Sri is a polite way to
address someone. It is also used for Deities in Hinduism.
So, in case of humans, when
Sri is used multiple times (or twice, as is the case), it should be reflective
of a great politeness.
Though what the most famous
double Sri (Sri Sri) thinks about 'Sri Sri' is not clear, an official blog post
on his website, from June 19, 2014 says, "A colleague who had been with me
at Maharishi’s came up with the idea of Sri Sri. Everybody agreed that one Sri
is very common, generic and confusing. My opinion on the matter was irrelevant
in this animated discussion. I was just a silent witness. And so, I was
rechristened at Waldorf."
Okay, so we don't know what
actually Sri Sri thinks about 'Sri Sri' or probably, I didn't dug enough.
Anyway that is not the point here.
The point is, ' Sri is very
common, generic and confusing', so, 'Sri Sri' was adopted to avoid 'confusion'
and give 'an uncommon and branded identity'.
So, in social parlance, 'Sri'
is for commoners and 'Sri Sri is for greats, especially the spiritual
uncommoners.
And ideally that is the case.
Our society runs like that and we are content with the system, even with its
deviations and diversions.
Ideally, if 'Sri' symbolizes
politeness, 'Sri Sri' should sent out an aura of politeness that is saintly,
that is great, especially if it is about saints and gurus in our society who
drive us, who guide us, who many a times, make us understand the meaning of
life.
So, when we hear our
constitutional bodies, the protectors of our legal systems, the courts,
commenting about him like "You have no sense of responsibility. Who gave
you liberty to speak whatever you want to. It is shocking", it only
reinforces that this 'Sri Sri' may be about anything but it is certainly not
about politeness.
This 'Sri Sri' says "fine
should be levied on Delhi government, NGT for saying 'yes' to Yamuna event",
as his website says, and not on him and his organization that made a constitutional
court, the National Green Tribunal, came down heavily on him.
This statement may be
reflective of anything, but certainly not of spiritual politeness and not of
saintly greatness.
The events like the 'World
Culture Festival' have takers in India and millions who descended in Delhi to
join the three day long spectacle last year prove it. But had it been by
someone else or some other entity than a person/entity with claims of being
religious/spiritual guru of our society and who has achieved a saintly status
for his followers, it was acceptable.
But not when you are a religious/spiritual
guru of a society where millions still toil to earn their daily meal, where
they don't know what is meaning of education and healthcare, where a government
whip can be the only force to force them to have 'Aadhar', where they don't
know what is quality of life, where they don't know if there is life beyond the
life they are living.
Such spectacle events can
feed millions of them. And the true peace will only come when they are fed,
when they are aware of their rights to have a decent quality of life with
education, health and a place to stay. That may sound utopian, but at least
this is what that is expected from our saints, our gurus, our religious guides
and our spiritual patrons. They draw
sanctity and strength from people and, therefore, they must justify their 'Sri
Sri' here.
©SantoshChaubey