When Adi Sankara first visited Varanasi, it is said that he was proceeding to the Vishwanath temple, after taking a dip in the holy Ganga. On his way, he saw one Chhandaal, the one who burns dead bodies on the banks of the river coming exactly opposite, with his dog in toe. Irritated that he had to see a low caste Chhandaal, Sankara says “Hey Chhandaal, Hat” that could be translated as ‘Hey Chhandaal, Move aside’.
The Chhandaal looks at Sankara and said, “Whom you want to move Sankara”? He further explains his question “Are you asking to move the body that I am today, that would not be there tomorrow? Or you want the Aatma (soul) to move away, but then it is same even in you”.
Stunned at the reply, Sankara realised it was none other than the Lord Shiva and pays obeisance by laying before the Chandaal and touching his feet. He seeks forgiveness from the Chhandaal for he still was held captive by the Maya. Soon, he postulates his reflections of the incident that became the most popular philosophies evolved in the modern India – Advaita.
The fundamental of Advaita was simple. There is only one soul that is present in everything. It is the God and it is human. It is there everywhere in this world. To realise this, one has to overcome Maya.
Though the definition of Advaita appears simple to look, the catch is to overcome Maya!
In Uttar Pradesh, most of the politicians are trying to overcome Maya, another one, of course. Mayawati had a good run of administration and the people of UP had learned by the contrast in the administration of Akhilesh Yadav’s style of governance. More than her control over Law and Order, Mayawati was famous and known as a formidable political rival because of her vote bank that is almost constant.
Congress, who feel Mayawati had hijacked the Dalit voter base from them always tried too hard to woo the vote bank back. Since the initial days of his political career, Rahul Gandhi always made it a point to eat and sleep in Dalit homes. In fact, he practised it so often, it was labelled ‘Dalit Tourism’. Though everyone know that the idea of visiting Dalit homes might belong to some of Rahul’s advisers, as he was too dumb to devise such a scheme, there was an innocence in Rahul’s attempts that was almost characterising his childish nature. And he never understood what he was doing and why he was doing. He was just mechanical.
Then, it appears someone in BJP camp also took the Dalit Tourism business seriously, for last week, of all leaders, the President of BJP, Amit Shah choose to visit a Dalit home and have lunch.
Though it is not clear whether BJP had got any positive political mileage out of it, lots and lots of controversies have erupted. First, the prominent bottle of Bisleri that was too visible in the photos. Then the neat and clean surroundings and the news about the platoon of leaders accompanying Amit Shah and how many of them had NOT dined there.
When Akhilesh Yadav ridiculed the political gesture saying these type of incidents are common during election season, Mayawati, in almost similar fashion of the eternal Maya, is busy searching to find out the caste of the cook, who cooked the food for the occasion. Unless, BJP leaders could get a Dalit cook to cook vegetarian food for Amit Shah and his companions, in all probability, Mayawati may be successful in embarrassing BJP and its President, further.
Whoever guiding Amit Shah is politically naïve. Current trend of using IIM grads (no offense to the big guys) for winning elections may be the reason. Someone might have suggested based research, it would be a better idea to do a time tested thing.
But, elections are normally won, whenever there were new and innovative ideas. Remember Indira Gandhi, dancing with those forest dwellers in Assam? She looked spontaneous and relaxing in the company. Same with Abdul Kalam, when he mingles with students. NT Lord Ram Rao, better known for his political gimmicks used to bath using water from roadside bore wells in full view of villagers, who watched it awe, even if they were not shocked. But, he never plans his bathing and announces that he would be bathing in open next week. Of course, he was an actor. During his road shows, he simply reaches for a small Dalit child and kisses. In random selection, there would be some Brahmin kids and some Dalit kids. The entire show looked natural, for it was not – planned.
Sadly, whoever suggested Amit Shah should have ensured some spontaneity in the ‘Lunch at Dalit Home’. It would have looked authenticated. By eating at Dalit home if Amit Shah was trying to prove a point, he should have dined at one of his powerful Dalit colleagues and not necessarily take pains to visit Dalit home in Varanasi rural.
Preaching and Practising are two different ball games. When Lord Ram ate the fruits tasted by the old Sabari, her devotion and eagerness to ensure her dear Lord Ram gets only sweet berries was a reason that was simple, pure without any added expectations. And Lord Ram was observing the affection in the acts of Sabari. Both were immersed in their own love and affection towards one another, they failed to notice that Lord Ram was eating berries that were bit by the old Sabari. And that is the exact reason, even today, we remember this.
As explained by Sankara, Maya engulfed the world and forces us to see non-existent things and listen words that were not spoken. And the Maya of UP seems to be almost like the eternal namesake and is forcing her opponents to act like ‘mere mortals’.
Finally, there was a Ponga Pandit who was explaining the Maya to one villagers using the idiom – ‘Sarvam Maya & Jagam Mithya’. Then came an elephant running wildly forcing all his audience to flee the meeting in order to save their lives. When the Guru himself started running, one of his disciples asked ‘If everything is Maya, the elephant also must be. Then what you are scared of”? The fleeing Guru glanced at the student and replied “Gajam Mithya, Palayanam Mithya”.
So, ultimately except to provide their opponents an opportunity to practice kick-boxing, BJP leaders may not be achieving by these buffet lunch/dinners. If at all, they are serious, they should be showcasing the genuine cases that they have done. Last month, one of BJP leaders tried to enter a temple in Uttarakhand along with Dalits. Tarun Vijay, a Rajya Sabha MP of BJP was attacked during that temple entry attempt. Those type of incidents would in fact help BJP to prove that they strive for equivalence in the society without any discrimination based on caste. Rather, attempts like dining with Dalits only result in exhibiting the silliness of the leaders. Better, Mota Bhai Amit Shah get a new team of good strategists to advise him.
