Suttur Mutt Seer shows the way to our politicians, corrupt, incompetent, self - centered and lacking in leadership qualities. Politicians here are the MLAs and MLCs, the law - makers. Sadly, a large number of them, nay all of them, are less into law-making and more into transfers, appointments, land notification and denotification, grabbing government controlled enterprises like kerosene distribution, petrol pumps; granting contracts on commission, getting their share of quota in allotment of sites (both housing and industrial), HIG and MIG houses meant for the poor and the have not which they sell at a premium denying the deserving beneficiaries the benefit etc. The list is endless.
Our Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji is in a way an enlightened Swamiji among the many we have. If he has commercialized the higher and professional education it is to use that money for the free education at elementary, primary and even higher primary schools with free shelter and food. I don’t think in a poor country like ours any sane person will grudge our Swamiji for what he is doing in the field of education, an academic revolution at all levels of studies that draws into the world of learning all section of the society, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, rich or poor.
That’s a right step, a dynamic and bold step in the direction of universal education for the good of all, for the good of the mankind per se. Unfortunately, while doing this pioneering, visionary activity, the Mutt is criticized for ignoring its traditionally accepted role as a practitioner of religious rituals and purveyor of spiritual knowledge amongst its adherents and Seer's followers. Because of the hype in publicity the educational activities of the Mutt gets, as is natural at a time education is all important to all parents, the other role of the Mutt in guiding people towards God and spiritualism gets eclipsed. Certainly, Mutt's Godly and cultural activities are also going on side – by - side with its educational activities. Only ill-informed do not know this.
I know Suttur Mutt has varied cultural and spiritual activities taking place at its premises here in city as also at other places all the time year after year. Therefore, it is not surprising Sri Swamiji decided to hold a 3 - day introspection session for our MLAs and MLCs. The camp is intended to put our politicians (who came to attend) through yoga, meditation and a dose of spiritual and ethical medicine for all their ills from the menders of human minds like Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation, Dharmasthala Dr. Veerendra Heggade, noted social worker Anna Hazare, Planning Commission member Kirit S. Parikh and no less a person like Magsaysay awardee Prakash Amte.
I wonder why Swamiji forgot to include the two most important persons whose sermons to this gathering would have had the same effect as that of the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus. I am talking about Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh Hegde and Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy. The former would have spoken about the evil of all pervasive corruption among politicians. After all corruption like water flows from higher level to the lower level. If the flow stops at the top it stops down – the - line too. And the latter would have spoken about the other evil that is all pervasive among our politicians’ vote bank politics and communal politics (of course, knowing Dr. URA he would have emphasised communal politics relegating the vote - bank politics to the rear recesses.
This morning I opened my morning English newspaper “Deccan Herald” only to find a wish - expression by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev who inaugurated the session. “Country needs enlightened leadership”. A pious wish from a pious man, nay Godman. Who does not agree with him? I am with the Greek philosopher Plato who said; ideally a country should be ruled by “philosopher – kings” in his ideal world. According to Plato, "The only character capable of ruling a just society must be one with a passion for truth and who has achieved the greatest wisdom or knowledge of the good." Be that as it may, I am unable to agree with Jaggi Vasudev's idealistic opinion. After all our leaders (politicians) too are humans like those ruled by them. I would, with all humility, make this small amendment to what the great master Jaggi Vasudev said what our country needs today is leaders with enlightened self - interest. Forget about the “enlightened” politicians or leaders. They are as rare as hen’s teeth. Too utopian to be able to find them. But we can certainly find leaders with enlightened self - interest. They will not be totally corrupt or cruel to the peril of the society as they are today.
While they shall have their self - interest well taken care of, they will also take care of the good of the society. Among such leaders I would include former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy who, though suffers from the self - inflicted stigma of being a Vachana Brashta (betrayer) and also of political corruption like his predecessors, seems to be a person bold enough to admit that he is not a “honest enough” person to talk in the seminar.
Kumaraswamy realises the evils of corruption and dishonesty that are deep rooted among our politicians, himself included. At least to that extent he is honest, unlike others who display a shameless ostrich behaviour burying its head in sand pretending the hunter does not see it!
Remember, we are the only country in the world where all politicians are rich and voters are poor. Rich, anyway, don’t vote!
If prayers can move mountains, as Bible says, prayer should also be able to remove corruption and violence in our State. So, let us pray.
Amen!
