Two images published in a leading daily just a day back caught my attention. They were different images but had a remarkable common connection.
Image 1 was of a strong political leader hailing from a Southern State descending on a airstrip in her helicopter. All her party leaders stood with folded hands while the helicopter is still in air about to touch base.
Image 2 was of a yesteryear Bollywood star turned politician and his wife. The image showed the wife at the feet of her husband and the caption read Mrs. 'S' worshiping her husband before he goes to file his nomination.
Did you see a common connection between these images? I saw 'Bhakti' a common connection between them.This misplaced 'Bhakti;' has been somehow become a part of our culture and it has taken its own toll on our society.
This 'Bhakti' for politicians has resulted in blind, almost fanatic followership. Hence the emergence of self-proclaimed saviours sometimes in the name of religion, sometimes in the name of caste and sometimes in the name of region. As India goes into its general elections in a couple of days, here is hoping that we do not vote out of 'Bhakti'; instead vote in the most deserving candidate to the parliament.
This 'Bhakti' in family has meant that the husband is regarded as the incarnation of God. 'Pati-Parmeshwar' meaning 'my husband is my God' has been told as a dictum to the girls and women in this country. Result has been a huge gender imbalance in families and societies that has not augured well for either sexes.
This 'Bhakti' in religion has meant that we have made demigods out of people. Every village, every town in India has its own spiritual 'Guru'. A majority of them have been alleged from time to time of land-grabbing, black magic, sexual misconduct etc. But the 'Bhakti' of the blind followers has been such that either no criminal proceedings have been initiated against these demigods or they have blocked the police and administration against taking any action.
This 'Bhakti' in organizations has meant that focus has been on compliance, reflexive obedience and keeping status-quo since that keeps everyone 'happy'. It is not 'safe' to 'differ' in such organizations, no conflict, no new ideas, no innovation and servility to the core.
'Bhakti' can only be towards the almighty, the creator, the God. Any other 'Bhakti' will only have disastrous impact, breeding incompetence, sycophancy and corruption.
Refrain from 'Bhakti' to build truly engaging families, societies, organizations and nations.
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