Swaraj-The Rule Over Self

Thoughts shapeth a man.

‘Swaraj’ or the ‘rule over self’ is a wider concept and very different from ‘independence’ which simply means the ability to make one’s own decisions in life or to govern oneself. Swaraj is the moral fabric of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy which when achieved completely dispels the need for a system of governance, laws or a moral code for the society. It is self-restraint and self-imposed moral charter which compels one to do right without the obligation of a societal framework or the fear of punishment.

At the individual level swaraj is vitally connected with the capacity for dispassionate self-assessment, ceaseless self-purification. – M.K.Gandhi

Swaraj signifies a higher purpose which raises one’s soul-force to the level when one’s actions are dictated by a moral compass that is always pointing true north. It is synonymous with ‘Ram-rajya’ where there is no need for laws or punishment as everyone performs ‘self-checks’ and accordingly aligns their actions.

It is a practice or a way of living where-in one listens to their inner voice and regards it as supreme. In such a system there is no need to force down laws, dispense punishments or police the people as everyone is self-driven to be correct and true to maintain a light conscience and purity of soul.

In a world divided with moral codes and infinite ideologies, swaraj provides a path of recnocilation among differing planes of morality and code of conduct. It penetrates through physical and metaphysical existence and contributes to the overall establishment of a healthy and progressive society.

Me & My Religion

These days we have a ‘word’ for everything and one is bound to get strayed and lost in definitions while actual meaning fades. For my part, I am sure I will be incoherent throughout and you will have to grip me. I will dip partially in spirituality, mysticism, even occult, philosophy, metaphysics, science, art, history, politics, and a little bit of everything else.

A traveller in universe.

To think of anything else other than ‘be in awe of the great miracle we are in will be vain. To think upon questions like ‘where do we come from?’ and ‘where are we going?’, used to be my daily quest. To seeking a path, to experiment, and to explore. Lately, our lives have become a series of responses and reactions to things going on around us.

So, consider this: one’s goal in life should be to find one’s goal and when & if found should be to achieve that goal, and then look for another one until the last breath. Would you believe it if I told you that every other life form on the planet works its survival and eventually evolves this way.

I am not exactly the ‘ideology’ type of person. Looking at things unemotionally gives a brand new perspective.

Since we can think and communicate and use our minds to make things that do stuff for us, we can finally leave behind the worries of regular survival and use our minds to find the next great quest for mankind. We have come pretty far in that approach and are evolving progressively and remarkably well.

We finally have the freedom and leisure to look at our higher purpose, to listen to the inner calling, and finally answering the big questions like our collective purpose as a race. One must question one’s own purpose, actions, thoughts. words and their contribution to the universe and one must accordingly align them.

A pattern of patterns?

Honestly, that has been my religion always and I usually don’t give much importance to definitions. Let’s not get caught up in wordplay, because we are observers and not speakers.

In reality, we don’t matter because we are creative yet destructive inherently. Too much attachment to anything that you see, taste, smell, hear and feel here is toxic and nothing was ever said as clear as the fact that nothing is permanent except change. Adapt, evolve, adapt, live..die..live.die. and the cycle of energy plays on its rhythm. We are just passers-by trying to understand this strange journey perpetuating everything. If we look closely enough nothing could strike you more clearly except the fact that there is an elaborate pattern of patterns at work and the whole machinery thrives on a balance of energy as far as science puts human knowledge.

My ‘swa-dharma’ is that of a seeker, a leaf blowing in the wind, a wave in the water, and seeing that belief every day shine like the sun puts me at ease with my universe and connects my energy with that of the infinite pool around me. I seek the questions and not the answer, for me, it is not even about ‘where do we come from? and where are we going? and not even ‘why us?’ it is ‘WHAT!!?’

The Ordinary Is Extraordinary

Takeaway:

There are no epiphanies or
sudden bursts of enlightenment that will blow you away, but the true beauty of things and the true picture will become clearer when you observe deeply and without attachments, neither to the past; left behind, nor to the future; yet unknown.

It will be while you are doing the daily chores of your life, travelling to work  or just standing on the road and in that  instant if you merely live in the present, revelations will come from all directions. Doors will open and knowledge will flow in.

Every single moment has gems of wisdom to offer and take us to higher spiritual levels; it is up to us to select the moments  which we choose to live in.

Why is India Protesting?

Why is India Protesting?

“protest if you must, but do it in The Gandhi style”

Read my full article: here is the link >>

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-india-protesting-mayank-mishra

#ShameonBollywood
#citizenshipamendmentact
#ISupportCAA
#IsupportCAB2019

Rant

It goes on, the sting of not being a believer. It is the emptiness, a target which a mind needs most. In order to survive we all need one guide, one point where all our actions an thoughts converge. Finally giving me and my existence a purpose.
Somehow, this fire, this direction, this target is missing! It brings so much composure, it evokes no reaction. Nothing is extraordinary anymore or I have simply lost that perspective. Have you ever felt a sense of evenness where nothing can make you happy or sad,excited or dull, alive or dead, you control all that you do! I don’t know if this is god or bad, it feels like a superpower sometimes, others it is just a curse. Have you ever felt feeling nothing at all! I feel that everyday!

Aur, Kya Chal Raha hai ?

We all have heard that sentence, or spoken it on a regular basis, the dreaded ice breaker or a start to a conversation, “Aur Kya chal raha hai?” which roughly translates to “What’s up?” or “what is going on?”
Gone are the days when pleasantries opened conversations or the usual salutations like ‘it is a pleasure to see you again?’ or ‘How have you been doing?” , we straight jump to ‘aur, kya chal raha hai?’ This phrase in itself can be expressed in various ways. Interestingly, this question is seldom replied with a fitting answer. Mostly the reply is ‘kuch nahi’ or ‘nothing’. Amazing ways to converse these days!
The dreaded ‘Aur, kya chal raha hai?’ has haunted me from a long time, and ever since the commercials on TV picked up this punchline, I have come to despise it more and more. Already, there is a lack of imaginative mindsets and upon all that comes this ‘Aur kya chal raha hai?’

Freedom of Speech and Expression & it’s Violations on Social Media

Freedom of Speech and Expression & it’s Violations on Social Media

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” —- Evelyn Beatrice Hall [A Quotation often cited as the modern principle of freedom of speech]

The constitution of India has enshrined in itself a few fundamental rights, ‘Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression’ [Article 19(1)(a)] grants the people of India the most basic of all rights. The rights to express one’s beliefs, opinions and convictions without any fear in any form of writing, printing, music,art, painting,film etc. The foundation of a free society rests on an open flow of ideas and thoughts. This freedom to express encompasses a whole spectrum of liberties against suppression and regulation.

Such stated freedom is essential to create an atmosphere of open discussion which leads to an active participation in democracy and peaceful co-existence of diverse communities. This makes it a lot more crucial to preserve this right from violation or misuse. Celebration of free speech requires a policy and behavior of mutual respect than merely tolerating each other’s opinions. Social media is the most widely used platform to exercise this right. From negotiation to allegation, from chat to debate, from live cam to scam it is all happening out there. A status update, a tweet, a like, a comment, reactions, #tags. From celebrity sensationalism to widespread outrages, it is all laid out on the world wide web. This freedom and access brings many dynamic variables in the system, and so these rights are subject to certain restrictions imposed on print and electronic media. However, quite interestingly social media is far out of any regulatory scope of any such restricting laws or provisions. The First Amendment to the Constitution which was a result of journalist Romesh Thapar’s efforts, made on June 18, 1951, states that “interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with Foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence” will be paramount and freedom of expression will not be unconditional.

Rajshree Chandra a political science teacher at Janki Devi Memorial College, DU and the author of the book The Cunning of Rights: Law, Life, Biocultures discusses at length various examples of how powerful political figures like Adityanath Yogi (CM-UP) use the constitutional principle of “reasonable restrictions”– embedded in one or more of the IPC provisions of section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or reli­gious beliefs), section 124A (sedition), section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and section 505 (statements that clause “public mischief”). Section 292: Makes obscene publications (book, paper, pamphlet, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure or any object) an offence. The penalty is 2 years (first conviction) or 5 years (second conviction), and/or fine. Section 298: Penalises the “utterance of words” that might hurt the religious feelings of any person; the penalty is 1 year and/or fine.

IT Act of 2000 has been the subject of much debate, it’s section 66A criminalizes online communication that is “grossly offensive”, has a “menacing character”, or causes “inconvenience or annoyance”. Section 69A authorizes the government to block websites, through a set procedure, Section 79 deals with the online “intermediaries” – search engines, social media platforms etc. to “take down” illegal speech/content that users might have posted and are hosting. The Apex court in a landmark judgement has scraped Section 66A, upheld Section 69A and it upheld Section 79, limiting its scope by “reading it down.”

Heart of the Article 19 says: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” In a highly digital era and unprecedented speeds of connectivity we can share videos, hashtag celebrities, blogging, microblogging , YouTube channels are flooding the social media. Users generating and consuming content in high quantity must promote the practice of self check and research. Only real awareness of the responsibility that comes with these great rights can prevent their violation and abuse.

Judgments and case studies exhibiting the ‘Status-quo’ of India -on violation of constitutional right on social media sites.

–>>On March 25, filmmaker Sirish Kunder had a FIR registered against him over his tweets criticising the BJP’s decision to appoint Adityanath as UP chief minister.

–>>On April 15, the Delhi BJP lodged a complaint with the police against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for dubbing the Election Commission as Dhritrashtra!

–>>20 November 2012, Two girls arrested in ‘Bal Thackeray Facebook incident’, Shaheen Dhada posted a comment on Facebook wall on the demise of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thakeray regarding his death. Her friend ‘liked’ her content. They were arrested under Section 295(a) of IPC and Section 64(a) of IT Act, 2000. Granted bail after fine of Rs.15,000 each and written apologies.

REFERENCES:

http://www.indialawjournal.org/archives/volume3/issue_4/article_by_dheerajendra.html

“The Cunning of Rights: Law, Life, Biocultures” – Rajshree Chandra

https://www.legistify.com/blogs/view_detail/817-what-is-freedom-of-expression-and-speech-according-to-the-constitution-of-india

https://www.dailyo.in/politics/section-66-a-freedom-of-speech-expression-sections-69a-79-social-media-ceonsorship/story/1/2740.html