Freedom of speech in Islam

In the early days of Islam, a month after his arrival in Medina, Mohammed ordered the assassination of a 120 years old jewish man named Abu Afak. The only crime this aged man had committed was to compose satirical verses critical to Mohammad. In which he lamented that people had become followers of Muhammad and have turned against each other. He wrote that Muhammad was a crazy man who arbitrarily made rules on 'what is prohibited' and 'what is allowed', and who had caused his followers to surrender their intelligence and to become hostile to their old friends and allies.

And when 'Asma', a Jewish women outraged that she composed a poem cursing the men of Medina for letting a stranger divide them and make them assassinate a venerable old man. Angry Mohammad ordered his followers to kill her.

Muhammad wanted to send the message that any opposition or criticism of him would be dealt with mercilessly. That is the message Muslims want to deliver today to us, where the threat often only needs be implied. They follow the example set by their prophet,
whom they regard as a greatest strategist. They want to create a boundary of fear so they may establish their supremacy through terror.

Islam has advanced in terror. Muslims are convinced that terror and deception will make them victorious. They have an example of their prophet. His successes are their inspiration.

The Islamic world is sick. It would be short-sightedness to deny the fact that the cause of this sickness is Islam. Almost every crime, every abuse and inhumanity perpetrated by Muslims is inspired by the examples set by Muhammad and justified through his words and deeds. This is the inconvenient truth that so many would rather not talk about.

Hindutva and Democracy by J. Nandakumar

Once former RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Rajendra Singh was asked by a foreign correspondent as to how he viewed democracy, a Westen contribution to India. With an eloquent smile, he replied: "Pakistan too, adopted democracy at the same time...and later, Bangladesh.
You know the shape of democracy in those countries."
 The idea of democracy was not alien to Bharat; one can find references of sabha and samiti in the Rig Veda and the Atharv Veda. The The Rig Veda tells us the position of king is not absolute. Kautilya's Arthasastra discusses different forms of republics and citizens' role in decision-making. During the Buddhist period, we find several kingdoms adopting democratic methods to elect their kings; history has it that Vaishali's king Vishal was elected by the people. When Mahatma Gandhi talked about establishing Village Republics' he was only aiming at revival of socio-political structures based on ancient yet robust principles of democracy developed by our forefathers.
 Today, we follow the Western model of democracy. Can there be an Indian paradigm? Sri Aurobindo has the answer. He writes :
"It has been said that democracy is based on the rights of man; it has been replied that it should rather take its stand on the duties of man; but both rights and duties are European ideas. Dharma is the Indian conception in which rights and duties lose their artificial antagonism created by a view of the world which makes selfishness the root of action, and regain their deep and eternal unity. Dharma is the basis of democracy which Asia must recognise, for in this lies the distinction between the soul of Asia and the  soul of Europe".

Book Review- आनंदमठ

आनंदमठ सन् 1882 में प्रकाशित हुआ उपन्यास है जो बकिम चंद्र चट्टोपाध्याय जी द्वारा रचित है इस उपन्यास की रचना मूलतः बांग्ला भाषा में हुई थी यह उपन्यास सन् 1773 के उस कालखंड की बात करता है जब बंगाल में अंग्रेजी सरकार भारतवर्ष में पैर पसार रही थी और मुस्लिम शासकों का अत्याचार चरम पर था और उस समय उत्तर बंगाल भुखमरी, अकाल से त्राहि-त्राहि मची हुई थी, लोगो को जाने किस किस प्रकार के रोग हो रहे थे। राजाओं ने अपने राजधर्म को त्याग दिया था।  लोगों के पास खाने के लिए खाद्य नहीं था और मुस्लिम शासकों ने कर और बढ़ा दिया था जिससे लोग आत्महत्या करने पर विवश थे। उस समय एक सन्यासी आंदोलन शुरू हुआ जिसने उस समय की स्थिति का कायापलट कर दिया।

जब राजा निरंकुश होकर अपना राजधर्म भूल जाए, तब राजा का अंत करना ही एकमात्र विकल्प रह जाता है और राज्य व्यवस्था स्वयं वहां के लोगों को चलानी चाहिए।

उस समय मुगलो का अत्याचार हिंदुओं पर चरम पर था उस समय सन्यासियों ने विद्रोह कर अपने हाथों में शस्त्र उठा लिए और धर्म की विजय के लिए सर्वस्व न्योछावर करने की प्रतिज्ञा कर ली और मातृभूमि के लिए कई सारे युद्ध लड़े और जीते। सन्यासी संप्रदाय ने उस समय हिंदुओं में नई क्रांति की उर्जा का संचार किया और उनका मार्गदर्शन किया।

इस उपन्यास की क्रांतिकारी विचारधारा ने सामाजिक व राजनीतिक चेतना को जागृत करने का काम किया। और इस उपन्यास के माध्यम से कई सारे जय घोष और गीत गाय गए जिससे मातृभूमि के प्रति प्रेम की भावना प्रकट हो सके जिसमें से एक गीत को बाद में राष्ट्रगीत के रूप में स्वीकृत किया गया वो था "वंदेमातरम्"।

इस उपन्यास में लेखक ने कई सारी बिंदुओं पर ध्यान आकर्षित करने का प्रयास किया है उन्होंने क्रांतिकारी विचारधारा के साथ, धर्म स्थापना के लिए किए गए व्रत की महत्वता को भी दर्शाया है और उस व्रत के लिए अपना घर-बार, मां-बाप, भाई-बहन, पत्नी, बच्चे आदि का वियोग भी दर्शाने का प्रयत्न किया गया है। और महिलाओं की शौर्य की गाथा दिखाने का भी खूब प्रयत्न किया  गया है।

और इस उपन्यास के माध्यम से सनातन धर्म को समझाने और पूर्ण करने पर बल दिया गया है और धर्म स्थापना के बीच आने वाली बाधाओं से निपटने के उपायों के बारे में भी बताया गया है धर्म स्थापना मैं अपनी इंद्रियों में संतुलन बनाए रखना कितना महत्वपूर्ण होता है उस पर भी बल दिया गया है।

इस उपन्यास भारतीय स्वतंत्रता संग्राम और स्वतंत्रता के क्रांतिकारियों पर बहुत गहरा प्रभाव पड़ा और क्रांतिकारियों में नई ऊर्जा का संचार हुआ जिससे स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में नई गति देने का प्रयास किया। और क्रांतिकारी युद्ध मे उसके जयघोष की अलग ही महत्व था होती है जिससे लोगों में नया बल नई उर्जा और शक्ति का संचार होने लगता है जैसे इस उपन्यास में सन्यासी गणों में ऊर्जा भरने के लिए इस जयघोष को अपनी ढाल बनाया।
हरे मुरारे मधुकैटभारे।
गोपाल गोविंद मुकुंद शौरे।

Book Review- Hindutva for the changing times.

Book - hindutva for the changing times by J. Nandakumar

'Hindutva for the changing time' is a compiled edition of articles which are written over a period of 2-3 decades in various newspapers and magazines. This book contains 25 articles which are based on various issues of the society like environmentalism Hindu idiom, multiculturalism versus Hindi universalism, Hindu Rashtra, dharmarajya, Hindu vision of economics, decolonising bhartiya minds, compartmentalization of human life, Savarkar, Gandhiji and Leftist propaganda, Indian knowledge system, Dr Ambedkar on Islam and Christianity and verdicts on Sabarimala and Ayodhya etc.

In this book author wants to attempt to analyse some of the pressing issues confronting the county. He believed that "hindutva has solutions for most of the problem which are facing by the world in current scenario.

The author also talks about the hindutva and democracy in which he says  that The idea of democracy was not alien to Bharat; one can find references of sabha and samiti in the Vedas. He also emphasizes that the The words are the building unit of the communication belts, that's why words are to be correctly spelt and are to be correctly told. For example the term 'secularism'. Encyclopaedia of Science defines secularism thus: "Secularism in the philosophical sphere may be interpreted as revolt against theological, and eventually against metaphysical, absolutes and universals." In Indian Concept, There are a lot of interpretations, concepts and meanings for the word secularism like theological nepotism, theological concept, non-religious, etc, and another example is 'Hinduism'. 'Ism' when suffixed to the word Hindu, the meaning conveyed is that Hindu' is a closed room thought'. Can Hindutva be interpreted as a closed room of thoughts? Not at all. But now it is being frequently used distorting the very concept of the term Hindu.

Nandkumar ji also expose the ideology of Nehruvians, Marxist, Islam and Christianity. And he reveals hidden relationships between Gandhi ji and Veer savarkar and busts the communist propaganda against him. where Gandhiji called Veer Savarkar as "brave", "cleaver" and "true son of Bharat". And also explored the contribution of Ambedkar on Indian journalism.

In last he suggests 'spiritualisation of technology' as a way out of every modern problem facing the humanity - climate change, economic inequalities and ill effects of technology etc. A possible solution as per Hindu worldview, is exploring the gradations of the higher consciousness. In this regard, in Sri Aurobindo, we find the the integration of ancient Hindu wisdom and modern science, which together can be called Evolutionary Spirituality that combines philosophical brilliance and profoundly enlightened consciousness.

When "She" was the king

In Hinduism, women occupies a very important position. In fact, a superior position to men. Feminine energy is the essence of the universe, the one who creates all the matter and consciousness, the eternal and infinite, the metaphysical and empirical reality, the supreme soul of everything. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are feminine – "Shakti" means "power" and "strength". All male power comes from the feminine. There are many Hindu upnishad, shastra and puranas in which women celebrated as the most powerful and the empowering force such as the Devi Upanishad, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavata Puaran etc.

For example:- literary evidence suggest that things and towns were destroyed because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, valmiki Ramayana teaches us  that ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he abducted Sita. Ved Vyas's mahabharat teaches us that all the kauravas were killed because they humiliated draupadi in public.

In Devi Sukta ( chapter 10 of Rig veda) Devi proclaims herself to the source of all creation, the source of creative power itself, 15 wheels harshal was both immanent and transcendent, being consciousness as well as manifested reality. Ultimately, Dev is all that is, both manifest and manifest, embracing and surpassing the limits of the limitless universe.

These are the hymns:-

1. I move through the deities of storm and light, through the deities of the heavens, through all the deities. I uphold the lords of day and night, the sovereign of the atmosphere, the God of fire (Agni) and the benevolent celestial guardians.

2. I bear the nectar of immortality. I support the Creator of living beings, the Protector of the universe, and the gracious Lord of prosperity. I bestow wealth on those who prepare the sacrifices and offer the oblations with an attentive mind.

 3. I am the sovereign in whom all the auspicious deities are united. Shining with consciousness, I am foremost amongst those worthy of worship. The Gods diffuse me in every direction, my presence abiding in many places and revealed in manifold ways.

 4. Through me alone all mortals live who see and breathe and hear what is said, not knowing that they abide in me. Hear me as I speak the truth to you.

5. I myself proclaim this, which is pleasing to Gods and humans alike. I make mighty whomever I wish, I make them devout and open their eyes to right understanding.

6. For the God who puts evil to flight, I draw the bow, that His arrow may strike down the hater of devotion; such is the fervor I stir within that person. Through heaven and earth I extend.

7. At the summit of creation, I bring forth the heavens. My creative power flows from amid the waters of the infinite ocean. Thence I spread through all the worlds and touch yonder heaven with my vastness.

8. I breathe forth like the wind, setting all the worlds in motion. So great have I become in my splendor, shining far beyond heaven and earth.
– Rigveda ( Mandala 10, Hymn 125 ).

Also French author Louis Jaccoliot writes about the  women's in Hinduism as : Hindoo Origin of Hebrew and Christian Revelation said: "India of the Vedas entertained a respect for women amounting to worship; a fact which we seem little to suspect in Europe when we accuse the extreme East of having denied the dignity of woman, and of having only made her an instrument of pleasure and of passive obedience." He also said: "What! here is a civilization, which you cannot deny to be older than your own, which places the woman on a level with the man and gives her an equal place in the family and in society."