The Young India

Kartikey Sehgal

She lit the Diya. It lit her. (Anooradha Patel)

Two short songs sung on Diwali day by Seema Anil Sehgal during the pooja hosted by Anooradha Patel and Kanwaljit Singh. Listen here.

First Song.

a. Namo Namo Durge Sukh karani,
Namo Namo Ambe Dukh harani.
b. Nirakar hai jyoti tumhari,
Teen lok pheli ujayari.

Translated as: (source)

a. Salutations and Salutations to Durga, the giver of pleasure,
Salutations and salutations to the remover of Sorrow.
b. Your radiance is …

Kartikey Sehgal

Kartikey Sehgal

[October 13 is voting day (State Assembly Elections) for Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh]

The voting day for Mumbai, Maharashtra, and wherever that scary phenomenon called elections is occurring is a dry day. Meaning no alcohol. People could have voted when drunk. That chance is lost.

The phenomenon is scary because apparently, if you don’t vote, you are a monster and directly responsible for the country’s misery. You see, before you stopped voting, the country was very rich and prosperous and gold would …

Kartikey Sehgal

The author writes that, “‘Indian culture’ is a cover-up for religious enforcements. Most colleges that enforce codes to ‘protect’ culture are protecting the religion. If Indian culture was so dear to them, then the study of Indian philosophy would be an important, if not a compulsory part of the curriculum.”

A popular college in South Bombay (Mumbai) had, some years ago, and much to the dismay of the students, banned the prom night. Nobody called it a fascist (oppressive, dictatorial) move. …

Kartikey Sehgal

(The author states that, “You may dream of aeons of bliss for mankind but your nature will stop you from achieving your goal for a reason as simple (when compared to world saving) as gardening. Tend to the rose plant, planet-tending can wait".)

It has been a long week. I have many things to say and I have had the time to pen them down. But I resisted. I didn’t fight my self. The mind agrees to write and the heart stops it …

Kartikey Sehgal

“These born-in-India-but-actually-alien intellectuals don’t want to be identified with Gods and snakes. Meaning they feel good that they belong to the culture, helps in party circles to tell stories about the exoticism of the nation and surprise women with unbelievable tales and how they have come out of that backwardness…”

Intellectualism does not seem to be an Indian concept although Indians are considered smart and intellectual. The trend is to move away from the Indian philosophy and adapt your thoughts to western ideas. …

Kartikey Sehgal

(On the notion that India was never really a nation because of it’s pluralism.
The author writes that:
Pluralism is a human quality that transcends itself into the society. Our nation is criticized for being disunited against foreign aggression; ‘hence the concept of nationhood was weak’. Does this mean that aggression and cruelty are the hallmarks of a nation?) 

Physical reality and spiritual reality are inseparable. The mind and the decisions that probe the physical reality are worthy of worship. The scientist …

Kartikey Sehgal

“I am talking about the poor people who are in touch with their country, their philosophy, Krishna and Ganapati; the people who told a model with half her chest exposed to cover it with a shawl so she could participate in the Ganapati festival freely. The ‘Slumdog’ variety wouldn’t do so; they would molest her”.

Are the men who celebrate Ganapati on the streets uncouth? Is there a system to civility? 

Rich people dance at discos and other city spots that attract money. …

Kartikey Sehgal

It was while protecting his mother and home from outsiders that child Ganapati lost his head in a battle with his father Shiva. Subsequently, on Shiva’s orders, the head of the animal which lay with its head facing the the northern direction was fitted to Ganesh’s body. And Indians worship Ganapati as the protector of homes. As a person/God/with form/formless who binds the family. When we praise the family structure in India, we praise Ganesha. That is why Hindu homes establish his place …

Kartikey Sehgal

“How do you refuse your assailants? They are many, you are one. Kishore refuses the food. The group knows that Kishore knows.”

Now, readers. You know that Bihar is a dangerous State. It’s capital, Patna, is a dangerous city. Naturally—you must imagine—the interiors, the smaller towns and villages would be dangerous as well. The dangers extend to robbery and murder and a little bit of every type of crime. Little economic development, and the people have been eroded from their ancient philosophy; it’s …