Is Hinduism in Danger?

Is Hinduism in Danger?

This was a question posed by a pseudo-secularist commentator on Facebook. The answer is an emphatic yes.

1.) There is a concerted effort in the West and in the Indian pseudo-intellectual circles to marginalize Hinduism. Post Modernist nonsense crept into Indian History, Social sciences and even economics went totally left of center. Every narrative then hence blames Hinduism for the root cause when it is actually social structure and economics. Indira Gandhi sold the Indian narrative to the left. Wendy Doniger would not dare to write the same kind of nonsense she wrote about Hinduism to other religions and especially Judaism which is her faith. In any case, the narrative was biased and has to be taken back to a more moderate view and it may even swing to the other side to compensate for the nonsense peddling of the last 50 years. Ever wonder why nobody wants to send their kids to JNU and the quality of scholarship coming out of it sucks.
2.) The NGO’s (both Western and Islamic) started to attack Hinduism directly and leveraged the plight of the downtrodden when the root cause was not religion but the existing political apparatus which had a vested interest in preserving the status quo. Ever wonder why the NGO’s never show up when there is a crisis and the RSS do come as volunteers.
3.) Historically, especially in Bengal and Congress rule, in the case of a riot, the Hindus would get punished and the minorities would get scot-free. All vote bank political strategies
4.) The attacks on India by Pakistan (26/11 and others) shook the country by its brutality. And reminded that right at the border there is a group with a genocidal agenda clearly published of its intent and supported by a state that said Hinduism needs to be destroyed and foreign agencies from the Vatican to the Methodist church suggesting that they will do it non-violently.
5.) The constant demands of special privileges by groups who owed allegiance to Rome and Mecca did not sit well either. The Sabarimala hypocrisy and sham just confirmed all the above.
6.) It seems that the rules are always different and the constant shaming of Hinduism about caste/Dalits when the same argument could be made of other religions (Islam was the last to let go of slavery, Apartheid and Segregation were justified using the bible).
7.) The media in India NDTV/Hindu are all leftist in their outlook and are adept at shaming India because that is the narrative that sells to their base. Barkha Dutt, Nidhi Razdan and N.Ram personify this self serving narrative. There is no money to be made in calling out a good India.
8.) India is a country surrounded by genocidal neighbors. China to the North, Pakistan to the West and Bangladesh/Burma to the east and to some extent Sri Lanka for their slaughter of Muslims. All these countries have devious intent against India in some form or the other.
9.) Pramila Jaypal and Ro Khanna (US Democratic Congress members)who are anti-Hindu and anti-India have been sponsoring legislation which aims to cripple India economically. It is a shame that the Indian community has been steadfastly democratic party affiliated and this may be shifting.
10.) And lastly the useful idiots of Hinduism, who post anti-Hindu memes as if the secular aura would make them cool. This group will destroy Hinduism whereas the others have tried it for a millennia. This one irks me more than any other.

Letter to a daughter

 Dear Sanjana

My first memories of you is when you were born and I held you in my arms. And it was the best thing in my life. And the first time when you walked to me when I came home from SFO when you were 10 months old. Mom had spent the entire week teaching you to walk and when I came home you walked to me and we hugged and laughed and it was the happiest time in Irving. Another favorite memory of you was I would take you to Tom Thumb in Irving and I would let your ride a mechanical horse and you loved it. Once I took you there and you asked me innocently, “Do you have money??” to ride the horse and I was blown away. You were 2 and a half years old. My other memories of you were playing the Monkey and the Cap story over and over again and you never tired of playing that when you were 4 and when Meghana was born.

I still remember you and me holding Meghana together and welcoming the little devil into this world. This was in India. I also remember the first time when you came back to Houston from India when you were four and we went to get the car. You were so fascinated by me and I felt so good.

The most I was proud of you, of course, was when you stood up for your sister at a friend’s house. That was the happiest day of my life when I knew you going to be the best-est big sister ever.

The times at Anderson Elementary where I was WatchDog and you being so proud of me for being a WatchDog Coordinator is something I cherish. I do remember having Friday lunch with you and organizing play dates with your friends and it was a lot of fun. So was playing softball with the Bombpops. Those games were a lot of fun. The times at Barnes and Nobles, Braum’s ice cream were a lot of fun too.

Middle school was fun as well with Band and accompanying you as the “Band Dad”. Middle school went pretty fast and here we are. You are going to be leaving middle school and now going to high school.

I know it has been rough as you become a teenager and I have become older for the last couple of years. The little devil (Meghana) has not made it easy either. 

 I always remember Muttavva(ML Padmvathi, my maternal grandmother) and she always expected a lot from us and never gave up on us and she did it in all kinds of ways. I am who I am because of her. I know you want to be a doctor and the journey is going to be long and arduous but Amma and I will always be there for you. If I am to you was Muttavva to me, I have done my job and you will appreciate what we did when you have children and grand-children.

We are lucky to live in the safest time in the history of mankind. We owe it to us and to people before us to do justice to this opportunity and we will be there cheering you on every step of the way.

Love,

Dad and Mom

Memories of Chitthappa

My Chitthappa

                My first memories of Chittappa were his Java Motorcycle. I was 4 years old or so. I thought it was the coolest thing. He was tall and slim and just a cool guy. My Chittappa name was Venkateswarlu, Kondababu or just Lu.

I remember going to visit him in Nellore where he worked and I had a good time with my brother and two cousin sisters. I also remember coming to Madras on the Jammu Tawi express. It was a short trip but the memory is there.

He actually bought a tape recorder and was a big fan of Carnatic Music and Balamurali Krishna. He bought his cassettes the Utsava Sampradaya Kritis and Bardrachala Ramadas Krithis. Those songs continue to resonate with me to this day. Melukovayya in Ragam Bowli of the Utsava was my favorite. He also used to play a “game” where we would listen to Carnatic music on the TV and he would basically close his eyes and then he would listen to the song and tell what Ragam it was. It was so cool.

                My earliest memories of him were him being proud of me reeling of statistics of the Australian team that visited India in 1979/80. Even more pleasant were taking time off from school to watch cricket along with my dad and my Chittappa. Another thing was that he had purchased a Dyanora TV which was a big deal in those days. Watching Allan Border bat bravely was so cool.

                One of the fun memories of hanging out with Chittappa was to go to Swagath hotel and have Pongal Vada. He would actually tell us lot of fun stories when we would eat there. Or go to Shanti Vihar and have Bhel Puri or go to woodlands and have breakfast and coffee there.

                Another favorite memory was playing cricket. He was a very good cricketer and played for his company team. I remember him scoring centuries on us and he was a very good medium pace bowler. He always had knee pain and he would ask us to sit on the knee (he would call it idli).

                The 80’s were a lot of fun with him working for ICI and doing shifts which messed up his sleep cycle a lot. But he remained stoic and kept going and working hard and playing hard. He also got involved in the Union and was part of a strike. He was a labor leader and a team player for the company cricket team. He did it all.

                One thing about Chittappa was family was family. For my Chittis’ sister wedding, he led on all fronts and he was basically running around in messed up clothes shoring up and getting the food ready. I remember being totally impressed by that. He loved his wife and her side of the family no less.

                He was very proud of me for being a Kesari High School alum just like him and my dad. He visited me in CIT once in my first year and it was a total surprise. Visits to Chennai during College were a lot of fun and hanging out, talking cricket and just chilling.

                I distinctly remember him taking me on his bike taking cash to the bank to get the statement for US Visa F1 interview. That was a huge deal for me. It was a full scale family effort. When I visited India for the first time, I got champagne and we toasted the new year with it.

                Further trips to India were always memorable with trips to the beach, hotel and visiting them in Adambakkam. Also fun were his visits to US and visiting him. Visits were always sprinkled with Carnatic music and lots of coffee.

                The last trip was also fun with him having dinner with the grandkids and us and just enjoying the good time. He loved his kids, grandkids and nephews. He was a totally chill guy and was very patient.

                Chittappa, you were an inspiration and you made me and my life better. Love you, Chittappa. All of us will cherish your fond memories and affection.

The Endless BS Generator

 

An evening in the life of Thyagaraja

 

An evening in the life of Thyagaraja

                The greatness of Saint Thyagaraja was spreading far and wide in the Cauvery delta and the Tanjore court. A few musicians from the court decided to come to visit him. One of those was a visiting bard from Kerala. His name was Shadkala Govinda Marar. He was a unique singer and could render Jayadeva’s ashtapadhi in six geometric speeds.

                Thyagaraja welcomed them all into his dwelling and showed him his Pooja room and explained to them his devotion to Lord Rama.

                He then requested each musician to introduce themselves and sing a small song. So each musician from the court sang a song in their area of expertise be it pallavi or other forms of unique singing patronized by the Tanjore court.

                While introducing themselves, they all introduced themselves by their honorific and wealth bestowed by the court and their singing was more technical in its focus.

                Thyagaraja was bemused by the musicians and their ostentatious display of wealth, title and knowledge.

                After all the guests were introduced, it was time for the evening Arati. Thyaaraja then introduced himself by his guru lineage and then started singing the song, “Endharo Mahanu Bhavulu” in the Sri Ragam. He composed it on the fly in front of his guests.

                Although the song in its first stanza welcomed the honored guests, it then went on to describe the kind of guests that Thyagaraja desired. His true guests were the true devotees of Lord Rama. All the court musicians were stunned by this display of creativity and the subtle reminder to them that the craft of music was gifted by Shiva and Vishnu to Narada and Tumburu as a gift to humanity.

                The guests left eventually and Shadkala Govinda Marar came and took special leave and told him that he was leaving for Pandaripur to the shrine of Panduranga. Thyagaraja was moved and wished him well on his journey.

Sadhguru Thyagaraja Swamiki, Jai!!

An afternoon in the life of Thyagaraja

                It was a quiet afternoon in the house of Thyagaraja. The morning prayers, singing and lessons were over and after lunch, Thyagaraja as his won’t went to read the Holy Scriptures. He was reading the Bhagavatam of Krishna and was reading the part where Krishna was teaching a lesson to the Gopikas who had become vain and possessive of him. He wondered if he could write a dance drama for this episode and was lost deep in thought.

                Thyagaraja had a neighbor who was like a son to him. He had gotten recently married and had come to Thyagaraja to seek his blessings. Thyagaraja inquired of the girl’s father who was a famous Carnatic music exponent and was renowned for his pallavi’s. Thyagaraja was glad and requested the girl to bring her dad to meet him when he came over.

                The girl’s father had come over to visit her. He had had his lunch too and was sitting in the patio. He was hearing the students singing and practicing one of Thayagaraja’s kirthanas and was mocking them for not doing pallavi exposition. The daughter came out and talked to the dad and asked him whether he knew of Saint Thyagarja. The father got upset at this and started mocking Thyagaraja and telling him that he was not a great exponent of Carnatic music and was just a basic song composer and had no clue of the intricacies of Carnatic music. The daughter who was no slouch in music either and had come to admire the Saint realized that her father had not realized the greatness of Thyagaraja and was ignorant and arrogant and was regretting her father’s loud rant.

                The students who heard this went inside and called the bard and explained what was going on told him that the neighbor’s father who was a Carnatic music exponent and was criticizing and mocking his music and compositions. The saint smiled and said, “I am getting criticized. Really? If my favorite god and deity, Sri Ramachandra who lived a perfect life and Vasudeva (Krishna) who was the epitome of Dharma could be criticized, why not me? I think I have a song for this. O students, leave those bad thoughts and intentions and focus on Vasudeva who is Vishnu himself. We only accrue our karma so as we perform our dharma.”

                So he composed a song in the spot. “Chade Buddhi Manura”. This was in the raga athana. This is a hard raga to set songs to and he just composed it on the fly on a sleepy afternoon.

                The pallavi exponent who heard Thyagaraja heard the song was stunned by the deep meaning of the composition which basically synthesized Vedanta in six lines in a hard raga and in a tala that was not easy. He was moved and came to Thyagaraja and asked for his forgiveness and for his harsh reviews.

                Thyagaraja who was always calm and composed asked the pallavi exponent to join him in his evening prayers and sing a song in his prayer room of his favorite deity and a pallavi on Lord Rama. The pallavi exponent spent the rest of the day conversing with Thyagaraja and teaching his students.

                The Pallavi exponent then went to the court of Tanjore and told his fellow musicians about the amazing transforming experience. The rest of the musicians decided to then visit him one evening and planned on a visit.

Sadhguru Thyagaraja Swami ki, Jai.

Author’s note: This story was taken from a harikatha on the life of Thyagaraja.

Why we love Casablanca and Rick Blaine

(spoiler alert. read at you own peril)

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine", says American Rick Blaine (played by Humphrey Bogart) as he downs a scotch. He is of course speaking about his beautiful ex-girlfriend Ilsa (played by the beautiful Ingrid Bergman). Rick and Ilsa get separated during the chaos of the invasion of France by the advancing Nazis. Rick and Ilsa were dating and living together in Paris before the invasion.

Rick of course lands on both his feet in French occupied Casablanca operating a bar/nightclub. He is most probably a spy for the nascent CIA and has done interesting things including being a gun runner to rebels in Ethiopia and a mercenary for the loyalists in the Spanish civil war. He is dealing with the semi-loyal French police and has made enemies with the incoming German leadership who are still trying to get a handle on the place.

Rick is heart broken over Ilsa leaving him in Paris and then she comes to his bar in Casablanca with her husband Laszlo whom she found was alive during the invasion of Paris after thinking him for dead during the German invasion of Czechoslovakia. She had nursed Laszlo back to health

Rick is in possession of papers that will let two individuals escape Casablanca. Ilsa asks Rick to give one to her husband Laszlo so he can escape to the United States and resurrect the Czech resistance movement against the Nazis.

A cat and mouse game ensues for the papers for the two individuals who can escape to America.Is it Rick and Ilsa or just Laszlo as a parallel game emerges where Nazi agents are trying to arrest Laszlo.  Ilsa and the viewers are kept guessing until the last minute of the outcome of the confusing drama that ensues. Rick of course play his card close and at the end in an exciting finale and killing of the Nazi agent gives up both of the papers to Ilsa and Laszlo as they escape to America.

Ilsa is moved by Rick's nobel gesture and cannot express it because Laszlo is not aware of the relationship between Ilsa and Rick.

A scotch drinking cool guy with no commitments but is in madly in love with a woman and gives up an escape to freedom and embraces trouble with the Nazis to truly help the woman he loves.

A poignant love story and any woman who has been loved like Rick loved Ilsa is lucky indeed.

We all want to be Rick Blaine,the Noble savage. War, Romance, love, courage, coolness, drama and heroism, this movie had it all. And that is why Casablanca is one of the greatest movies of all time.