Sri Sri Ravishankar has his heart in the right place, but he's not thinking things through.
The World Culture Festival that is going to take place over three days - March 11, 12, 13 - has already generated enough controversy to last the country for a whole year and maybe after that as well, but that isn't really what is needed now. And in India, culture is religion and religion is everything. Each and every aspect of our 'culture' is drawn from religion.
Having faith is a good thing, but that doesn't mean that faith takes precedence over everything else. In this case, the Yamuna floodplains which have been taken over by the preparations for the event have led to the uprooting, or cutting, of numerous trees that hold the soil together and prevent widespread flooding during monsoons, but has also damaged the homes of many birds that were commonly seen around there.
Prior to the massive ugliness being erected on the floodplains, one could spot Black Kites perched on pillars sunning themselves in the cold mornings waiting for their wings to dry and then take to the air, lifted up by their mighty shoulders and thence soaring even higher on thermal currents. Over the last two weeks, I haven't seen a single black kite in that area.
The land on which the World Culture Festival's stage has been set up was once home to many species of tiny passerine birds which have now been made homeless by the wanton construction there. What's worse, the pontoon bridge that the army has set up for the event floats over the waters of the Yamuna and is in an area that was once home to waterfowl of different species.
The Okhla bird sanctuary is just a stone's throw from the venue for the event. Think of the damage the incessant noise - generated by people, loudspeakers, generators - of three days of events and the garbage that 35 lakh people - yes, that's the number of devotees expected to visit the event - will generate and how badly the environment there will be damaged. The Yamuna is already polluted, the water birds that live around the place are already feeding in poisoned waters - a tragic situation considering that it is in the heart of the capital of a country. The only wildlife seen around there these days is animals that walk on two legs, wear shades and clothes. Oh yeah, there's also some elephants, but it seems Medusa had a go at them and they are now all rock! I even saw a beheaded head (?) of a suitably decked pachyderm lying around there with his eyes pointed to the skies urging the gods to smite down the ignominy being built there.
The river is already dead and now with this event, we are going to kill or get rid of whatever lives around the river. In a city that is already suffering from immense pollution, we are inviting lakhs of people to come visit the event over three days. Sign boards have already been erected even in Gurgaon directing people to the venue. (This, chidren, is called Mass Madness, or March Madness) Think of the pollution levels that the city will have to face. Delhiites would do much better if they were to take a day off from work on Friday and get out of the city for three-four days.
In a tweet Sri Sri says, "I appeal to all parties to not politicize the #WCF2016. It is to unite all cultures, nations, religions & ideologies. Let's come together!" I ask you, what is the point of uniting when there's nothing left to live for? When you've already killed Mother Nature and there's nothing left to save? Isn't that redundant to what our ancient texts and holy books teach?
In the end, religion will not save you. In fact, the only thing that could have had the power to save you - Mother Nature - is being slowly but brutally killed with your religion and by holding such events.
The problem with us Indians is that for us, religion comes foremost. We don't think twice before setting up a pandal and going all hammer and tongs in praise of the lords who, I am sure, if they exist and have some semblance of common sense, have noise cancelling earplugs stuck firmly in their ears and are ignoring the praying, pleading masses.
For us Indians, religion is something that we need to do in and with the public. How else will one get recognition for being "very religious"? Looking at the jamboree that is going to take place between March 11-13 on the Yamuna floodplains, the sadhus of yore had it all wrong when they went into the jungles to meditate and find god. If only they had had the foresight and the knowledge of putting up some loudspeakers and a dance floor with some DJ playing some hip number with some Mandakini dancing in front of him, he would have attained nirvana or moksha sooner. Alas, those sadhus wasted their lifetimes living in the jungle, meditating atop a rock, unfortunately getting their butts bitten by red ants or suffering some other ghastly fate. Amateurs, I tell you. The modern day Babas have perfected the art of religion down to a science. And that science is pretty much evident right here in Delhi with the World Culture Festival. Or #WCF, if you please. Yup. It's the age of twitter/facebook/instagram religion where your karma gets counted with #es!
Beat that, you sadhus of yore!
RIP, little birds of Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Yamuna floodplains.
The World Culture Festival that is going to take place over three days - March 11, 12, 13 - has already generated enough controversy to last the country for a whole year and maybe after that as well, but that isn't really what is needed now. And in India, culture is religion and religion is everything. Each and every aspect of our 'culture' is drawn from religion.
Having faith is a good thing, but that doesn't mean that faith takes precedence over everything else. In this case, the Yamuna floodplains which have been taken over by the preparations for the event have led to the uprooting, or cutting, of numerous trees that hold the soil together and prevent widespread flooding during monsoons, but has also damaged the homes of many birds that were commonly seen around there.
Prior to the massive ugliness being erected on the floodplains, one could spot Black Kites perched on pillars sunning themselves in the cold mornings waiting for their wings to dry and then take to the air, lifted up by their mighty shoulders and thence soaring even higher on thermal currents. Over the last two weeks, I haven't seen a single black kite in that area.
The land on which the World Culture Festival's stage has been set up was once home to many species of tiny passerine birds which have now been made homeless by the wanton construction there. What's worse, the pontoon bridge that the army has set up for the event floats over the waters of the Yamuna and is in an area that was once home to waterfowl of different species.
The Okhla bird sanctuary is just a stone's throw from the venue for the event. Think of the damage the incessant noise - generated by people, loudspeakers, generators - of three days of events and the garbage that 35 lakh people - yes, that's the number of devotees expected to visit the event - will generate and how badly the environment there will be damaged. The Yamuna is already polluted, the water birds that live around the place are already feeding in poisoned waters - a tragic situation considering that it is in the heart of the capital of a country. The only wildlife seen around there these days is animals that walk on two legs, wear shades and clothes. Oh yeah, there's also some elephants, but it seems Medusa had a go at them and they are now all rock! I even saw a beheaded head (?) of a suitably decked pachyderm lying around there with his eyes pointed to the skies urging the gods to smite down the ignominy being built there.
The river is already dead and now with this event, we are going to kill or get rid of whatever lives around the river. In a city that is already suffering from immense pollution, we are inviting lakhs of people to come visit the event over three days. Sign boards have already been erected even in Gurgaon directing people to the venue. (This, chidren, is called Mass Madness, or March Madness) Think of the pollution levels that the city will have to face. Delhiites would do much better if they were to take a day off from work on Friday and get out of the city for three-four days.
In a tweet Sri Sri says, "I appeal to all parties to not politicize the #WCF2016. It is to unite all cultures, nations, religions & ideologies. Let's come together!" I ask you, what is the point of uniting when there's nothing left to live for? When you've already killed Mother Nature and there's nothing left to save? Isn't that redundant to what our ancient texts and holy books teach?
In the end, religion will not save you. In fact, the only thing that could have had the power to save you - Mother Nature - is being slowly but brutally killed with your religion and by holding such events.
The problem with us Indians is that for us, religion comes foremost. We don't think twice before setting up a pandal and going all hammer and tongs in praise of the lords who, I am sure, if they exist and have some semblance of common sense, have noise cancelling earplugs stuck firmly in their ears and are ignoring the praying, pleading masses.
For us Indians, religion is something that we need to do in and with the public. How else will one get recognition for being "very religious"? Looking at the jamboree that is going to take place between March 11-13 on the Yamuna floodplains, the sadhus of yore had it all wrong when they went into the jungles to meditate and find god. If only they had had the foresight and the knowledge of putting up some loudspeakers and a dance floor with some DJ playing some hip number with some Mandakini dancing in front of him, he would have attained nirvana or moksha sooner. Alas, those sadhus wasted their lifetimes living in the jungle, meditating atop a rock, unfortunately getting their butts bitten by red ants or suffering some other ghastly fate. Amateurs, I tell you. The modern day Babas have perfected the art of religion down to a science. And that science is pretty much evident right here in Delhi with the World Culture Festival. Or #WCF, if you please. Yup. It's the age of twitter/facebook/instagram religion where your karma gets counted with #es!
Beat that, you sadhus of yore!
RIP, little birds of Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Yamuna floodplains.
