God And Ownership

Over the past 15 days the country celebrated Eid and Dusserah. There air was festive and the city wore a colorful look. It made me extremely happy to see a city that never sleeps and always on the run take a pause to celebrate life. But there was another thing that caught my attention. The increasing trend of ownership, i.e., mobs collectively exhibiting their might and right to own God.

I say this not in the sense of disapproving belief in God, but in the way these mobs usurp public property in their show of faith. I have always believed that God and one’s belief in the creator are personal matters to be practiced within the four walls of the house or inside a temple. But increasingly people are taking their beliefs to the street and forcing their way of celebrating God on others.

I don’t think God is interested in public show of faith; I don’t feel that God approves the destruction of public property to acknowledge his existence. I do not question the right of people to believe in God; even I am a believer. But I do question the right of people to resort to organized chaos to keep reinforcing their belief. My take: if you need to keep reinforcing your faith, then you are completely lost. And your claim of believing in God is hollow.

Do people think that holding public gatherings, blocking roads, littering roads with waste will make them dearer to God than someone who practices his faith in the quiet confines of his home? This Dusserah, newly laid roads have been dug to erect poles that hold huge cutouts of known politicians and wannabes with God mercifully finding a brief mention and/or a small space in one corner of the banner. Does that mean that the Politician has replaced God in the religious equation? I am not even counting the loss to the taxpayer who pays for repairs of roads and other public infrastructure.

I agree that we are a democracy and I am thankful for that. But does democracy mean everyone does as he pleases? What worries me more is the increasing blurring of lines between religion and politics. It’s been a while since politicians have been cleverly exploiting peoples’ belief in God to secure votes. But do they have to go to the extent of supporting and exhorting people in damaging public property? I guess that too works in their benefit; every time they relay a road or dig a gutter, a new contract is issued. That means added source of income for politicians and political parties through bribes and kickbacks.

I agree that in India corruption has reached a stage where legalizing it looks like a realistic solution than trying to eradicate the menace. Politicians feel that from my right to speak to the country’s right to vote everything should be controlled, and there is very little that the common man can do to prevent it. But trying to own, market, and sell God? That in my book is taking things too far.

Over the years what we have done is come this close to patenting God. We claim to protect God and fight for the need to ensure his longevity. Can someone please tell me that if God stands for Generator, Operator, Destroyer, then why on earth does the creator need our protection? Has creating the Universe and all of us depleted his energy to such a level that he is crying for protection?

The answer to all these questions is a capital NO. God does not need our protection nor does he demand public display of affection. If God is the creator, then by default he is our parent. And no matter how errant a child, a parent never wishes ill for his ward. So God is not going to punish us for not taking out processions, for not trying to protect him, and for not trying to spread his name by forcing our thought on others. God is God and needs no introduction, protection, or publicity.

So dear devotees, stop using God’s name to achieve personal goals, settle personal scores, and to try and prove there is no devotee better or bigger than you. You cannot please God or gain his love by causing trouble to your fellow human beings. Hence, please spread the message of love and peace; that will be the true way of expressing your love to the creator of the Universe.