Debate on Ramasethu

Respose to the blog- http://hinduism-issues.blogspot.com/

Challenging the verity of Ramayana it self reflects the ignorance of our politicians. If anyone wonders whether there exists any evidence suggesting that Lord Rama did walk this earth, I strongly recommend all those to read the works of V.Lakshmikantham, who happens to be a Professor at FIT, which is one of the premier research institutes supporting the missions of NASA. Our ancients were great astronomers and discovered the ways of measuring the time in planetary movements. By making use of the astronomical references given in Ramayana, if we trace the geography of that time as described by Sugreeva in his briefing to Vanaras and compare the former with the fossil records and movement of tectonic plates over the years, many facts could be explored. If one were to ponder the puranas with an open minded view not compromised by the dogmatic mythical status which had been assigned to them over the years, puranas would be invaluable tools to reconstruct the ancient history based on the existing knowledge by plugging many missing links.

Even the above stated approach may not yield a convincing evidence to establish that Ramasethu has historical importance, as Prof.Lakshmikantham argues that "ravan lanka" could have existed some where near the current Maldives. Having said that I should quickly remind the readers about the ecological significance of the sethu as voiced by naturalists; destruction of the sethu would certainly be a threat to the coral reefs which are at the bottom most level of the food chain of that delicate ecosystem. Man's greed for profit always initiates a vicious circle. Whatever little profit gained by the shorter route created by the destroyed sethu would certainly be offset by the following-

1. Fishing losses in the east coast (by food chain upset and pollution).
2. Agricultural loss in the west coast (by incoherent precipitation due to disturbed thermal equilibrium upsetting the south west monsoon)
3. Last but not the least, uncontrolled wave action eroding the continental shelf and exaggerating the effect of natural calamities like tsunami, floods etc.

Given the above, it is imperative that the sethu samudram project requires a comprehensive approach and in-depth scientific debate. There is no wisdom in the statements made by political parties concerned. Only the ego play is apparent and in that battle, facts are overlooked and trivial issues have taken the center stage. While the religion is being scandalized, science has been buried.

While I agree in-toto with the author's argument regarding the statements made by the so called leaders were totally unwarranted, uncivilized and unscientific, I would like to caution the tone in which the discussion was made. I may be sidestepping from the topic of the discussion but I feel it is important. Fanaticism in any form may not yield a constructive result in the long run. Even the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda confirms the same fact. Vivekananda firmly preached self reliance and self belief which India had long forgotten and at the same time stressed the need to look west for the good it possessed. Fanaticism poses the risk of seeing everything it opposed in a bad light.

It's true that the westernization of MTV standard need not be encouraged; but there is no need to nip the same with a missionary zeal which the fanatics often advocate. The latter may amount to authoritarian intrusion in to the freedom of the citizens and it may even be derogatory to compare 'instant' culture with that of India given the opulence the latter possesses. Rig-Veda said it right, "Gold is precious because the others are not!!"

Everything changes and change is the way of life! No force can oppose the constant metamorphosis which is the nature of the nature. Given this axiom, I feel that there is no need for unnecessary cry against the western influences which are shaping the world today. Its natural and it is meant to happen. The more one tries to oppose, with further more intensity things change. As G.Krishnamurthy said it right, the roots of all forms violence are in the intolerance. Passionate arguments lead to fanaticism and intolerance.

So what is to be done? Should the great culture which we inherited perish? Absolutely not! While it is a pity that this great culture is losing its luster in the land it was born; as it usually happens in nature, it's a testing time which is in progress. The rediscovery of the magnificence of the Indian system of philosophy had already started in the west. If one were to have a look at the latest developments in modern physics or mathematics and sincerely relate the underlying logic guiding these schools of thought, what comes out is nothing but the philosophy preached and practiced by the rishis since times immemorial. If there is any doubt, I strongly recommend the readers to go through the writings of Heisenburg, Fritjof Kapra, Lakshmikantham, B.M.Hegde etc. the modern day rishis.

"Truth is that which survives the past, present and future!" Vedas need no further proof that they preach verity. Nor do they require advertisement. As long as the sun shines and man walks on this planet they shall be rediscovered again and again. Men change but not the truth!

Dear friends! Let us all be tolerant and place our trust in the truth. But truth is not something easy to attain. Let us all be open-minded and not be constrained by the illusions of ignorance. Let us all pray as Upanishads did – "asatoma sadgamaya tamasoma jyotirgamaya mrityorma amrutanga maya". Let there be peace.

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake"

Shanti shanti shanti!