Project Overiew

The income of the richest one fifth of the world’s population was 32 times that of the poorest one fifth in 1970. By 1990, this disparity had reached 60 times. If the trend continues, by 2050, it will be 200 fold.

IS THIS ECONOMIC EQUALITY ?

Globally, an estimated 736 million women, almost one in three, have been subjected to violence, sexual or otherwise, at least once in their lifetime. The United Nations Population Fund claims that 117 million girls go ‘missing’ due to sex selective abortions.

IS THIS GENDER EQUALITY?

The NCRB data says that atrocities against the SC, ST and Dalits, reveal a steady rise over the years.

IS THIS SOCIAL EQUALITY? 

So, you will agree, it is a dismal scenario today…. of a selfish, money centered society. The political scenario is constantly changing… ideologies are in flux… so, greater are the chances of ‘contamination’. Caste, creed, race, colour, even faith, have become commercial entities. They are used as vote banks on one hand and changed for financial benefits, on the other. They have become kalpa vrukshas, wish-fulfilling trees.

Misuse Of Age-old Systems

No one is concerned with the original purpose for which these divisions of society were created. They have been drastically abused. Instead of becoming a binding factor for a smooth running society, they are being used as a divisive factor to fragmentize society. These fragments are now fighting for domination. Smart, selfish persons are using these fragments, to shrewdly and stealthily divide and rule.

India doesn’t have a dearth of resources. They have been mismanaged… monopolised by a few to exploit the rest. It is a similar case all over the world.

The thought of dominating others or capturing power to satisfy unbalanced fancies has become primary. With human achievement in technology and ease of its use the world is racing headlong towards further discrimination, domination and terrorism.

This need to monopolise, to dominate, creeps in when we think we are special and should maintain the elitism even at the cost of suppression of others. Who are these others? Anyone who is not mine. When the question of our near and dear ones comes, we are ready to lay down our lives for them. We want to treat them equal to, if not better than ourselves.

If this feeling of ‘mine’ could be extended to include ‘others’…. if the scope of ‘mine’ could expand, the need for equality would become inclusive in nature rather than exclusive.

Let’s examine the concept of this inclusive equality.

At the micro level…. the body has many limbs and organs…. each with its own shape, size, nomenclature and specific activity. Yet they work in unison, responding to and sharing each other’s pain and joy, without disturbing their individuality. Imagine what would happen to our body if this inclusive equality were not there!

At the macro level…. the earth has many people … each person with his own language, race, religion, caste etc. We are definitely aware of our individuality…. but unison of inclusive equality….?…. Totally missing! So the condition of Mother Earth is pitiable.

A solution is definitely needed for the world, and to be more specific, for our country to come out of this situation.

To be frank, this inclusiveness should not be limited to human beings…. it must be expanded to cover all beings on this earth.. the flora, fauna and inert objects too.

Feeling of ‘mine’ gives rise to care and concern for what is mine. When ‘mine’ includes everything, the seed of equality is sown.

All problems, rising out of discrimination and inequality, will be addressed.

To find the much needed solution, we need to go through the annals of history. Can we trace a similar situation in the society of those times? Was there any social reformer who raised his voice? Was he able to put his plan into action? The thought of this problem came to many… they addressed it too… but with negligible success. The one who could practice it himself, impress it on society and inspire acceptance in all, was Sri Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya.

RA:MA:NUJA:CHA:RYA,AN EXEMPLARY SOCIAL REFORMER

Sri Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya was a great visionary and an exemplary social reformer.

Before understanding a historical event or personality, we need to travel to that timezone. The mindset of the present cannot be applied to decide whether that activity was right or wrong. Having travelled back mentally, we can then realise the suitability of ‘transporting’ and applying the vision of yesteryears to the present situation.

SCENARIO, A 1000 YEARS AGO

If we travel back a 1000+ years, to the 11th century, we can understand the prevalent system. Democracy did not exist. It was Monarchy…. that too under the control of temples. In other parts of the world, it was the church that controlled monarchs.
Society was not people centered but temple centered. The demerit of the caste system had raised its ugly head. Control of temples was the monopoly of priests. Rules were rigid. No one, other than priestly castes, was allowed to study scriptures. If someone tried to learn them, tongues were cut! If someone tried hearing them, ears were filled with molten lead! People were shackled with discrimination. Entry was restricted in areas where ‘upper’ classes moved. Status of women was pathetic.

Then Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya emerged on the scene. Things began to change.

SOCIAL EQUALITY

The inner essence of Bhagavad Githa was only with a few scholars. Though he was a great scholar, it became almost impossible for Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya to get that secret. He traversed 200 miles, on foot, 18 times. Once he got it, he couldn’t contain it within and shared it with all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc. He calmed his angry mentor by saying that he was willing to face Hell to save the world from misery.

This shows how expanded his sense of ‘mine’ was… how concerned he was for social equality. He was a Social reformer. His persona was so encompassing that it cannot be confined to terms like,‘religious leader.’

GENDER EQUALITY

His parameters for equality went beyond general social equality. He was deeply concerned with gender equality. In those days of rigid rules, he trained thousands of women in scriptural knowledge. Not only did he give them opportunities, he also elevated them to a worshipable level. The daughter of an Islamic sultan who lost her life due to pangs of separation from the deity, was given the status of a Goddess. In Melkote, she is worshipped as Bibi Nachiyar, even today. It is not the religion or the caste that makes a person great, but the devotion, dedication and commitment. This incident proves Ra:ma:nuja:cha:rya’s belief in communal equality too.