[Reader-list] A road map to change and purity

[Pawan Durani]

http://expressbuzz.com/books/a-road-map-to-change-and-purity/177341.html
<http://expressbuzz.com/books/a-road-map-to-change-and-purity/177341.html>

Jagmohan, who was once an MP, then a governor in Delhi and subsequently in
Kashmir, where he made quite a name for himself (read My frozen Turbulence),
has come out with a new book, *Reforming Vaishno Devi* which makes a
parallel between the cleaning-up of the Vaishno Devi shrine, and reforming
Hinduism.

He starts by quoting Sri Aurobindo to tell us how much he has been connected
to the Mother, since his childhood: “When you ask who is Bhavani, the
Mother, she herself answers you: ‘I am the Infinite energy which streams
forth from the Eternal in the world and yourselves, I am the Mother of the
Universe, the Mother of the Worlds, I am Bhavani Bharati, Mother of India.’”

We jump now to the time when Jagmohan becomes governor of Kashmir, turbulent
times indeed, which saw the first stirrings of the separatist movement and
the exodus of 4,00,000 Kashmiri Hindus. Jagmohan, after the Centre imposes
President’s rule in J&K in March 1986, goes with his wife to visit Vaishno
Devi, near Jammu, one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Mother. He is
appalled by the filth. There is no drinking water, no latrines, rabid dogs
roam around, beggars hassle you every metre of this place, which is littered
with filth and garbage. But when he enters the shrine proper, he has a
strong mystical experience, feels the Mother’s presence and comes out
transformed.

Jagmohan is a thinking man. Thus he ponders and broods about the extreme
contradiction between the outer dirtiness of Vaishnoo Devi and the Divine
Presence still found inside. He comes to the conclusion that nothing short
of a takeover can solve the problems. Therefore, on August 30, 1986, the
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Act is promulgated and signed by Jagmohan and he
springs into action.

The 11-km route that leads to the shrine is enlarged and lit by hundreds of
lamps. Some 15 lakhs tiles are laid, latrines are built, cottages,
restaurants, stalls rise up as if by  a miracle, beggars are rounded up and
employed, dogs are sterilised. There is some resistance, particularly from
the Baridars, but on the whole, everybody applauds.

The successful transformation of Vaishno Devi sets Jagmohan think again:
Could Hinduism be also reformed? He again quotes Sri Aurobindo: “Hindu
religion appears to me as a cathedral temple, half in ruins, while in the
mass, crumbling or badly outworn in places, but a cathedral temple in which
service is still done to the Unseen”. After a rather longish, but impeccable
definition of Hinduism, Jagmohan spells out the way to do it: a takeover of
temples, which are often badly kept and neglected; a renovation of historic
sites such as Kurukshetra, which gave to the world the imperishable Gita;
and a revival of the core values of Hinduism which see the Divinity in every
man and his being part of the Whole: One in All and All in One. Overall,
this is a good book, which makes very valid points: that not only the
physical India — even the sacred India — as represented by Vaishno Devi
(before clean-up), or Varanasi, is an appalling mess. But it’s also its
institutions, its politicians, its very social foundations, that are
eaten-up by a cancer only a reformed Hinduism will be able to cure. A
Hinduism that rids itself of its superstitions, its outdated caste system,
its apathy, lack of courage and vision. Moreover, the means that will be
used to reform Hinduism are not in conflict with other religions. Thus, it
would be the whole of India which would be uplifted.

On the down side, Jagmohan’s style tends to be a bit rambling and he seems
at times to be writing a diary rather than a book. One can also find fault
with his optimism: Hindus do not appear interested at the moment in reform,
and the pace at which westernisation is taking hold of India is frightening.
This said, we will not change this world unless we attempt to do so and this
book gives a good road map to it.