Swamis’ demand formal moral education to help stall decay in society
In a major setback to Asaram Bapu facing rape charge, Swami Ramdev and Swami Agnivesh have both spoken loudly against any misdemeanor by spiritual gurus.
|Last Updated: Sep 09, 2013, 10:24 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Rashi Aditi Ghosh and Ankita Chakrabarty/ Zee Research Group/ Delhi
In a major setback to Asaram Bapu facing rape charge, Swami Ramdev and Swami Agnivesh have both spoken loudly against any misdemeanor by spiritual gurus.
Participating in the #BBV ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ program series running across Zee Media channels, Swami Ramdev said, “Law should take its own course and it is incumbent upon all holy gurus to come completely clean in their public and private conduct.” Ramdev’s ‘Nishane Pe’ interview with Ashutosh Rana would be telecast on Zee News on Sep 13 at 10pm.
Dwelling on the issue of fall of values in the society, Swami Agnivesh in ‘Mudda Aaapka’ show to be aired on Zee News on Sept 9, said, “Spiritual leaders have to lead by example especially at a time when overall moral standards are on the decline.” He, however, ridiculed the idea of blind following of “gurus” and called upon people in the country to be their own gurus.
Zee Media produced #BBV series focuses this week (Sept 9-15) on redeeming India from societal decay bringing together all the relevant stakeholders on one of the most vexed issues faced by 1.2 billion people in the country.
Politicians, spiritual leaders and other social activists, who participated in the week long #bbv #moralIndia show made a fervent pitch for inculcating moral values and ethics in children right from the time they are admitted to schools. Moral education should be a compulsory subject will proper grades assigned to it.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, told #bbv on Zee News, “About 90 percent of all cases of crime against women happen when the culprits are in an intoxicated condition. The liquor sale has increased by three fold times in the last few years in India which has further worsened the situation.” Shankar’s one-on-one interview will air on Sep 10 at 10pm.
Swami Agnivesh demanded a total ban of alcohol sale in the country in view of the adverse impact it had on youth in the country. He also urged the government to urgently ban watching pornography in the country.
Women are the sufferers of the lot and will always remain so. Supporting the view, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP from Bhatinda in her ‘Ek Naari Aisi Bhi’ BBV interview, on air on Sept 11, said, “Blaming women’s clothing for rape is a flimsy argument. Statistics show that 90 per cent of rape cases are committed against minor girls who don’t even understand the meaning of decent or indecent dressing.”
Globalization is not the culprit behind societal decay in India. Concurring with the above view, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “It is very wrong to blame globalization and western world influence behind the societal decay in the country. India has and always be a part of the global world.”
However, Ramdev blamed westernization as one of the major reasons for aggressive diversion in youth. He said, “We have blindly started aping the western culture forgetting the moral values of our own culture.” He found support here in Swami Agnivesh.
Offering solutions to check the problem of societal decay, Sri Sri Shankar in his ‘Zara Hatke’ #bbv interview urged people to focus on the positive side of life. “All, especially children and youth, should practice yoga and meditation.”
Pushing for return to joint family system as a solution, Ramdev said that change would come only through a cultured family leading to a united society.
“Before blaming others for decaying society one should bring about a change in the attitude and behavior of oneself. Sex education and moral education is the need of the hour,” said Bhatinda MP Badal.
Dr. Sandeep Vohra, Delhi based psychiatrist endorsed the need for formal moral education, push back to joint family system and curbing unbridled consumerism.
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