Editorial
A Sentiment is an expression of the psychic association with an object, place, people or anything which makes the mind think compartmentally and remains attached without the sense of propriety or impropriety. A man is a sentimental being. His sentiment may be for a petty thing or for a great Ideology. It encircles the mind around its purpose usually limited in conception and practice.
The mind affiliates itself naturally with the land or area of one’s birth or upbringing to develop. Geo-sentiment is concerned with the geographical limit. When thinking about the development of people of that area at the cost of the other is called Geo- sentiment. It has many forms of expressions. Whereas socio-sentiment are concerned with a particular group, community, race beyond the limits of a territory. It motivates the human mind to think of the welfare of a particular ethnicity other than others. It may be a caste, community, or religious group spread in any part of the world. Its jurisdiction may be bigger than a geographical limit but the mind remains concerned with the development and welfare of that particular ethnicity only. The world today is divided and sub-divided into a number of religious and ethnic groups and we witness clashes and wars among them for their respective supremacy which results in loss of lives and properties on both sides.
Socio sentiments are built-up around the self- centric ego(a’tma-sukha tattva) thereby undermines the concept and practice of pervasive welfare of all beyond that particular ethnic group. Again there remains intra-ethnic clashes within a single ethnic group created out of vested interests which continues to establish dominance of one over the others. Most of the wars in the world are fought due to the ugly and depraving ideas of these socio-sentiments. We find caste and sub-caste systems in Indian society which keep the society divided. Likewise, other societies maintaining their ethnicity are inspired by their religious faiths which are conceptualised differently, result in various groups and communities. Very often they fight each other for their respective supremacy.The negative aspect of these ethnic groups is that they cannot live together in peace. There are intra- and inter- ethno- religious clashes and bloodshed quite frequently.
The recent incidents of killing tourists (hindus) by the terrorists backed by Pakistan(regimented muslims) in Pahalgam of Kashmir obviously reflects the dark side of inter-religious and political concerns between India and Pakistan which has instigated a stir in Hindus all over the country to exhibit their anguish against the muslims. The Indian government took some stringent decisions against Pakistan which gives a signal of animosity between the two nations flaring up the bitterness instead of normalising the relationship. But the heinous crime is instigated from the other side.
The current situation of severe conflicts between the two nations has emerged due to socio-geo-political concerns. The narrow sentimentalities will never sustain humanity in peace unless the principle of Sama- Sama’ja Tattva(the principle of Social Equanimity based on moral values and spiritual practices) is accepted by humanity today. Humanity has to elevate itself on the basis of Universal Humanism, that is, considering the well being and the welfare of all, animated and inanimate beings, by pursuing the concept of Neo- Humanism which teaches us to extend love and concern for one and all.
Avtk’ A’nand Prabha’ A’c
