This value orientation is unique to our civilization. Ram derives popularity through his adherence to Dharmic virtues and this makes him Maryada Purushottma. This is essentials of dharmic values universe. Mahabharata the greatest epic ever conceived by human mind is not a story of royal feud, it is primarily concerned with establishing right values in society. Thus we see the basic story comprise of very small portion of the epic and majority of Akhyaans and Upakhyaan teaching imparting some moral teaching. In comparison despite some basic similarities the Greek Epics like Iliad appear mainly war-plunder and love story. Another noteworthy thing is that the dominant Western Abrahamic value universe is successful owing to brute power and control of nature and external elements. The frontier of growth for them has been armament and industrialization. Indian thoughts spread with Brahmans, Sramans, traders, artisans and their works.
Lack of character and ethics visible among today’s political class and bureaucracy has its root in progressive rationalism that has utilitarianism, anthropomorphism and equality, liberty and remnant religious thought of Abrahamic tradition and experiences of Western civilization like Renaissance, French revolution, Protestantism etc. We have observed a sharp decline in morality, ethics and virtues in our personal and social life ever since independence. The political leaders, their personal and family life are too well known to people close to them and journalists etc.; one can safely give benefit of trust to all rumors that one come across about some political personality. If we closely observe the deeds and life style of sons, brothers and daughters of politician and even bureaucrats, we find power hungry psyche given to all sorts of corruption and vices. It has ceased to bother us anymore. Many of them are personally God fearing and even ethical in their conduct but feel nothing wrong in getting illicit advantages and bribes. Their India is totally disconnected from Bharat which for them is source of plunder and loot.
This is not limited phenomena. Education bereft of values has made elite and so-called intelligent, educated class useful idiots and Gungadins. They have internalized the anti-dharmic values fully and it is reinforced again in academics and popular culture. Thus we find moralist stands from IITs and IIM students with rare exceptions. It has left them incapable of understanding the differences with ‘us’ and ‘them’. They condone all historical wrongs of aggressors at a drop of hat and go round and round condemning their own tradition for its real and imagined faults.
This effect of secularization and so-called westernization of education has been disastrous on our generations. Owing to their anti dharmic political bias progressive rationalist value order undervalued the role of time tested values. The economic model developed on this thought process has sidelined sacred and sustainable ecological perspective and replaced it with industrial agriculture, animal farming, exploitative policies as to land and sea resources. This all destruction is going on in name of rational, progressive and scientific temperament.
The only way to break this vicious circle seems returning to roots; rediscovering our tradition, its values and knowledge system form original source itself. Today we need concerted efforts of investing our energies and resources earnestly for its revival in our personal, family and social life. All riches and achievements are not worth a penny if it is attained at cost of our identity and values.
