Worshipping False gods

It has been my curiosity ever since my school  days to know; why students are made to celebrate festivals in the name of certain people, what these chosen few have done, that made them role models for the coming generations to follow. This manifestation in my mind changed from year to year and honestly admitting I also contributed in making such festivals a reality both as a teacher and also in the capacity of the head of the institution. It is pertinent for me to share my thinking on these things because history neglects those who neglect it and the condition of those who accept it without questioning becomes even worse. Father of Nation India is neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan or any other country which got its birth with its independence rather it bears a history of 5000 years and we feel proud of our past history. A country of 5000 years history got 'father of nation' after such a long period is quite laughable. The fact is that India was united against foreign rule and in the past to0 it had rulers ruling almost whole of it or its major territory mention can be made of Lalitaditya Mukapida of Karkota dynasty of Kashmir (724 Ce -760 Ce). His territory was larger than Ashoka's and Akbar's empire put together. His empire stretched from Caspian Sea in the northwest to Assam in the east and Cauvery basin in the south. It is also true that India at certain junctures of its history was divided in different kingdoms but the same culture in this territory hardly made any difference when a different ruler captured the 26 area. It was with the incoming of foreign rulers that a different culture became evident. one aspect of our history confirms that India had universities when Europeans were living as nomads but on the other India is perhaps the only country which is recognized by different names like Aryavarta, Nabhivarsha, Bharat, Hindustan, Hind, India, Hodu, Tianzhu, Jambudvipa to name a few. We got father of nation in post - independence era, till than we had no such concept because everyone felt himself a child of this country as no one can be above nation as per our culture. Was this a conspiracy to delink India from its past history, by holding that India was born in 1947.If it were so it means a big lacuna in our claim of 5000 years heritage. To have icons as role models before the coming generations is good but if these icons hardly resemble to what they represent it leads to confusion in the generations to come and false gods mystify the whole gamut. Today we have a father of nation in whose life time the country was partitioned in two pieces one a secular state and the other an Islamic state. Mahatma Gandhi at one stage had declared that partition will take place on my dead body but it did happen in his lifetime. It is no doubt that Gandhi ji played a part in our independence movement but there were many more also who paid supreme sacrifices for the country, they too deserve recognition. India's war of independence started in 1857 much more before the arrival of Gandhi on the political scene of the country in 1915. During Gandhi era we had many Indians with the focus of liberating India from the clutches of foreign rule and everyone was contributing as per his ideology /resources .The two factions one supporting non- violent way and the other propagated forceful eviction of English from India had become prominent on the political canvass of India at the time of Gandhi. One was under the leadership of Gandhi ji while as the other was headed by Subhash Bose and others. Both differed in their approach yet their focus was common enemy and the two respected each other, never confronted. It is worthwhile to mention here that English left the country after due efforts of both the factions. The over glorification of one to eclipse the other was resorted to in the post- independence era. Gandhi was eulogized as holier than thou by his close associates and for solemnizing the so called secularism in the country. It is a hard fact that Hindu majority is secular by its nature and religious philosophy. The constitution framers hardly deemed it important to incorporate secular word in the permeable of the constitution of the country. It was incorporated through 42nd amendment of the constitution during emergency. It is worthwhile to point out here that the original text of constitution contained photos of Ram Darbar. Teacher's day India has been an epitome of knowledge from centuries, we have Vedas, the greatest epics namely Ramayana and Mahabharata, Upanishads, Smritis, and enormous treatises on drama, music, human psychology, scientific literature etc and also possess great teachers who showed the path of purity to the world. our respect towards our teachers is an integral part of our culture. people perform 'Tarpan' every day in the morning for the great gurus for swelling the pool of knowledge. We have been celebrating teacher student relationship from centuries on the auspicious day of 'Guru Purnima' which falls in the Ashadh month of Hindu calendar. This was changed and teacher's day celebration was started on the birth day of a scholar whose credentials are doubted. S. Radha Krishnan had to face Calcutta high court on Plagiarism for stealing content from the thesis of Jadunath Sinha the case was settled out of court in 1933. Jadunath Sinha had accused that Radha Krishna's book 'Indian philosophy' contained sections directly from his thesis. Radha Krishnan was examiner of Sinha's thesis. He was a Vedanti that in no way could have made him a role model for future generations to follow. He had no contribution to Indian freedom struggle. The celebration of his birthday as teacher's day was a reward for his smartness. The creation of a new day to show respect to our great teachers has always been beyond my comprehension since my school days. Our history is full of great gurus who sacrificed everything for the country besides their contributions to the pool of knowledge has been indomitable. The philosophical debate between Mandana Mishra ritualistic follower of Mimamsa school of thought and Adi shankara Advaita Vedanta follower in 8th century is referred a classic case of Indian knowledge. Wife of Mandana Mishra Ubhaya Bharati judged the discussion. The precondition of the discussion was that one who lost will perform 'Sanyas' and become the follower of the winner. Seeing Mandana Mishra losing in the discussion, his wife Bhaya Bharati who acted as judge, posed a question on Kama shastra to 'Adi Shankara. Adi shankara being a Bachelor asked for a period of one month. By his yogic power his soul entered into the dead body of king Amaruka, enjoyed with his queen for one month, learned art of sexual love in Kama shastra and then invited Ubhaya Bharati for discussion again. She finally accepted Adi shankara as the greatest scholar. He did not resort to any short cut to win the discussion. Shankara established four major Matha's (Monasteries), revived and unified diverse Hindu traditions. It is not only adi- shankara but there are a plethora of others who changed the thinking of people by their knowledge and also contributed for this country mention can be made of Guru Gobind Singh, Chanakyа etc. Children's day India celebrates children day on 14th Nov. to honor the birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaher lal Nehru fondly named as Chacha Nehru by children. It started after the death of Nehru in 1964, till than it used to be celebrated on 20 November along with world as declared by United nations. The UN children's day eloquently deals with children rights and concern for their well being but a need to change from world children day was felt to motivate the children and a person of 74 years was made a role model for school going children in India. The present government has slightly corrected the things by declaring the birthday of Sahibzada's as Veer Bal Divas. There are innumerable children who have done wonders for the country mention can be made of Khudi Ram Bose, was hanged at a very young age of 18 years, Rani Gaidinliu led a resistance movement in Manipur at 13, Baji Rout a boat boy martyred at 12 for refusing to ferry British police and Suniti Choudhary Ghose killed a British magistrate at the age of 14, Bhagat Singh started to work against British at a very young age. It would have been prudent to motivate children by showing what people of their age did for the country. Worshipping false gods has led us to manipulations and not to character building

DISCLAIMER: 

The views expressed in the Article above are  M K Bhat views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:  M K Bhat and Koshur Samachar- October,2025