Spirituality and Spiritualism

Photo Credit: PixaHive

Spirituality represents a way of life where moral and spiritual values of compassion, kindness, charity, universal welfare and spiritual bliss is given prominence. In philosophy, life is said to be both material and spiritual. Material is the physical, bodily existence while spiritual refers to the soul, immaterial, value based and inward character, The practice of spirituality involves meditation, yoga exercises, studying of spiritual books, charitable services like donations for orphanages, shelter homes for the sick and the needy, animal shelters and inspiring others too. A person with a spiritual pursuit does not care about a material and luxurious life or belongings, he/she cares about the welfare and happiness of all the people coming to them thereby attaining spiritual satisfaction, bliss or happiness. Spiritual life is considered higher, more valuable and the real or ultimate destination of all beings. Some philosophies and cultures consider the spiritual character as the real character of living beings, the physical and material being outwardly or temporary. The spiritual growth and development are considered very necessary for each individual, society or a nation. A nation or society and even an individual build up on a firm spiritual footing will face and solve the problems coming ahead in a stronger, resolute and comprehensive manner.  

The soul is considered to be a part of the universal spirit or Brahman, in Indian spirituality. Meaning, the Universal Spirit, the Brahman controls, owns and conducts all the actions of the atman or soul, which is present in everything in this creation. We consider the consciousness as the manifestation of that universal creator, Brahman. Although, each being has a right to do his/her Karma but still it ultimately enjoins and submerges with the Universal Spirit. Depending upon the good or bad deeds the duration, effort of the Moksha will differ. Good deeds lead to easier and quicker, Salvation i.e. uniting with the Lord Supreme Soul or God. Bad deeds always toughen the path or delay it. The lesson of spirituality hence puts stress on the good and bad deeds that we do, i.e. Karma. A spiritual person endures a great deal of toil and hardships in pursuing his duties. He/she has not only to shun away from the temptations and attractions of worldly life but at the same time persevere, meditate and strive hard towards the spiritual development and bliss of all and every. From collecting funds and donations to giving them to the homeless, sick and destitute to the rigorous and strict regimen of meditations, prayers and rituals. Each and every spiritual person has to be more kind, compassionate, selfless and fully devoted to the happiness of the person he/she attends to.

Spirituality is often mixed with religion. In fact, both of them have many things in common but still are not the same. In most cases, these two aspects are often mixed up or fused to one. While the spiritual involves performing and practicing a moral, aesthetic and ethical means of life, religion is much more institution-like and controlled by hard and fast rules of decorum, hierarchy and rituals. Religion too preaches universal welfare and well-being but a more coordinated one. Spirituality is often more individualized, charitable and personalized. Strict dogmas and norms do not define it, rather the inspiration comes from the higher or greater purpose of happiness, wellbeing of all. No such bondages strictly exist.

Contrasted with spiritualism, spirituality involves a service and a charitable nature. Spiritualism on the other hand, means the strength of occult spells and magical practice and probably cures people of any disease or moves people towards something social, political or purpose oriented. Spiritualism is the essential character of magic-practicing and spell-casting people seen almost everywhere. Whatever might be the nature, spirituality has gained prominence in the modern society globally now, across all strata of economic, educational, cultural identities. Organizations like ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), The Chinmaya Mission, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Sri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, The Art of Living Foundation, The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, The Divine Life Society, The Ramakrishna Mission etc. being prominent. Spiritual values and virtues are very important in a materialistic world. Spirituality tells people to seek inner moral, social or universal happiness instead of being concentrated in the welfare of a few. Spirituality enables us to consider the entire world as a whole whose welfare lay in the collective progress and wellbeing. Spirituality imbibes some higher virtues that uplifts people for the service, welfare and progress of everyone.                   

Birth Centenary of Sudhakontho Dr. Bhupen Hazarika

Sudhakontho Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, also known as the Bard of Assam, was a legendary figure in the field of Assamese music, singing, filmmaking and culture. He was a leading figure in taking forward Assamese music, songs after the iconic duo of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Kolaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Sudhakotho in Assamese means the person with a sweet, melodious voice. Starting as early as ten years old, he sang as well as composed songs in Jyotiprasad Agarwala's films. Later on, he went on not only to sing but also produce, compose music, write as well as act in a large number of Assamese films, in Bollywood and in regional languages also. His composition of Dil Hum Hum Kare in the film Rodali sung by the legend Lata Mangeshkar not only attained national acclaim but also had won many national and international awards. Born on the 8th of September, 1926 in Sadiya the northern most part of Assam, he showed his musical talent at a very young stage. His father was Nilkantha Hazarika while his mother Shantipriya Hazarika. He was the eldest of his ten siblings, who were exposed to the world of music through their mother.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In 1935, his father moved to Tezpur, where he was introduced to Jyoti Prasad Agarwala a doyen in the field of Assamese cinema, culture and art along with Kolaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha through his Borgeet rendition (songs of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, the great Vaishnava saint of the 16th century). In 1936, he accompanied Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala to record his first song at the Aurora Studio for the Selona Company in Kolkata. Thus started his musical journey. He sang two songs in the Rupkonwar's film, Indramaloti released in 1939. Both of them were milestones in the Assamese music industry.

He studied at Sonaram High School, Guwahati during his early years and matriculated from the Tezpur High School in 1940. In 1942, he completed Intermediate in Arts from the famous Cotton College. He finished BA (1944) and MA (in 1946) in Political Science from the prestigious Banares Hindu University. He later

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

went on to study PhD at the Columbia University in USA and published his thesis -  Proposals for Preparing India's Basic Education to use Audio-Visual Techniques in Adult Education. He joined the Guwahati University as a Teacher upon returning to India. But fate had other things planned for him. Soon he left his job and went to Kolkata for his musical career. He made films like Shakuntala - a National Best Feature Film in Assamese Award winner - in 1961, Pratidhwani etc. His association with the legendary civil rights activist Paul Robeson inspired him to compose the famous song Bistirno Parore. His song Manuhe Manuhor Babe translated in Bengali almost got selected as the national anthem of Bangladesh. In total he had composed music for 31 Assamese, 14 Hindi, 15 Bengali and a few other films in Karbi, Bodo and Mising languages. He had directed seven Assamese, one Bengali and one Hindi film. He also wrote a large number of children's books too.

He had received numerous state as well as national, international awards. He won the Best Music Director award at the National Film Awards in 1975 for Chameli Memsaab, Gold Medal from the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Friends of Liberation War Honour, Bangladesh, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1992, the Asom Ratna Award in 2009, the Padma Shri in 1977, the Padma Bhusan in 2001, the Padma Vibhusan in 2012, the Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest civilian award in 2019. He was active politically also. He was a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1972 from the Naoboicha constituency. In June 2011, he was hospitalised at the Kokilaben Dhiruben Ambani Hospital, Mumbai where he breathed his last on the 5th of November 2011. In a career spanning decades, his songs, music and films surely have made an indelible mark not only on the Assamese society but also in the national art, culture and music world. He is one of a few geniuses whose voice mesmerized people in every Bihu function of Assam swaying across the vast length and breadth of the state cutting across barriers of language, caste, creed or place.   

The Kanvar Yatra in Sawan

Every year in the holy month of Sawan (usually between July-August), devotees and followers of Lord Shiva embark on a yatra (journey) carrying pots, pitches of holy water from the rivers and shower them on Shivlings and idols of Lord Shiva and offer prayers for welfare, wellbeing and good fortunes in their lives. Sawan being the birth month of Lord Shiva - the God of Reliever and Rebirth is believed to be auspicious. We can please Him by offering holy water from the river Ganges or its branches, pure milk, leaves of Bel (Bilva tree), blue-coloured Dhatura flowers, haldi, ash, honey or other flowers.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwara is the supreme among all deities and are revered by Hindus worldwide. Lord Shiva is the Salvator - Destroyer of evil, pain and suffering thus providing the way of Resurrection, Rebirth, Salvation and happiness or prosperity. Lord Shiva is also called Bholenath meaning the innocent deity one who can be pleased with a measly offering of pure water and leaves of Bel. According to the holy texts, the Sawan month is said to be the birth month of Lord Shiva. Hence, it is believed that offering prayers and worship on this month enables one to receive His blessings easily. The history of the Kanvar Yatra according to Professor Devi Prasad Dubey of the University of Allahabad can be traced to the 1700s, when pilgrims and devotees would carry the holy Gangajal from Sultanganj to pour it at the shrine of Lord Vaidyanath in Deoghar, Jharkhand. By the 1960s, the yatra gained popularity and spread across north India and other parts. Now, it has come to be India's largest annual religious gathering with an estimated 30 million devotees arriving in 2023 and 2024 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Devotees come from neighboring states like Delhi, UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, MP etc.

Photo Credit: Easy-Peasy.AI

The Kanwar Yatra is named after the Kanvar pole (made of bamboo) with two earthen pots, hung alongside each shoulder, filled with the holy water of the rivers to be showered on Shivlingas in temples or other places. The Kanvar-carrying pilgrims called Kanvariyas bear a great deal of physical as well as psychological toil in the process. They have to take vegetarian food or fast completely, bath and start early - before sunrise - dressed in saffron dhotis, kurtas or shawls and walk bare-foot to the rivers. They chant Bole-Bom or Har Har Mahadev or devotional songs all along. The government and local authorities also arrange for easy route by diverting regular traffic along with providing security or medical aid to the needy Kanwariyas. NGOs and voluntary organizations offer drinking water or fruit juices to them. Since a large number of yatris participate yearly, it has become a popular as well as an aesthetic occasion now. The yatra is held on Monday for the entire month of Sawan. 

However, increasing modernity has changed the yatra to more pompous now. DJ bands, professional singers on top of trucks or trolleys sing all along the route. Right from the night before such music starts which probably hampers the sleep of the people living nearby. Moreover, alcoholism and other addictions also add to the chaos. Hooliganism can also be seen there, sometimes leading to violence in neighborhood shops, public property, river sides etc. These are definitely not acceptable. Well-organized and disciplined yatra and arrangements for same is the need of the hour. Since, the participation of the youngsters is more in the yatra hence a sense of devotion and religious sacrilege is very encouraging. The yatra is meant to show our dedication, devotion and our faith in the Lord. We have to be fully immersed on the same and no other. The mercy, blessing as well as the faith will bring us peace, progress, success as well as prosperity both in our personal, social or our public lives.

Emergency in 1975

The Emergency last declared on 25th June, 1975 midnight on grounds of threats to our national security, completes 50 years this year. It was declared by a Presidential Proclamation by the then President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of our then Prime Minister and iron-handed leader Indira Gandhi. In the year 1971, India had defeated Pakistan in the war and liberated East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Post war, the country's economy was in shambles. Drought started leading to a severe agrarian crisis. In 1973, the Oil Crisis of OPEAC, lead to high inflation in prices of oil adversely impacting our economy. Moreover, internal political unrest had developed a crisis where the proclamation was none but imminent. There were assassination attempts on several public personalities, and our own Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishraji was brutally killed in a bomb blast at a railway station. The opposition led by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan alongwith Morarji Desai started massive protests against the leadership of Indiraji after her loss in the Supreme Court case on electoral malpractices against Raj Narain. Opposition leaders and activists organised daily protests. On the 25th of June 1975, JP Narayan organised a large rally in Delhi and incited police and defence personnel to disobey. Also, due to the railway employees strike led by George Fernandes, the entire rail network had come to a standstill. Student protests on fees in Gujarat as well as in Bihar were fuelled by leaders like JP Narayan and others. Hence, the internal security situation in India had turned volatile. There were calls from the ruling Indian National Congress Party for a Presidential Emergency to prevent any further deterioration. Thus, ultimately at midnight on the 25th of June, 1975, President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of Emergency. 

Photo Credit:Wikimedia Commons

Almost all the major political party leaders were arrested and imprisoned including JP Narayan, Morarji Desai, George Fernandes, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vijayraje Scindia, Charan Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Raj Narain etc. All forms of strikes, dharnas etc. were crushed down heavily. Elections to the Parliament and the state governments were postponed. Freedom of the Press was suspended and newspapers, magazines etc. were almost stopped except for a few. In the meantime, the government came up with the 20 Point Economic Programme for getting the economy out of the abyss. Increase in agricultural and industrial productivity, improvement in Public Services, fighting Poverty, Illiteracy through strict discipline. Several Ordinances were passed for the same. The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed that empowered the government largely. Apex Bipartite Committees were formed by government at the Centre and the States for creating councils of workers, employees. 

The good part during that time was that inflation had eased greatly. Due to the good monsoon that year, followed by the resolution of Oil Crisis, inflation in food and grains eased. But, after March 1976, inflation started rising again to abysmal levels. Tax exemption for lower earning groups was a welcome step. Moreover, tax breaks for the higher income groups i.e. Rs. 8000-15000/- also helped collections. Wealth tax was cut. Income tax was reduced by 11%. But, the shortfall was compensated well by cuts in welfare related expenses. Demolition of slums in major cities like Delhi and also in Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra for the urban renewal program spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi were carried out. To reduce the population increase, sterilizations, sometimes forced were carried out.

There were criticism as well as support for the imposition of the Emergency. Prominent newspapers protested by printing blank editorials. Books were written on it. Political leaders, were divided in supporting or opposing it. The US government disliked but diplomatically kept silent. While the Russians supported it and Mrs. Indira Gandhi's actions then. The Emergency lasted for only 21 months from 25th June 1975 to 21st March 1977. About 1 lakh people had been arrested. Despite being a dark period in India's history, it must also be remembered as a time to consolidate on our unity, political and economic development as well as to admire at the firm-handedness of our great leader Smt. Indira Gandhi.