Sacrilege by American companies

Two days ago, I came across a piece of news item. It said that an American company had introduced shoes bearing picture of Shri Ram. Few days back, there was some beer company portraying Lord Ganesh on the bottles, wielding a bear-bottle in his trunk as well as each of his hands. In the past, there have been news of American companies using Hindu deities to promote lingerie and commodes also.

Hold on people! what is this?

As an Hindu, this definitely hurts me. Lord Ram on shoes insults my religious feelings because I have been taught since my childhood that even entering a temple wearing your footwear is an act of disrespect to God. What troubles me the most is that this was not an inadvertent mistake. It was a deliberate thing. Using a deity to promote a religious cassette or incense sticks or such other items is understandable. But what business purpose does a picture of Lord Ganesh on a commode cover serve, apart from cheap short term publicity? I refuse to accept that the brains behind the designs of such products failed to foresee the repurcussions of their decisions. It simply doesn't sound logical that they didn't expect a particular group of people to be angry on seeing their worshipped Gods on footwear. Hindus will obviously not purchase such merchandise. And non-hindus in a hindu society would also not dare to do. Moreover, a non-hindu living in a non-hindu society, but with even one Hindu friend will not purchase such a merchandise because he would respect the feelings of his friend. Why then such cheap stunts on part of the companies?

In a movie, which if I am not mistaken, was "Eyes wide shut", verses from Gita were played in the backdrop of a love making scene. Though Gita or other Hindu scriptures do not denounce love-making, I consider the above act derogatory because I believe that portrayal of love-making in Hollywood movies has never been symbolic of male-female love. It is more a portrayal of lechery and is at best, avoidable. So what did the film-makers want to convey by playing verses from Gita? - That what was being done on screen was very religious? Even if those verses were preaching something useful, how many people in the west would have understood Sanskrit shlokas? And why were the verses used only during that particular scene? Blasphemy. Sheer Blasphemy.

Orientalism is an in thing in the west these days. And so western companies want to encash on this frenzy. But they need to respect the feelings of people of other ethnicities irrespective of their percentage of population in western countries. In todays world boundaries are only geographical. The above-cited merchandise may be marketed only in non-Hindu societies but the media will ensure that the news reach every corner of the world. Why create unrest when it could have been easily avoided in the very first place?

It is said that "common sense is the most uncommong thing." Seeing such acts of irreverence by business leaders the veracity of this saying becomes apparent to me.

Life is beautiful

These days are sending shivers down my spine. Every new day reminds me that I have grown up. Almost everyday requires me to ponder a lot over my life. Sometimes it is about CAT or GRE. Sometimes it is the India-abroad dilemma . CAT after BTech or CAT afte work-ex is another issue that baffles me. Placemets are a concern and so is BTP topic and the subjects to take next semester. Ah a little mind and so much to think about. This is just not cricket!

Situations are often such that I cannot consult my parents. All I can do at the most is to consult my friends which I often do not resort to and hence I am alone, weighing the options, struggling to convince myself that I am now capable enough to decide what is good and what is bad for me and hence the decision that I will take will ultimately do good to me. I once took a decision - of joining DA-IICT and not REC Surathkal or NIRMA or B.J. Medical Colelge. Yes, I solely took that decision without consuting anyone and I was just 18 then. A bold step and I am yet to identify whether what I did was the right thing. DA-IICT has indeed been a very good thing to happen to my life but I have no way of knowing as of now whether Surathkal or Nirma or MBBS would have been better or worse. And now, the issues with which I am faced, and I am sure everyone who reads this will also be facing them, are pretty serious. They will essentially decide who "Vivek Pabari" will be 10-15 years from hence. Yes, I am in the process of taking the first few steps towards giving a specific direction to my life. And am feeling the weight of responsibility over my shoulders.

But I often feel that it is just not possible to plan everything in life in advance. One has to live most of the life as it comes. All one can do is to plan at a broader level and be careful to learn from his mistakes and not to repeat them as he undergoes the rigours of life. Living in present is the best thing to do. And eye on future is essential but for the sake of benefits that may occur to one 10 years from now, one must not let go all the pleasures of present life. Some sacrifices are essential but think of someone who slogged through all the years of his youth to have an excellent career only to realise later that it was too lonely at the top. That neck-deep in studies and work, he had failed to develop any relationships in his student-years. That he had abstained himself from pleasures so much that he had now blunted his ability to enjoy. That he had not developed any passion that would rejuvenate him after a days hard work. That he had a beautiful wife and smart kids but had no time to spend with them because he was busy earning for them. So much in the name of success. I would rather prefer something else.

And so I think. But not to the extent that it makes me paranoid about my life. I think, I work and I pray. As a child, I was taught to pray not for material favours from God but to pray earnestly for "Sadbuddhi" - Positive intellect, "Sadnasib" - positive fate and "Swasthya" - Good health. A man who has these three favours shall have a happy life. Since at the basis of all our activities is a desire for happiness, it is imperative that as we think about our future we also look into our present and seek from Him aforementioned three gifts and carry ourselves such that we become deserving candidates for these endowments from Him.

Life is beautiful. Live it.