Friends, the initiative to focus on the essential identity between the Dharma-Dhamma viewpoints is particularly noteworthy. These thoughts, rooted in the ancient wisdom of Hindu and Buddhist civilizations, are as relevant today as they have been over millennia.
The teachings of Dharma and Dhamma have not only endured but have also thrived, continuously guiding societies in their quest for moral and ethical living.
The timeless relevance of these principles is evident in how they have shaped the cultural, social and spiritual landscapes of civilisations across Asia and beyond.
From Vedic traditions of India to the Buddhist philosophies that spread across the continent, the concepts of Dharma and Dhamma have provided a unifying thread.
I would go to the extent of saying, much unified thread that binds us to a shared heritage of wisdom, compassion and righteousness.
In the Mahabharata, the great epic that narrates the struggle between righteousness and unrighteousness, Dharma is the central theme.
The Bhagavad Gita, a timeless dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, is a profound discourse on the nature of Dharma and the duties of an individual. Lord Krishna’s exhortation to Arjuna to perform his duty without attachment to the results is a powerful reminder of the importance of Dharma in our lives.
It is antithetical to Dharma when informed minds knowingly seek to lead people astray to gain political mileage or subserve self interest compromising national interest.
What a serious challenge to society, A knowledgeable person, an informed mind who knows the reality uses his iconic status to lead astray people to gain political mileage. In such kind of situations, observance of silence and such misadventure is no less than sacrilege of Dharma. Such nefarious tendencies and pernicious designs targeting our Nationalism and also humanity need a befitting rebuff as a tribute to our Dharma.
Tolerance of such forces will not be an act of Dharma. Dharma demands, let me neutralise with full force such kind of forces that seek to belittle Dharma, tarnish our Institutions, run down our Nationalism.
How painful it is to suffer a senior politician, once in the seat of governance declare what publicly happened in neighbourhood is bound to happen in Bharat.
How can anyone believing in Dharma act in such a manner? No words are sufficient to condemn such actions, their action is Adharma in extremity.
Those at the helm of affairs at the present need to get a good lesson on this count: performance of duty has to secure predominance over results.
The 22 paintings in our Constitution, Indian Constitution thoughtfully given to us by three years of painstaking work by founding fathers, members of the Constituent Assembly are an ode to Indian culture and history underscoring our commitment to Dharma.
In part-III of the Constitution that deals with Fundamental Rights, the rights that are critical to existence of human beings, the rights that are fundamental to humanity and the painting there is Sri Ram, Devi Sita and Sri Laxman - the eternal heroes of India who symbolise the victory of Dharma over Adharma are depicted.
Similarly, in Part-IV, that concerns Directive Principles of State Policy, what we see in the painting, Sri Krishna propounding the infinite ocean of wisdom, righteousness to Arjun before the commencement of Battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra.
Friends, let me remind you, this great nation was bled in 1975 with the proclamation of draconian emergency by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who in blatant and outrageous disregard of dharma acted dictatorially to cling to power and self-serve interest.
As a matter of fact, it was sacrilege of Dharma. It was Adharma that can neither be countenanced nor condoned.
That was Adharma which cannot be overlooked or forgotten. Over a lakh of people were imprisoned. Some of them became Prime Ministers, Presidents, Vice Presidents and occupied positions of public service.
And all this was done to satisfy whim of one with saviours of dharma benumbed. I pose a question to myself, what happened to those warriors of dharma at that point of time?
My answer is simple. Over a lakh of them suffered indignities, confinement and this constitutional and democratic catastrophe signals that society has to suffer for long, to suffer indelible mark on its fair face when we permit Adharma to take place.
As a tribute to Dharma, as a commitment to Dharma, to serve Dharma, to so belief in Dharma, Observance of Constitution Day on November 26 and Constitution Hatya Divas on June 25 are necessary. They are grim reminders of transgressions of dharma and call for spirited adherence to constitutional dharma. Observance of these days is also significant as during the worst curse of democracy-the emergency all checks and balances and institutions including that of including that of the Supreme Court.
Friends, it is essential to nurture Dharma, to sustain Dharma that we are adequately informed. Our youngsters, the new generations come to know about it more vividly so that we are spinally strong in observance of Dharma and neutralise the dangerous which we faced once.
In the contemporary political scenario, there is a growing concern that many who are entrusted to serve the people are moving away from their Dharma.
I am referring to people who are enjoined by their position to serve Dharma. They are distancing themselves from Dharma. Their sacred duty to serve the people with integrity, transparency and justice is being failed. Instead of upholding the principles of righteousness, some of them are engaging in actions that are contrary to the very essence of Dharma.
This deviation, from moral and ethical responsibilities is a matter of grave concern. It is of deep concern, alarming concern as it undermines the trust and faith of the people who put them in that position.
As Vice President of the country, I happen to be chairman of Rajya Sabha. I have felt the need of observance of dharma. I am pained at the absence of discussion and deliberation.
I am traumatised by disruptions, disturbances, the enormity of a situation created by departure from dharma pains me. The constitutional ordainments of public representatives are being sacrificed on narrow partisan grounds, such a failure of duty is a reflection of अधर्म in its extremity.
I beseech all of you to enlighten your representatives. They represent the mood of the nation, and the mood of the nation is to engage in your constitutional dharma, work for the larger good of humanity, and certainly not create disruption, and certainly not lend wings to narratives that are anti-humanity and anti-national.
In today’s world, the relevance of Dharma and Dhamma has become more critical than ever. Given the challenges we see all around virtually in every part of the Globe. We are witnessing a time when the moral and ethical foundations of society are being challenged, not only by the rapid changes brought about by globalization and technological advancements but also by the actions of those who are entrusted with leadership.
It is imperative for individuals and institutions to conform to dharam. Power and authority are optimally impactful when there is realisation of limitations of that power and authority.
The tendency to go beyond defined sphere has potential to unleash the rage of अधर्म। We need to be bound by our limitations to impactfully use our authority.
It is quintessentially fundamental that all organs of the state function in harmony and in their defined space and domain. Transgressions are deviations from the path of dharam and can turn out to be acutely painful and suicidal on occasions.
It is antithetical to Dharma when informed minds knowingly seek to lead people astray to gain political mileage or subserve self interest compromising national interest.
What a serious challenge to society, A knowledgeable person, an informed mind who knows the reality uses his iconic status to lead astray people to gain political mileage. In such kind of situations, observance of silence and such misadventure is no less than sacrilege of Dharma. Such nefarious tendencies and pernicious designs targeting our Nationalism and also humanity need a befitting rebuff as a tribute to our Dharma.
Tolerance of such forces will not be an act of Dharma. Dharma demands, let me neutralise with full force such kind of forces that seek to belittle Dharma, tarnish our Institutions, run down our Nationalism.
How painful it is to suffer a senior politician, once in the seat of governance declare, what publicly happened in neighbourhood is bound to happen in Bharat. How can anyone believing in Dharma act in such a manner? such narratives is adharma. No words are sufficient to condemn such actions, their action is Adharma in extremity.
Friends let me remind you,the nation was bled in 1975 with the proclamation of draconian emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who in blatant and outrageous disregard of dharam acted dictatorially to cling to power and serve self interest. This act of adharma can not be countenanced, can not be overlooked and forgotten. Over a lac were imprisoned to satisfy the whim of one.
The constitution is not just a legal document, it is a sacred covenant underscoring our commitment to Dharma. It implores us to engage in our duties because our duties are implicit in Dharma.
