Scholarship Above Division and Differences

 This narrative of mine is not about praising one religion or culture or tradition above others. It is not about me being from a specific religious or cultural group. It is not about me preferring one of them above the other. This is about an inspiration I got. It is about a speech by a person that gave me a clear indication that wisdom, scholarship and personal charisma are above the divide created by color, creed, culture, religion, tradition and social norms. 

This is about a speech I watched on YouTube by Mr. Arif Mohammad Khan, the Governor of the state of Kerala in India. Being a learned Muslim, he is talking about the Bhagvad Gita, Hindu Traditions, Sanatan Dharma and the ancient wisdom of sages, Vedas and other scriptures. 

I was specifically struck by his level of insight into the ancient Indian wisdom, its cultural heritage, the tradition of empathy, righteousness, faith and selflessness. In modern age of interracial, interreligious, interstate bigotry, mistrust and cutthroat attitude, his speech almost shocked by its level of prudence and logic. Not because I am happy that my Hindu faith got support of a prominent Muslim. Not because he talked about what I consider important. But because he was inquisitive enough to delve so deep into the tradition of a different faith and because he was not prejudiced by the increasing level of animosity between the two faiths. I was also struck by his courage in coming to a gathering of Hindu scholars and delivering his amazing discourse, to the awe of the audience. That the audience was mesmerized was evident from the constant applauses he got and the look on the faces of the audience, whenever the camera got time to pan to them. 

Discourses like this, on any side out there and on any topic that can be of common interest, can help bring people together. They can help people step into others' shoes and perceive the world from others' perspective. That, after all, can lead of greater tolerance and acceptance. What else can be more needed and relevant for the contemporary world?

Friday 16 September 2022

आँखाहरू

 संसार देख्ने आंखाहरु

संसारले देख्ने आंखाहरु

पानीले सजल आंखाहरु

शुष्क र शिथिल आंखाहरु ।

सपना देख्ने र देखाउने 

आफ्ना चिन्ने र चिनाउने 

सुख र दुखका क्षणमा 

नीरले डबडबाउने आंखाहरु ।

टेढिएको भौं मुन्तिर 

विस्फारित परेलिभित्र 

आक्रामक चम्काइसंगै 

क्रोधले रंगिएका आंखाहरु ।

सप्रेम र सरस अनुहारमा 

द्रवित ओठको कम्पनमा 

अतिशय करुणाभावसंगै 

लोलाउने प्रेमी आंखाहरु ।

प्रश्नै प्रश्नको अविरल वर्षा

हृदय छेडुंलाझै तीखो हेराइ

कमजोरीमा प्रहारनिम्ति  

सज्जित शिकारी आंखाहरु ।

धुलोमा लुलो काया थाम्दै 

किञ्चित कंपित हात थाप्दै 

अलिकति दयाको आशमा 

भयभीत भिखारी आंखाहरु ।

यता उता लक्ष्यहीन भौतारिंदै

टार्न भाग्न भगाउन खोज्दै 

आंखामा आखा नमिलाउने

ढीठ कर्मचारी आंखाहरु  ।

दम्भ, रवाफ र क्रोधसाथ 

होच्याउँदै हप्काउँदै थिच्दै 

मै खाउँ मै लाउँको जप गर्दै 

अन्त्य विर्सिने शासक आंखाहरु ।

धमिलिएको क्षितीजतिर 

हत्केलाको छायाले छेकेर 

हरदम सन्ततिको बाटो हेर्ने 

एक्लिएका बुढ्यौली आंखाहरू ।

चर्मचक्षुभन्दा धेरै भित्र 

हृदयको गहिराइमा स्थित 

अनेकन भोगाइले भरिएका 

सदैव खुल्ने अभौतिक आंखाहरू ।

मनको कुरा मौन बोलिदिने 

अव्यक्त भावहरू व्यक्त गर्ने 

व्यक्तित्व देखाउन दर्पणरुप 

वुझेर बुझ्न नसकिने आंखाहरु ।   

 

सोमबार २० भाद्र २०७९ (५ सेप्टेम्बर २०२२)