As penned by Shri Nitish Rai Parwani . ✒️
Bharatiya mind: beyond communist and capitalist models.
For past 15 days, I had a chance to spend not a single paisa on food. Kumbha Mela is brimming with stalls and groups feeding millions (literally) of people, at no cost.
From Khichuri to Idli-Dosa, Sabji -Poori to Chai- Almond Milk, people are beseeching others to accept meals from them.
These groups would catch hold of pilgrims and implore them to have meal at their stall. They don't charge a single penny; but frown if someone offers to contribute any financial donation.
The food is not just tasty, but highly hygienic and healthy (Fried food is not 'considered' unhealthy here ).
Yesterday, when about 100 million pilgrims were present in the city, there were stalls to feed even more.
If you ask them direction, they'd give you a cup of tea with the response; if the tired you sit under shade, they'd bring a plate full of snacks; one has to negotiate to not to take food from them.
Locals have organised Bhandaras (food distribution), chabeels (beverage distribution), have opened their homes in the city side for the pilgrims to use washroom for free, have extended electricity connection to roadside so that pilgrims may charge their phones.
All this, generally, follows cleaning the area by the authorities and the locals; which is a relatively recent phenomenon that we witness in this area.
Which prevailing economic model framed through western lens would explain this?
There is no compulsion or pressure from the state to organise these services; everything is completely voluntary, and motivated by Dharma and spiritual inclinations.
People from all classes and castes and backgrounds volunteer for this.
We saw a jeweller, an industrialist, a manual labourer, a film producer and a political worker--all volunteering together; washing dishes, cutting vegetables, cooking and serving meals, in rotation.
No capital gain would follow this service. Volunteers have come from places, taking off from work, by spending their own money, to prepare food from their own resources and serving by their on hands, without any monetary expectation.
All that may be said is that the gain they seek can't be deposited in account mainatained by recognised banking systems.
Undoubtedly, there at several crooked ones who wish to profit from the situation and rise in demand; but the general trend remained positive.
Those who say communism is India's saviour, have missed the complete picture of a Bharatiya mind; and those who say capitalism is India's path to flourish, they too have missed the way.
Bharat has a unique understand ing, which shapes her systems, including economics.
For Bharat to flourish, lens of Dharma will guide Bharat's models.