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Hans India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Colonisation of Sanskrit words: Distorting Dharma, Rashtra, and the soul of Bharat
Language shapes a civilization's worldview, and Sanskrit, the foundation of Bharat's knowledge systems, embodies millennia of wisdom. Colonial rule distorted key Sanskrit terms through Eurocentric and Abrahamic interpretations, reducing profound concepts like Dharma, Rashtra, and Swarajya to Western equivalents. This linguistic colonization misrepresented Bhartiya thought and disrupted societal structures and public understanding in post-colonial Bharat. 1. Dharma ≠ Religion Perhaps the most damaging mistranslation is the equating of Dharma with 'religion'. In reality, Dharma refers to the cosmic order, righteousness, duty, ethical living, and the path of self-realization. It is not tied to belief systems, deities, or dogmas. Dharma is contextual—what is Dharma for a teacher is different from that of a ruler or a child. It is a code of conduct embedded in time, place, and identity (svadharma). The Abrahamic idea of 'religion', based on exclusive truth claims, worship of a single God, and rigid institutional structures, is fundamentally different. By forcefully mapping Dharma onto 'religion', colonial and missionary forces created deep confusion, codified personal laws based on rigid texts, and set the stage for communal divisions. 2. Rashtra and Desha ≠ Nation or Country The Sanskrit Rashtra does not merely mean 'nation' in the European sense. A Rashtra is a sacred, cultural, and civilizational entity rooted in Dharma and shared spiritual values. It is not bound by geopolitical boundaries but by a consciousness—Bharat has been a Rashtra long before it became a 'nation-state'. The European model of a nation—emerging from treaties, colonialism, and power politics—views the state as a legal and administrative structure. This model was imposed on Bharat, diminishing its deep-rooted civilizational unity based on spiritual and cultural coherence, not political uniformity. Similarly, Desha simply refers to land or region, and was never a fixed nationalistic construct. By equating Rashtra and Desha with 'nation' or 'country,' we began to measure Bharat using foreign yardsticks, erasing the soul from the body. 3. Swarajya ≠ Freedom The word Swarajya, made famous by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and later echoed by Sri Aurobindo, was not just political independence. Swa-rajya means 'self-rule' at both individual and collective levels. It implies inner sovereignty—the mastery of one's senses, mind, and actions—as well as freedom from external domination. Colonial powers reduced Swarajya to mere political 'freedom', akin to European notions of liberty or civil rights. But Bharatiya thought considers freedom incomplete unless it is accompanied by Swatantrata (self-dependence) and Atma-nirbharta (self-realization and self-sufficiency). Today, even after political independence, the absence of Swarajya in intellectual, cultural, and economic spheres reflects a deeper bondage. True Swarajya begins with cultural decolonization. 4. Sanskriti ≠ Culture Sanskriti refers to refinement, inner evolution, and civilizational maturity. It comes from the root 'kr' (to do) with the prefix 'sam' (well) — meaning 'well-crafted' or 'refined behavior and thought.' Sanskriti embodies values, traditions, ethics, arts, sci ences, and collective memory rooted in Dharma. The English term 'culture' is often limited to external expressions—art, music, food, fashion, or festivals. It is secular, often aesthetic, and lacks the depth of inner evolution that Sanskriti demands. By substituting Sanskriti with 'culture,' we risk trivializing the soul of Bharatiya civilization, reducing it to 'cultural programs' or tourist-friendly 'heritage' rather than a way of life shaped by spiritual philosophy and lived wisdom. 5. Darshan ≠ Philosophy Darshan literally means 'to see' or 'vision'. In Bharatiya tradition, it refers to experiential systems of viewing reality—not speculative philosophy but intuitive insight into the nature of existence. The six schools of Darshan (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta) are both logical and experiential. Western 'philosophy' derives from philo (love) and sophia (wisdom), but is often academic, analytical, and detached from practice. When Darshan is translated as 'philosophy,' the spiritual and experiential core of Bharatiya knowledge is lost. For instance, Yoga is not a 'philosophy' or 'exercise' routine—it is a Darshan, a living system to experience and attain liberation (moksha). Reducing Darshan to speculative thought undermines its transformative potential. 6. Jāti ≠ Caste Jāti refers to community, often based on occupation, locality, and shared customs. It was never a static or rigid birth-based system. With thousands of jātis across Bharat, the system was fluid, and social mobility was possible. The British censuses and legal codes rigidified jāti into 'caste'—a term borrowed from Portuguese casta, meaning breed or race. This racialized the Indian social structure and created a hierarchical system that aligned with colonial control mechanisms. The distorted caste system we see today is a colonial construct, not a native one. By fixing jātis into permanent social categories, colonizers divided our society to rule it more easily. This division still exploited today for political gain. 7. Karma ≠ Fate Karma means action. It is a law of cause and effect, empowering individuals to shape their destiny through their actions, thoughts, and intentions. It places moral and ethical responsibility on every being. Colonial translators, unfamiliar with the concept, portrayed Karma as 'fate' or 'destiny'—a passive acceptance of suffering. This misinterpretation painted Bharatiyas as fatalistic, submissive people who accepted oppression as karmic justice. In truth, Karma is not about helplessness but accountability. The colonial view undermined agency and created the illusion that Bharatiya society was inherently submissive. 8. Guru ≠ Teacher A Guru is not just a teacher, but a remover of darkness (gu = darkness, ru = remover). The Guru leads the disciple on a spiritual journey, imparting not just knowledge but wisdom, transformation, and inner awakening. Western education views the teacher as an instructor, often limited to subject matter expertise. The colonial system replaced the sacred Guru-shishya parampara with formal classroom models, devoid of emotional bonding, spiritual connection, or ethical training. 9. Moksha ≠ Heaven Moksha is liberation—freedom from the cycle of birth and death, realization of the Self, and unity with the infinite consciousness (Brahman) which is the ultimate goal. 'Heaven' in Abrahamic faiths is a reward for belief and good conduct, often a physical paradise. By equating moksha with heaven, the colonial mindset turned a deep philosophical goal into a simplistic post-death reward. The colonization of Sanskrit terms was not accidental; it was a deliberate act of erasing indigenous worldviews and replacing them with Western frameworks. This has led to decades of misunderstanding among foreigners including Bharatvasis. Correcting the colonial distortion of Sanskrit terms requires educational reforms, responsible media and academic usage, active efforts by cultural institutions to decolonize vocabulary, and a shift in public discourse beyond colonial binaries. Reclaiming the true essence of words like Dharma, Rashtra, Sanskriti, and Swarajya is not just about language, it is key to Bharat's civilizational revival through authentic reinterpretation and not mere revivalism. (The writer is an Expert, Creative Economy)
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
India has risen: why the colonial powers fear New India in 2025?
A banner is displayed in front of Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to honour the Indian Army, The banner was organised by the Cricket Association of Bengal after 'Operation Sindoor'. In 2025, India is no longer rising. India has risen because of Sanathan Dharma. (SriAurobindo in his famous Uttarpara Speech – Alipore Jail) How India silenced Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack The terrorist attack in Pahalgam sent shockwaves through India. As the nation mourned the loss of innocent lives, the world waited to see how New India would respond. What followed was not just a counter-response - it was a calculated message to both Pakistan and the international community: India will not tolerate terrorism, and it will not stay silent. Swift intelligence operations Within hours of the attack, Indian intelligence agencies identified the handlers and routes involved. The response was surgical - targeted strikes on launchpads across the Line of Control, using precision-guided munitions. The Indian Army neutralized key operatives without escalating into full-scale conflict, demonstrating capability and restraint in equal measure. Diplomatic exposure of Pakistan India wasted no time in launching a diplomatic offensive. At the UN and other global platforms, Indian diplomats presented concrete evidence linking the attack to Pakistan-based terror networks. High-resolution satellite imagery, intercepted communications, and intelligence inputs were shared with key allies, exposing Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism. Countries that once offered Pakistan diplomatic cover were forced into silence, as global sympathy shifted toward India's right to self-defence. Economic pressure campaign India turned up the heat economically. It pushed for FATF (Financial Action Task Force) action, reinforcing Pakistan's grey listing by highlighting its failure to crackdown on terror financing. Trade privileges were reviewed, cross-border water-sharing discussions paused, and Indian influence was used to stall international aid and loans to Pakistan from multilateral institutions. The message was clear: Terrorism will come at a cost. Narrative control and media strategy India also controlled the narrative with clarity and confidence. Major media outlets were briefed with verified information. The global press covered India's calibrated response, while Pakistan found itself on the back foot - issuing denials with little credibility left. Quietly, without fanfare or confrontation, India has transformed into a strategic, economic, technological, and cultural force that can no longer be side lined. While Western media remains largely muted and politicians hesitate to acknowledge it publicly, internal reports and elite summits in the West tell a different story - one of concern, caution, and yes, even fear. Diplomacy rewritten: strategic autonomy India is mastering the geopolitical chessboard. It buys oil from Russia, partners with the US, builds ports with Iran, supports Palestine, strengthens ties with Israel, and maintains a delicate dialogue with China. This isn't indecision. It's strategic autonomy - refusing to be boxed into ideological alliances or Western expectations. India doesn't follow; it leads. Its refusal to blindly align during the Russia-Ukraine conflict shocked the West, proving India is a diplomatic force unto itself. Military might: self-reliant and strategic India is now one of the world's top military powers - not just by troop count, but through modernization. Indigenous missiles, stealth jets, nuclear submarines, and space defence systems are all part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)vision. India is no longer an arms importer; it's becoming an exporter. And with control over crucial sea lanes and satellite systems, it has become a formidable force in multi-domain warfare. India's retaliation: how the BrahMos Missile silenced Pakistan's threats India faced a familiar adversary - cross-border terrorism, rooted in Pakistani soil. Butun like in the past, India's response was neither delayed nor diplomatic. This time, it was precise, powerful, and unmistakably modern. At the heart of this response was one of India's most formidable weapons: the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Developed jointly by India and Russia, the BrahMos missile is the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile. With speeds reaching Mach 2. 8 to Mach 3 and the ability to fly at low altitudes, it is virtually impossible to intercept. Its pinpoint accuracy and deep-strike capability make it a tactical nightmare for enemy infrastructure. In the context of the Pahalgam retaliation, India used BrahMos to target select Pakistani military airfields believed to be either staging grounds or logistic hubs for terror-support operations across the LoC. Precision-guided BrahMos missiles were launched from mobile land-based platforms deep within Indian territory. Within minutes, runways, control towers, and hangars suspected of housing combat drones and radar systems were obliterated. Pakistani air defence systems, caught off guard, failed to intercept the ultra-fast cruise missiles, leading to widespread damage and operational paralysis. These strikes were not designed to escalate to full-scale war—but to send a crystal-clear message: India will destroy terror infrastructure wherever it hides, and with absolute impunity. Pakistan's Muted Response. Unlike past incidents, Pakistan chose an unusually subdued tone post-strike. The damage was undeniable. Satellite imagery and open-source intelligence later confirmed smoke plumes, scorched runways, and heavy military movement in the aftermath. Global media caught on, but Pakistan's official line remained evasive - unable to admit vulnerability, yet incapable of denying the impact. This silence was more telling than words. Shocked by theses attacks, the DGMO of Pakistan called the DGMO in India to stop the attack after 11 airfields were destroyed. Western Nations and China were shell shocked as the Richter scale showed the earth being moved in some parts of Pakistan. The use of BrahMos missiles signals a paradigm shift in India's counterterrorism doctrine. Precision strikes using high-tech, domestically produced weapons now replace prolonged diplomatic processes. India has the technological edge in the region. India will strike without crossing political red lines, using long-range precision assets. India does not seek war, but it will no longer absorb pain silently. Strategic geography: the gatekeeper of Asia India's location gives it unmatched geopolitical leverage - overseeing vital sea routes, internet cables, and trade corridors. With port partnerships and infrastructure projects in key regions, India is no longer just a participant in Asian geopolitics; it's the gatekeeper. To access Asia, counter China, or trade with the Gulf - you need India. A post-Western power and being bullied The West's anxiety isn't just about India's growing power - it's about what that power represents: a world order that no longer centres on Western approval. India is democratic, diverse, and increasingly self-reliant making it more unpredictable and, in many ways, more threatening to the old guard than even authoritarian rivals. And the world has no choice but to take it seriously. Gone are the days when terror from across the border was met with hesitation. New India responds with strength, strategy, and global support. By silencing Pakistan diplomatically, militarily, and economically after the Pahalgam attack, India showcased a model of modern counterterrorism - measured, credible, and unyielding. This isn't escalation. Despite a deceptive or fake ceasefire that was violated by Pakistan, the moral high ground of India in defending its borders and 1.4 billion people puts itself in the ethical realms of civilisation that the West tried to destroy through its colonisation and slavery. This is evolution.
News18
12-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Decoding Munir's Outbursts: It All Leads Back To Iqbal's Ideology
Last Updated: Mohammed Iqbal, often hailed as the ideological founder of Pakistan, laid the groundwork for its politics of division. Asim Munir's rhetoric today is a continuation of that legacy The leader of Pakistan's mercenary force, Asim Munir, delivered a series of rants in April—almost literally on the eve of the Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam—that exposed the country's repeated and desperate attempts to remain afloat and relevant. Rapidly sliding into the category of an extreme rogue state, Pakistan needed such a misadventure to justify its existence. Munir's outbursts reflect the very essence of Pakistan: a false state built on a fraudulent ideology that fuels its anti-human politics and calculatedly savage, almost animalistic behaviour. At the BRICS Summit in Goa in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without mincing words, aptly and presciently described Pakistan as the 'mother-ship of terrorism." Those countries and entities that have shown sympathy towards Pakistan must now realise that this 'mother-ship of terrorism" can easily come and dock on their shores as well. No one can be safe until the 'mother-ship" itself sinks. Let us briefly delve into the diabolic mindset that drives the Pakistani deep state. Asim Munir is merely a part—an ephemeral bubble—in the long, festering stream of diabolism that has oozed from the architects of Pakistan's deep state. From Jinnah's 'Direct Action" to Zulfikar Bhutto's infamous and irrational call for waging a thousand-year war against India, to Zia-ul-Haq's efforts in laying the deeper foundations of Pakistan as a radical rogue state with Islamism as its lifeblood—the pattern is consistent. Add to this the Yahya Khan-led Pakistan Army's genocide in East Pakistan, the mass killings of students and Bengali intellectuals, the elimination of minorities in the region, and the deliberate withholding of relief in the aftermath of Cyclone Bhola in 1970, which killed 600,000 people in one night. All are manifestations of a deep-seated, diabolical obsession with shaping Pakistan into the new epicentre of terror and radicalism. Two interesting episodes from history are relevant here for our discussion. In a rare meeting with Sri Aurobindo in July 1950, thinker, polymath, and leader K.M. Munshi (1887–1971), then Union Minister for Agriculture, recounted a striking remark made by the Sage on Pakistan. Recognising Munshi as his former student from Baroda, Sri Aurobindo granted him a special darshan and audience, during which they discussed both personal and national matters at length. Munshi records Sri Aurobindo as saying that 'Pakistan has been created by falsehood, fraud and force" and that 'it must be brought under India's military ambit." That very triad—falsehood, fraud, and force—remains the foundation of Pakistan, and this is becoming increasingly evident. The effects of Prime Minister Modi's deft, far-sighted, and sustained diplomatic outreach over the past decade are also becoming clear. Except for a few near-failing and anti-democratic states, no country is commiserating with Pakistan or falling for its false propaganda of victimhood. The other interesting anecdote from history is of the poet-laureate of Pakistan, Mohammed Iqbal (1877-1938). It bears reiteration now, in order to expose the minds and mindset which pushed for the creation of Pakistan. One of Rabindranath Tagore's foremost biographers, Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay (1892–1985), notes in Rabindra Jibana Katha that when Tagore arrived in Lahore on 14 February 1935 for a two-week visit, Iqbal—himself a native of Lahore—scooted from the city in order to avoid meeting Tagore. Iqbal's conduct was hardly surprising, given that he had already begun composing the subversive hymn of Pakistan. Why else would a poet decline the opportunity to meet Tagore, who by then had attained iconic status and symbolised national unity and cultural nationalism? Tagore's two-week stay in Lahore was nonetheless significant, particularly for his meetings with Sikh community leaders, who received him with great honour and appreciation. In 1935, at the time of Gurudev Tagore's visit to Lahore, Iqbal was already well into articulating his demand for a separate Muslim state. Historian Bimal Prasad notes that, in his presidential address at the twenty-first session of the Muslim League in Allahabad in December 1930, Iqbal spoke of concentrating the bulk of Indian Muslims in 'one specified territory." This, Prasad writes, 'contributed significantly to the evolution of the thought-process which finally culminated" in the demand for Partition. In a letter to Jinnah in June 1937, Iqbal asserted that the 'Muslims of north and north-west India, where they were in a majority, must have their own State, on the basis of the principle of self-determination." In his foreword to the booklet Iqbal to Jinnah, which compiled Iqbal's letters, Jinnah acknowledged that 'his views were substantially in consonance with my own and had finally led me to the same conclusions… and found expression in due course" in 'the Lahore Resolution of the All-India Muslim League, popularly known as the 'Pakistan Resolution'." Prasad argues that Iqbal's 1930 address 'strongly underlined some of the basic points which were later used as the main ideological props of Pakistan." By 1937, an ideologically possessed and driven Iqbal—having shifted focus away from his sublime poetry—wrote to Jinnah, 'I tell you that we are actually living in a state of civil war which, but for the police and military, would become universal in no time…" He also asserted that the 'idea of a single Indian federation is completely hopeless." Reporting a conversation he had with Jinnah around the same time, Lord Brabourne, then Governor of Bombay, recorded that Jinnah's policy was to 'preach Communalism morning, noon and night…" While PM Modi's vision of a 'New India" and of 'Viksit Bharat" is powered and driven by the vision, legacy and philosophy of the likes of India's poet laureate, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, and is based on his vision of unity and self-reliance, the dark and failing nightmare that is Pakistan continues to be shaped by its poet laureate, Iqbal, who spoke of division, separation, conflict and despair. Iqbal never articulated any substantial or enduring civilisational vision. Unlike Tagore, he failed to influence or shape global thought in any meaningful way. While Tagore is celebrated across the world, his relevance only growing with time, Iqbal remains entombed—trapped in a decaying sepulchre of his own making. That sepulchre continues to incubate and unleash anti-civilisational ideas and forces. The lies peddled by Asim Munir, like those of his predecessors, are churned out from that very death-bound vault. Alongside the physical resistance and response to the wraith-state of Pakistan, which must continue unabated, the battle of the mind and of ideas against its founding ideology must also persist with equal resolve—until that dark, nether, and nefarious sepulchre is permanently decimated. The author is Chairman, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, and a member of the National Executive Committee, BJP. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : deep state General Asim Munir Pakistan terrorism Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 12, 2025, 18:41 IST News opinion Opinion | Decoding Munir's Outbursts: It All Leads Back To Iqbal's Ideology
Scroll.in
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
From the biography: Mirra Alfassa aka The Mother's early days in India as a Frenchwoman
Stories written by Peter Heehs An excerpt from 'The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo's Spiritual Collaborator', by Peter Heehs.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Madhya Pradesh delegation to deepen collaboration with Auroville in holistic education and sustainable practices
A delegation from the Madhya Pradesh Education Department recently visited the Auroville Foundation to explore partnerships in holistic education and sustainable development. A press note from Auroville Foundation said the team, comprising senior officials and educators, engaged in comprehensive discussions on Auroville's unique education system, which aligns closely with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and emphasises experiential, out-of-classroom learning. In a virtual address, Jayanti S. Ravi, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat and Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, underscored the importance of spreading Auroville's integral education model — rooted in the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother — across the country. She expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for a deep and lasting collaboration with Madhya Pradesh. On the teacher training front, plans were envisaged to implement a cascade training model in Madhya Pradesh for over 2.5 lakh teachers. Auroville will train master trainers who will then impart training on holistic teaching methodologies throughout the State. A proposal for construction of Madhya Pradesh Bhavan in Auroville, a project originally supported by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also discussed in the meeting. This facility was envisaged to serve as a hub for long-term teacher training and collaboration. The discussions also focused on collaborative projects in green buildings, renewable energy, and sustainable community development. The delegation from Madhya Pradesh comprised, Kamna Acharya, Additional Director, Pramod Singh, Deputy Director, Sashikant Kubrelay, Assistant Director, Nishikant Joshi, Officer on Special Duty and Ashok Patke, Project Officer. Sanjeev Ranganathan, chairman of SAIIER, presented the core elements of Auroville's educational methods, which go beyond traditional academics to nurture every aspect of the child — physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. This included activity-based learning (sports, kinesthetic learning, experiments), arts and creativity (music, dance, theatre), emotional and social development (conflict resolution, leadership training), and higher-order thinking (intuition, moral reasoning, affective education). Auroville has offered to train 100 selected teachers from Madhya Pradesh in holistic pedagogy during summer vacation. The visiting delegation also toured Auroville's schools and met the trainers to explore future collaborations in curriculum innovation, physical education and teacher empowerment, the press note said.
