An incident and a learning

Let me start by narrating a small incident. The other day while coming back from office, i saw a group of 'Kanwariyas- saffron clad, Shiv worshipping Sadhus, who travel to different Shiv temples on foot carrying poles across their shoulders which hold small water-pots (kanwars)' on a road side stall set up for them. At the stall, which was amidst a very busy road, they were being offered free food, water and a air cooled resting place (which was playing hindi bhajans 'inspired' by popular bollywood songs). Now if you have already perceived them to be old, abstinence loving, docile creatures, let me describe them for you.

This group was young, most people seemed to be in their 20s or 30s. They were riding their bikes (oh yes, they were on their path to moksha on their two-wheelers), were wearing sunglasses and carrying what seemed like imported backpacks. It seemed amusing till what happened next!

As they were on their bikes, they reached the traffic signal (where i was also there), which was red and the traffic from the other side was speeding. Once they formed a small group of about 10-12 riding on their 7-8 bikes, they suddenly barged into the opposite traffic and by signaling by their hand to stop, put the opposite traffic in a mess. When a couple of cars and buses stopped to save them from being crushed under them, they sped on their bikes yelling- Bam Bam Bhole, with a sense of victory in their war cry.

Although, luckily nobody was injured and everything went normal in a few seconds, it made me realise how we in India do not perceive religion to be a personal thing at all. These kanwariyas seem to take participation in religious groups because they get empowered by this participation. Empowered enough to take the law of land in one's hand and jeopardising the life of other fellow human beings!

Imagine a scenario where even one of the these kanwariyas might have been hit by a car from the opposite side and injured. I can imagine what would have happened. They would have called their group and thrashed the poor driver of the car without any mistake of his. In a worse case they would have become violent, stopped all traffic and done gruesome harm to public property (which has happened in past too). And could the police and administration have done anything, i think not!

And they could have done all this just because they represent a particular religion and sect and have to be treated above the law or bear the wrath! I think, as people out on a religious mission, they surely should be treated with all due respect and care that we can, but nobody can be above law and their life is no more worthy than of anybody else on that road.

May lord shiva help us and all the kanwariyas realise the fact that religion does not provide someone to be above law or become violent, it is just a way of connecting with the almighty.