Revisiting Bhagavad GŒtƒ during the ?National Crisis?

Sambhavami Yuge Yuge:

“For the protection of the good, for the destruc­tion of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.”

 —Bhagavad Gîtâ (Chapter IV-8)

While the Janmashtami  is celebrated throughout the country,  we as a nation are going  through a severe crisis, economically, socially  and  politically. We need to analyse this critical situation in the light of the profound treatise on human life Shrimad Bhagavad Gîtâ. Especially, when most of us are in the mindset of Arjuna, lack sense of direction and dejected with the state of affairs, only Lord Sri Krishna can show us the way out.    

With the advent of Manmohanomics, Indian economy has integrated with the global one. The dollarisation and import orientation of economy has led us to the crisis we are undergoing. The whole gimmick of ‘India story of development’ is crumbling. The worse impact of this blind following of the foreign model is going to affect all spheres of life in coming days. In the time of economic crisis, Lord Krishna’s advice is worth following for rectifying the foundations. As the Bhagavad Gîtâ tells us our material life should be guided by Sattwick Bhava, that is disciplined, harmonious and orderly conditions. The basic tenets of the present economic model, which negate these conditions of integrated human approach, bound to face crisis after crisis, whether in socialist form or capitalist form.

The societal crisis is corollary of the economic crisis. As the entire social life is driven by the self-centric material world, ‘the art of giving’ propounded by Lord Krishna is completely missing. Deepening moral and human values, increasing crime, widening disparities and insensitivity towards social problems is threatening our collective existence. The tendency of accumulation and encircling our life with gadgets and accessories is diminishing the human element from national life. The whole purpose of Bhagavad Gîtâ is re-sensitisation, which is the need of an hour.

The biggest crisis we are facing today is the crisis of leadership and credibility. That is why from onion crisis to national security, there is no one to provide direction. When everybody tries to look for some role models, they are very few, especially in the political spectrum. The missing files in the ‘coalgate’ is a classic case of shrinking integrity and authority. The role of a leader is to establish Dharma for the benefit of all. The silence, fake assurances, blame games, irresponsible actions and unaccountable misuse of power by our leadership at the top has worsened the crisis.  As Sri Krishna says, “Whatever the excellent and best ones do, the commoners follow.” The visionary leader must also be a missionary, extremely practical, intensively dynamic and capable of translating dreams into reality, which in turn can inspire and motivate others. The absence of dynamism and strength in leadership is the root of all crises.    

When Sri Krishna says Sambhavami Yuge Yuge, it does not mean the avataras (incarnation) takes place out of nothing. Unless all of us follow the Karma Yoga for establishment of Dharma, in other words realise and manifest the divinity within us, the birth of Sri Krishna will not be possible. We need to resolve on this Janmashtami to redirect our goals and actions in the light of Bhagavad Gîtâ for rejuvenation of India, based on Indian-ness.