AN OPEN LETTER TO JUSTICE MARKANDEYA KATJU
Sir,
With due respect I want to share some good and true information so that it will be helpful to you in particular and the whole country in general. You are a previous justice of Supreme Court of India. As you have served lifelong in law you must aware that our Constitution clearly states that a culprit may be spared but an innocent must not be convicted. Before giving your decisions to a particular case you must have the practice of knowing the total case history and accordingly you deliver the justice. After retirement to be in the limelight you are using a very cheap technique to create controversies. Without knowing the history, culture, life styles of a particular Race or State You are hurting the sentiment of a particular State. Recently you have mentioned in social media that someone has approached you to write something about Odia’s. In response you mentioned what I should write about those poor chaps who had distracted a lot after the Kalinga war. Every day they are worshipping Lord Jagannath to save them from the Bihari’s. No doubt in material wealth these two eastern states Odisha and Bihar lag behind other states of India. But how a level of your integrity can not see the other aspects of life where these two states appear in the top. As a proud Odia it is my duty to share some historical achievements of Odisha so that in future no one will dare to hurt our feelings. You have mentioned about Kalinga war. But unfortunately you only know the half truth. How you know that Asoka had won the war. Asoka clearly mentioned in his rock scriptures that the people of Odisha had own my heart. It is the place Odisha where a demon became a saint. If you have times please come to Odisha and I will personally guide you to various places of Odisha where you instantly feel the power of the soil so that you will be able to know the power of brotherhood, peace and universalism. Odisha believes in “BASUDEVA KUTUMBAKAM” which means the whole world is a family. The name Jagannath literally means lord of the universe. We the people of Odisha believe the whole world as our family. How can we pray to Jagannath to save us from our neighbor brothers and sisters (in your language Bihari’s). Probably Odisha is the only state in India where people from all states of India are living in harmony. I am working in Rourkela steel plant. Rourkela is called a mini India. I am working here since 1993. I can guarantee you that not a single case of racism, casteism or regionalism has happened here. After kalinga war only Asoka had dedicated his entire life for the teaching of Buddhism to acquire universal peace. Odia’s were never a coward race. You must know that the concept of democracy had arisen from Odisha only. At the time of kalinga war it is unclear up to today that who was the king of Kalinga at that particular time. Many historians have a view that probably Kalinga be a democratic state at that particular time. If you really want some information about Odisha please go through some history books about the king of Odisha “KHARAVELA”. Kharavela’s kingdom spread from Ganga to Godavari. Odisha is the only place chosen by the great saint Chaitanya where he spent his entire life for Vaisnaism. Odisha is the only state in India where every village had a “Bhagavat tungi” means a place dedicated for discussion of Bhagavat Gita for the betterment of human race. Odisha is the place chosen by “Adi Sankaracharya” to spread his message for the betterment of human life. As a highly qualified and educated man you must know that Odisha was the last state conquered by the Britishers. It was the power of the Odia warriors that Britishers were unable to acquire the land. Please read about “Surendra Sai” of Odisha who had fought till his last breathe as a result Britishers were unable to enter Odisha till 1806 AD. You must know that all were aware about the Jaliana wag incident. But unfortunately a majority of Indian’s do not know the incident of Papadahandi a small village in tribal dominated Koraput district where hundreds of tribal people had lost their live from British bullets. Everybody knows about the Dandi salt march of Gandhiji. Before Gandhiji’s salt March a similar salt protest had happened in Balasore district of Odisha. As Odia’s do not believe in the Prachara Dharma or advertisements people like you easily hurt our sentiments. A small boy named Baji Rout dedicated his life to protest Britishers. If you have time our Gyan Pith awarded writer Sachidanand Routrai had written a book dedicated to that little boy. Please go through the book so that you will know some facts about Odia race. Koraput of Odisha is the first place in the whole world where paddy cultivation started. Up to now the tribal people of Koraput are able to survive 2000 types of country paddy seeds. Cuttack is the oldest surviving township of ancient India after Varanasi. Please come to Odisha where you can see the silver wire jeweler works of Cuttack. I can guarantee in this entire universe you will not find such magnificent beautiful jewelry works. You can argue that why Odisha lags behind to other states. It is the only reason that people of Odisha believes in the art of satisfaction. Now a day’s people believe in the success stories in any means. You may call Odia’s as “Dharma veerus” but in spiritualism if you are not in a position to satisfy yourself then the life is meaningless. Up to now Odisha has the folk dance form called as “PALA” and “DASA KATHIA” where epics, mythology and literature are discussed in dance forms. People are able to know the true spirit of life with entertainment. I can guarantee that except Odisha you will not find these types of folk art forms in entire India. You have mentioned in your previous blogs that In Allahabad your English teacher had told you that Pakistan is not the real danger but Bihar is. We the Indians accept “Guru” or teacher as similar to God. “Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru deva Maheswara Guru sakhayat Parambrahma tasmaishree Guruve namah”. For justifying your sick thoughts you have exposed your teacher also. How you can spread wisdom with these lunatic thoughts. I am very less qualified but in my little knowledge I can understand freedom of expression does not mean to hurt the sentiments of others. Every time you are using this cheap technique to gain popularity. You are not apologizing in true sense. It is only a drama. But we Odia’s believe in forgiveness. We still respect you as a Justice. Please think twice before hurting the sentiments of our other fellow citizens. Otherwise people will think that how a man of your level became the justice of a great country like India. Hope lord Jagannath will guide you in future. Criticism is necessary but that should be in a good taste.
Your fellow Indian
Tripati narayan Mishra
Rourkela steel plant, Rourkela
Sir,
With due respect I want to share some good and true information so that it will be helpful to you in particular and the whole country in general. You are a previous justice of Supreme Court of India. As you have served lifelong in law you must aware that our Constitution clearly states that a culprit may be spared but an innocent must not be convicted. Before giving your decisions to a particular case you must have the practice of knowing the total case history and accordingly you deliver the justice. After retirement to be in the limelight you are using a very cheap technique to create controversies. Without knowing the history, culture, life styles of a particular Race or State You are hurting the sentiment of a particular State. Recently you have mentioned in social media that someone has approached you to write something about Odia’s. In response you mentioned what I should write about those poor chaps who had distracted a lot after the Kalinga war. Every day they are worshipping Lord Jagannath to save them from the Bihari’s. No doubt in material wealth these two eastern states Odisha and Bihar lag behind other states of India. But how a level of your integrity can not see the other aspects of life where these two states appear in the top. As a proud Odia it is my duty to share some historical achievements of Odisha so that in future no one will dare to hurt our feelings. You have mentioned about Kalinga war. But unfortunately you only know the half truth. How you know that Asoka had won the war. Asoka clearly mentioned in his rock scriptures that the people of Odisha had own my heart. It is the place Odisha where a demon became a saint. If you have times please come to Odisha and I will personally guide you to various places of Odisha where you instantly feel the power of the soil so that you will be able to know the power of brotherhood, peace and universalism. Odisha believes in “BASUDEVA KUTUMBAKAM” which means the whole world is a family. The name Jagannath literally means lord of the universe. We the people of Odisha believe the whole world as our family. How can we pray to Jagannath to save us from our neighbor brothers and sisters (in your language Bihari’s). Probably Odisha is the only state in India where people from all states of India are living in harmony. I am working in Rourkela steel plant. Rourkela is called a mini India. I am working here since 1993. I can guarantee you that not a single case of racism, casteism or regionalism has happened here. After kalinga war only Asoka had dedicated his entire life for the teaching of Buddhism to acquire universal peace. Odia’s were never a coward race. You must know that the concept of democracy had arisen from Odisha only. At the time of kalinga war it is unclear up to today that who was the king of Kalinga at that particular time. Many historians have a view that probably Kalinga be a democratic state at that particular time. If you really want some information about Odisha please go through some history books about the king of Odisha “KHARAVELA”. Kharavela’s kingdom spread from Ganga to Godavari. Odisha is the only place chosen by the great saint Chaitanya where he spent his entire life for Vaisnaism. Odisha is the only state in India where every village had a “Bhagavat tungi” means a place dedicated for discussion of Bhagavat Gita for the betterment of human race. Odisha is the place chosen by “Adi Sankaracharya” to spread his message for the betterment of human life. As a highly qualified and educated man you must know that Odisha was the last state conquered by the Britishers. It was the power of the Odia warriors that Britishers were unable to acquire the land. Please read about “Surendra Sai” of Odisha who had fought till his last breathe as a result Britishers were unable to enter Odisha till 1806 AD. You must know that all were aware about the Jaliana wag incident. But unfortunately a majority of Indian’s do not know the incident of Papadahandi a small village in tribal dominated Koraput district where hundreds of tribal people had lost their live from British bullets. Everybody knows about the Dandi salt march of Gandhiji. Before Gandhiji’s salt March a similar salt protest had happened in Balasore district of Odisha. As Odia’s do not believe in the Prachara Dharma or advertisements people like you easily hurt our sentiments. A small boy named Baji Rout dedicated his life to protest Britishers. If you have time our Gyan Pith awarded writer Sachidanand Routrai had written a book dedicated to that little boy. Please go through the book so that you will know some facts about Odia race. Koraput of Odisha is the first place in the whole world where paddy cultivation started. Up to now the tribal people of Koraput are able to survive 2000 types of country paddy seeds. Cuttack is the oldest surviving township of ancient India after Varanasi. Please come to Odisha where you can see the silver wire jeweler works of Cuttack. I can guarantee in this entire universe you will not find such magnificent beautiful jewelry works. You can argue that why Odisha lags behind to other states. It is the only reason that people of Odisha believes in the art of satisfaction. Now a day’s people believe in the success stories in any means. You may call Odia’s as “Dharma veerus” but in spiritualism if you are not in a position to satisfy yourself then the life is meaningless. Up to now Odisha has the folk dance form called as “PALA” and “DASA KATHIA” where epics, mythology and literature are discussed in dance forms. People are able to know the true spirit of life with entertainment. I can guarantee that except Odisha you will not find these types of folk art forms in entire India. You have mentioned in your previous blogs that In Allahabad your English teacher had told you that Pakistan is not the real danger but Bihar is. We the Indians accept “Guru” or teacher as similar to God. “Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru deva Maheswara Guru sakhayat Parambrahma tasmaishree Guruve namah”. For justifying your sick thoughts you have exposed your teacher also. How you can spread wisdom with these lunatic thoughts. I am very less qualified but in my little knowledge I can understand freedom of expression does not mean to hurt the sentiments of others. Every time you are using this cheap technique to gain popularity. You are not apologizing in true sense. It is only a drama. But we Odia’s believe in forgiveness. We still respect you as a Justice. Please think twice before hurting the sentiments of our other fellow citizens. Otherwise people will think that how a man of your level became the justice of a great country like India. Hope lord Jagannath will guide you in future. Criticism is necessary but that should be in a good taste.
Your fellow Indian
Tripati narayan Mishra
Rourkela steel plant, Rourkela
