Rituals are often seen as the remnants of our undesirable past – a baggage which, as a society, we failed to unload. They are often linked with the continuance of many ills that societies face. But it is important that we understand their context prior to rejecting them.
Faith is many things to many people. Faith is the elixir that keeps the ball of humanity in motion. Faith is God. Faith can move mountains. Faith can split the sea. Faith is belief. Faith is also a notion.
Everyone knows that Lord Shiva killed an elephant to resurrect his son. But have you ever wondered what happened to the elephant that was slayed for this divine resurrection. Why don’t we ever talk about that?
If one is willing, it is not tough to empathise with this stark reality of our times. A reality so real that it has made us numb! A reality that seems to have snatched away our basic ability to reason and think!
Being born a Brahmin in not a matter of choice, but Brahmanism is. Till now I have failed to put across this point well. But it is an essential dialogue so here I am, trying it again!
Societal values are not constant. They not only keep changing with time but are also manipulated, to benefit a few. There is no better means than poetry to expose these inherent contradictions within a society.
