A bit of anger for the right reasons is actually good, for it can right a lot of wrongs, writes ASHOK CELLY
Anger is generally viewed as a negative or destructive emotion harmful to both individual and community. For most wise people, anger is part of the evil quartet: kama, krodha, moha and lobha. However, this is strange, because Shiva, who is one of the Trinity, and who is the god of destruction, is known for his Rudra Tandava, dance of anger that is believed to destroy all that is corrupt and rotten so that a clean new world may be ushered in. Similarly, Durga, too, is an angry goddess and is idolised by so many Hindus for slaying the demon Mahishasura.
Take a dispassionate look at history. You will then discover that anger has been a significant factor in the achievements of great people. Jesus, who is generally associated with lamb-like gentleness, was furious with the Pharisees for making a mockery of religion by reducing it to an empty ritual. Therefore, Jesus was both tiger and lamb.
Weapon Of Destruction
Nearer home, Gandhiji, with his serene persona and his constant espousal of nonviolence, was not altogether devoid of anger. Gandhiji fought primarily on two fronts — one, against the callous, oppressive British rule and two, against the appalling practice of untouchability. He often used to say that the sin of the heartless colonial rule was only matched by Hindus treating some of their own worse than slaves. And both made him angry. It was this anger that sustained his campaigns, both against British rule and untouchability — even though he did not shout or scream. He used the anger to fuel his movement.
Bhakti poet Kabir, too, took digs at brahmins and mullahs in his poetry where he drives home the point that we need to rise above divisions caused by religious bigotry.
India would be a much better country to live in if its young men and women were a little more angry about and a little less tolerant of corruption, criminalisation of law and justice, sycophancy in politics and a lackadaisical bureaucracy. Above all, we need to rise in anger against all injustices that lead to social and economic disparities and humiliation, that are making a mockery of egalitarian values.
Channelise Your Energy
However, there is anger with good reason and there is anger that is totally unreasonable and despicable. Discriminate between anger that springs from a bruised ego and anger that arises from one’s commitment to justice and fairness, what is sometimes called righteous indignation. The anger of a rich brat — alas, there are too many in our metros today — who pulls out his revolver when denied a drink belongs to the former category and needs to be recognised for being morally repugnant and having socially harmful emotions. But the anger of youth who marched in protest when Jessica Lal was denied justice is something that inspires the powers that be to take right action; hence we do need to protest and speak up when the situation demands it — if need be, in anger.
Osho said, “If you know how to use anger, you will see that anger gives you a sharpness of being — just as if somebody has sharpened a sword. Anger, rightly used, gives you a sharpness, a radiance and tremendous vitality.”
The real challenge, therefore, for all civilised men and women is to distinguish between petty, personal anger that destroys the Self, and society and impersonal anger that has a broader perspective, and which leads to social wellbeing and individual catharsis.
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