Last week I watched Mirch, a movie by Vinay Shukla who also directed National Award winning movie ” Godmother”. The movie stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Raima Sen, Shahana Goswami,Arunoday Singh, Shreyas Talpade, Rajpal Yadav and Boman Irani.
Raima Sen looked stunning in the story from Panchtantra
This movie exposes the hypocritical attitude of Indian male and it also shows that though we have moved from ancient times to modern times but things are still the same.
Raima Sen, Shreyas Talpade with director Vinay Shukla
Something very daring, refreshing and sexy! The way in which the director tackled the subject is rather brilliant. Though, it could very well become the cause of indigestion for Indian males but the fact is that Indian society was far more open in its old days.
In Mahabharat , when Pandu suggested Kunti to begot their sons with the help of different Gods , he gave reference of a story of vedic era. He suggested that women were free to move according to their will in Vedic times when people were highly intellectual and learned and marriage as an institution were introduced only later by a saint named Rishi Shwetketu who was not happy with some incidents occurred in his life.
One thing, I couldn’t resist to say that I hated the publicity campaign of Mirch. Mirch is a visual treat! They created a beautiful ancient India in the Panchtantra story. Compared to that, the posters of Mirch were a BIG let down. I hope that these publicity mangers learn something about their job and become able to do justice to the efforts and dream of a director.
Anyways, it was refreshing to see women on driving seat in Vinay Shukla’s Mirch. Its a must watch , do not even think to miss this masterpiece.
I am proud to be an Indian. I am proud because I know the fact that India is a land of sacred saints and have a great cultural and spiritual heritage. India is a country who discovered some of the basic mathematical, scientific and medical facts thousand years ago and told the world the meaning of society and culture. This land is birthplace of many philosophies and spiritual teachings.
But yes, I also understand that being proud on something which happened thousand years back and facing the fact of today is two distinctly different issues. Blind faith and empty proud lead one to destruction and India need to see the reality of today. We can not hide behind our faith and run away from truth. Truth is God, even greater than God and truth must prevail on cost of anything.
Chhindwara shuts down over deaths in Asaram’s school
Here I want to tell you a story of an ex- disciple of Asaram. It has nothing to do with mysterious deaths of children in his Ashram but still an eye- opener. Let’s hear it in his own words……
I can say that I was always spiritually curious and I do not give Asaram credit to awaken this spirituality in me. Before meeting him, I had thoroughly read about the lives and teachings of great saints like Neeb Karori Baba, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanda, Swami Sivananda , Sai Baba and Swami Samarth.
My spritual urge was looking for someone whom I can see, meet or listen on physical level and Asaram was a complete package for people like me.
In fact, I was a quite ripe fruit who fell in the lap of Asaram after listening to his spiritual discourse which I found was a good combination of teachings of all the saints whom I already read. I thought that I also found my Guru in Asaram at physical level. This decision changed the course of my life and I wasted some important years of my life. I feel that I am lucky one who lost trust in his teaching in few years and re-structured my life once again but I wonder for his followers who never want to see beyond his teachings.
I am great fan of books written by Swami Vivekanad and Paramhansa Yoganand and feel fortunate to get a chance to go through the books of these great teachers. Though Asaram always seems to speak about God and his existence but he manipulates these teachings to propagate his own persona and make people to believe only in his Guru which he is himself.
Asaram says that this whole world and all relations are nothing but illusion. So what a disciple should do? He should join his Guru’s ashram and start doing services for his Guru.
True, this is something from Vedas. But the fact is that this truth which is called knowledge of “Vedanta” is not for everyone. The great saint ” Ramkrishna Paramhansa” selected only 16 disciples to give them the knowledge of Vedanta. These disciples renounced the world and accepted the path of God and we can see how these disciples spread his teaching all over the world. Asaram go to every city and speak about the “Vedanta knowledge” to lacks of his followers. But none of them has become a “Swami Vivekanada”.
But yes, his own son has been graduated to call himself God. Is one not enough ???
I would also like to tell you what Paramhansa Yoganand ji said in this regard, ” The world and spiritualism both are important. This is duty of every human being to strike a balance between his/her worldly duties and quest of God. If you ignore one for another Mahahmaya ( the great Goddess who run this world) will punish you.
Paramhansa Yogananda Ji
Asaram’s other teaching is that Guru is greater than God so it’s ok if you worship the Guru and forget the rest. Never have a doubt on your Guru and just do not argue if he says something.
On the contrary, Ramkrishna Parmhans never tried to curb the analyzing power of their disciples and he always encouraged them to develop their own personality. He always told his disciples to keep an eye on the activities of your Guru. You must know that if his a true Guru or fake one. When Vivekanada asked Ramkrishna the question if he had ever seen the God. He replied ,” Yes and I can also show the God to you.” and He did.
How many Asaram’s disciples has seen the God ??? I didn’t. I am not sure about Asaram and others.
Asaram does not give importance to formal education and says that everybody should learn about the God.
True, but again this is not a fact for worldly people. The most of the today’s world facilities we are enjoying are result of this formal medical, technical and other worldly education. Sant Asaram and others Guru in the same league didn’t waste their time in formal education but they extensively use today’s technology for weaving their web.
Asaram says that sexual desires are door of hell. Even husband and wife should stay away from each other so they can save their magnetism and aura.
Our Vedas says that dharam, arth, kaam, moksha ( spiritualism, money, sex and salvation) are four important duties of every man in this world. I accept that a saint should stay away from money and women but worldly people make their world around them. These are the inspiration and reason for progress of world.
This world is also made by God. The fact is that all great saints leave a wave of great selfless work behind them to make this world a better place. Running away from this wold is no solution to anybody.
I learned the truth hard way. Life is gift from God , we must respect it.
Last week I saw some images of Bajrang Dal activists who blackened the face of a couple on Valentine day. The couple in love were looking very distressed and our moral police activists were standing there proudly as they have saved the India from some nuclear attack. It’s really very disappointing to see such images in India who is looking forward to a prosperous future. I don’t know why our administration falls every time to save the basic human rights of freedom of ours citizens. The bajrang dal activists were disturbed as Valentine day is copy of western culture and they think that western culture is something very dangerous like an epidemic.My question here is if our Indian culture is so week that it could be threatened by an expression of love ( or whatever it is ) of a couple.
My second question if we really know what is the Indian culture. Does it stop us to be a liberal society? According to the Vedas kaam (sex) is one of the most important purusharth ( Spritual duty of a man) which comes only after Dharma (religion) in order. If we go by history, we will find that Indian culture is something which always advocate the basic right of freedom of an individual.
Our history tells that not long but just before thousand years back, we were a very liberal society. Even sex was not a taboo subject like these days for us and we were a very happy and prosperous society. According to the historians, Mughal and British invasion changed our view toward the sex completely and we turned into a most hypocrite society.
Come on , Let’s admit it that we are not honest to ourselves. When we spit our venom against western culture on Valentine day, we forget that our technology, movies, TV entertainment , dressing , Internet all are gifts to us from this culture. Tell me why we should be so proud to be an Indian. Please don’t go to the Vaidic period and start telling me what our great forefathers had done. They were really great and they didn’t had time for petty politics and other time wasting exercise. women were free to dress whatever they want and we definitely were not a sex starved society in the Vaidik period like today. Molestation of a decent woman in Mumbai by dozens of goons on New Year eve is an example of our dual faced society. In fact, in some parts western culture is following the rules which we actully discovered in Vaidik period and see their progress. See the health, welath and lifestyle of people of west. These countries are among the most prosperops countries in the world while we have even forget that we are humans.
Are we able to provide to all our citizens clean water, non polluted air and hygenic food? No.
Are we able to provide every children of India that high standard of education and an environment to grow their personality? No.
Does our society treat our women with respect and diginity and protect their rights ? No. In fact, we need to take some lessons from west when it comes to improve our lifestyle as an educated society.
My point here is why we are wasting our time in these useless activities like Valentine protest and some political rally which is being organized to fulfill the political ambition of a corrupt leader. Instead, we can devote this time to improve ourselves as an individual and as a society. I am sure that this will make Lord Bajrangbali more happy.
As a matter of fact, lord Hanuman ( Bajrang bali) carried the message of love of Lord Ram to Mother Sita and helped her to destroy her sorrow. I think Bajrandal “Anti Valentine” activists can take a lesson from this episode. Obviously they will say that couples celebrating valentine day are not Sita and Ram but Doesn’t Hanuman ji see only Sita and Ram in this whole universe?
Lot of his followers is asking my why did I leave him. Here, I will tell you my story. Please visit the link below to see my earlier post on same subject and related comments.
My earlier post about Asaram disturbed ardent followers of him and I understand and respect their feelings. I would like to clarify that my purpose was not to hurt anybody’s sentimets and I wrote this personal blog just about my own experiences. If others are having a good experience with him and they are enjoying his company, I do not tell them to follow my views.
I also want to tell these followers if you consider him and his son as God then why you become restless when you read one or two article against him? Your Guru has lacks of followers and if one of them like me do not agree with you, take it easy , my friend! I hope that these are not your most hidden insecurities.
As the time changes , everything changes. Rule of Jungle is not allowed anymore in this world so show me some patience and tolerance as I do in my writhing. Give rest to your conspiracy theories, there is no money , no foreign hand behind my article. As one follower said this article is all about my frustation. True friend, this is all about the frustration of the years, efforts and energy I wasted.
The fact is that I was also like you few years back and it was hard for me to hear the criticism of Asaram but I never choose to respond in violent manner as you people do.
Somebody cursed me that these are my bad deeds in past who forced me to leave Asaram but I do not want to talk about what I do not know. I am a man with brains which God has given to me as precious gift. How long I could ignore what I see and hear? Sorry friends, I am not as good Guru Bhakt ( great disciple) as you. I already read in Ramkrishna Paramhans’s book that if you choose a wrong Guru, you should be ready to bear all his deeds.
OK, I would like to share with you what incidents forced me to leave Asaram as my Guru.
During listening to his discourse about some incidents, I felt it many times that what he , his son and other are talking is not true as I already had my own studies of scriptures and books. For example this one incident Mr. Kuldeep Bhardwaj wrote in comments of earlier post. He wrote that Vivekanada once drank spit, saliva, sputum of Ramkrishna Pramhansa to prove his devotion (Guru Bhakti). This is no true . I have read “Ramkrishna Leelamrita” and “Ramkrisna Leela Prasang” , ” Vivekanada Literature” and other books related to his life not once but at least 50 times. I have never gone through an incident like this while reading these books. This is blatant lie. Vivekanda was most logical and strong willed person of his time, he always had freedom to speak freely in front of Ramkrishna and was never afraid to speak his mind even if it means to contradict his guru. But Ramkrshna never threatened him that it will be bad if you open your mouth in front of his guru. The fact is that when “Ramkrishna” was on his death-bed, Vivekanda doubted him if he really is the supreme soul. Ramkrishna immediately looked into his eyes and told him that he should not doubt. ” One who came as Ram and Krishna before, comes as “Ramkrishna” this time. And this is not by the logic of Vedant.”
My friend the purpose of a Guru is to clear doubts of his disciples. If somebody says that do not doubt on what you see and hear and if you are doing so, you are insulting your analyzing and logical power which is given to you by GOD.
I request you to read some of Ramkrisna- Vivekanada stories published from Ramkrishna Mission to know more about their Guru- disciple relationship.
Yeah, when we are talking about Ramkrishna Mission , I would like to speak one more doubt which troubled me for years as Asaram disciple.
When Vivekanada became successful and got an opportunity to do something good for this world, he created an organization and named it ” Ramkrishna Mission”. Asaram insists his followers to worship theirs Guru ( Himself ) but he never built an Ashram on the name of his guru ” Shri Lilashah Mahraj ji”. All his Ashrams are called “Asaram Ashram” not ” Leela Shah Maharaj Ashram” .
In fact, I got a chance to visit the Ashram of ” Leelashah Mahraj” . This Ashram is in Nainital near Hanumangarhi Neeb Karori Baba’s Ashram. I saw that Master Leelashah’s ashram was in pathetic condition.
I do not want to comment further.
One more reason for my doubt was told to me by his ardent follower at my local place who donated his precious land to Asaram. I also contributed in his efforts with my articles in daily newspaper “Dainik Jagran” but when the Ashram was built with money donated by followers, poor fellow was kicked out from there. He told me that he was threatened by the Ashram’s manager that he should not be seen nearby the Ashram. The follower who had considered him as his God once was shattered. If you want, I will give you the name of person and place for further clarification.
Last blow on my faith was posters of not so classic movie I saw in my city in year 2004. The movie was called ” Kalyug 5000″ and Bapu was there on the posters with the words, ” Everybody should see this movie”.
I thought what the hell ???? ” What my Greatest God, my Guru, Absolute soul and Greatest truth is endorsing a C grade movie? Enough is enough. I quit, Guruji”
When I read the story of great saints like Shrdi Sai Baba, Swami Samarth, Ramkrishna, I realize that they all lived a simple life with least facilities. Their fame spread like the smell of beautiful flower which is a natural process. It was never an organized movement like we see here.
In one of his Meditation camp in Ahemdabad in !997, he declared that he is even bigger than any incarnation because he is absolute soul. I wonder if he can make this claim so confidently after deaths of innocent children in his own Ashram. Where was his powers when his own followers and their children were having threat on their lives?
( I again clarify that this post is all about my personal experiences and beliefs. If one choose to disagree, I understand but filthy , abusive and threatening laguage is simply not allowed)
We are tired of reading and listening the news that Raj Thackeray is made hero by a well thought out plan by media and central – state government. Will it work as an advantage or disadvantage to his image or his party or Mumbai is a matter of debate but here I want to focus on a very different aspect of this whole issue.
I had been a great fan of Amitabh Bachchan since my childhood and I have seen that one scene of movie Deewar innumerable times where he enters in the den of goons and locks the door. I could not forget the way he fought and won the fight with bare hands. This is only one scene of one movie. We all have grown up watching these kind of scenes from Bachchan’s movies. This was the time when we had literally no exposure to outside world and we were left to select very few options when it comes to choose our idol. Thanks to exposure to world cinema that now we know that even the immortal Gabbar Singh learned to laugh from the villain of “ For Few Dollars More” a Clint Eastwood ‘s movie . Copying has become a little difficult these days. Now we immediately know when we see a shameless copy of Denzal Washington’s “Men on Fire” when we see Amitabh Bachchan in “Ek Ajnabi”.
Anyway, what I am trying to say that Amitabh Bachchan was like a God to us and we were fascinated by his image of a fighter of truth. But again , life teaches us a lot of lessons and one of them is that it is very difficult to find a real fighter. I don’t expect a person to fight for his life but at least a person as powerful as Amitabh Bachchan can speak a few word of truth. It is so ridiculous when Amar Singh speaks on behalf of Mr. Bachchan. I wonder that all the lengthy dialogues which I remembered and repeated so many times was nothing but just empty words which do not have even a .001 % reality.
On the other hand when I see the fruit vendors, vegetable vendors, cab drivers and auto riksha drivers in Mumbai who never stopped to exist even for one day, I admire their courage and fighting spirit. They were working as usual and as normal in the middle of all that insult, violence and a national crisis. They didn’t ran away from Mumbai with their families. They were there to fight the battle of life and livelihood with all courage, patience and non violence.
I am grown up now. I know that they are the real heroes. It does not matter if they didn’t lock the door in the den of goons.
Rahul Katyayan . com
Because, one can not stop to exist 
