– Violence, Self made Halos and Labels

Last updated on: November 29, 2005 at 4:54 am by Desh Kapoor

– Violence, Self made Halos and Labels 2005-11-29T04:54:54-06:00 Desh Kapoor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I have had a long discussion with another blogger Krish on Violence on a post by Nandita Das on Gandhi.

This guy – though well meaning – but is in the same trap of labelling anyone who challenges his thoughts or certain “values”. And the words that he uses are the same culprits – RSS, Sangh parivar, Hindutva. One word.. and swoosh there goes any other argument.

I have faced their likes on IRMA’s group also and although I find such thoughts immature, fundamentalist with no respect for Diversity.

I had never quite agreed with Gandhi’s view and practice of Non Violence – but today I knew why it was so.

Here is one post – where I think I finally “Got it”…Non Violence in its true sense can only be a PERSONAL VALUE.. it aint something that you can expect others to live by because YOU believe in it! Values and Principles are for your own self. When they are used to judge and command or direct others – they become dictats or tools of power!

It was Feb 1947. When my Mothers father came back from Amritsar and told his Mom that he was sure Pakistan was inevitable and they should LEAVE to Amritsar because violence was also going to happen. His mother cursed him and reminded him the words of Gandhiji – That partition will happen on “his dead body”.

Well came August 1947… the family was forced to move. She was the first one to be stabbed.

She was gone. But the person on whose “dead body” depended her existence and hope, roamed around to give false and blinding hope to some more.

Killing happened here. Violence occured. He did not do it. He just let it happen and someone became a victim.

Now, until today I have had a tough time figuring out – who was the killer? The person who stabbed or the person who COULD NOT stop the sword but WOULD NOT ADMIT IT and STILL INSISTED she BELIEVE HIM?

That is why I am asking again – Is Violence of means the ONLY Violence? or is Violence of result also THAT?

At least in case of Jesus and Guru Teg Bahadur – they were the OBJECTS of Violence and did not urge OTHERS to follow to their fate. Non-Violence was a personal value.

Gandhi, on the other hand, LED others to death urging Non-Violence as a mass-principle.. while he was secure.

Non-Violence CANNOT be used as a Principle of Leadership or Statecraft (and your dilemma in the statements on Law enforcement amply demo that!)

Non-Violence is TURNING YOUR OWN second cheek – NOT lead others to do while YOU sit and refuse to drink Juice when HE/SHE DOESNT!!

What do you say? Agree or no.. and why each way??

India

Politics

Previous Post

November 29, 2005

- Japanese Manufacturers may play Quality catch to Indian plants!

Next Post

November 29, 2005 - Car crash and the Tree: Close Shave!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aarti Achievement and Leadership AfPak Africa Annual and Year-end Asia Audio Australia Behavioural Sciences Bhagwad Gita Bhagwad Gita Blogging Blogs Business Business Intelligence Business Strategy Cannes Careers Chanakya China Conservation Corruption Creative Daily Links Desh Poems Development & Welfare Devotional Audio Devotional Songs Drama Earth Economics Education Entertainment Environment Europe Everyday Quotes Featured Articles Featured Songs Finance Flickr Pictures Food Geo-Political Global Warming Globalization Health & Medicine Hinduism Historic History Humour India Indian Culture Indian music Indian Weddings Israel Issues Legal Link Love Minorities Misc Motivation and Personal Development Movie Lists Movie Reviews Movies Mumbai terror attacks Natural Disasters Nature News Outsourcing Pakistan Parenting Personal Philosophy Poetry Politics Poverty Quotes Recipe Regular Blog Post Relationships Religion Religious/Spiritual Audio Sciences Showcase Slideshow South Asia Special Stories Spiritual Quotes Spirituality Sports Stories Strategy Technology Technology Terrorism Travel Uncategorized US Video Women Women_s Rights Worship Yoga

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 August 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 1 Psalm 150 Psalm 100 Psalm 117