IF YOU KILL ONE, YOU ARE A MURDERER
IF YOU KILL THOUSAND, YOU ARE AN ALEXANDER
History has been like a helpless old priest who had to sanctify the coronation of a barbarous conqueror, of an invader who felt realized only by forcing the rupture of geographical hymens, of a plunderer who was morbidly obsessed with the sight of mutilated bodies and taste of blood, of a despoiler who revelled in the goriest and most cold blooded manslaughters, of men of ambition for whom nothing was sacred.
It has been like a miserable mistress lying prostrate at the disposal of men of power and position who abused her at their will with utmost contempt and derision and who were absolutely indifferent to her occasional moans and objections.
It has been like a writer of fiction under constant probation and trial. It saw something but it was made to say something else. It was made to record the biographies of the illigimate products of lust and rapacity (whose stories are replete with outrages against common people, as literary documents reveal) and immortalize them. The plight of the oppressed remained unarticulated because of the lack of inherent aesthetic beauty and political leverage it could afford to provide and commercial support it could procure. The butchered body of truth was dispensed with unpalatable details and packed in paper for the consumption of progeny.
It has been like a poet in the court who was patronized for the entertainment of the royalty. Everything ugly was covered under the noise of the lyrical eulogies in the praise of the might of kings and panegyrical sonnets in the praise of the beauty of their queens. Even the disagreements were made to be agreeable to them. The light of moon was given more attention than the darkness of earth.
Throughout the history it was made to be a mute spectator of the exploitations and was made to extol the savagery perpetrated with absolute impunity by power-thirsty monsters. Thousand of people paid with their blood and lives for the insatiable quench of the swords of these Alexanders and Baburs and Caesars and Dariuses etc. Youth paid with its dreams and futures. Women paid with their honor and dignity. The soldiers died anonymously for the name and fame of their generals and kings. People were brutally and callously killed at the name of patriotism or Crusade or Jehad or Dharma. But the ulterior motive of battles and war has always been an unending struggle for POWER(which is invariably behind the vitiation and subsequent deterioration of any religion and any institution and any establishment). And their voice gets suppressed under the noise of trumpets and gradually disappear into the domain of unreality with the passage of time. The reality vanishes, it evaporates into nothingness!
BUT HISTORY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
Time passed and the face of earth changed.
We proclaimed ourselves to be civilized, and cultured too. We touched new heights in the fields of science and technology. The life expectancy increased and so did the per capita income. There are many other 'indicators' to convince us that the 'quality' of life has improved. I would not go into details.
Perhaps this is true.
But our achievements was largely MATHEMATICAL or to be precise NUMERICAL.
What have definitely improved the various 'quantities' of life. We live longer, travel faster etc etc. Again I would leave you to see many others examples by yourself. Please let me be clear that these accomplishments are certainly valueable. Denying it would be not only an evidence of naivety but also ingratitude. I will surely prefer to live in this world rather than in past.
But this is not a reason to be complacent. This is not a reason to claim that the 'quality' of life is improved. We have hardly improved spiritually, as a species. We are still controlled by same old passions. Gautam Buddha would not be overwhelmingly impressed. Jesus Christ would renounce christanity, if he ever was a christian. Let me elaborate instead of throwing rhetorics.
The last century has witnessed two devastating world wars, one cold war which fortunately didnt turn into hot one bacause of the disintergration of the world's largest nation, one nuclear holocaust and lot many other remarkable masterpieces of our efforts and maturity like Auschwitz and Gulag and Nanking.
WE KNOW THE HISTORY.
We are aware of the fact that balance of power is dyanamic in nature. The greatests of empires have been pulverized to dust by the sweep of time and the most majestic emperors died disgracefully, sometimes away from their place. We know that power doesnt rescue anyone from pain and death.
After the catharsis of world war 1, some men with post-war wisdom took an initiative to create an organization which could curb the mass hysteria and consequent warfare. It was named "League of nations".
But the irresitible desire for expansion never seems to respect the dullness of peace. Hitler was dying under the unbearable pressure of the greatness of his race so he was in utmost urgency to spread his legs all over the world. His neighbours warned him perhaps bacause they had the similar intentions. Soon the world war 2 was waged amongst the most cultured nations. The white man 's burden was too much for his capacity and he disencumbered himself of what he has: The atom bomb, the chef-d'oeuvre of numerical science and technology. What a thousands of mythological legends could not do, the technology did in a few minutes.
This was really something!! The game stopped because one player was hit where it hurts most. The excitement subdued for sometime. The post-war wisdom (the more distructive the war, the more constructive the wisdom) engendered United Nations on Oct 24th, 1945.
But the post-war gimmicks like that are nothing but rituals, the continuation of war only. These types of rites just highlight the winners and losers, the one who stipulate conditions and other who acquiesce because of right or wrong reasons. This furthers the virulence which culminates in future in yet another and bloodier warfare. Also, the knowledge of history has inoculated and perpetuated the idea of 'Hero' so profoundly that the notion of peaceful co-existence seems to be not only intolerably prosaic but a threat to our virility. The most glaring proof of our crooked and duplicitous intentions is the existence of security council in UN. This organization, ostensibly committed to establishment and maintenance of peace worldwide, is a symbol of inequality among the nations on the basis of military capability. And all it serves is to justify the victimaization of helpless poor countries by one of the members. Had it really been dedicated to what it professes, we would not have witnessed Vietnam and many other shameful wars. Now in the new millenium when we tirelessly boast of modernity, SC institutionalizes all sorts of brutality and tyranny against the defenceless. Though other sisters like WTO etc are no less merciless but here I will concentrate on SC only. The reason is the recent debate over the question of the permanent membership of India in SC.
So India, the nation which has never invaded any other country in its 10,000 years of history is now standing in supplication with closed hands before the UN for its recognition as a powerful force! After all, is it possible to live without falling prey to this universal temptation? But dont you find this patently ridiculous? Did US begged or pleaded anyone for it? Or Russia or China? No. No because power is never obtained by negotiation. It is not mute and inarticulate, it speaks loud and clear.
In the words of 'Dinkar' -
Kshama shobhti us bhujang ko jiske paas garal ho,
Uska kya jo dant-heen, vish-heen, vineet saral ho.
[The idea of mercy and forgiveness suits only to the serpent which has venom in its mouth. And not for the one which has no canines, no poison and who is simple and humble.]
And what for? What are the other member nations doing? Could they deter US from razing Afganistan to dust? What purpose does India think it would serve after having been granted the much coveted membership with VETO POWER? When you are not able to defend your own parliament how can you even imagine to protect others? When your economy is so volatile that a mere sanction shatters its foundations then how do you even claim to be a superpower? Only on the basis of speculation or population? Being the largest democracy is no cogent reason because the criterion is, dont forget, power and POWER and nothing else. If you have the potential to disrupt the heartbeats of the world or to disturb the economy then only you can practically aspire for a permanant membership of SC.
Otherwise you will only serve to sing the American national anthem with tears in your eyes. Or cheer and clap while somebody is being raped or killed.
So India, wait. First strive to be trully free and independent. Not only politically but economically too because economic genuflection would invariably lead to political subjugation sooner or later. Unless one becomes strong from within he can nor bring any peace without. Then only strive for the other things. And instead of playing the dirty power game suitable only to barbarians, try to realize the unfulfilled dreams of Asoka and Buddha. And start by abolishing institutions like the security council.
IF YOU KILL THOUSAND, YOU ARE AN ALEXANDER
History has been like a helpless old priest who had to sanctify the coronation of a barbarous conqueror, of an invader who felt realized only by forcing the rupture of geographical hymens, of a plunderer who was morbidly obsessed with the sight of mutilated bodies and taste of blood, of a despoiler who revelled in the goriest and most cold blooded manslaughters, of men of ambition for whom nothing was sacred.
It has been like a miserable mistress lying prostrate at the disposal of men of power and position who abused her at their will with utmost contempt and derision and who were absolutely indifferent to her occasional moans and objections.
It has been like a writer of fiction under constant probation and trial. It saw something but it was made to say something else. It was made to record the biographies of the illigimate products of lust and rapacity (whose stories are replete with outrages against common people, as literary documents reveal) and immortalize them. The plight of the oppressed remained unarticulated because of the lack of inherent aesthetic beauty and political leverage it could afford to provide and commercial support it could procure. The butchered body of truth was dispensed with unpalatable details and packed in paper for the consumption of progeny.
It has been like a poet in the court who was patronized for the entertainment of the royalty. Everything ugly was covered under the noise of the lyrical eulogies in the praise of the might of kings and panegyrical sonnets in the praise of the beauty of their queens. Even the disagreements were made to be agreeable to them. The light of moon was given more attention than the darkness of earth.
Throughout the history it was made to be a mute spectator of the exploitations and was made to extol the savagery perpetrated with absolute impunity by power-thirsty monsters. Thousand of people paid with their blood and lives for the insatiable quench of the swords of these Alexanders and Baburs and Caesars and Dariuses etc. Youth paid with its dreams and futures. Women paid with their honor and dignity. The soldiers died anonymously for the name and fame of their generals and kings. People were brutally and callously killed at the name of patriotism or Crusade or Jehad or Dharma. But the ulterior motive of battles and war has always been an unending struggle for POWER(which is invariably behind the vitiation and subsequent deterioration of any religion and any institution and any establishment). And their voice gets suppressed under the noise of trumpets and gradually disappear into the domain of unreality with the passage of time. The reality vanishes, it evaporates into nothingness!
BUT HISTORY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
Time passed and the face of earth changed.
We proclaimed ourselves to be civilized, and cultured too. We touched new heights in the fields of science and technology. The life expectancy increased and so did the per capita income. There are many other 'indicators' to convince us that the 'quality' of life has improved. I would not go into details.
Perhaps this is true.
But our achievements was largely MATHEMATICAL or to be precise NUMERICAL.
What have definitely improved the various 'quantities' of life. We live longer, travel faster etc etc. Again I would leave you to see many others examples by yourself. Please let me be clear that these accomplishments are certainly valueable. Denying it would be not only an evidence of naivety but also ingratitude. I will surely prefer to live in this world rather than in past.
But this is not a reason to be complacent. This is not a reason to claim that the 'quality' of life is improved. We have hardly improved spiritually, as a species. We are still controlled by same old passions. Gautam Buddha would not be overwhelmingly impressed. Jesus Christ would renounce christanity, if he ever was a christian. Let me elaborate instead of throwing rhetorics.
The last century has witnessed two devastating world wars, one cold war which fortunately didnt turn into hot one bacause of the disintergration of the world's largest nation, one nuclear holocaust and lot many other remarkable masterpieces of our efforts and maturity like Auschwitz and Gulag and Nanking.
WE KNOW THE HISTORY.
We are aware of the fact that balance of power is dyanamic in nature. The greatests of empires have been pulverized to dust by the sweep of time and the most majestic emperors died disgracefully, sometimes away from their place. We know that power doesnt rescue anyone from pain and death.
After the catharsis of world war 1, some men with post-war wisdom took an initiative to create an organization which could curb the mass hysteria and consequent warfare. It was named "League of nations".
But the irresitible desire for expansion never seems to respect the dullness of peace. Hitler was dying under the unbearable pressure of the greatness of his race so he was in utmost urgency to spread his legs all over the world. His neighbours warned him perhaps bacause they had the similar intentions. Soon the world war 2 was waged amongst the most cultured nations. The white man 's burden was too much for his capacity and he disencumbered himself of what he has: The atom bomb, the chef-d'oeuvre of numerical science and technology. What a thousands of mythological legends could not do, the technology did in a few minutes.
This was really something!! The game stopped because one player was hit where it hurts most. The excitement subdued for sometime. The post-war wisdom (the more distructive the war, the more constructive the wisdom) engendered United Nations on Oct 24th, 1945.
But the post-war gimmicks like that are nothing but rituals, the continuation of war only. These types of rites just highlight the winners and losers, the one who stipulate conditions and other who acquiesce because of right or wrong reasons. This furthers the virulence which culminates in future in yet another and bloodier warfare. Also, the knowledge of history has inoculated and perpetuated the idea of 'Hero' so profoundly that the notion of peaceful co-existence seems to be not only intolerably prosaic but a threat to our virility. The most glaring proof of our crooked and duplicitous intentions is the existence of security council in UN. This organization, ostensibly committed to establishment and maintenance of peace worldwide, is a symbol of inequality among the nations on the basis of military capability. And all it serves is to justify the victimaization of helpless poor countries by one of the members. Had it really been dedicated to what it professes, we would not have witnessed Vietnam and many other shameful wars. Now in the new millenium when we tirelessly boast of modernity, SC institutionalizes all sorts of brutality and tyranny against the defenceless. Though other sisters like WTO etc are no less merciless but here I will concentrate on SC only. The reason is the recent debate over the question of the permanent membership of India in SC.
So India, the nation which has never invaded any other country in its 10,000 years of history is now standing in supplication with closed hands before the UN for its recognition as a powerful force! After all, is it possible to live without falling prey to this universal temptation? But dont you find this patently ridiculous? Did US begged or pleaded anyone for it? Or Russia or China? No. No because power is never obtained by negotiation. It is not mute and inarticulate, it speaks loud and clear.
In the words of 'Dinkar' -
Kshama shobhti us bhujang ko jiske paas garal ho,
Uska kya jo dant-heen, vish-heen, vineet saral ho.
[The idea of mercy and forgiveness suits only to the serpent which has venom in its mouth. And not for the one which has no canines, no poison and who is simple and humble.]
And what for? What are the other member nations doing? Could they deter US from razing Afganistan to dust? What purpose does India think it would serve after having been granted the much coveted membership with VETO POWER? When you are not able to defend your own parliament how can you even imagine to protect others? When your economy is so volatile that a mere sanction shatters its foundations then how do you even claim to be a superpower? Only on the basis of speculation or population? Being the largest democracy is no cogent reason because the criterion is, dont forget, power and POWER and nothing else. If you have the potential to disrupt the heartbeats of the world or to disturb the economy then only you can practically aspire for a permanant membership of SC.
Otherwise you will only serve to sing the American national anthem with tears in your eyes. Or cheer and clap while somebody is being raped or killed.
So India, wait. First strive to be trully free and independent. Not only politically but economically too because economic genuflection would invariably lead to political subjugation sooner or later. Unless one becomes strong from within he can nor bring any peace without. Then only strive for the other things. And instead of playing the dirty power game suitable only to barbarians, try to realize the unfulfilled dreams of Asoka and Buddha. And start by abolishing institutions like the security council.
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