(Samaj Weekly)
Ramesh Chander, Retired diplomat
Guru Ravidass, 14th century mystic saint and social reformer, of the Bhakti Movement was the harbinger of equality and fraternity in the society which the leadership of the main-stream of the Hindu society including RSS and BJP, now a days, call ‘Samrasta’. The great Guru’s egalitarian message stood against the birth based caste-system and pleaded for brotherhood as stipulated in his lofty Vani (poetry) which is, partly, enshrined in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs:-
Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara; Jo Ham-sehri So Meet Hamara
(Ravidass, the lowly of the low, says that every fellow citizen of mine is my friend)
It is a matter of satisfaction that the very principles of having a healthy society as followed and preached by Guru Ravidass found place in the ‘secular, socialist and democratic’ constitution of India written under the stewardship of Babasaheb Ambedkar who was greatly impressed by the thoughts and legacy of the Guru to establish an inclusive society. Babasaheb Ambedkar dedicated one of his books,The Untouchables, to Guru Ravidass. Guru Ravidass’s teachings set the ball in motion to establish an egalitarian society and welfare state in the Sabad (Vani):-
Begumpur Shehar Ka Naon; Dukh Andoh Nahin Jis Ke Thaon
(The name of the State which should be created shall be ‘Begumpura’ (a place without misery and sorrow) where there would be no pain and suffering)
He clearly laid the foundation of democratic socialism in the present parlance and said:-
Aisa Chahun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann;
Chot- Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Prasan.
(I wish that kind of governance and establishment where no one remains hungry. All, low and high or rich and poor live in a just social order. It keeps Ravidass happy)
With this background, I may add that my immediate motivation to write about the current relevance of Guru Ravidass to create an inclusive society and integrate the socially weaker sections with the main stream of the society. The ruling outfits of the day, ostensibly, are engaged in the process to appease and woo the followers of Guru Ravidass by honouring and recognizing the role and contribution of the great Guru. Let it be as long as it helps in transforming the society to bring about ‘Samrasta’ in the society at large. In fact, I have no hesitation in registering my candid support to the lofty idea of Samrasta in my own humble way as I am a firm believer in ‘fraternity and brotherhood’ as a humble Ravidassia and Ambedkarite.
PM Narendra Modi layed the foundation stone of the prestigious project of Guru Ravidass Temple in MP’s Sagar district and performed the ground breaking (Bhoomi Pujan) ceremony at Sant Shiromani Ravidass Memorial Sthal. The programme also marked the culmination of the ruling party’s ongoing ‘Samrasta (harmony) Yatra’, seen as an attempt by the saffron outfit to reach out to Dalits ahead of the crucial polls in Madhya Pradesh. Doing the honours, PM Modi said, “Today I got the opportunity to lay the foundation for Sant Ravidas’ temple and I believe that he will give me the opportunity to inaugurate the same when it is completed in the next one-and-a-half years.” Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he has full faith that the project will prove to be a milestone in popularizing the education and thoughts of Sant Ravidass for the benefit of the society.
It is a welcome initiative of the MP Government and of the ruling dispensations. I have been writing about these and related matters such as; Guru Ravidass Tughlakabad (Delhi) Mandir which was destroyed and demolished by the DDA under the administrative control of the Urban Development Ministry of the central government, Development of Khuralgarh Sahib (Charan Cho Ganga) in Garhshankar of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Development of Seer Goverdhanpur (birthplace of Guru Ravidass) in Banaras in UP, Naming of Adampur Airport in Jalandahar after Guru Ravidasss in my blogs with a view to generate awareness and urge the authorities and the organizations like RSS and VHP to do something concrete to integrate the weaker sections and socially marginalized segments with the main stream of the society under the ‘Samarasta’ agenda. I am also aware that various agencies representing RSS and BJP are in touch with various spiritual Deras of the followers of Guru Ravidass, not only in north India but beyond too, to integrate them with the main stream of the society both genuinely to transform the Hindu society and to woo them as vote banks. I don’t see any wrong in the process both on account of social action and also political strategy. But to put it candidly, the selective approach in this regard is counter-productive. One cannot eat the cake and have it too. A temple at the cost of 100 crore as a memorial of the great Guru on one hand and uncalled for and lopsided behavior in Tughlakabad in demolishing the ancient temple built himself by Guru Ravidass on the gifted site by the then ruler, Sikander Lodi are not understandable. These self contradictory approaches do not go well with the masses. Sincere and clear hearted actions by the high caste Hindus would go a long way in registering their interest in creating an inclusive society as ‘Samrasta’ their agenda and goal.
It is time that the stake holders, both the followers of Guru Ravidass and the leadership of the main stream of the Hindu society, should understand this – sooner the better. The followers of Guru Ravidass and the marginalized sections of the society should shed their inhibitions and stand for their due space in an inclusive and just society. Particularly, the spiritual Deras should not contend themselves with escort security jeeps and fully armed guards and photo ops with the VVIPs but interact with the authorities to get and safeguard the rights and due space for the masses. Guru Ravidass’s lofty Vani and his legacy is fully relevant and potent to bring about Samrasta in the society. It is fully pragmatic to integrate the society as desired by our fore-fathers and stipulated in the constitution of India to create a just social order. The main stream of the society (Caste Hindus) must realize that the followers of Guru Ravidass are increasingly understanding and imbibing the message of Guru Ravidas and would certainly apply it in their struggle for their rightful place in the society at large:-
Pradheenta Paap Hai; Jan Lyo Re Meet,
Ravidass Dass Pradheen Se Kaun Kare Hai Preet.
(Slavery is sin. Understand this; my dear fellows. Nobody loves slaves like Ravidass)
Guru Ravidass and his followers stand for brotherhood, Fraternity and Harmony that is ‘Samrasta’ in the country and the society at large. There cannot be better occasion to say this as the Eve of the Independence Day – the culmination of the year long Azadi Ka Mahautsav.
With this, I take this opportunity wish my fellow citizens – Azadi Mubarak
