The title of this easy may lead the readers into confusion. It is not that I am writing a spiritual or religious piece of writing but my heart-felt annoyance and anguish on seeing blood of many innocents shed for no fault of theirs. Even to the devotees of God who have only thought for good and nothing else, their lives have not been spared in a day which they consider very auspicious, 'Janmasthami' the birth day of Lord Krishna. What wrongs have the children of 9 or 10 years done to our society? Why do they fall victims of such a drastic act?
It was yet another tragedy for a State of more than 24 lakhs of peace loving people. August 16, a national holiday as it was a day scared to the Hindus, a few thousand people who had been deeply enjoying with their hearts the 'Ras-leela' of Bhagawan Sri Krishna at the hall of ISKCON Mandir about five kilometres from Imphal city became victims of a terror attack that is unparalleled in terms of drasticity.
The tragedy which will be reverberated in our minds with contempt and fear for many days and many years to come has happened with the loss of many innocent lives. A powerful hand grenade hurled by unknown hands exploded and killed five people and more than 50 was injured some of them are still fighting for life.
One died at the spot, two on the way to hospital, one at the hospital bed and another woman fighting against death for more than 72 hours at last yielded to the altar of God.
What name should such type of crime be fitted in such tragedy. 'Beastly act from beasts'. This scale of terrorism has stunned the people of Manipur.
Manipur experiences for the first time such type of incidents: killing innocent people on religious festival days, an auspicious day for the believer of Hinduism. Our society has always been one of the most tolerant societies in the country.
Our society has allowed all the religions to not just exist but flourish. 'Holy' Christmas', Mera Hou-Chongba' Id, Gaan-ngai whatsoever the name may be there for ceremonial celebrations of any religion and belief of any community, all the Manipuris have enjoyed together.
We are proud of our tradition, culture, music and dance. But the recent happening and series of tragedies that happened again and again in the last several years forced us to ask ourselves a series of questions. Has our society become one of the most joyless, and perverted societies in the world, a place where women are raped and murdered, where bombs are ready to explode in religious places. Then a certain fear does not fail to creep in our mind that if these unwanted happenings happen again and again, what and where will be our direction in the years to come. There is no appropriate word to say what I want to say or what I am about to say. So I shall say it plainly 'It is very unfortunate' we have to end up only cursing our fate.
The Kaliyug in which we live, is supposed to be the worst of all ages. When evil rises its head, whenever the evils get a stranglehold in the society God comes down to this world taking the form of an 'avatar'. But it seems to remain only in Bhaghavat Geeta and not in real life.
O Krishna! You have said that those who adhere to dharma will ultimately emerge victorious. Today unrest and violence have gripped our society. O Krishna, please remind those who have carried out these heinous crimes that they are also human beings not animals. Having been born as a human being they should cultivate human values.
You have not come. What a pity! You will not come except in Ras Leelas. But that innocent child who has taken your part in the Ras Leela on the fateful day seriously injured in the huge blast and it happens just before your eyes and you remain as a mute spectator looking on all these scenes of strife with an unruffled calm.
O Krishna, if you happens to visit in this tiny State to fight against the demons like you did in Dwapuryug killing Kansa and many other demons then you would be in for a surprise here.
Kansa of our society today are neither great kings, nor dreaded demons. They have got no supernatural power and no spiritual strength. They have got no education though literate and have got no religion though belong to a religious community and faith. They are like mosquitos sucking blood from men and spread disease. In the name of serving society they sucked out the hard earned money of the innocents. They are far superior to Kansa and Ravana of mythology in killing and cheating their fellow beings. These people sometimes wear the attire of those man who have vowed to safeguard the country and its people calling themselves 'security' force. But they themselves-kidnap men, shot and kill them. Rape and kill women if they can.
O Krishna, where are you! We are keeping on waiting for you. We keep on waiting for Ram and his Ram Rajya which we will neither see nor experienced.
'Sankat me hai aaj a Dharti jisme to ne Ianam liya/ pura karde aaj o vaachan Geeta me jo to ne kiya/ Koi nahi hai tojabeen mohan bharat ka Rakhawala (The earth, where you have been born is in gloom. Fulfil the vow that you have made in the Geeta. No one is here except you Mohan, the saviour of Bharat)
Om Shanti! Om Shanti, Om Shanti.
Oinam Anand wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on August 21st, 2006
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