The Young India

Kartikey Sehgal

(In coffee shops, restaurants and elsewhere, a selection from conversations on India and its ancient culture. The author has connected the various thoughts as a story. Written in conversational style and the author addresses the reader at some places.)

How old are we (the ‘youth for new culture’ variety) to demand that we do not want the India of the past because we cannot connect to it. And hence we start movements and labels groups as superstitious and backward because we don’t want …

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

(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

Celebrating the birth of an individual (God/Man/Woman/With Form/Formless) who is responsible for the nation that is India (Bharat). The oldest surviving philosophy and definitely, despite any arguments, one of the oldest cultures of the world. A sample of what he said:

“Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.”

Such thought prevailed in Bharat in around 3000B.C. Is it religion or is it a part of …

Kartikey Sehgal

 
Translation:The most important dharm is Rashtradharm

Actor Manoj Joshi tells the audience that his mission is Rashtravad. He shall perform his popular play Chanakya at various venues across the country.

Rashtravad could be called Nationalism*. Chanakya united the warring Indian factions under the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya to ward off the mighty Greek leaders Alexander and Seleucus. We need such leadership today if we have to survive the onslaught of terrorism. The terrorists are united and despite the denials it …

Kartikey Sehgal

St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.

St. Stephen’s (Delhi) contribution to India is commendable. It has given Her bright students and more importantly, girls who like to drive their father’s car. In fact, it is believed that Stephen’s girls have never stepped on a road.

My friend and I ventured into the empty Stephen’s college—sans people but with green gardens, healthy flowers and neat pathways and corridors. The buildings don’t have a name. You’ll have to ask around if you want to visit the library …

Kartikey Sehgal

“Mother I want to be gay”.

Mother stopped doing her work.

“The last time I held Sheetal’s hand and walked on the road, everybody gave me a funny look. But the gay people are celebrating so freely and nobody is objecting”.

“I also read that gayness was no big deal in Indian culture and many Gods also turned into women at times. I think Krishna and Vishnu”.

Mother was shocked to hear such blasphemy.

“Sure, there were sages who were against this but …

Kartikey Sehgal

A myth propounded by history-killers and aged freedom-fighter manuals is the enmity between pre-Independence leaders in India.

Subhash Chandra Bose and Mohandas Gandhi shared a healthy and principled relationship despite their opposing ideas on the relevance of violence. In effect, they were comrades in freeing India from British imperialism. Yet, it is not hard to come across learned men and women who speak of them as ‘almost-enemies’.