Religion

Religion, as a word, is but ambiguous. It's a set of beliefs one has about the existence of an unproven identity. Isn't the last sentence ambiguous? This is how religion is and yet, it is followed religiously by the populace. While Democracy runs on the premise of all men being intelligent, Religion, on the only condition that each man should remain unintelligent. An intelligent man is never known by his religion, but his mind.

Any life form inherently dislikes restrictions. Religion - originated anywhere, at any point of time, revering single or multitude of idols - however, unfailingly professess some or other sort of restriction. The restrictions - as they should be obviously - ridiculously foolish and abhor the followers from apparel, food, procreativity, et al. How can one willingly submit to restriction when one dislikes restrictions? Simple: Give incentives. The incentive like, gratification of an inanimate idol, which, upon being followed, promises the follower a sure shot free ticket to a place called heaven. In absence of incentives, no one will naturally care to bother for restrictions. Further, if one dishonours the restrictions, he is penalised under the namesake of penance! The restrictions are practically for Social Publicity. The more are the restrictions, the greater is the greatness of the religion. As a corollary, funnier is the restriction - meaning, beyond the limits of insanely ridiculous - more is hype associated with it; e.g. celibacy. Men and women observing celibacy are usually given revered status is religious circles. What for? 'Observing celibacy is but most difficult!', is the trite - but, grave - reply. When it is difficult why do it? 'To achieve self restraint', 'To remain pure', 'Devote oneself wholeheartedly, to the God, by abstaining from from sinful deeds', are some of the pious replies. Well, I never understood this logic. Suppose everyone gets enlightened (!) and starts celebrating celibacy, will anyone be there to sing the hymns in the next generation. Or do they intend to outsource it to Orangutans?!

Some say, religion professes guiding principles for the followers, to guide them to lead a peaceful, amicable and prosperous life. But this is a blatant violation of the definition! Religion is belief in existence of God and not the way to live! The latter is Philosophy, per se. Now, Religion and Philosophy are two distinct words and should not ever be assumed synonymous.

Religion is exclusively for stupid people. If one dig into the history, mention of religions is only recent; circa two millennia. No Vedic literature mentions, propounds or prescribes of any religion. Interestingly, there is no mention of idol and idol worship in any of such pristine scriptures. As one can't teach rocket science to any Tom, Dick and Harry, so can't you teach them Philosophy. Philosophy, anyway, is best learnt on self. How else then one teach them to live, like humans, in a civilised society? One word answer: Intimidation. Device rules for the right and the wrong and provide incentives when obeyed and penance when violated. Replace magic for logic, faith for knowledge, prayers for work, rituals for processes and a book for a rational mind. Do it, and you get a Religion. Tweak a parameter and you get a new Religion. All of the formers can easily be adapted by a frivolous mind. A man of mind can never accept the,, for he understands that segregation of his own specie on such funny parameters is but a degradation to non-human status; not even wild monkeys segregate themselves on the basis of progeny or race.

Religions are not symbols of social evolution, but it's antithesis. No civilisation advocated a religion, but Philosophy. Never a civilisation was led by a religious man. Art, craft, literature, architecture all are derivatives of civilisations which exhibit the richness of the intellect of the civilisation. Religion has never created an asset and can never create any, for it requires belief in facts, not phantoms.

The Curfew

The news read that there was some tension in my home town. Further reading and inquiries at home revealed that there was a clash between two fanatic groups. The issue was rather trifle. Believers of a particular ethnicity traditionally celebrate their yearly festival at a state owned ground in the city. The other ethnic group, since last few years, has suddenly discovered this to be improper and inappropriate. Reason? The place is state owned, and hence, should not be given to a followers of a particular ethnicity. They, however, safely forgot the gross misuse of such facilities, electricity and public machinery they themselves and their brotherhood indulge into shamelessly, every other day in the name of festivals.

The latter group stoned abodes of the former ones this time, to show their disregard and disgust. Taking a cue from it, they replied commensurate. The news of the event spread like wildfire and soon the followers of both sects were on roads eager to slain throats and burn whatsoever was visible. Half a dozen casualties happened. The Police act, as usual, after taking due time under the name of 'accessing the situation' and imposed curfew. A commercial areas were shut; all shops closed. City came to screeching halt.

Many scholastic students, of both ethnicities, have Pre-Board examinations going on. Many collegiate ones have concluding lectures in the offing. Many residents, old and young alike, couldn't commute to their offices. Many ad-hoc workers and daily wagers at the commercial establishments were rendered jobless. Many deals, which could have been cheaper to both parties, were cancelled. Many loaded trucks and lorries were stranded in the outskirts, as markets were closed. Many families were suddenly out of grocery stock. Many letters, official and personal both, were not delivered when it was required. Many emergency cases couldn't get immediate medication for Ambulances weren't plying. Many passenger were stranded on airports, railroad terminus and bus depots, for rickshaws and taxis were rarely visible.

What was gained? Anything in terms of money, time, comfort or even the much talked about spirituality? Why aren't such morons shot dead right in the first place? They, anyway, don't contribute even worth a penny to the their own family, economy or society. Spirituality is a far pie. People with work don't even have time to die. And they have so much free that they keep killing people, burn state property and ilk. If they are so much free (read so worthless that no one offer them a job), why not terminate them? Living without a purpose is a sin. Let us save the poor 'spirits' from committing sins. Let's salvage them. A few illogical people (they say God is beyond logic) say that God gets happy by sacrifices. They slain mute animals. Lets offer their God, the sacrifice of the supreme creature He has created. He will be more than happy. The God, after all, must be happy. The humanity be damned. Isn't it?

The Cost

Is there a cost of life? We never bother. There is no value associated to it. We lose more people in road accidents than cross border firing. More infants die than the senile. Just like that. One day, the maid came with a long face. I acted inquisitive. She muttered that a girl in her locality passed away. Further prodding revealed that she had touched a metal object, which was not earthed properly. She ended, on the spot. Just like that. One of my acquaintances was standing by the roadside, for her car had broken down. She turned out to be a victim of a hit and run case. Struggled for 9 days. Then gave up. Just like that. We keep hearing news about people dying of cold wave, heat wave, drought or flood; changes in weather, in language of household discourse.

Is human life, that cheap? People loosing it for not apparent reason, cause or purpose! Just like that?! And what do we do to avoid it? Pray to God? Isn't it more sensible, logical, practical, fruitful, plausible, possible, doable to fix the equipment's earthing, drive in a lane without overtaking, use counter-intelligence over counter-firing, nurses over daya-bai's, vaccination over blessings, decision over guess, plan before action, think before ink, read before sign, ponder before perorate, analyse before conclude, reason over faith; or simply, be human?

Nothing is free. There is a cost attached to every thing, how so insignificant it may be. If you are offered life versus the engagement ring, on the gunpoint, what will you choose? Won't this be your reflex: 'The ring be damned!', even though, that's the epitome of your love for your fiancé or fiancée? You care about it - the life - only when you are offered to do away with it for some petty object. And what do you use it - the life, again - for? Believing in some senseless, illogical, impractical, fruitless, implausible, impossible, useless mysticism or hypocritical values or dogmas? You say, life is for spiritual attainment and not money. Really? Tell me, can you live without it? Tell me, if you discover yourself bored with the wealth?

Time is money. Life, incidentally is a function of time. By syllogism, Life is a function of money. Taking literary freedom, lets put it this way: Life has a cost. It's invaluable, inevitable, unavoidable, unquestionable, steadily augmenting entity. Care for it - yours and others' equally - just like you do for your money.

Being Alone

Always in the childhood, the Civics teacher reiterated, year over year, the definition of a Human Being, viz. A Social Animal. We recited, mugged and forgot it. I reckon, the teacher was right, atleast in this case.

I joined NTPC Limited on August 8, 2005. My first venture outside my home. Never had a dearth of love and affection from the family and the friends. Everyone caressed. I, however, never looked over my shoulder, to see who all are in the backdrop to assure I was happy. Then came the bolt from blue; NTPC. I had to pack my bags and get going. The initial happiness of being selected in such a giant seemed miniscule in front of Aai's face. She was not happy leaving me out of her brood. I could see that. Explicitly she didn't say it, didn't express it. It just got expressed; from the wet corner of her eyes.

I joined. Honestly, for the first time I felt alone; stranded in the midst of people who cared about one thing- themselves. It was a scorching welcome. I had expected just a warm one. The HR need not be blamed. The culprit was within me. I was desparate in the quest of someone, who would parent me. I knew very well that I have to stride alone, still the mind was adamant. Mind; a lethal weapon.

As the time moved sluggishly, I made new relations at a commensurate speed. I don't know whether I was reluctant or the others. Nevertheless, I started feeling safer. The network grew. Hostelmates became Colleagues. Then tranformed from Colleagues to Friends. Some even mutated from Friends to Buddies. It took nine months for all this to happen.

Nine months; interesting coincidence. A women wombs a baby for this period, after consummating. On the day when the baby ventures into the world, she bears the labor pains. An epoch, witnessing painful ending of a sacrosanct relationship and at the same time, dawn of a new relationship revered as, Mother. Similarly, at the culmination of our nine months training, when all the buddies left away, it pained me.

I felt alone.

The best part is, the other relationship must have begun.

I am discovering it.