Modi’s Israel Visit a New Era of Hindu-Jewish Unity

Why does a tiny besieged Nation, Israel, raises heartbeats of Indian Statesmen? Why are India-Israel aggressively romanticizing relationships, when India is overtly pro-Arab and Israel a hardcore anti-Muslim state?

The roots of India's anti-Israel stand goes 7 decades back when India and Israel got their independence in 1947 and 1948 respectively.

Just after independence from British, out of anti-British-American disposition, because of centuries of servitude, Jawaharlal Nehru, first prime minister of India moulded India into Pro-Muslim-Communist-Soviet state, while Israel became American surrogate in Middle East.

After decades of isolation from Israel under Nehru-Gandhi regime due to pro-Arab policy, Impotent India socialist government, after the collapse of USSR in late 1980s, keeled down to United States, and the route they chose was none other than - Israel.

When USSR failed to aid India against economic and military crisis during 1991-92, India felt obliged to bow down to US via appeasing Jewish state.

In-spite of dramatic shift in India’s foreign policy, as a Pakistan's closest ally, US, seemed reluctant to help India economically and militarily in early 1990s financial crisis, leaving India with only one time-tested option for advanced and affordable military technology- Israel.

Amid all odds, Indo-Israel ties began to gain some momentum during Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004), with then Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh (2000) visiting Israel followed by first visit of an Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2003.

However, all the advancements in bilateral relations made by BJP government were reversed with the return of UPA-1 (Left-Liberals) between 2004 and 2014. Nonetheless, imports of weapons and covert exchange of intelligence information continued.  

The string of bilateral visits has been resumed with the comeback of BJP government since May 2014, and has once again paved a way for rise of two pre-historic civilisations.

In last 3 years of Modi government, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh, President Pranab Mukherjee and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj have had been to Israel, while Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon visited India.

As we celebrate silver jubilee of Indo-Israel ties, let’s hope Narendra Modi’s 3-day visit (first by an Indian Prime Minister) to Israel starting from July 4 would take the Hindu-Jewish unity to greater heights to lead the world.

Simhastha-Kumbh Mela: Planet's Largest Spiritual Gathering Concludes

Hindus largest congregation on the Earth 'Ujjain Simhastha 2016,' (Kumbha Mela) organized in every 12 years, finally concludes with millions of devotees taking holy dip in the sacred river of Kshipra in ancient and religious city of Ujjain.

In month-long festival, hundreds of thousand believers and spectators coverage from several parts of the world not to just take holy dip (Snan) at the ghats of Kshipra river, but to witness one of the greatest incidents in human history, and the waves spirituality sweeping the Nation.

The Mela is more exclusively known for Naga Sadhus, who after remaining imperceptible from world in deep glaciers of Himalaya for 12 years, gather for royal bath at various akharas at banks of river in hundreds of thousands.

Such a massive gathering at one place is in itself an epitome in the world of management, revealing the mindboggling organizing capacity of India, where population of more than any European country gathers every day, in an unbelievable uncluttered way.

In Hindu mythology taking holy dip at any of the Kumbha Mela once in a lifetime is revered as most sacred event, believed to relinquish people from all worldly sins.

Simhasth Kumbh is one of the four 'Kumbh Melas' celebrated by biggest spiritual gathering on the Planet. Simhasth Kumbh Mela is based on the celestial line-up of Planets and the Signs of the Zodiac, which occurs every 12 years.

'Kumbh' in its literal English translation means 'Pot', which emerged from 'Samudra Manthan'(Churning of the Ocean) between Gods and Devils and the term ‘Mela‘ signifies'Fair'.

Kumbh Mela is held at four places in India i.e Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nasik. At Haridwar it is held at banks of holy river of Ganges, while it is organized at confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and spiritual (underground) river Sarswati in Allahabad.  In Nasik and Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) Kumbh is held at sacred river Godawari and Kshipra respectively.

At Ujjain, Kumbh Mela is specifically called 'Simhasth Kumbh Mahaparv' because the Sun (in Sanskrit Surya) is in the zodiac Aries ('Mesh' in Sanskrit) and the Jupiter (Brahaspati in Sanskrit) is in the zodiac Leo (in Sanskrit 'Simha') when it takes place. There are ten unique and uncommon yogs which exist and facilitate the organizing of Simhasth Kumbh Mahaparv.

The periodical event has also socio-cultural significance in Indian (Hindustani) civilization, where since ancient times, Sadhus and Spirituals Gurus assemble for one month in intensive brainstorming cogitating séance for the conscious and emergence of humanity and world. The gathering assembles in every 3 years during Kumbh Mela at one of the places by rotation, for reassessing the amelioration of ideas churned out for welfare of humanity before meeting at Kumbh gathering on12th year.

Paradigm Shift in Indian Polity

 
Anna, AAP and 2014 elections have transformed the Indian polity forever. 2011 Anna Anti-Corruption Movement, 2012's overnight rise of Aam Admi party (Common Man's Party) led by Arvind Kejriwal and Modi's solo elections 2014  have triggered a paradigm shift in the Indian politics as never before.

Well-coupled with social media, the rise of Anna Hazare, Aam Admi Party and Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party in past 4 years have threaten deeply all the erstwhile oligarchs of Indian politics.  Specifically, revolutionary rise of these two parties in 2013 and 2014 polarized the Indian politics drastically.

                                                           © elections.in

Such was the effect that some the political dynasties like Congress, SP, BSP, JDU, LJP were shaken out completely from waves of these parties, while CPI, CPM, were rooted out from their very roots in 2014 elections. Other regional parties also faced set back in different regional.

Amalgam of all these factors aired a new kind of political environment in India as never before. Almost all the political parties have appeared directly or indirectly as opposition to ruling party, in the vengeance of defeat.

Anyhow, this has given rise to profoundly strong but fragmented opposition against on party.

However, it cannot be ruled out that each and every political party have had their vote banks whether it is on sectarian or caste based. And almost all the political parties no matter national or regional Sectarianism and Casteism as their trump card for election. If Congress, CPI, CPM lured Muslim voted then, SP, BSP, JDU and LJP had casteism bank policy. But collectively all these parties have been pro-Muslim voters since their inception. 

On the other hand, BJP which has an image of Hindu nationalist cannot even won support of Hindu voters in India, due to its radical approach in previous elections.

However, a lot of research and wiring have been done on what I mentioned above. What naïve that I noticed in recent years is that, after being feared to protect their existence, all of these parties discovered another new and trivial kind of politics.

Political debates are necessary for sustaining the democratic values, but in such a trivial way was never a feature of Indian polity. 

The situation have become so worse, that even a single move of ruling party (BJP) or PM make their ears erect to exploit  it for political gains.

And amidst the war of rat and cats media plays a role of broker grabbing whatever both sides thrown on their mouth.  Moreover, advent of social media has given another tool for such political blame game.

As a common man, I am not taking side of any political party, but it is extensively true that such cheap political have never been part of India.

Common man is somewhat getting frustrated from such cheap polity of such intellectuals who are elected to shape their fate. These parties are creating communal hatred among people, which lives happily with each other.

These politicians must first consider themselves as Indian no matter what religion and beliefs they share, and stop dividing the people of India.  First British divided us on the basis on religion, cast and north and south and ruled and now these politicians have inherited those traits.

No country has copyright of any religion and their followers.  Not Saudi Arabia has copyright of Islam, India have Hinduism and Israel has Jews. All is first – 'Humanity'.

Like Diwali, Jews Celebrate 'Hanukkah'

                     "Hanukkah is Jewish Festival of Lights, as Diwali for Indians" 

Lighting up houses with bright candles, chanting songs of victory and peace, distributing sweets and gifts and wishing each other well-being and prosperity, this is how Hannukah is celebrated, also known as the Festival of Lights. Surprisingly, this festival significantly resembles the iconic Hindu Diwali.

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Candles and Diyas symbolic of Festival of Light | © abhinabahtt and chosenpeople.com

Diwali Festival

Diwali is another festival of lights observed for five days in India by Hindus. There are many similarities between the two. The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, is celebrated for eight consecutive nights sometime between late November and late December – determined by the Hebrew calendar – in Israel and by Jewish people all over the world. Hanukkah could be called the ‘Jewish Diwali,’ celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil since ancient times.

Diwali Celebration | © Pradip Mahato/Flickr

In India, the festival of lights, Diwali, usually falls in October and November – determined by the Hindu calendar – and is celebrated by the lighting of Diyas(lamps/candles) in and around the house and windows, wearing new clothes, preparing special dishes and sweets, opening festive crackers, and giving or receiving surprise gifts from relatives and friends.

In the same way, Hanukkah is celebrated with lightning of candles on the menorah(a candelabrum with nine branches) followed by the chanting of songs and the distribution of presents.

Hanukkah Lights | © Djampa/Wiki Commons 

Both festivals owe ancient importance, in their respective religion, to instances of war and victory, of good over evil. As per Hindu mythology, Diwali is celebrated in the name of Lord Rama (Hindu God) of Ayodhya, after his victory over the evil Ravana, when the people of Ayodhya lit lamps to celebrate his return and illuminated the whole city.

Diwali is observed for five days substituted by other small festivals including Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali (Small Diwali), Diwali, Gowardhan Pooja and Bhai Duj.

Hannukah Traditions

The story of Hannukah is the remembrance of the Jewish victory of over the Syrian-Greek Army and reclaiming of the Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem over 2,100 years ago. You can visit the sites from the story still today.

Hanukkah Celebration © Rebecca Israel/WikiCommons

The story is that the army struck the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, leaving them with only enough oil to light one day, but that it stayed lit for eight consecutive days and nights, once they had won the war. This is why the Jewish people light the menorah using a single candle (the shamash), and commemorate Hanukkah to the mark the miracle that the oil lasted, by lighting candles from right to left each day from one to eight. They also eat deep-fried traditional dishes to symbolize this.

Diwali and Hanukkah, celebrated throughout the world, are the reflection of victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.