is reena rao, a devotee of sant shree asaram bapu ji, m done mba and working in icici bathinda punjab branch.

i wants to say u you have nothing to do except crictising our hindu saints. do u know asaram bapu has saves how many lives,women,child and other people.

its my own experience as my guruji guided me i m at this stage.

stop critising hindu saints and do ur duty to save our society.

Reena

August 16th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Seema
 16 

Oh god, i dont know how u guys can even believe in these crooks. This is ridiculous. The fact is that because of all these fake sants we are starting to forget our real gods like Ram, krishna and Shivji. I know someone who met asaram and u know what was the first question he asked that person “How much money she makes” and when she told him the amount he asked her if she is talking about $’s or rupees. He gave her a weird look and said that she should go to US..she will be better off there..thats the kind of person ur so called bapuji is. If i ever meet him, i will tell him in his face that he is a cheater and plays with everyones emotions.

September 11th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Varsha Panthi
 17 

My name is Ku.Varsha Panthi

My ID is

varshabpl@yahoo.co.in

Hari OM
Please mujhe de digiye
Asaram bapu ji ka
Mobile No.
Ya fir Home ka phone No.

Please mere ID par jarur NO. Sent kar digiye mobile No. ya fir Home ka No.
Thank You

September 19th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Naveen Tirthani
 18 

whats wrong in asking about, how much are u earning? Pujya Bapuji asks this question in spriritual way, how are u earning means earning japa of Gods Name, dhyan(meditation), seva etc.

and Pujya Bapuji directs everybody to the right way. and there are countless examples, when Pujya Bapuji had suggested anything if the person follows it, he is escaped from big trouble or he progresses in spirituality and materialistically also.

just change your view, go & attend any of his Dhyan yoga Shivirs, your life will be changed, for sure.

HariOm

September 21st, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Naveen Tirthani
 19 

@seema

Pujya Bapuji also celebrates Mahashivaratri, Uttarayan, Holi, Chetichand, Gurupoornima, Janmashtami, Rakshabandhan,.. every Poornima.

I came to know by Him only, that we should celebrate festivals beacuse they fill us with new joy in spirituality.

then how can you say we are forgetting Shri Rama, Krishna, Shiva??

September 21st, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Seema
 20 

What do u mean he asked this question in a spiritual way. According to me you are completely brainwashed. And this whole thing is a big business. Has anyone ever tried to find out where does all this money goes that they collect from all the satsangs. It all goes in his pocket. Thats why he was able to spend 9 crores on his daughters wedding.

October 14th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Naveen Tirthani
 21 

@Seema
You have not experienced bliss, hence you are just vomiting.
Do you have proof of 9 crores spent in wedding? NO… you have just heard. But I have experience of bliss when I see Him, attend his Dhyan Yoga Shivirs. and every Sadhak is blessed whosoever comes to him. Just attend any one Dhyan Yoga Shivir of Pujya Bapuji, you will know how much you are wrong…

So experience bliss… give weightage to your experience rather than hearing rubbish from rubbish people.

HariOm

November 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 am
Rajesh V. Gaitonde
 22 

Mantra Diksha

Transformed My life!

Who says mantra-diksha from a Sadguru doesn’t transform life? My name is Dr. Johari Lal. I am running a clinic in Basti Bawa Khel in Jallandhar. Before getting Diksha from Gurudev the amounts of commission I used to get for referring people to hospiotals are as follows:
Coronary bye-pass surgery – Rs.25000/-
MRI – Rs.2000/-
CT Scan – Rs.800/-
Ultrasound – Rs.200/-
Apart from this I used to get 50% of the charges, on all lab tests which whould be delivered at my clinic. My life was transformed after taking Diksha from Param Pujya Bapuji on 27th September 1997, My life along with eating and living habits was elevated and enriched further from September 2001 onwards, when I took a Purnima-darshan vow. Now when I send a patient to a hospital, I write ‘50%’ less on the prescription slip and also tell the patient clearly about how much to pay. By Sadguru’s benign grace, I see 150 to 200 patients in the OPD daily. A nagging feeling of guilt tormented me when I used to take commissions, but now sinful tendencies don’t influence me . I experience sublime joy helping poor patients. All this has been possible only by virtue of the Sadguru’s benign grace. What else is this if not the effect of Mantra-diksha?
A thousand salutations to pujya Bapuji, who showed me the right path of living.
Dr. Johari Lal,
Jallandhar

January 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
rajendra prasad
 23 

lal bansal. there are some people who will never be ashamed and you seem to be one of them. every word of non-stop nonsense against bapuji has been found to be false. still you have no qualms in repeating it out of context. have you heard bapuji for even half an hour? i know you have not otherwise you can not say anything of the sort you are saying. even without government’s asking, bapuji is vehemently advising people against all foeticide.

October 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
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