I write this blogpost in continuation of the post yesterday, 13th October, 2026, ' Searching for spirituality in a protest' .
A Bulbul in the garden
It was while editing the photos of this Bulbul perched in our garden, I received a deepening and widening experience of my thoughts, consolidating towards a clarifying message for myself!
The Bulbul perched on a tree during its perch changed its position and direction to look all around and get a feel of the next flight it would take. The changes in its body posture indicate what it perceived form looking around. The changing body posture was a response to its discernment of the horizon.
I have been disturbed by the protests in New Delhi, when some sections of civil society are in the street, raising their concerns about the way the election commission of India is becoming partisan and loosing its constitutional status of being called upon to be fair and just!
A lesson from South Africa
I was reminded of the history of South Africa, a nation that was established as the Union of South Africa in 1910, within the British Empire. The full legislative independence from the United Kingdom was recognised under the statue of Westminster, though the British monarch reminded the head of state. It declared itself as a republic in 1961 and severed formal ties with the British Crown and withdrew from common wealth while under a white-minority rule. The country held its first multi-racial democratic election in April, 1994 with universal adult franchise, ending the apartheid and establishing the majority rule under late Nelson Mandela.
This transition from a white minority rule to a majority rule, where African nationals came into leadership of the nation was a vulnerable season in the life of South Africa. when Nelson Mandela foresaw likelihood of racial confrontation and melt down!
Thanks to the political wisdom of Nelson Mandela, the South African parliament passed the act of the 'promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act' in July 1995. Under the leadership of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in December 1995. The hearing of the commission began in January 1996.
The commission gave an opportunity for its citizens to approach the commission to publicly acknowledge the crimes they committed, express regret and seek for pardon as a means to create an ambience of forgiveness and reconciliation. The assurance of amnesty to all those who took this path of conciliation led to a fraternal and cordial relationship, averting the racial confrontation that was foreseen by many international leaders.
In the history of the newly created majority rule of South Africa, this decision to allow the transition under the guidance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission generated the momentum for that nation to emerge as a democracy peacefully. Nelson Mandela attributed this transition process arising out of what he saw in Mahatma Gandhi during the partition stress, which India faced between two communities ending in the partition of india into two countries. Bishop Desmond Tutu had a spirituality and leadership stature to promote reconciliation.
It is one thing to establish a democratic process and turn a country into a sovereign nation ! it is yet another experience for a nation to be born through a reconciliatory process and journey.
A wounded nation
It was this 'formation of a nation' which was interrupted when Mahatam Gandhi was assassinated on 30th January 1948, soon after India became independent. This assassination took Mahatam Gandhi away from us, who alone had a spiritual vision for the nation of India, for its people to be relational beyond the religious differences.
A wounded nation even after 78 years of this great loss, has not still recovered from the absence of a leader, who saw people of nation as fraternal in every aspect. Mahatma Gandhi had the charisma, acceptance, and spiritual ethos who could have lifted people from the political, social or economise premise to an inner experience of ethos of justice, fraternity, togetherness and identity in diversity that represented people of india who hailed from multiple language, religious and cultural backgrounds. Although we have had many political leaders and some becoming statesmen of stature who brought the message of non-violence, tolerance, peace and multilateral relationships across nations, they substituted the healing role Mahatma Gandhi lived for only in a limited way
The present political party that rules the country has a religious affiliation to one faith tradition, that it has been in an impositional attitude and action to enforce this during the last last two decades this party has been in power of the federal republic of india.
At a cross road
And now, we are at a cross road as a nation. There are reasons to suspect that the constitution of India which is a liberal document of integrating people to live in harmony is interpreted by partisan optic by the ruling dispensation! The pillars that guard the constitution seem to be faltering to resist the view point of the current government, which emerges from a particular perspective of religious-cultural optic!
I come back to the Bulbul in the garden! It oriented itself to the horizon all around before choosing its next flight path! Its habit is to see, hear and sense the way forward!
If only the President, Prime Minister, the home minister and the Council of Ministers had such an attitude of seeing, hearing and discerning the way forward, we would have averted the street protests in New Delhi! The honourable Supreme Court of india is the keeper of the virtue of the constitution. A senior advocate of the Supreme Court was reported to have said: ' I am disappointed with the Supreme Court of India...', referring to its weak response against the police in New Delhi who 'turned New Delhi streets into a jail with multiple barricades to prevent protestors entering New Delhi'!.
The protests represent the unreconciled state of the nation as a republic of people on a common journey! Don't protest often reveal truths hidden or concealed that the civil society ought to know to have an insight about the governance style of the government elected to rule for five years!
I wish the opposition parties that promote the protest, would see beyond their interests and pursue the call of reconciliation as the path forward! This calls for an affirmation and practice of the way the constitution of India begins its preamble, " We the people of India..." ! Let me raise a question to all the protestors and those who plan the protests: Have you thought of a road map of uniting people of india at the heart level, where mutual regard for each other would grow to view and receive each other as travellers into the highway of living as a healed community! Protesting to harm or resisting the protest to suppress it are not desirable pathways for a nation.
The democracy of governance in a sovereign republic emerges after a game between opposing political parties during the election process. If the election process is fair offering equal opportunities for political parties, then the winner rules the nation for five years. At the next game of elections after five years, the choice is of the electorate to decide the party that shall be at the governance chair for the next five years!
The current protest is on account of strong indications of unfair practices related to the election process!
When we hear polarised views from the ruling party and the opposition parties, about the fairness in election, we need an umpire to settle the dispute daily! Will the Supreme Court of India or an independent commission of enquiry lead the nation to the door of truth finding and reconciliation following that!
Reasons for hope
For me, the Bulbul and the rose bud become the reasons for hope, peace and transition!
After I wrote the above, I noticed this at the feeding station!
Two Bulbuls, two Magpie robins and a squirrel were together at the feeding station! The Bulbuls are weary of Magpie robins and Squirrel chases Magpie robins! But they meet at the feeding table!
To me that is a message to ponder upon! Will the government of India and the opposition parties find a meeting ground to share together the vision of India, which is integration of its people into a community of neighbours!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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