The issues for us are:
• what do we mean by
‘Laxman Rekha’. Is it an imaginary line or does it prescribe the limits of human behaviour ?
• why is it prescribed only for humans ? and
• what are the consequences of crossing the ‘laxman rekha’ ?
I don’t have the answers but will still make an attempt to share my thoughts on these perennial issues. In my view, ‘laxman rekha’ is meant for us humans because we have the capacity to think and act. Other creations act according to their nature as they don’t have the faculty of thinking.
‘Laxman Rekha’ I believe is a code of conduct for us — human beings – laid down by us as members of society.
Whenever a person crosses the ‘laxman rekha’, he/she faces the consequences – our epics and history depicts this. For example :
• When Bali – a very learned and powerful ruler crossed it by co-habiting with his brother’s wife – and usurping his kingdom, he met his end at the hands of Ram.
• Aahilya for wrongly and not wilfully crossing the ‘laxman rekha’, became a stone and had to wait for Ram to revive her.
• Sita had to go through ‘ágni pariksha’ and suffer separation from Ram for crossing the ‘laxman rekha’.
• Draupadi crossed the ‘laxman rekha’ of a ‘good host’ when she called Duryodhan ‘andhi ka beta andha’ and she sowed the seeds of war – Mahabharat.
• Clinton crossed the ‘laxman rekha’ for his immoral behaviour and was impeached. He apologised and survived but the damage he did to the office of the President survives. The blemish hasn’t gone away despite his services to society.
• Cancer survivor and cancer care evangelist Lance Armstrong – super cyclist and super hero – the man whom fame and fortune favoured, confesses to the use of drugs and paid a big price – loss of respect.
• Walmart, the largest retailer in the world has been charged for violation of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for indulging in bribery and corruption in Mexico. This has resulted in Walmart initiating investigations in India and China. Newspapers report that some officers, vendors and consultants have been suspended in India and expansion of Bharti Walmart is on hold — the result – loss of reputation and business, and possibility of prosecution in the USA.
• Ramalinga Raju – the founder of Satyam suffered in prison for over two years and is facing a host of civil and criminal cases.
• Recently, our Law minister had to resign for interfering with investigation reports.
The list is metaphorically unending.
It is a fact that the pain of leaders and icons crossing the ‘laxman rekha’ for the followers becomes personal – which makes the followers revolt both mentally and physically.
Consequences of crossing the ‘laxman rekha’ are visible in society today – the cancer of corruption is having disastrous consequences on governance and economic and social environment and behaviour. The way our parliamentarians (leaders) behave in parliament – exhibits a kind of violence which is abhorring. The tragedy that it is that these very leaders ask us not to indulge in violence and remain within ‘laxman rekha’. They forget it is not words but actions which are emulated by people. Parliament is a forum created to discuss, debate and decide and not for storming into the well and tearing bills being tabled. It is a forum created to create laws and not break laws. Our leaders have probably forgotten the maxim: ‘lead by example’.
All this violence of crossing the ‘laxman rekha’ is for us to feel – Society is on tenterhooks and explosive. At the drop of a hat we have strikes, dharnas and violence – which I reiterate are nothing but consequences of crossing the ‘laxman rekha’. We are experiencing violence of all kinds — we have become intolerant and are sacrificing our right to express the banning of books, art, people and movies that is not only adversely impacting us, but will also affect future generations. Salman Rushdie christens the present environment as ‘cultural emergency’. Shobhaa De says ‘we are living in the republic of hate and nightmares’. We as a nation cross the ‘laxman rekha’ when we stifle ‘freedom of speech’, a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution. We are giving up the concept of – ‘live and let live’. Any time whether at home or at office or as citizen the moment, I indulge in ‘you have no right’, I am crossing the ‘laxman rekha’ of tolerance and this crossing leads to strife. Believe me, the ‘right to express’ includes the ‘right to dissent’ Mr. Manish Tewari, our Minister for Information and Broadcasting affirms that :
‘Freedom of expression must include right to offend’.
‘Laxman rekha’ is not only for sinners or saints or for those in power but is also for us – the normal – the householder, the office goer and the entrepreneur – who despite corruption value ‘values’.
It is a sad fact that we are unconsciously imbibing the culture of conflict, crime and corruption and I dare say all of us are directly or indirectly have contributed to it and are affected and impacted by this. We are impatient and intolerant. We need to remember that today’s leaders have risen from amongst us. We in India and probably people across the world have crossed the ‘Laxman rekha’ – the result is unrest. Let us not forget that all crimes – social or economic – represent crossing the ‘laxman rekha’. For example:
• The Chief Minister of a State – a beloved leader – wants her driver to be whipped for being 15 minutes late – the Times of India of 08-02-2013.
• Khaps in Haryana and Punjab have mandated and ensured that a couple though married be separated because marriage between the two castes to which they belong is not permitted by custom.
• Minister of a State is said to be involved in the murder of a police officer.
• Members of a state assembly are charged with assaulting a police officer. The questions we have to ask ourselves are :
• Is this the secular India we gave ourselves and was dreamt by the leaders who drafted our Constitution
• Is this non – tolerant environment that we want to live in and leave for our children.
The issue is: if this is what we don’t want, then what should we do to contain this and bring back the culture of love, compassion and confidence in law to live within the ‘laxman rekha’ and be happy.
I believe ‘laxman rekha’ is the litmus test of accountability not only for the society but for each one individually. Hence , it is for us as members of society to lay down, modify or reject the norms. We are the ones who cross or maintain the ‘laxman rekha’. Being an optimist, I believe that there is a ray of hope because there is a silent revolt against the present environment of corruption and intolerance. Ministers are resigning apparently because of intolerant behaviour of a chief minister. The recent protests against corruption and misbehaviour (rape) are instances of this resurgence. People and press are talking about ‘ethical values’. We also now have the Right to Information Act – which is bringing transparency in governance and probably instilling some ‘fear of retribution’ in those who govern – the powerful. It was Kahlil Gibran who said:
‘Life without freedom is like a body without a soul and freedom without thought is like a confused spirit’.
To bring ‘laxman rekha’ back in society, let us join this silent movement by contributing to it both ‘time and money’. Gandhi had resilience. It was his faith in our desire and need for freedom that gave us freedom. Let us develop ‘resilience’ and return to ‘values’ even despite having been bent and battered. Let us revive the spirit to live by ‘values’ by living ‘values’. This will be our legacy to the young and coming generations.
Let us do and we can. Let us not cross ‘laxman rekha’. Let us bring back ‘accountability’.
