We are already into another New Year. Although there is nothing new about any New Year, the sense of renewal that they bring is nonetheless joyous. Lest it be mistaken,
We are already into another New Year. Although there is nothing new about any New Year, the sense of renewal that they bring is nonetheless joyous. Lest it be mistaken, there is nothing religious about the Gregorian calendar New Year that we celebrate on January 1 each year though so many presume it is a Christian occasion. Probably this is on account of its proximity to Christmas just a week ahead on December 25. Christmas definitely is a Christian occasion, and the most important one at that. But increasingly, perhaps as a sign of the time and the spirit of liberalisation of the spirit that come with it, so many non-Christians too partake in the festivities of Christmas. The red Star of David lanterns which have become the symbol of the Christmas season, is increasingly seen in so many non-Christian localities in Imphal these days, and we for one think this is beautiful. Religion should unite and not divide, though unfortunately the latter has been the tendency through history, including in the modern times. Notions such as heresy, apostasy, heathen and non-believer should all have become buried and done with, had this spirit of liberalism been allowed to gain ascendency instead. Obviously there are bigots who think otherwise, and no use finger pointing at others. Begin by pointing a finger at the self, and have no doubt, truthful introspection is the beginning of all reformation movements. It is also true, those who do not believe in the need for perennial reformation of mind and matter are the true bigots.
It is also unfortunate to see the tussle between the Govindaji Board and Umang Lai Lups over a Bill that sought to have the board control the Umang Lai worship. Thankfully, the Bill today has been withdrawn. Hopefully given the time, the two faiths are able to reconcile their differences in the spirit of peaceful, harmonious co-existence. At their cores, all religions preach this. Only those religions whose practitioners have misinterpreted and introduced attributes of politics into their religions, and therefore the need for hegemonic control over others, go against this most humane tenet of any faith. So many moderate followers of Islam, for instance, have time and again said this too at witnessing fundamentalist followers of their religion commit outrageous crimes. In like manner, so many Hindus too have expressed their disillusionment at the current propaganda of “Ghar Wapsi” of Hindu fundamentalists who seek to “reconvert” to Hinduism, those who chose to adopt other religions. We hope good sense returns and prevails.
Back to the contemplation of New Year and the sense of renewal, we are reminded of a verse in the Baghavad Gita. As many of us who have read it knows, the Gita is interesting even to those who are not religious for it can be read not only as a religious text, but as an engaging intellectual discourse as well. Even American poet T.S. Eliot’s extended poem, “Four Quartet” was inspired greatly by it. Directly summarising Krishna’s core message Eliot writes, “Fare forward / Not fare well,/ but fare forward voyager.” In other words, it is not the destination which is important, but the journey, so keep moving forward in whatever you do. The other passage from the Gita that is interesting in the contemplation of New Year is the one in which Krishna tells Arjuna that worshipping any God is fine, “for whoever worships any God with devotion worships me”. Beautiful. It is like saying, celebrate any time of the year as New Year, be it harvest, spring or the dead of winter when all life is in hibernation, as the Gregorian calendar New Year does, for they are all the same as long as they inspire the joyous sense of renewal. Happy New Year everybody!
Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/new-year-and-renewal/
