Skip to main content

Space for philosophy and metaphysics in order to address the scourge of terrorism

By Prof Sudhanshu Tripathi* 

Does ancient Indian approach towards violence (sic terror) is esoteric and metaphysical? Yes it sounds so; but to say that these are futile is something ignoring the reality. As we know that this mundane world and human beings therein are the beautiful mix of the two – temporal and metaphysical, or matter and idea, just like as human body consists of soul and body. Without body, the soul is indeed worthless and vice-versa. In fact, both matter and idea are complementary and supplementary to each other. How can the existence of soul be negated just due to lack of scientific and verifiable knowledge to comprehend it? May be in future, we become capable enough to understand all those unknown phenomena that are today unverifiable and hence useless. Obviously any knowledge, in order to be complete and worthy to serve the humanity, needs this harmonious mix of both idea and matter.
In fact, it needs a thorough understanding of philosophy and metaphysics so as to explore the inner core of ancient Indian scholarship with inherent mysticism. Because our sages and seers in ancient India were the masters of the mysterious Universe due to their awakened knowledge about Truth, visible in the harmonious balance that Nature reflects around us. That sometimes disturbs as natural calamity due to unbearable human folly and knavery. But it is not that one day there will be the total destruction or complete devastation, if such brute and selfish exploitation of nature continues unabated. The recent Covid-19 or several earthquakes or tsunami in the past may be cited here to substantiate the argument.
It is, therefore, necessary that a space for the philosophy and metaphysics must be allowed in our temporal living and that we find in growing awareness in the West regarding benefits Yoga, Meditation, Heartfulness etc. to beat persisting mental stress and consequent corporal fatigue. It is this approach of the desired mix that can genuinely address the scourge of terrorism as well. Of course, it won’t result in immediate success but its continuous and consistent practice with patience will definitely show the expected result. However there won’t be a total terror-free society because both virtue and vice are primeval instincts and inherent parts of human nature; or five fingers in a human palm are not same.
Hence, psychic healing of terrorists along with awareness about life purpose and soul journey through education including constant vigil and alertness, prevention and post-terrorism management, apart from moral teachings and religious preaching, vegetarian diets and simple and sahaj (natural or spontaneous) living may be prescribed to remove the mental blockages lying therein in form of a-reason and pre-occupied rationalities or mind-based rationalities in terrorists as reasons of terror.
However all these prescriptions don’t ask for discontinuing preventive, deterrent and coercive measures against terrorism, until and unless the terror phenomenon really decimates to negligible, except oft-occurring petty quarrel or disputes. In a nutshell, state terror, mass-repression and retribution have their own limitations. Instead, the mix of both reformation and deterrence including alertness and preventive measures be practised to win over the menace of terrorism.
---
*MDPG College, Pratapgarh (UP)

Comments

TRENDING

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra*  The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

Uttarakhand tunnel disaster: 'Question mark' on rescue plan, appraisal, construction

By Bhim Singh Rawat*  As many as 40 workers were trapped inside Barkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of the 4.5 km long, supposedly completed portion of the tunnel, collapsed early morning on Sunday, Nov 12, 2023. The incident has once again raised several questions over negligence in planning, appraisal and construction, absence of emergency rescue plan, violations of labour laws and environmental norms resulting in this avoidable accident.

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Dowry over duty: How material greed shattered a seven-year bond

By Archana Kumar*  This account does not seek to expose names or tarnish identities. Its purpose is not to cast blame, but to articulate—with dignity—the silent suffering of a woman who lived her life anchored in love, trust, and duty, only to be ultimately abandoned.