Outrageous Agenda of Calcutta Group: Re: Traitor's Example

From: "S.Ramnathan" sramnathan@times.in....
To: ananda-marga-discourses-1@yogasamsthanam.net
Subject: Outrageous Agenda of Calcutta Group
Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 10:24:08 +0530 (IST)

BABA

Outrageous Agenda of Calcutta Group

Re: Traitor's Example

Namaskar,

Thank you Surabhi ji for writing on this vital matter of scriptural integrity. You mentioned in your letter that Kiritji is writing as a representative of the Kolkata group Publications Department:

When you have written "as publishers, we..." then it is clear you are not the person fully responsible for the policy stated here. Because the "we the publishers" means the publications department, & in particular Publications Dept (B). And the head of the Publications Department (B) is Ac. Sarvatmananda Avt. We margis have seen through time that what you have written here is indeed the policy of AMPS (B) publications department and so Kiritji I have full sympathy for you, you are merely expressing the policy which you have been instructed to give.

It is clear from Kiritji's letter that what you have expressed is completely true. Indeed, his whole letter is written from the perspective of one who represents the Kolkata group Publications Department.

Kiritji: I found your below Publisher's Policy to be worthy of comment:

2. Regarding omission of text:

As  publishers, we have to maintain a balance between  the printed language and the spoken language. Printed language is for the whole world who have no idea of the "traitor group". May be even many margiis also do not know about the "traitor group". It would seem confusing and out of place to them.

Baba's mention of the traitor group during His discourse "The Lord's Feet", is a matter of actual discourse content: This is the subject Baba chose to raise. In matters of content, the question of Kolkata group Publishers applying the principle you describe-- "balance between printed language and spoken language"-- to decide what content to include/exclude, must not arise. Because where subject matter is concerned, everything Baba said has to be included: there is no question of removing certain parts of the subject matter. So if Baba has raised the subject of the "traitor group" in His discourse, then Kolkata group Publishers have to include it.

In contrast if Baba has used colloquial language, for example, "that's", and you the Publishers want to print "that is", there you can talk about printed language-spoken language distinction. Because this is a matter of syntax and not content, so here you as Publishers have that freedom to make changes.

In other words, for Baba's discourses, the Publishers have the right to edit regarding matters of syntax-- but not matters of content. If in the name of "balance between printed language and spoken language" the Publishers begin fooling with the actual content of the discourse, then they are taking liberty with this principle. Simple points of grammar can be changed on this basis, yes. But that is all. Baba has decided what should be included in the discourse de facto, by saying what He says during it. It is beyond the realm of a publisher's job to question Baba's decision by tampering with the content.

As representative of the Kolkata group Publications Dept you have written, "Printed language is for the whole world who have no idea of the 'traitor group'": Does the Kolkata group Publications Dept think Baba has not given His discourses for the "whole world"? All margis know that Baba's discourses are meant for the entire world. He has given His discourses so they will be published and maintained for access by all the world. If Baba has given a teaching on the "traitor group" in a discourse, then His giving it in the discourse means it is for all the world.

Kolkata group Publishers state Baba has given the "traitor example" in "The Lord's Feet" discourse, but because some may not be familiar yet with the history of the traitor Central dadas of 1971, so this portion of the discourse is not fit to be printed. This makes it sound like Baba's discourses are intended for only some very small group of people, whose duty it is to become a middle-agent between Baba's discourses and the world. Indeed, your policy statement makes it sound like Kolkata group believes Baba does not know Himself what to include for the "whole world" and what not, and has left it to the Publishers to decide!

All know that when Baba wanted to make a comment or give a teaching that was not meant for the general public, He would specifically instruct to turn off the recording machine. But when Baba has given a discourse before all the Ma'rgiis, and that too with the tape recorder running--as with the discourse "The Lord's Feet"--then it is obvious that what He is telling is meant for all, and for all time to come. To question Baba's decision on discourse content is beyond the scope of the Publisher. It is completely beyond your rights as Publishers.

Your Kolkata Group Publ. Dept policy statement further justifies excluding Baba's teaching about the traitor group, in the following way: "May be even many margiis also do not know about the 'traitor group'. It would seem confusing and out of place to them." There are many things that Ma'rgis and non-Ma'rgiis alike do not know about in Baba's discourses. That is why Baba is giving the discourse: to teach and educate us. (If everyone knew everything in the discourse before reading it, there would be no need for the discourse.) And if there are matters brought up in any discourse which would benefit from some further background information, then it becomes the Publishers' duty to supply that information in the form of a footnote. Indeed, that is what Kolkata group Publishers do-- such notes are given at the end of hundreds of discourses, supplying information which makes it easier to understand what Baba is discussing. Such a Publisher's footnote should be given about the traitor group, to make it easy for all to understand Baba's teaching.

In other words, to remove Baba's teaching about the "traitor group" because Kolkata group Publications thinks people do not know the history, is to do injustice with Baba's discourse. Baba has included this teaching and it is the central teaching of the discourse. The Publications Department approach should be to include everything Baba has said (because you have no right to remove it), and to put simply put a note explaining the background where needed.

As for who knows and does not know about the "traitor group": All senior Ma'rgiis who were around in those days are quite familiar with this iconic event. It was intimately and causally linked with Baba's eventual passing of seven long years in jail. That Baba was in jail is a common point in the history of Ananda Marga. And these traitors in cahoots with the CBI were the direct cause of that jail term. It is all part of one grand teaching Baba is giving the society. Rather than hide such key aspects of our history, we ought to learn and benefit from this discourse on the "traitor group".  Such teachings which Baba has given us both in His practical life and discourses, we should use and highlight to teach the world today. 

Yours Brotherly,
S. Ramnathan