Bheeshma’s entire life was proof that he was never greedy for power. There were umpteen instances, including the frantic urging of Satyavathi for Bheeshma to reclaim the throne.
When the Pandavas and Kauravaas fought each other for the right to rule Hasthinapura, the Mahabhaaratha war happened. The land area of this terrible war was more than what is present day India. The One Hundred sons of Dhritharaashtra lay dead. All the children of the Pandavas equally so.
Satyavathi, the Matriarch of the Kurus, and her father INSISTED that King Shanthanu guarantee that it would be her children who would inherit the kingdom. Devavratha the son of King Shantanu and Devi Ganga was quite happy to forgo his right to the throne, to ensure his father’s happiness.
Then came the political statement. There was no guarantee that the children of Devavratha would be equally amenable to Satyavathi’s children and their children becoming monarchs. The blood line of the then eldest son, Devavratha would definitely be royal, but would have to languish far away from the throne. The drastic solution Devavratha found out was to take a vow NEVER to marry, NEVER to beget a child.
In this promise lay the seed of Devavratha’s own death. Amba, the eldest of three princesses Devavratha was to kidnap for his step brothers was abandoned by Satyavathi’s son’s when they heard about her betrothal to the Salva king. Her fiance rejected her as Amba had been taken captive by Bheeshma. Amba appealed to her captor Devavratha to marry her and save her from dishonour. Bound by his vow, Devavratha, by then Bheeshma refused her. It was this Amba who after great penance was reborn as Shikhandi, who covered Arjuna, the warrior Pandava to kill Bheeshma. Shikhandi was a eunuch. One wonders whether Bheeshma’s refusal to fight Shikhandi had smidgens of a love for the magnificent Amba, Bheeshma dared not acknowledge even to himself!
Satyavathi’s master plan failed miserably. It was only Bheeshma’s firm commitment to the Hasthinapur throne which saved Satyavathi’s blood line time and time again.
Bheeshma’s entire life was proof that he was never greedy for power. There were umpteen instances, including the frantic urging of Satyavathi for Bheeshma to reclaim the throne.
But the greatest mistake made by Bheeshma was his blind commitment to the Hasthinapur throne. His DEFEANING silence when Shakuni played with the loaded dice against a gullible and addicted Yudhishtira and the terrible shaming of Draupadi, not in the dark corridors of the palace, but in the open court of the Kurus, led to a war where there was victory that came at a horrible price.
This country today is at a crucial cross road. A contiguous land mass was divided on the basis of religion. When one part of it had declared itself and it’s very raison de etre to be Islam, it was only fair that the other piece was to be Hindu. There should have been no sense of guilt in this.
Right from time immemorial this land has nurtured diversity of Faith, Food, Languages, Customs, Weather. This list is endless. There was never any need for Muslims in India to be thrown out, or for them to move out. They would have equal rights as would have all other communities. This writer has the greatest admiration for that miniscule community called the Parsis who have shone in this country. The only minority, smaller than them are the individuals. Harking back to the days of Independence is just an exercise in regret and much like post mortems, not capable of changing history.
The Vedas have averred that knowledge should come from everywhere. Let us look at the World without our perennially Pollyannesque lens.
That our neighbour Pakistan is a crucible for terrorism has been proved again and again, both locally in India and internationally is a given. This does NOT mean that all Muslims are terrorists which are the other end of the pendulum swing. Likewise the PEOPLE are definitely not terrorists. IF that were so more than a quarter of the World would already have been destroyed.
The heinous attack in Pahalgam came just across the border. There was no way that India could keep quiet. Our brilliant army answered them – fittingly.
Here comes the crux. Pakistan itself is dividing into Baluchistan, Pashtunisthan, Sind and Western Pakistan. Just like the Han people of China, the last group is the elite of Pakistan. That it is the Army which rules there is also no secret.
Pakistan internally is at its weakest. They say one should never kick a man when he is down. Why on EARTH should one go around kicking people, without any reason? And IF there is a reason, should one not kick (attack) at the most advantageous time?
Right now, all the political parties have declared their solidarity with the government. This takes care of the domestic situation.
Worldwide there is a condemnation of terrorism. Even though our Philosophy states that other people’s opinions do not count when pursuing our Dharma
(value based activity ), this helps to the extent that we allow it to matter.
Pakistan’s Navy should be destroyed and it’s Air Force crippled. The Indians have the capability to do at present. The Chinese Panda naturally does not want India to continue in its rise. Being an enemy’s enemy, Pakistan is their friend.
The crass stupidity of the IMF to give a loan of 2 billion Dollars, clearly shows that President Trump’s declared fight against terrorists has not penetrated this organization.
Pakistan’s traditional ploy of suing for peace when it is down will come into play sooner or later. The terrorists and their trainers who almost incredulously cry and blame India for killing their families, not as terrorist attacks but as collateral damage will regroup sooner or later with or without the help of China. This is a given. We Indians traditionally will believe the white flag of peace, being waved under our nose as a sign of good intentions, till these very scraps of fabric are turned yet again to shrouds.
To incite violence is horrible. To keep silent when violence is unleashed on you is worse still. It is not some drunken macho husband beating up his economically dependent wife. This is country which has a complete right to defend itself. Bleeding hearts kill. We need beating hearts.
The question before is is this. Many nations in the World are likely to come to ask us to put an alleged “peace” over our security. Are we going to continue in our vaunted Bheeshma complex, or are we going to guiltlessly, passionately ensure that Terrorism both in India and the World will be curtailed to the best of our ability? This can happen only when terrorists realize that the fitting reply to their aggression is not just words, but comprehensive and suitable action.
Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi was born the XII Princess of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.