Not merely 'not', but 'anti'

 It is the Mahashivaratra today. The fast is a celebration of  'Shiva', the pure, the elemental, the core of/in the universe. Shiva, the 'pater familias' of Lord Gajanana  and Lord Kartikeya, and the peerless consort of Pavati, who 'chose' to be his, despite stiff opposition, is all that is superb and grand every which way. No wonder, the great, grand Himalayas are Lord Shiva's abode. Everything about Lord Shiva is unique, pure, holy.

If we were to look at the Shiva principle a little differently, we would realise that His basic thematic, His narrative, if you want it in that fashion, is hugely inclusive. He is the God of the gods. Yet even ghosts, devils, demons could worship him. Look at his flock of  the  countless 'gana's' . That would clarify my point. The human, the non-human, the sub-human, all He acknowledges, accepts as his devotees. Often, in the mythology, his wedding procession is presented as terrifying, as it is absolutely inclusive. Well, this is not the scholarly platform to discuss how/when the Shiva principle emerged, how it got authenticated in the pantheon, and in history, for instance, though.

This notion of inclusion is the day's theme,too, according to the U.N. It is a day dedicated to a critique that questions discrimination on any basis, be it class, gender, age (ace-ing currently), caste (post-Mandal in a BIG way in India), region, religion, language, profession, preferences of any type, food, for example, the list can continue as nauseam.

The real need of the day is not merely being non-. One must now be anti-. Let me now give the example that I had so far saved to establish my choice of the right prefix. Look at the concept of race. Now is the time to assert an active agency. 

Now is the time to be proactive. So you can not be merely non-racist, you are anti-racist. Similarly, you are anti-war, too, given the current context. An active and assertive stance that brooks no nonsense is the position demanded of each and everyone now. That is the way we would be truly inclusive in preaching and praxis, like the Shiva principle.

Pratima@ Inclusion is far better than identity politics