Tue 26 Apr 2011, 05:09 PM, Time permitting, this article would require further refinement
I had heard people speak of Vasudhaiv' Kutumbakam'. I had read people write about it in books and articles. I even saw it in print that वेद Veds advocated the concept of Vasudhaiv' Kutumbakam'. They took pride in declaring that we Hindus taught the concept "whole world is one single family". Look our heart is so big that we treated the whole world as one single family. We admitted everyone into our folds with open heart. Thus, the writers/speakers themselves—and the readers/listeners as well—felt inflated about our own greatness.
And, the process goes on—the readers/listeners pass on their new found knowledge to others. No one wants to know if it is truly stated so in our Veds. No one cares to think if it's truly reflective of our greatness or foolishness? Did our ancestors really stated so in the context that we understand today?
The context in which we understand it today—what does that imply? Does it teach us that we should treat the whole world as our own family? If yes, then what would it mean in real terms?
Time
permitting, this article would require further refinement
Have you read and/or heard learned people speak and/or write about our Vedas speaking of Vasudhaiv' Kutumbakam'? Have you noticed them say with pride that we taught the world that the whole world is one single family. I have read as well as heard learned people write/speak about it. You may also have come across some similar version of this.
Have you ever wondered how much truth is in it? You may not have. How could you possibly doubt learned people who do not even hesitate to put it in their articles or books. There is no way you can visualize that they could be speaking/writing out of their gross ignorance. Don't worry, I shall provide you with the proof, and also explain to you why they do it.
The Facts
Vasudhaiv' Kutumbakam' originates from पञ्चतन्त्र in Sanskrit not from वेद (Ved'). You may have read the stories from Panch'Tantr' during your childhood, unless of course, you are a thorough convent-bred. As it is possible that some of you may not have known enough about Panch'Tantr' let me give you a brief here.
Panch'Tantr' has been part of Hindu folklore since time immemorial. These have been immortalized by Hindu oral traditions. Written version is believed to be three centuries older than birth of Christianity.
Time
permitting, this article would require further refinement
I am told that a human has a head over his shoulder and it has been given to him to think and understand.
I would also guess that those who call themselves as educated and/or well-informed to use their head for thinking and understanding.
More importantly those—who have assumed significant positions in the society and use their speech and/or pen for influencing other peoples thought and understanding—from such people I would certainly expect that they use the lump on their shoulder called "Head" for thinking and understanding, NOT for repeating what somebody else has said without thinking or understanding.
Finally, for those who think of themselves as "Intellectuals" I would undoubtedly expect that they do NOT repeat what somebody else has said without thinking or understanding.
However, I have come across horde of people who simply repeat what somebody else has said without thinking or understanding. If I must name them, you would be surprised to know that many-many well-known people from all walks of life suffer from what I might want to call as Parrot Syndrome.
These people suffering from Parrot Syndrome also happen to resemble humans and, therefore, I tend to call them Parrot Humanoids.