Thread.
We listened in yesterday to eminent feminist author, scholar & activist Meenakshi Bali speak abt 'Tattva Pada & Vachana Sahitya: Roots of Harmony' at a talk series organised by @janashakthikw.
Video here:
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We listened in yesterday to eminent feminist author, scholar & activist Meenakshi Bali speak abt 'Tattva Pada & Vachana Sahitya: Roots of Harmony' at a talk series organised by @janashakthikw.
Video here:
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Ruling regimes have always tried to sow hatred and enmity to ensure people stay divided. Transcending the selfish & deceitful interests of these regimes, people have built ways of life that are meaningful, allow for coexistence & are culturally diverse. 2/n
There r 100s of examples of cultural practices in our land, Tattva Padas & Vachanas being two such forms. These traditions have social and economic histories but are also rooted in philosophical ideas. These are also living traditions in that they inform ppl's lives 3/n
Very often, we hv dismissed traditions & practices that form the basis of shared experience of communities as superstitious, highly sentimental. Even when it's been done, we haven't understood it deeply enough, havent paid attn to its fraternal roots, haven't foregrounded it. 4/n
India hs never had 1 god, 1 religion, 1 philosophy. Author of a 7-8th century text says: Shaivas might believe in Shiva, Jains in Jaina, Buddhists in Tathagatha, Vaishnavas in Keshava-all of these forms r 1; to this great energy I submit myself. We r al part of the same river 5/n
While this religious harmony/coexistence is indeed true, it also true that conflicts along religious and cultural lines have taken place among believers of diff sects. However, communities & people have continued to create ways of coexistent living. 6/n
Prof. Bali listed many conflicts: b/w Shaivas & Vaishnavas, Shaivas & Jains, Jains & Buddhists. These conflicts were a result of followers straying frm fundamental concepts of oneness. Rituals were confused with religion, traditions with devotion to god. 7/n
In such circumstances, Vachana poets had to bring ppl back to fundamental realities of coexistence. Anubhava Mantapa was started as an open, free debating platform for ppl frm all caste communities. 8/n
Translating a vachana, she says: Vedas and upanishads which nourish caste discrimination, which you believe to be unquestionable are the height of ignorance. As long as u dont throw it out, good knowledge wont come in. This ignorance hs built thick walls, not letting in light 9/n
Vachana poets hailed from working classes, their names reflecting the work they did. Vachanas were built by these working communities. Discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, class is not only stupid but also inhuman. There is no philosophical basis for discrimination. 10/n
Tattva Pada tradition: Principles for a shared life built on communal harmony can be found here. They respected people’s beliefs but also worked on ppl shedding selfishness and egoism & have led people towards a positive way of life. They are our land’s cultural leaders. 11/n
There are instances of a single tattva pada having verses in Kannada, Urdu, Marathi, reflecting the philosophical clarity of the creators. This belongs to a tradition of guru-shishya & has a large following among lower & working class communities. (Watch 27th minute) 12/n
Followers of tattva pada don’t discriminate on basis of caste, gender, region. Thro their occupations,they have expanded their experiential & philosophical base; they don’t have any concept of purity and pollution; they know there is an objective reality: shared humanity. 13/n
In Hyderabad-Karnataka, it is common to see everyone celebrate all festivals. There is 'sahaja baduku'—an innate coexistence that informs communal life. There is social harmony, a synthesis of philosophies, a shared vision—all of this is seen in people’s ways of life. 14/n
Unity in diversity can't remain a slogan; We need to embed humanity within ourselves & nt divide ppl on the basis of food they eat, clothes they wear, their places of worship. Allah & Shiva r not different. India is where the synthesis of Hari, Hara, Hazrat has taken place. 15/n
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