Uprooting weeds from wheat-field is patriotism!
By Vivek Sharma
There is a lot of talk about patriotism, nationalism and their misplaced versions, which are responsible for creating a psychological and social divide everywhere in the world.
The situation is no different in India.
Well, a group is constantly taking anti-government position and the other one is condemning it as wrong. Taking an anti-government position is not wrong in a democracy. But, seeing even the positives as negatives and standing against them is no democracy. This is the basis of extreme versions of ideologies, whose followers want to disprove others to prove themselves. When this breaches certain dimensions, the state enters into a cold war situation, which threatens to turn violent any time. How to handle such ideological aberrants the right way, is the question which has even troubled the wisest. Because, a ruthless action against the inimical group is considered as “atrocity against one’s own people.” This is where such groups gain supremacy and prominence. They claim that the state belongs to them also, yet they act inimical to it. It seems complex to handle them. But, actually, it is very simple if one goes by an old Sanskrit saying.
गोधूमक्षेत्रे स्तंबाः एव वर्धन्ति
भूमि अस्माकं इदं वदन्ति मातरश्च।
In the field of wheat also grow weeds saying, “This earth is our mother too.”
स्तंबनिर्मूलनं तु भूपते कर्म: गोधूम
रक्षा च कृषकस्य धर्म: ।।
But, uprooting weeds is the duty of the land owner and protecting the wheat crop is the duty of the farmer.
भूमिस्तः उभौ मातरौ इदं
सत्यं स्तंबनिर्मूलनं
तथापि धर्मस्य मर्म:।
It is true that the earth is the mother of both wheat and weed, yet uprooting weed from the field is the hidden meaning of right duty.
गोधूम वर्धने निर्मूलनं कृषकस्य
धर्मः कुशलनृपस्य च
सिद्धान्तं दृढं वदन्ति मुनियः।।
Uprooting inimical weeds determinedly is essential for the proper growth of the wheat crop. The wise say this is in principle to be followed by the king too in order to protect his kingdom, people and ensure them safety and growth.
With wheat grows weeds too. The farmer must uproot the weeds and nourish the wheat. You can tell weed from wheat easily. The weed always eats up the nourishment of wheat and wishes to dominate the wheat field. The king must follow the farmer’s example and uproot the elements which are inimical to the overall welfare of the state.