The World Through Rakesh Sharma's Eyes

  The Commercialization of Idol Worship: A Reflection on Sanatan Dharma Connecting with Lord Shiva   In recent discussions, some have raised concerns about my stance on idol worship, assuming that I am opposed to Sanatan Dharma. I want to set the record straight: I am not against idol worship, nor do I oppose the essence of Sanatan Dharma as I have understood it throughout my life. The principles of dharma that I was raised with have shaped a deep and meaningful perspective—one rooted in truth, justice, and the well-being of all. As a child, I may not have been attentive to every ritual during prayer. However, I always made sure to be present for the concluding portion, where the core message was emphasized: uphold dharma, eradicate adharma, care for all beings, and work toward peace on this planet. This is the Sanatan Dharma I grew up with, a tradition that prioritizes moral integrity, universal compassion, and the fight against injustice. Adharma, as I learned, manif...

  Save Dharma from Ignorance ॐ शांति ॐ, शांति ॐ, शांति शांति शांति ॐ When the Sanatan puja (worship) concludes and preparations for prasad (offering) begin, before that we all recite the final prayer, in which we say, "May the spread of dharma (righteousness) happen, may adharma (unrighteousness) be destroyed, may there be goodwill among all beings, and may there be welfare for the world." This is a prayer that every Sanatani proudly recites, claiming how great we are because we wish for the destruction of adharma and the welfare of the world. But these same Sanatanis turn a blind eye when a person is killed just because he is Dalit, or because he touched a stone idol, or touched a water pot, or rode a horse during his wedding. These very people worship the criminals who raped a Muslim woman, killed her 3-year-old daughter, and then garland these criminals as a mark of respect. In the Vedas, such people are called adharmis (unrighteous). This blog is being written to awaken t...

  धर्म रक्षा ॐ शांति ॐ, शांति ॐ, शांति शांति शांति ॐ जब सनातन में पूजा खत्म होती है और प्रसाद की तैयारी होती है, उससे पहले हम सब अंतिम प्रार्थना करते हैं जिसमें हम कहते हैं कि धर्म का प्रचार हो, अधर्म का नाश हो, प्राणियों में सद्भावना हो और विश्व का कल्याण हो। यह एक ऐसी प्रार्थना है जिसे हर सनातनी गर्व से कहता है कि देखो हम कितने महान हैं जो अधर्म का नाश चाहते हैं और विश्व का कल्याण चाहते हैं। लेकिन यही सनातनी तब मुंह फेर लेते हैं जब एक इंसान को इस लिए मार दिया जाता है कि वह दलित है और उसने एक पत्थर की मूर्ति को हाथ लगा दिया, या पानी के घड़े को छू लिया, या शादी के लिए घोड़ी पर चढ़ गया। यही लोग पूजा करते हैं उन अपराधियों की जिन्होंने एक मुस्लिम महिला का बलात्कार किया और उसकी 3 साल की बेटी को मार दिया, और इन अपराधियों को सम्मानित कर उनके गले में हार डाल दिए जाते हैं। वेदों में ऐसे लोगों को अधर्मी कहा गया है। ये ब्लॉग उन सोई हुई आत्माओं को जगाने के लिए लिखे जा रहे हैं, न कि नया धर्म शुरू करने के लिए। मैं समझता हूँ कि इससे अच्छा काम और क्या हो सकता है धर्म को बचाने के लिए जिसे पुजारियो...

  Pollution: The House of Death Air pollution is one of the leading causes of lung diseases worldwide, often resulting in chronic coughing, which in turn facilitates the spread of various illnesses. In India, particularly in Delhi, the air quality deteriorates significantly during this time of the year. One of the major contributors to this seasonal decline is the burning of crop stubble by farmers. According to data from the Indian Agriculture Research Institute, this year saw a stark variation in the practice across different states. Stubble burning increased by 70% in Uttar Pradesh, 23% in Haryana, while in Punjab it decreased by 27%. This disparity highlights the crucial role government policies and leadership play in addressing environmental issues. Despite these facts, misinformation continues to spread, particularly among certain political factions. For instance, a recent social media post by a BJP supporter encouraged people to burn as many firecrackers as they wished, di...

  प्रदूषण: यमराज का घर वायु प्रदूषण दुनिया भर में फेफड़ों की बीमारियों का एक प्रमुख कारण है , जो अक्सर लगातार खांसी का कारण बनता है , और इस तरह विभिन्न बीमारियों के फैलाव को बढ़ावा देता है। भारत में , विशेष रूप से दिल्ली में , हर साल इस समय वायु गुणवत्ता में भारी गिरावट देखी जाती है। इस मौसमी गिरावट का एक प्रमुख कारण किसानों द्वारा फसलों के अवशेषों को जलाना है। भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान के आंकड़ों के अनुसार , इस साल उत्तर प्रदेश में पराली जलाने में 70% की वृद्धि , हरियाणा में 23% की वृद्धि , जबकि पंजाब में 27% की कमी देखी गई। यह अंतर यह दर्शाता है कि पर्यावरणीय मुद्दों से निपटने में सरकारी नीतियों और नेतृत्व की कितनी महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका होती है। इन तथ्यों के बावजूद , गलत सूचनाएं लगातार फैलती रहती हैं , खासकर कुछ राजनीतिक धड़ों में। उदाहरण के लिए , हाल ही में एक सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट में एक भाजपा समर्थक ने लोगों को जितने चाहें उतने पटाखे जलाने के...

  From Xi to Trump to Modi: A Masterclass in Building Empires and Fooling Nations One Leader and His Followers A recent conversation with a close associate who visited China sparked an interesting observation. Contrary to popular belief, China isn’t a communist paradise of equality and harmony. Who would’ve thought, right? Instead, it operates as a well-oiled, military-managed machine that’s great at ticking boxes like building shiny infrastructure and making sure everyone’s basic needs are met. But wait—before you grab your pom-poms and cheer for socialism done right, look a little closer. Economic disparities? Oh, they’re alive and kicking, even at the ground level. You see, the caste system isn’t an exclusive Indian feature—it’s got global membership, including China. So much for "everyone is equal." I asked my associate, "What’s wrong with this picture-perfect system?" Her answer hit hard: freedom of speech and thought—the two pesky little things that make us ...

Reforming India’s Electoral System: Towards Fair and Accountable Governance Rethinking India’s Electoral System: A Hybrid Approach for Sustained Accountability The concept of "One Nation, One Election" has garnered attention for its potential to streamline India's electoral process, reduce costs, and ensure synchronized governance. However, while the idea of simultaneous elections may seem promising, it also poses risks—chief among them the possibility of unbalanced power dynamics and compromised representation. The core issue lies not only in election frequency but in the quality of elected representatives and the continuous accountability they must uphold. This article proposes a hybrid electoral system that balances national and state elections while addressing critical concerns of governance, representation, and public trust. A Hybrid Electoral Model India's electoral landscape could benefit from a structured, staggered approach. A model where national elections a...

  “Hindus Are in Danger" – The Greatest Slogan That Never Was Nautanki …   When did we first hear the dramatic cry of " हिंदू खतरे में है " (Hindus are in danger)? I don’t recall any historical moment where this slogan became a rallying cry for any political party or movement. Why? Because, let’s face it, Hindus have never actually been in danger. From the pages of ancient history to the modern boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, Hindus have excelled in almost every field for the last 3,000 years. So why is this sudden hysteria that Hindus are somehow under threat? If we rewind a bit, we’ll see that, yes, the power struggles between kings and rulers have always been part of the story, whether those rulers were Hindu or not. Sure, a few non-Hindu rulers and foreign powers came and went, but were Hindus ever really in danger? Many Hindus, in fact, felt they were treated quite well during the British Empire. Shocking, right? During this period, while some were convertin...

  A Tribute to Ratan Tata: The Real Patriot, Not the Political Illusion How to Make $100 Billion Without Even Trying India—a land rich in culture and history, but now home to a select few billionaires who have amassed unimaginable wealth. One man, worth less than $5 billion in 2014, now sits atop a fortune of $101 billion. Another? His wealth has surged from a modest $24 billion to nearly $100 billion. Their secret to success? Not hard work or innovation, but rather "Modi’s blessings," combined with the timely transfer of state-owned assets. And just like that, we have new billionaires overnight. But amidst this tale of astronomical wealth, there’s the story of a true patriot—Ratan Tata—whose recent passing has left India mourning the loss of a man who genuinely helped build the nation. His organization donated $103 billion, not for personal gain, but to make India stronger. Unlike the current crop of opportunists who have looted India for billions, facilitated by the Modi go...

  Pollution, Prayers, and Plaster: How India Celebrates in Style (and Smog) These days are considered celebration days in India, where people are busy reveling in a never-ending loop of festivals across the country. Ah, yes, the joy of festival season! The bright lights, the loud music, and of course, the charming combination of environmental and mental pollution. Let’s pause for a moment and examine this blissful chaos. What a time to be alive, right? Take, for example, Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja. Nothing quite says devotion like creating giant, brightly painted idols of gods and goddesses, and then dunking them into rivers and lakes like some kind of divine bath time ritual. It started as a simple act of worship but, like all great things in life, someone saw a commercial opportunity. Now, it’s a grand spectacle, complete with heaps of plaster, toxic paints, and enough garbage to make Mother Nature weep. Those once-pure rivers and lakes, so full of life, now serve as the u...