NAMASTE FRATERNEL/BROTHERLY NAMASTE
Mersi Google
THE TASKS AHEAD
Besides mobilising all human, material and spiritual resources to defeat the TWO racisms, namely Hindutva and anti-Hindu ideologies, we, the inhabitants of this beautiful Creole island (Hindo-Creoles, Afro-Creoles, Islamo-Creoles, Euro-Creoles and Sino-Creoles) must tackle some urgent and life-threatening problems.
To build up our mental and spiritual power we must understand some fundamental values:
• There is ONE God called by different names (God, Bondie, Brahma, Allah, Jehovah etc.);
• Faith which unites is more important than routine rituals which divide;
• The different religious texts are complementary and mutually supportive and not exclusive – The Bhagavad-Gita tells us that life is a contradiction which is also a basic tenet of Marxism; the Bible tells us that the name of God is mercy (Pope Francis); the Koran tells us that life should be governed by SOLIDARITY and SHARING (also basic socialist principles).
These values will definitely help us to face some of our economic, health and ecological urgent problems.
• Covid-19 has shown that GLOBALISATION is not what humanity needs. Instead, we must rebuild our economy on the strength of LOCALISATION and some form of REGIONALISATION.
• We must replant our land and sea forests and develop culture tourism.
• A new land management policy must ensure food security, proper housing for all, cultivation of new crops such as cannabis to produce cannabinoids (Cannabinoids — the active chemicals in medical marijuana — are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain. Research suggests cannabinoids might reduce anxiety, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.).
• We need a new town-planning policy. Mauritius could be divided into some 20 autonomous municipalities, each with its own administrative, economic, agricultural, judicial, cultural, leisure and other sectors. Within each municipality, muscle power (walking and cycling) must be encouraged and all roads must be equipped with bicycle lanes; electricity powered public vehicles will cater for “intra and inter” municipal transport.
• The present educational system must be radically changed to ensure high level universal bilingual functional literacy.
I understand that most of the FEW Mauritians who can read intelligently this opinion piece will judge it as the elucubration of a deranged mind. For this reason, I prefer to sing in wilderness:
Pagla mera naam, pagla mera kaam;
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai sabko mera salam.
Date: 21.01.21