India is like Draupadi in the Gambling Hall

[Guest guest]

In the great and grand court of the Kurus, sat many men of 

distinguished linage. Men who were brave, intelligent, honourable

and 

considered to be the "pillars of society". Ethics, morality,

history, 

religion, law, politics, economics were all embodied by the numerous 

ministers and advisors of the Kuru-kul.

In such an august court, an unfair game of dice was being played. 

Everyone present knew one player was an avid, yet amateur addict ; 

the other, a known cheat with guile and skill unmatched by any. Yet, 

no one dared object to this unfair game. Time and again, the amateur 

lost, time and again everyone realised this was through unfair

means, 

yet, none dared speak up.

The idiotic amateur lost his wealth, his state, his brothers, and 

than himself ! Who in their right mind would loos so much and 

continue playing ?

An addict.

An addicted gambler.

Having lost all, he was goaded to put stake his wife !

He did !

He lost !!

Try as he may, he could not now prevent the shame that was about to 

befall him.

Try as she may, she could not prevent events from unfolding that 

would haunt Kuru-kul for the rest of its days.

In the midst of all the great and grand men of Kuru's court, an 

Empress was dragged in by her hair, wearing a single raiment of red.

In the midst of all the wise and intelligent men of Kuru court, a 

woman in distress was denied justice.

In the midst of all the brave and honourable men of Kuru court, a 

human being was dishonoured.

Why ?

Why did the great and good of the Kuru court keep their wise counsel 

to themselves ?

Why did the honourable, ancient elders of the Kuru court abdicate 

their responsibilities ?

Why did the men, who could rip Indra out of his heaven, sat, wring 

their hands ?

Impotence.

Impotence induced by addiction.

Impotence induced by a false sense of honour.

Impotence induced by misguided sense of friendship.

Impotence induced by misplaced sense of responsibility.

Impotence induced by attachment to family.

Impotence induced by greed.

Each and every member of the court that day, was made impotent by

one 

or other of these things. Even the great Bhishma was made impotent

by 

his sense of responsibility to the Kuru crown, rather than the 

values "that crown" espoused. Karna, a great man in every other 

category, was made impotent by his blind friendship to Duryodhan. 

Dhritrastra and the seeds of his loins, were made impotent by greed. 

Pandava brothers, made impotent by their misplaced attachment to 

Yudhistir, did nothing to help Drupadi in her hour of need. Grand 

gestures and promises of future action were useless to her.

When all entreaties failed, all pleadings for family honour, 

fraternal understanding and common decency were brushed aside, 

Dushashan tried to disrobe Drupadi. With muscle bound hands, that 

could uproot ancient trees, he pulled hard at the flimsy sari of 

Panchli.

When all else failed, Krishna called Krushna to her aid.

When all else abandoned her, Krushna came to her aid.

When the very last vestige of hope of saving any honour â€" honour

of 

Kurus, honour of its court, honour of its scions, honour of its 

advisors was lost, Krushna came to Krishna's aid.

Only Krushna stayed with Drupadi throughout this incidence.

Can you imagine how long it takes to pull away 1000 saris ?

Not one person spoke up â€" not even once !!!! during those 1000 

instances to help a lady in distress.

Only Krushna stayed by her side.

Only when Dushashan fell from exhaustion, did the impotent court of 

Kurus erupt in impotent anger, censoring the sons of Dhritrastra and 

praising the daughter of Drupad. Only than did the blind king fear 

for his sons and asked them to stop ! fearing that the people will 

rise up and force him to abdicate to Yudhisthir. His generosity was 

laced with fear. His blessings hid a curse that hoped to drive 

Pandu's sons into oblivion.

All who were present in the ancient court of Kurus lost their honour 

that day â€" except Drupadi.

Saved by Krushna, Krishna survived unscathed.

Her distress destroyed the sons and grandson of Dhritrastra's loins.

Even after Pandavas and Panchali had left for the jungle,

Dhritrastra 

and his sons did every thing within their power to make their lives 

difficult. Even when they returned after the 13th year, they 

continued to deny them their rights. The sorry story only concluded 

when the entire Kuru court, present on that fateful day of the dice 

game, was destroyed. All, including Bhishma and Drona lay dead

before 

the attempted dishonour of Drupadi was avenged.

How sad that this shameful incidence of ancient history has decided 

to repeat itself in our own life time !

Dushahan = corrupt governance

Dhritrastra = power gained by deceit

Duryodhan = ill gotten wealth

All these are well and alive, here and now.

They are stripping Bharat mata of her last vestiges of honour, while 

the populance looks on with impotent apathy, like those present in 

the court of Kurus.

Just as Panchali was married to five husbands, our current

government 

system is married to "multiple political parties". These parties, 

instead of being conscientious husbands to the country they have 

vowed to protect, are sitting by, letting corrupt governance attempt 

its rape of Bharat mata.

Impotence induced by vote bank politics.

Impotence induced by misplaced priorities.

Impotence induced by mistaken sense of identity.

Impotence induced by ideology.

Impotence induced by attachment to people rather than principles.

Impotence induced by greed.

Our men, women and children are being killed by terrorists in every 

state â€" from Pakistan backed militants in J&K to Bangla trained 

sucide bombers in Varanasi and Hydrabad. From Moaists and Naxalites 

to ill educated men, who kill Hindus in AP, Bihar, TN, West Bengal 

and Kerala.

While Hindus are being killed by the dozens in J&K, the government 

looks the other way and wags an angry finger at Gujarat for death of 

a couple of muslims during muslim induced riots ! While the secular 

fabric of India lies in tatters in Varanasi, Vadodara is blamed for 

shaming India ! While our government can protest at cartoons 

published in a free press in a democratic country, it awards

National 

honours to a man who regularly insults Hindu Gods and Goddesses in 

the name of "art".

Time and again, Hindus, their culture, their history, their 

aspirations are shot to shreds by a government that is unmindful of 

their feeling.

Who will save India ?

When will this rape stop ?

Only God can save India in the short term, and He has.

Can you imagine any other country facing so many enemies, attacking 

it with such determination as to reach its very parliament, and yet, 

survive ! Can you imagine any other country remaining peaceful 

despite being bombed so regularly ? Can you imagine country where

the 

minority drags the majority by the locks of its hair and still keep 

its peace ? Can you imagine another country where a small number of 

people defy all laws, rules and even the constitution and still the 

country functions ?

When the "Du-shashan" of the corrupt government, that is shaming 

India, collapses, people will see it for what it is. Too late for 

doing anything to repair the damage to its image, it â€" Dhritrastra 

may change its tune to fit the new realities, but, alas, until its 

seeds are destroyed, this current ideology will continue to attempt 

its rape of Bharat mata.

In the long term, only firm resolve, strong action and active 

participation of the people of India can save India from further 

dishonours in the future.

We must learn from our history â€" that's what its there for â€" to

teach 

us what to do and not to do. Sadly, if we ignore its lessons, we

will 

be the ultimate losers.

Let us, as Hindus, as Indians, rise up and say "NO" to Du-

shashan, "NO" to Duryo-dhan, and "NO" to Dhrit-rastra.

Let us all work together and step in to stop this hideous disrobing 

of our Bharat mata.

Its our mother, its our duty to protect its honour !

Jai Hind !

© Bhagwat Shah