Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi
Debi Prasad Choudhary
Los Angeles, 05/23/2025

 

Mahatma Gandhi memorial in the Main Street of downtown at 3735 Main Street, Riverside with a quotation "Live simply so that others may simply live".   

My father was a Gandhian. He walked with Vinoba Bhave for Bhudan Andolan. In my childhood, he took me to Acharyya Harihar, one of the great Gandhians of Odisha to get blessing, who placed his hand on my head. From a poor family, he sincerely followed Gandhian leaders of Odisha in his youth. As a school headmaster, he led a village wide Gandhi Centenary celebration in 1969, when a stunning "Prabhat Fery" with "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" chainting was conducted to kick off the week long event. This also included recitation of Sri Mad Bhagawat Gita in local Raghunath Temple. I was in my 5th grade and received first prize for speech competition. My father used to take all students of the school to local river for "Teel Tarpan" (Offering of sesame seed and water to Gandhiji) for Gandhiji on every 30th January. I learned about Gandhiji mostly from my father, who was an honorable man in all respects. Later years, I visited all possible places related to Gandhiji and read Gandhian literature extensively. My spiritual Master asked me to read three books one of them being "My Experiments with the Truth" by Mahatma Gandhi, in which Gandhiji narrates incidents the were known only to him. Beyond those incidents, his life was so public that he had to make no effort to document himself. In Noakhali on the eve of the independence of India, he said "My life is my message". Later, many people wrote songs this sentence as a theme.

Some year ago, one of my relative said that there are new informations emerging that shows Gandhi was a hoax and all that I learned were false. I was obviously angry and tried to tell her what famous people said about Gandhiji, but she was learning stuff from newly emerging group extensive propaganda that it was impossible to to do anything. Apparently, there was a book entitled "Micha mahatma" The False Mahatma, that exposed the misdeeds of Gandhiji. More recently, one of my learned friends forwarded a Whatsapp post that said, "how long you can bow your head at Raj Ghat (The Samadhi of Gandhiji), now is the time to abandon him and embrace the true hiros". We had a debate, not so pleasant. In may last trip to India, I met a group of retired individuals in their late 60s, who were engineers, administrators or bankers. I heard that Gandhi was a cunning guy, who collaborated with Nehru, who had good grasp of english language. These two individuals, basically made a good fortune in early part of 20th century, and are responsible for the partition of India and all present mishary. These are good reasonable family people, and I did not know, how to start a conversation with them, that their understanding of the world is built with full of false hood. 

This is the backdrop with which, I write this blog to record what people, who lived and interacted with Gandhiji, said about him. Here is to document that, if I am was misguided by my father, I am not alone, many great ones were in my category, who lived in the time of Gandhiji.

Sri C.V. Raman was known for his no-nonsense style dealing with people and a proud patriot. He had a long relationship with Mahatma Gandhi, who visited Raman Research Institute on one occasion where he discussed with him about "Charkha" and a possible national link language in Free India, according to the eyewitness Mahadevbhai Desai. Like my father, Sir Raman used to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti by delivering a public talk on latest developments of science. According to his wife Lokasundari Ammal, on his deathbed Raman said, "I believe only in the spirit of man… I have heard of godly men, Jesus, Buddha, and I have met a godly human being – Mahatma Gandhi". Such profound was the statement.

Sri Swami Chidananda, one of the distinguished personalities of spiritual seekers of modern India, worked briefly in Gandhian cause before coming to Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh. He is a rare spiritual personality, who was curious about the God and his role in the creation throughout his life, a true seeker. He frequently mentioned Gandhiji in many of his discourses, few of which are quoted here. In a 1960 talk, he said, "Gandhiji’s life was a living example of divine life—service, truth, and love in action. His message of ahimsa and simplicity is a beacon for all seekers, showing that spirituality is not in isolation but in serving humanity with a pure heart". In 1993 World Parliament of Religion lecture in Chicago, he said, "Mahatma Gandhi, through his life of sacrifice and truth, showed the world that spirituality is not confined to ashrams but lived in the service of the oppressed and the pursuit of justice".

Albert Einstein is well known, who had a great admiration for Gandhiji. He wrote to The New York Times in 1948, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth". Like almost all theories of Einstein, this statement also became true just after less than 90 years. 

Let us now turn to prominent Gandhi critics who lived in those days and passionately worked for the independence of India. Among them a Hindu nationalist leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who envisaged a country for Hindus and violence as a means for achieving the goal said, "I am grateful to Mahatma Gandhi for his appeal for my release from the Andamans. His compassion reflects his noble character, though I differ with his political methods. His call for clemency strengthens my resolve to serve India, albeit through a different path". Even when he tried to make a case for the effectiveness of violence for a "Hindu Rashtra"in 1938, he said, "Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to India’s awakening is unparalleled. His leadership has stirred millions, making the Congress a force against British rule. But his obsession with non-violence and his appeasement of Muslims weaken the Hindu cause. By advocating ahimsa in the face of aggression, he risks disarming Hindus against threats to our nationhood". Clearly, Mahatma Gandhi did not see people of a particular religion as fundamentally different species that was not the case for many other leaders of his time. 

However, two other prominent critics of Gandhian era did not have any strong religious inclination. Bhagat Singh was one such intellectual revolutionary, who did not believe in nonviolent approach for freedom struggle, at least in optics. In a court testimony on Lahore conspiracy case 1929, he said, "We hold Mahatma Gandhi in high esteem for awakening the nation, but his path of non-violence is inadequate against an oppressive regime. Our bombs were not meant to kill but to make the deaf hear. Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind, and we choose it over passive resistance to shake the foundations of British rule". In 1930, he wrote to his father, "You must support your general, Mahatma Gandhi. Only then will you win independence for the country. My path differs, but his leadership unites the nation".

Subhash Chandra Bose, who invented the title "Father of the Nation" for Gandhiji had a deep respect that is reflected in his 1944 radio address, "Father of our Nation! In this holy war for India’s liberation, we ask for your blessings and good wishes. I am convinced that if we desire freedom, we must be prepared to wade through blood. Your non-violent campaigns have awakened the nation, but the time has come for a final assault on British imperialism. Your leadership has united us; now let us fight for complete independence". And, on a 1939 letter to Gandhiji he wrote, "Dear Mahatmaji, I have always tried to win your confidence, for it would be tragic if I failed to win the trust of India’s greatest man. Our differences on the means to achieve Swaraj are well-known, but I believe we can find common ground in our love for the motherland. I seek your guidance in forming the Working Committee, as the Tripuri resolution demands". 

Gandhiji was not particularly advocating for non-violent struggle. He supported allied forces in second world war, in his 1942 letter to president Roosevelt he writes among others, "In order to make my proposal fool-proof I have suggested that, if the Allies think it necessary, they may keep their troops, at their own expense, in India, not for keeping internal order but for preventing Japanese aggression and defending China. So far as India is concerned, she must become free even as America and Great Britain are. The Allied troops will remain in India during the war under treaty with the Free India Government that may be formed by the people of India without any outside interference, direct or indirect". And Roosevelt replies, "I am sure that you will agree that the United States has consistently striven for and supported policies of fair dealing, of fair play, and of all related principles looking towards the creation of harmonious relations between nations. Nevertheless, now that war has come as a result of Axis dreams of world conquest, we, together with many other nations, are making a supreme effort to defeat those who would deny forever all hope of freedom throughout the world. I am enclosing a copy of an address of July 23 by the Secretary of State, made with my complete approval, which illustrates the attitude of this Government".

Gandhiji stated that his intellectual body was built with the milk of Srimad Bhagawat Gita. Sri Krishna says that He is Sri Ram among the possessor of arm. Sri Ram rarely used his woppen, only on one occasion for killing Ravan, the demon king. As Goswami Tulasidas writes in Sundara Kanda, the weapon of Sri Ram is only to keep peace, which was also the doctrine of President Ronald Reagan.

बिनय न मानत जलधि जड़ गए तीन दिन बीति। बोले राम सकोप तब भय बिनु होइ न प्रीति।।57।।

Mahatma Gandhi was concerned to use violence to build a sustainable nation for long term stability. Once the citizens taste the working of violence to achieve their desired result, the mighty will dominant. To start with it may be religion, but once a single religion starts dominating, the sub religion struggle will start and it would cascade to regional and cast based  unending divisive violence. A harmonious society is only possible through mutual trust, respect and rarely use of necessary but limited force.

That said, in the end Gandhiji was a human being after all, with all its limitations. The only difference from others of his time, was that he struggled to find the right path and strived to use all possible rational means in his disposal to achieve them. He was not devoid of mortal limitations that anyone can have. He had strong views about social structure, women and on many issues that must be scrutinized. But, he always struggled to become more perfect through self examination by giving what he called appointment to self to listen to the inner voice. That made him evolve constantly in human ladder.

Gandhiji was killed by a groomed upper caste Brahmin man Nathuram Godse on his way to evening public prayer meeting. One of my esteemed colleague from Pune, suggested me that maybe that was a good thing that happened, as otherwise Mr. Gandhi would have emotionally blackmailed the elected government on new India to submit to his wishes. He said, if there was a conflict with paying the Pakistan share of pre-independent cash reserve and India blocked, that should have been resolved in international courts of some other legal way than the intervention of Gandhiji. Perhaps, that is true, especially because Gandhiji did not believe in majoritarian democracy. On one of the occasion Gandhiji said, "One with truth is majority". I would accept this view of the Mahatma, which is time tasted right path. In mahabharat war, one man soldier Sri Krishna was victorious against his own vast mighty army. The justice can not be a majoritarian opinion, rather a well considered wise consideration. 

Let me conclude this blog by quoting from the script of Gandhi movie, by Richard Attenborough that captured the life of Gandhiji dramatically,

...The object of this massive tribute

died as he had always lived -- a

private man without wealth, without

property, without official title or

office...

Mahatma Gandhi was not a commander

of great armies nor ruler of vast

lands, he could boast no scientific

achievements, no artistic gift...

Yet men, governments and dignitaries

from all over the world have joined

hands today to pay homage to this

little brown man in the loincloth

who led his country to freedom...

We see the throng, following the weapon-carrier bier of Gandhi

as it slowly inches its way along the Kingsway.

Mountbatten, tall, handsome, bemedalled, walks at the head

of dignitaries from many lands... and behind them a broad

mass of Indians. For a moment we see their sandalled feet

moving along the roadway and realize their quiet, rhythmic

shuffling is the only noise this vast assemblage has produced.

Pope Pius, the Archbishop of

Canterbury, President Truman, Chiang

Kai-shek, The Foreign Minister of

Russia, the President of France...

are among the millions here and abroad

who have lamented his passing. In

the words of General George C.

Marshall, the American Secretary of

State, "Mahatma Gandhi had become

the spokesman for the conscience of

mankind..."

That was the Mahatma Gandhi, my father followed in his youth. I have no doubt that my father was in right path and groomed me well to follow him. He (my father) was wise and did not want his son to be in illusion of initial apparent victory of evil that is short lived. Let me thank my father, who inspired me with the life of Gandhiji and the likes illustrating the teachings of Bhagawat Gita,

यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् | तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् || 18.37||

That which seems like poison at first, but tastes like nectar in the end, is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness. It is generated by the pure intellect that is situated in self-knowledge.

----------------------------------

Bhudan Andolan: Land reform movement

My Kerala Story

My Kerala Story
Debi Prasad Choudhary

Los Angeles
05/03/2025

Kerala remains an interesting land mass of the Indian subcontinent that mostly remained isolated throughout its past 1500 years of turmoil history. Kerala produced some of the fascinating individuals such as intellectual explorers like Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Swami Sivananda and Swami Chinmayananda to unknown simple story composers for famous Guruvayur temple and Sabarimala shrine. The obvious contrast is, while Gurudev Sivanandaji Maharaj realized God in "all these names and forms", the storytellers describe the origin of Ayyappa (the deity of Sabarimala Shrine) as the product of the wedlock of Shiva and Vishnu! Protected by western ghat mountains, people of this region have been continuing to experiment with the contemporary human knowledge from far and wide through centuries until recently as described in an interesting article (Mohan, A.S., Komath, R. Left in Sabarimala: a time-marker in the political history of Kerala. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 247 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04574-9).  After stepping out of my home state about 50 years ago, I came across Keralites, who taught me solid state electronics, Plasma Physics and became stimulating friends aiding my intellectual growth. So, when a vacation opportunity came the choice was clear with dominate desire to see my old friend reminding my study of Chinese wise man Confucius, who said "Isn’t It a Joy to Have Friends Come from Afar? – 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎" (Analects of Confucius). After a brief Madras business trip, we went to Thrusser, Kerala to stay with my old friend Subramaniam. As we entered Kerala, it was wonderful to see well built houses, clean roads, intermingling of temples, churches and mosques through lush green vegetation. 

Home of my friend Subramaniam, a beautiful location to sit and sing SamaVeda. 

  

 

Meeting Singhvi Sahab, my first research mentor at Physical Research Laboratory. 

On the following morning, it was a delight to meet my first research mentor at Physical Research Laboratory Dr. Ashoka Kumar Singhvi. Singhvi Sahab was living for few days in Vaddya Ratam resort in Thaikkattussery, near Thrissur. I recalled working in his laboratory as a first year student to learn thermo luminance technique to date few Mahabharata site sample (I think). My samples were not good, mostly too thick to get all the light signal after heating them. So, the errors in determining the age of the sample were too high and no meaningful result emerged. But, through his interacting, I learned the subject so good that I remember every detail. I narrated him to his amusement, how I used to consume some of his Dunhill Cigarettes that he used to bring from his frequent foreign trips. It was a real pleasure to see him after many years. Singhvi Sahab said, he improved the instrument for making samples in later years that would produce uniform sized reducing the error.

Ashtavaidyan Thaikkattu Mooss Vaidyaratnam Museum.

Visit and breakfast at Ashtavaidyan Thaikkattu Mooss Vaidyaratnam complex with resort, museum and academic was an memorable experience. This is one of the oldest organizations that preserve and advance the Ayurveda for health care system. This organization boasts of having Ashtavaidyan, Vaidyaratnam E.T Narayanan Mooss, Padma shri, Ashtavaidyan E.T Neelakandhan Mooss, Padma bhushan, Ashtavaidyan E.T Narayanan Mooss over years. Vaidyaratnam was conferred in 1924 by Viceroy of India Lord Reading and the Padma awards are by the Government of India. Singhvi sahab was receiving treatment here and talked high about it. The museum visit was educative to learn a lots of miracle like descriptions of ayurvedic treatment outcome for ailments like heart disease and cancer. The central problem in all these is that while some claims could be true, due to the involvement of all kind of centers from Saibaba, to Ranmdav and SadGuru claiming similar outcome without rigorous measurements makes the entire enterprize just another piece of discussion points without much utility value from medical point of view. The buildings, surrounding flora and fauna and the topography of the location gave a sense of mistry mixed heavenly experience. 

Siva Temple in Thrissur   

I was looking forward to temple visits. Temples are the center of development of human creativity through music, art and dance form. They also tell the story of long term human development and influence of intelligent over dumb by connecting the knowns to unknowns through creative stories. The requirement here for men is to expose the upper body part for entering the temple, not for women. Why? Perhaps earlier only men were entering and it had to be ensured that they are clean and belong to a class. My guess. 

 

(above: Houseboat, below: eating in the houseboat)

 

Spending a night on the boat house on backwaters was the next in agenda. The backwaters boathouse had AC bedrooms and comfortable place to cook and eat. We talked the whole day on various issues the mankind is facing these days. His wisdom never surprises me. The following two interesting pieces of knowledge worth recording this time. Subramanian is extremely knowledgeable on Kalidas, that I know from PRL days. This time he gave me information about keen observation of nature by Kalidas in following quotes.

वैदेहि पश्यऽऽमलयाद्विभक्तम् मत्सेतुना फेनिलमम्बुराशिम्। छायापथेनेव शरत्प्रसन्नम् आकाशमाविष्कृतचारुतारम्॥ १३-२

vaidehi paśya''malayādvibhaktam matsetunā phenilamamburāśim | chāyāpatheneva śaratprasannam ākāśamāviṣkṛtacārutāram || 13-2

vaidehi pashya.a.amalayAdvibhaktam matsetunA phenilamamburAshim |   ChAyApatheneva sharatprasannam AkAshamAviShkR^itachArutAram || 13-2 

"Oh Vaidehi, mark that bubbly ocean divided as far as the Malaya mountain the bridge I have erected on it, just as the clear autumnal sky with perky stars divided by a shady galactic strip running through a galaxy. [13-2] "See, Vaidehi ! how my bridge/Yon foamy mass now spans, as Autumn's skies/Unruffled, bright with stars, the Milky Way/Divides in twain."

While being very appreciative of Kalidash's description of Rama Setu that mixed naked eye astronomical observations  with natural beauty, Subramaniam was critical of Sri Ram describing the Ram Setu as "my bridge", since it was made by workers and His contribution was only supervisory. That is the way the world works my friend, the one at t.the top take all the credit! He narrated another great observation based description of Himalayas  by Kalidas.

अस्त्युत्तरस्यां दिशि देवतात्मा हिमालयो नाम नगाधिराजः। पूर्वापरौ तोयनिधी विगाह्य स्थितः पृथिव्या इव मानदण्डः॥ १-१

astyuttarasyāṁ diśi devatātmā himālayo nāma nagādhirājaḥ | pūrvāparau toyanidhī vigāhya sthitaḥ pṛthivyā iva mānadaṇḍaḥ || 1-1

astyuttarasyAM dishi devatAtmA himAlayo nAma nagAdhirAjaH | pUrvAparau toyanidhI vigAhya sthitaH pR^ithivyA iva mAnadaNDaH || 1-1

On the northern frontier of this country that forms the heartland of gods, intercalating himself into eastern and western oceans like a measuring stick of earth, there stands the sovereign of snowy mountains renowned as Mt. Himalaya. [1-1]

In the evening after reaching the spot for night halt on the boathouse, we wanted to go for buying beer. It was a fascinating experience. We took an auto rickshaw to find a shop that was in a far away town. The shop was two storied and the foreign liquor was available upstairs that was less crowded. There is a similar experience in another town. The shops are as crowded, with stampede like situation, as in the famous temples for Deva Darsan.

Jatayu Memorial

The Jatayu Poem

Next day, we visited Jatayu sculpture. Here Jatayu is celebrated as a fighter for keeping women dignity. Jatayu, a mighty bird fought with Sri Ravana on airways to save Ma Sita being kidnapped and gave his life by falling at this place. Later Prabhu Ram visited this place and met dying Jatayu. There are foot prints of Prabhu Ram. The footprints were huge potholes on rock, and I asked a young couple who was seeing them, don't you think they are huge compared the feet of Prabhu Ram! They were waffled, as they perhaps thought that the foot prints may be as they are. In any case, honoring Jatayu is worth praise.

Subramanian described another interesting story related to Prabhu Ram's return journey from Sri Lanka on airways. When the Puspak Viman was over Kilimanoor, suddenly Lakshman became angry and acqused Sri Ram of taking all the credit of other's work. Everybody was surprised by Lakshman's outburst, but Sri Ram was calm. After a while, he pointed out that we are flying over Kilimanoor and Lakshman had an effect of the region, where brotherhood is betrayed. This could be a local folklore, but I found fascinating Mappila Ramayanam,  perhaps composed a used by the Malabari Muslims also known as ‘Mappilas.’ 

The travel story ends with very interesting conversation with our driver, who stayed with us for two days. The man was well versed with world politics and had opinion on President Trump, Indian politics and of course Prime minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi. He was good in Hindi language, even though not travelled out of Kerala a lot and would appreciate if outsiders also learn some malayalam. My lasting impression of Kerala is that it a great place, unlike any in the subcontinent and shall remain so for long. The region has embraced all great developments from ancient time and shall continue to do so. 

Mass Conceived Goddess (Vaishno Devi)

Mass Conceived Goddess (Vaishno Devi)
Debi Prasad Choudhary
Los Angeles
04/30/2025

On a leisurely winter afternoon water cooler conversation in Udaipur, my friend and boss Venkatakrishnan said, Gods appear spontaneously and uninvited in north India, where as they are invited and installed in south. That is why the behaviour towards them in these two part of the country is different. In north, you can almost touch the God (like in Kasi Viswanath) but in south, you must keep a distance. It made sense to me from observational point of view. The examples are two recent additions Vaishno Devi and Santoshi Mata in past 50 years. Ironically, when I was boarding helicopter for Vaishno Devi, I got the news of the demise of my friend, so would like to dedicate this blog to him.

Delhi railway station waiting for our train. Few of our people managed to use the frazile nearby cart to sit on the cart.

In order to avoid the risk of my wife travelling alone in north India, I decided to join her, and also perhaps that was the order of Mata Rani (Mata Rani Ke Hukum). It was enough to cite the HUKUM (dicket) of Mata Rani to get a permission of my boss to travel for two weeks in the most busy month of April. The added incentive was prolonged travel on Indian rails after a long time. It was fascinating to see New Delhi railway station platforms in almost same situation as it was when I took train to Ahmedabad to join PhD about 50 years ago. People are very accommodative that they look for even unstable frazile cart to sit for a while after a meal. The atmosphere was homely.

Katara railway station. Clear and crisp air was refreshing.

The late night in Katra railway station was fantastic with clear, crisp air and very nice local people to help getting into the hotel. After a long time, it was a great homely feeling in India. Clean air, cool temperature and plenty of sunshine, this area is like southern California.

Day and night time view of the vaishno Devi Shrine.

Next morning a helicopter ride to Vaishno Devi was a great experience. This was our first helicopter ride and scary in the beginning due to the terrible New York event just a couple of days before. From the helipad, it was a about a mile walking to the shrine area. Some people offered help to take bagage, I refused to give my backpack, but a man insisted walking with us. We talked and walked, he was muslim and said this was his livelihood. He guided to enter the shrine quickly using the the gate 5. We went to gate five to find that only with VIP pass, it is possible to enter through this gate, otherwise we have to use the general queue that would take several hours before reaching the shrine. In gate five, the guard asked me if I am in military or have other kind of VIP pass. Without such a pass, he asked us to go to general queue. 

I lost hope and almost decided to abandon the idea of going for the shrine. Suddenly a a man approached and asked me about my conversation with the guard. After hearing from me, he searched his pocket and gave me a small piece of yellow paper that would serve as VIP pass for six people. His wife was asking him to be hurry and don't waste time with us, since they were to go. This appeared us like a miracle, as if Mata Rani arranged a favour. I thought of this as random act of kindness, although it was a hot topic for our group. It took about 30 minutes to reach the shrine.

After getting VIP Darsan of the Shrine, people are happy.

In the evening, we had to rush to capture a room where we spent the night. You could visit the shrine round the clock. The Goddess never sleeps! I decided to go for the shrine second time through general line. The general line was impressive with wooden and glass structure. 

The Vaishno Devi Shrine is a most fascinating phenomena in the recent time when there was a prolific expansion of new religious centers in India consisting of Gods or God-human. Centers like this shrine, Siridi with Sai baba, centers led by SadGuru or Sri Sri Ravi Sankar are few examples. These centers made millions of dollars and attracted millions of people. Vaishno Devi shrine grew dramatically, starting with 5000 visitors per day in 1976, it is now it is 9.5 million pilgrims per day and have accumulated enormous wealth tuning 300 million dollar and 2000 kg of gold. 

I had a curious experience when approaching the shrine. There, a priest outside, aggressively offering tilak. One man offered few rupees, like we give to priests in holy places. The priest rudely refused to take citing his hefty salary from the organization. Later I saw him proudly talking to one his colleagues how he insulted one of the pilgrims who was offering money. Truely, the organization is impressive with a thriving community of commerce that help many people earn a livelihood. Even though there is nothing produced, a collective consumer society leaving happily on a imaginary central theme is fascinating for studying mass psychology.

Mata Vaishno Devi Pindi at the holi Shrine consists of three entities  icons of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. Unlike the traditional Gods of the holy land of India, that generally has a robust backing of a scripture such as Ramayana or Bhagawat, the stories of the Goddess here appear to consist of mostly folk lores created by the locals. Many incoherent legends and stories that most times are not consistent chronologically are associated with this temple or shrine. The most fascinating for me was that, when the Mata was living and meditating in another cave, a tantrik Bharion Nath saw her in an agriculture fair and fell madly in lusty love with her. Vaishno Devi fled to this current place and the tantrik followed. She got angry and cut his head that fell at another nearby mountain. The Bharion Nath temple is located there that can be reached through a ropeway.

The people who come here neither know any of these stories nor they were interested. They pick up something on the way and keep talking. One of the pilgrims (a young man from Delhi working in a bank) told me that the mata was meditating at another cave half way from the plane. I asked him, which Mata, since there are three in Vaishno Devi shrine. He was not expecting such a question and started giving incoherent descriptions. It was not possible for him to relate the three entities at the current shrine to a single Goddess in its earlier form. Even if such a description is necessary, I thought, the young generation should have capacity to build consistent narrations. The current education system is inadequate, I thought to encourage them to develop stories through creative composition as questioning is discouraged. This is purely my observation. Many people describe Bharion Nath as Siva or Nrushingh, where as he was only a human Tantric harashing Mata.

Paliki ride back to helipad.

After sleepless night, we returned using a helicopter ride. It was uphill to helipad so decided to go on a paliki that is carried by four people. On the way, one of the carriers asked me about my weight. He told, I am overweight as his solder tells him. I gave them few more rupees. The return helicopter trip was nice and we slept after having a good breakfast.

Cruelty and Compassion

Cruelty and Compassion
Debi Prasad Choudhary
04/27/2025

Narrow street of Amritsar leading to Golden Temple and Jallianwala Wag

Around 100 years ago, on 13 April 1919, a cruel British General Dyer marched armed soldiers and tanks into Jallianwala Wag through these streets and killed about 1500 innocent man women and children, injured equal numbers. He wanted to teach a lesson, and actually he did that. The lesson is that  man can be that cruel and there is no limit to what low life a human can have. 

Bullet tinted wall, the visitors pose for memorial pictures

We went inside the garden and saw the bullet tinted walls and the well where hundreds jumped to escape bullet and died of suffocation. We read the eye witness accounts on the exhibit. When you are quiet and think of that day, it was chilling and tears can not be controlled. I sat besides the well and thought how a society that can produce luminaries like Isaac Newton and Michal Faraday and William Shakespeare can also produce something like a Dyer. Good and bad are no one's propriety, they can appear in any group of civilized people. That is why Gandhiji said, British must leave and we shall have self governance. If we must suffer, let it be due to our own mistake not for the anger of a foreign ruler. Self governance in any society is not only honor it has a possibility of greater safety.

Memorial

In the end, we sat near the memorial and took a deep breath. Let us not forget how cruel a man can be and watch the inner feelings of ourself constantly. Man can be bad when not watched by its consciousness.

About 500 years ago a wise man Guru Nanak Dav was born near the same town and wandered preaching harmony. He taught the nature of higher power that perhaps govern us. He asked fellow man to recognize the uniqueness of supreme being the creator rather than be divided and qural. His words are in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and installed in Golden Temple Harmandir Sahib. The magic of this place is undeniable. We visited the place in the evening to witness the Guru Sahib in a majestic line.

We lined up for the Darshan of Sri Guru Sahib in Harmandir Sahib.

After visiting the Harmandir Sahib, we visited a local shop to buy some souvenirs. I wanted t buy a Japji Sahib. Before showing me the shopkeeper asked to cover the head with a cloth. We did and I asked why? He said the that Japji sahib will manifest (Prakash) in front you for the first time and you should respect.

My copy of the Japji Sahib

Yet, after 500 years of this great man preaching communal love, a little (in comparison to Guru sahib) British individual Sir Cyril Radcliffe made an artificial line telling that here the hindus and muslim are divided and should never cross freely. We obeyed the British and abandoned Guru Sahib. We have been celebrating this hatred for each other for many years since then.

Wagah Boarder that marks the boundary of India and Pakistan. Hundreds enjoy the ceremony of flag retreat every evening. India side has a huge stadium style seating arrangement and the Pakistan side is under construction. The positive side of this event is that many small business depend on the crowed gather every evening.

Place of Gobinda - The Universal Self

Place of Gobinda - The Universal Self
Debi Prasad Choudhary
04/27/2025

(My two day "Travel Log "to Sri Krishna Birthplace on 18 April 2025)

                           ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः। अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः सर्वकारणकारणम्॥

Kṛiṣṇa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.

Brindavan, UP

Hundreds of years ago, this bustling town was a vast forest and grazing field for cattle herd. A young boy from Gokul, used bring His cow heard in the dawn along with a food packet prepared by mother Yosada and return in the dusk. Along with his friends He was wondering around this place with confidence, carefree and enjoying every moment with His magic flute. The dark colored young body was the center of attraction for all members of the community, especially women folk. His mischfies eyes, melodious sound of flute and walking style was things to treasure for all who could come across. He taught love. Love for all without boundary of any kind. No hate. He taught courage. No fear. He asked elders to abandon worshiping with fear to unknown mysterious forces  like "Indra". Rather worship the environment by taking care of Gobardhan Hill that was the grazing field of their cattle. He advocated to consume local dairy products instead of exporting to nearby city for profit. He killed evil forces who conspired to bring harm to his society. He cleaned Yamuna River by eradicating poisonous creatures and elements in the river.

He often stole food, stole clothes of women, teased them. Never went to a formal school. He dominated the consciousness and folklore of the subcontinent for centuries.

He was addressed by many names Gopal, Gobind and Kahna. He sang, he danced, He was the center of every one's life. Cows stoped grazing to listen his flute, women ran leveling all house hold duties, saints and elders longed to get a glimpse of him. Life was good. This was the place, he spend most of his growing up life. 

Today, it is like any other town. Piles of dirt from the open sewage, moulds of rubble from leftover construction material, smell of open drains and unorganized human and motor traffic. People come to see this place, perhaps experience the magic that it had one day in the past. 

Streets of Brindavan

He is the God. The Universal self. Saints and wise of all time interpret His actions, His words and His deeds in various ways. People feel blessed to come here and touch the soil that once He touched. They take home the memories with photographs with symbolic Tilak of His on their forehead.

One of my copilgremes posing for photo.

People constructed temples for him. Hundreds of thousands go to see his idol that He would have detasted. He was a realist no dogmatic. Yet, no one tries to understand Him like in his own life time. Pilgrims make Him God, which He might well be, but he was more than God. He taught mankind how to become godly.

A narrow street to one of the temples made in His honor.

Tired pilgrims eat food in air conditioned restaurants that are decorated with the picture of modern well groomed Gurus. The Gurus talk of Him, sometimes in the middle of night. They talk of His cow harding activity in wellit expansive pandals. They come in most expensive vehicles to tell about the one who wondered in bare foot. They accumulate huge wealth by telling His simple inexpensive story.

A modern saint decorated restaurant for pilgrims to eat.

Mathura, UP

He was born inside a jail, where his parents were kept for conspiring to kill his maternal uncle. A contemporary rich man Mr. Birla happened to identify the location and build a memorial. The neighbourhood is again ordinary. People sit leisurely to play cards. Kids play and cows wander. Visitors come to see this curious place that is disputed by rivalry of conflicting religious groups. The reconstructed jail cell in which Sri Krishna was born must be a symbolic one. In side the jail cell an individual can not even stand, so it is hard to imagine how a woman can give borth to a boy child!

Neighbourhood of Krishna Janam Bhumi in Mathura

Visitors proceed to see His birthplace through streets where unbothered folks play cards.

In His adulthood, he came with his brother to this town ruled by His uncle to participate in a festivity. It was the turning point in His life. He was such an attraction, people lined up to see Him. His style of walking, His eye rolling, His sweating masculine body and His kind touch was the talk of the town. He displayed valour and foiled the conspiracy to kill HIm. He became an instant celebrity.  His innocence was lost, He became adult and never returned to the village again. 

The railway station of the city is like any place else in India. A busy place where people with luggage struggle to get to train to go places. Ordinary people struggling to live like in any other city.

Mathura Railway Station, people wait for the train to their destination.

After two days of visit in hot salty environment of the place, where He was born and lived many eventful years, I was returning to Delhi airport in a air conditioned car. What a relief. I reflected, it it a special place, where he decided to incarnate, if He was all powerful, as He described Himself later in life?  It was not possible for me to find any significance of this place in comparison to my home town that looks exactly like this one. Same mounds of dirt from open sewage, leftover construction material and smell of open drain and urination. 

I thought, He is born in all cities, all localities, He is universal as He described later in life in Srimad Bhagawat Gita. We need to look for Him in all forms and beings. We shall find. The place, I visited is just a symbolic one, if he lived there was just coincidence. He can not be confined to a location, a space and time. He is timeless and all pervading. I realized the truth this time.

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च || 20||

O Arjun, I am seated in the heart of all living entities. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings.

Jai Sri Krishna