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Let me make myself clear about one thing at the outset. I am not an atheist and have full faith in a superpower (GOD if you may) that transcends all restricting definitions of any one religion. My belief system is personal and neither enforced on anyone nor shaken by random questions by anyone. Needless to say, therefore, I loved the movie OMG starring Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar etc. It challenged some of our religious assumptions. What is so wrong with that? If you are sure, why get uptight when someone questions your beliefs? Why the uproar about some simple questions and real observations?
Neither can I understand the overwhelming fascination some people have these days, to pledge themselves under the direction of a "Guru". These "Babas" or ''fly-by-night saints'' or "God Men", seem to pop up around every corner these days. Their financial acumen needs to be applauded if nothing else. But when "YOUR GOD" has been so kind to give you a fully functional brain, the boon of literacy and the gift of understanding, why cant people just learn by study? What is the guarantee that your "Guru" is teaching you right? What if his/her version is distorted or incorrect?
My funda is simple, people today do not even trust school teachers to teach school children the right lessons. Hence, a different private tutor for every different subject and then there are the prescribed textbooks. When we force our little children to study the same subject from so many sources, why then as adults, do we blindly follow the teachings of just one man/woman when it comes to a vast subject like religion?
Why can't people stop being LAZY and READ? Use your own brain for "GOD'S SAKE".
A few lazy Sundays ago, lying in bed, the toughest thing I felt upto doing was watch videos that my friends had shared on Facebook. Apparently, these were 'must watch' videos. I watched a few videos of an ''enlightened soul'' (for as long as I could!!). This godman also happens to own some of the most prime properties in some of the costliest cities around the world. His teachings have been patented too! (BTW my personal take on IPR is that it is PURE BS and only serves the purpose of capitalists. Knowledge was always supposed to be free in an utopian world!). Most of his followers are well read and are people from well-to-do families. The growing number of his fan followers around the world can easily start a new religion if they feel so inclined. But, I cannot understand how these people cannot not see the dichotomy in his talks. In one talk, this enlightened soul speaks on why we should stay away from people who speak ill of others, since that is a reflection of how they will speak of you later. Fair enough. Good logic.
In the very next talk however, this same godman berates the entire cast and crew of the movie OMG, the entire Bollywood industry and casts aspersions on the personal lives and morality of people, he has never even met!! So what does that make him? OMG! What an Irony.
I was quite disturbed to see a whole crowd of people watching his talks live and nodding their heads in agreement. Even appalling is the spread of such videos by intelligent and educated people. I always wondered how some terrorist outfits could brainwash poor young kids. But what I see in these videos, is a process of mass brainwash with willing victims (young and old) submitting to the same. The en-mass suspended disbelief is comical as well as scary to an onlooker.
A friend once shared in jest, that the courses taught by the disciples of this "GURU", were a form of speed dating/matchmaking sessions for most attendees. I had laughed at the jest but dismissed it as an exaggeration. But when in organisations today, I see ''faith clans'' building up, something smells like trouble. You are part of an elitist club if you are a follower of a certain guru. You will be considered as an enlightened soul who is perpetually blessed to succeed, compared to other mere mortals at work. Could these have more sinister implications later? A Ku Klux Klan of the corporate world perhaps?
Live and let live, is the easiest way of living. Why cant we all just live so? If what you do and preach is right, be proud of it. Justify it if you must. But putting others down to establish your superiority is cheap. Even cheaper is passing value judgements on people you know nothing about. My humble suggestion to the self proclaimed oceans of knowledge (who love the limelight no less than politicians or actors), is to strengthen your nerves to handle some mimicry. And Thank God for the tonnes of free publicity you all got from Oh My God. Creative freedom and scientific thought is the right of all mankind. NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO DENOUNCE THAT.