Speaking of Siva

After reading, Speaking of Siva (translated by A K Ramanujan with introduction) Penguin Classics, I wished to share the below two legends that appeared in it. The stories are interesting, the takeaways is left for individuals.

About the book, it is collection of free verse lyrics by four Siva devotees (Basavanna, Devara Dasimayya , Mahadeviyaakka and Allama Prabhu).

After reading the book, I wish to visit Kalyana (renamed as Basavakalyana – Bidar District – Karnataka).

Below is an extract (as is basis).

From Page 11

One amusing legend speaks of a Saiva saint who lived in the world, devoting his energies to converting worldlings to the Saiva faith – by any means whatever; bribes favours, love, and if needed physical force, coercing or persuading them to wear the Saiva emblem of holy ash on the forehead. One day, Siva himself came down in disguise to see him. But he did not recognize Siva and proceeded to convert him, offering him holy ash, trying to force it on him when he seemed reluctant. When his zeal became too oppressive, Siva tried in vain to tell him who he was, but was forced down on his  knees for the baptism of ash – even Siva had to become a Saiva.

From Page 128

Goraksa, the leader of the Siddhas had a magical body, invulnerable as diamond. Allama mocked at his body, his vanity. Legend says that he gave Allama a sword and invited him to try cutting his body in two. Allama swung the sword at him, but the sword clanged on the solid diamond-body of Goraksa; not a hair as severed Goraksa laughed in pride. Allamaprabhu laughed at this show-off and returned the sword, saying, ‘try it on me now.’ Goraksa came at Allama with his sword with all his strength. The sword swished through Allama’s body as if it were mere space. Such were Allama’s powers of self-emptying, his ‘achievement of nothingness’. Goraksa was stunned- he felt acutely the contrast between his own powers and Allama’s true realization, between his own diamond-body in which the carnal body had become confirmed and Allama’s body which was no body but all spirit. His revelation was the beginning of his enlightenment, Allama said to him.

Interpretations - I believe let us not interpret in way’s which confirms the below quotes.

“Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art.”
― Susan Sontag

“All worthy work is open to interpretations the author did not intend. Art isn't your pet it's your kid. It grows up and talks back to you.”
― Joss Whedon

“If there really is such a thing as turning in one's grave, Shakespeare must get a lot of exercise.”
― George Orwell, All Art is Propaganda: Critical Essays

“The text has disappeared under the interpretation.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/interpretation

Different Perspectives

Definition of Intolerance from Oxford Dictionary: “Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one’s own.”

As a society can we tolerate one and act for it or be selective in showing tolerance. Current event of returning back awards bestowed by Government towards in tolerance is something i have never heard or read for last few years.

As said by Ms A. Roy, “I believe what artists and intellectuals are doing right now is unprecedented, and does not have a historical parallel.” I completely agree.

Not only Ms Roy, but many award returnees and other literary personalities have voiced their concern about intolerance in the Society.

But there are others who have expressed their opinion (with different perspective) but somehow they got less attention. They appear in the newspapers at places where people may have accidentally ignored it. I wish to list it down here for the ones (newspaper readers) who might have missed these portions.

Below is the select extracts, as is taken and presented below, which appeared in various media ( links are provided under references):

Taslima Nasreen

“.......majority of the Indian intellectuals were hypocritical as they did not speak up when Muslim fanatics attacked her.”

"Many writers are guilty of double standards when it comes to dissent,"

"Most secular people are pro-Muslims and anti-Hindu. They protest against the acts of Hindu fundamentalists and defend the heinous acts of Muslim fundamentalists,"

Bibek Debroy

“What is generally not known is that Jagdish Bhagwati was essentially made to leave Delhi School of Economics and had to go abroad because his life was made very uncomfortable. He left DSE because there is a certain prevailing climate of opinion and if you buck that, your life is made uncomfortable.”

“In the course of the second five-year plan, a committee of economists was set up to examine it. Dr B.R. Shenoy was the only one who opposed it. Do you find Dr Shenoy's name mentioned in the history of union policymaking? No. He was completely ostracized. He could not get a job in India and he ended up in Ceylon.”

The third is a book called 'Heart of India', written by Alexander Campbell who was a journalist. A patronizing book for that day and time but it is still banned in India because it says frivolous things about Jawaharlal Nehru, socialism in India, and the Planning Commission. People who say there should not be bans, why don't they ever mention 'Heart of India'.

“I cited these three examples to drive home the point that intolerance has always existed and we will be stupid if we haven't recognized it.”

“If you tell me intolerance is increasing, it is purely anecdotal and is purely a subjective perception, there is no point in arguing with you because you will say it is increasing and I will say there is no evidence of it increasing. The only way I can measure something is that if I have got some quantitative indicator. If I look at any quantitative indictor, communal violence incidents, internet freedom, these are objective indicators, and I don't think it is increasing. In the intellectual circuit there has always been that intolerance. Let's not pretend otherwise.”

MC Govardhana Rangan

“Remember the Charleston church massacre in South Carolina in the US in June this year where nine people were killed in an attack by a White supremacist gunman? Have you followed cases of White Americans, even policemen, indulging in racist attacks on Black Americans? And yet, do intellectuals portray the US as an intolerant society and return their Oscars or Pulitzers? Do they blame President Barack Obama for every crime that happens in the name of race or country of origin?”

“This outrage over ‘intolerance’ under Modi’s watch — leaving out those who are responsible for law and order in states — may be a reflection of a historical bias in political and intellectual discourse in the country.”

“Many tend to forget that the only period in independent India when constitutional rights were suspended was when the Congress under Indira Gandhi ruled.”

Please read the respective links to get a broader idea about the article / interview whose views appeared in newspapers.

Above is an attempt to see both sides of the coin.

References:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/intolerance

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-i-am-returning-my-award/

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-taslima-nasreen-hits-out-at-protesting-writers-says-most-seculars-are-pro-muslim-and-anti-hindu-2135824

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Intolerance-has-always-existed-Niti-Aayogs-Bibek-Debroy/articleshow/49666174.cms

http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-commentary/if-charleston-didnt-make-us-intolerant-dadri-doesnt-make-india-so-either/