It was a casual remark: "One need to have a political and religious identity": set me thinking. Really? What purpose does it serve?
Let me look at both. Having a political identity means that you are a die-hard fan of a particular party. And what does a political party do? Ideally in a democracy it should help in nation building. The same goes for religion too. Ideally, it should build the spiritual side of a person. But what happens when one succumbs to a political party/ideology or religion? One fails to see the mistakes it commits. After all, both religion and political parties are made on earth by mortals and is bound to fail. When you surrender your identity to a religion or a political party you fail to speak out for it's wrongs.
One good example would be Hitler who headed the Nazi party and was able to persuade many to kill in the name of his ideology. It looked very easy once he attained power over the minds of his followers. He became too powerful to rein in even if anyone had second thoughts.
As for religion, I don't have to say anything! The examples are numerous.
In my state of Kerala, the main political parties are the Congress led UDF and the Communist parties under LDF. They take turns governing almost every 5 years and this happens not because of the die-hard fans of these parties but only because of those who rose above each party! The die-hard fans must surely have voted for their favourite party, but it is the votes of the rest which turned the tide.
A party ideology or love can prove to be disgusting at times. The recent one would be the brutal killing of TP Chandrashekaran. Am not ready to blame it on the Communist party with whom he was at loggerheads but one saw the hatred of the party even after he was dead! What makes one behave so?
Or let us look at the love of the Congress or the BJP fans. It is the same kind of blindness that is exhibited by many.
Let me conclude by saying that to build our nation each citizen should rise above political parties and be ready to point out the mistakes of those who ruin the nation.
A political party should be made to build the nation and not the politicians.
Let me look at both. Having a political identity means that you are a die-hard fan of a particular party. And what does a political party do? Ideally in a democracy it should help in nation building. The same goes for religion too. Ideally, it should build the spiritual side of a person. But what happens when one succumbs to a political party/ideology or religion? One fails to see the mistakes it commits. After all, both religion and political parties are made on earth by mortals and is bound to fail. When you surrender your identity to a religion or a political party you fail to speak out for it's wrongs.
One good example would be Hitler who headed the Nazi party and was able to persuade many to kill in the name of his ideology. It looked very easy once he attained power over the minds of his followers. He became too powerful to rein in even if anyone had second thoughts.
As for religion, I don't have to say anything! The examples are numerous.
In my state of Kerala, the main political parties are the Congress led UDF and the Communist parties under LDF. They take turns governing almost every 5 years and this happens not because of the die-hard fans of these parties but only because of those who rose above each party! The die-hard fans must surely have voted for their favourite party, but it is the votes of the rest which turned the tide.
A party ideology or love can prove to be disgusting at times. The recent one would be the brutal killing of TP Chandrashekaran. Am not ready to blame it on the Communist party with whom he was at loggerheads but one saw the hatred of the party even after he was dead! What makes one behave so?
Or let us look at the love of the Congress or the BJP fans. It is the same kind of blindness that is exhibited by many.
Let me conclude by saying that to build our nation each citizen should rise above political parties and be ready to point out the mistakes of those who ruin the nation.
A political party should be made to build the nation and not the politicians.
Searching for a tag or an identity like the ones you mentioned well only emphasise that one is insecure and is afraid to face life headon.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a die hard follower of a political philosophy you simply want to rubbish the other.The fact is no political philosophy is panacea to the ills.
Religion too is no different. When you identify with one you have to negate the rest.Look at the turmoil and mistrust among the Jews Christians and the Moslems.All from the same stalk.
Like conversion of these new born christians for an identity. Should we think that they were living dead until they became new born?
Yes..no political philosophy has proved itself over the years.. each one had it's faults.
DeleteReligious and political views are the same..too much of both makes one blind to reality.
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ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.But,it will take us a long time bed fore it can happen.India polity has systematically divided India society on caste,religion,regional basis only to suit thier limited ambition of votes leading to power.
ReplyDeleteLess spoken about party ideology,better it will be.How should one react when congress has alliance with Muslim league?
Yes.. Indian polity has only divided this nation..it is not uniting. Though they claim the latter.
DeleteCongress makes or breaks ties as they deem!
Instead we should have an Identity of good human being and we could have a better future..
ReplyDeleteYou are right Renu. But over the years we harbor so much hatred for the other that we forget to be a good person!
DeleteUnfortunately, the curse is that in our country, nation's development is inextricably linked to politics. Development plans of any government should be apolitical. What can be matters of political debate should be decisions that are much finer and far removed from the basic necessities of people.
ReplyDeleteAnd, religion is best kept personal. How it works for individuals depends purely on faith.
But can that ever change? In a democracy one needs political parties..but I think it is the voters who should remain sane and rise above them.
DeleteUnfortunately, the curse is that in our country, nation's development is inextricably linked to politics. Development plans of any government should be apolitical. What can be matters of political debate should be decisions that are much finer and far removed from the basic necessities of people.
ReplyDeleteAnd, religion is best kept personal. How it works for individuals depends purely on faith.
Simply put - it should always be for the people, by the people.
ReplyDeleteRight you are!
DeleteOne should be "political" enough to understand your own identity as co-creators with god. - I just cut the long story short.
ReplyDeleteAnrosh
and enough is where it goes wrong!
Delete