HINDUISM and one of its theological offshoots, the Mahabharata (‘maha’ means great, ‘bharata’ means land of Hindus) seems to have again become prominent in the ethnic politics of Guyana. Initially Dr. Kean Gibson mischievously misused the Hindu scriptures (Mahabharata), in her failed quest to explain ethnic conflict in Guyana. Dr. Gibson’s confrontational, approach sought to blame Hinduism and its scriptures as racist, violent and the cause of black economic stagnation. She mistakenly examined Hindu Dharma (a way of life) and misinterpreted it as a race. Dr. Gibson would certainly be hard pressed to explain why the entire African continent is not more economically developed when there is an insignificant miniscule Indian residency influencing its progress, just as anyone would find it difficult to explain why India is not the most economically advanced country inspite of housing over a billion Hindus. 
Now Mr.  Ravi Dev, lawyer and nationalist, in (KN, 10/24/10) titled Guyana Tragedy, unlike Dr. Kean Gibson, is amusing, behaving as a liberal diplomat in portraying the Mahabharata to explain Guyana’s current black and Indian rivalry as similar to the feuding cousins in the Mahabharata.
Mr. Dev wrote “the Mahabharata is about the way we deceive ourselves, how we are false to others, how we oppress fellow human beings, and how deeply unjust we are in our day to day lives. And all the while holding fast to the belief that our position is “just” and that of others, “unjust”. But there are no “pure” heroes in the Mahabharata: unlike what is conventionally depicted, the conflict between the two sides is not a battle between right and wrong. The Pandavas, the nominal “good guys”, are not perfect, and several who fight for the Kauravas, the “bad guys” are truly noble. The potential for “good” or “bad” lies in every human being”.
Why does Mr. Dev, it now seems, is persuaded that both parties in Guyana are, akin to the warring cousins (Pandavas and Kauravas) in the Mahabharata and both are rightfully justified in their respective positions and histories? I believe Mr. Dev has failed in using the Mahabharata to appropriately illustrate Guyanese ethnic politics.  There is absolutely no similarity in the Mahabharata to Guyana’s’ ethnic conflict, even as I concede that, as a religious treatise it does offer lesson to avoid conflict mindful of all its damning consequences.
While I certainly can appreciate that he and his nuclear family are viewing the Mahabharata as a significant part of his family’s spiritual development, I hope he recognizes that his thoughts in writing in the (KN,10/10/10) can influence his family tree if they are not modified.   We shall see.
The Mahabharata is the story of one cousin’s family, Pandavas who were cheated out of the kingdom by the uncle of the Kauravas which resulted in fighting between cousins. Only one side (Pandavas) prevailed. The side that prevails had as its adviser Lord Krishna as an incarnation of God. ‘Do your prescribed duty’ Lord Krishna advised the Pandavas after all peaceful options had been taken and war was inevitable. ‘Those who are righteous must fight against unrighteousness’.
However, righteous action is action that is done unselfishly without greed. In fact, in the Christian Bible two women staked claim to one child but when right action was taken by King Solomon, unselfishly, the birth mother prevailed  by King Solomon’s decision. The child was spared being chopped up.
How in Guyana are there similarities and differences?  There cannot be two groups that are right and wrong at the same time, as in Guyana ethnic politics. Guyana therefore is not an example of conflict as in the Mahabharata. One side,(PNC) rigged elections, raped the national treasury, denied natural justice, wrecked the economy, stifled press freedom, starved Guyanese, persecuted and murdered its opponents  and catalyzed the exodus of some of the most brilliant Guyanese to foreign shores.  How can both sides in Guyana be right at the same time? The point to be made is that when one group believes ‘right is might’, as the black-based PNC did when in power (1964-1992) others may opt for corrective retaliatory action to redress it. However extreme those actions it must ensure the end results is not worse than before.
The PNC’s rigging of elections and its victimisation of Guyana’s Portuguese and Indian descendants with a mentality of ownership of Guyana are examples of greed and selfishness. Such actions I submit, would qualify for Lord Krishna’s (God) advice to be correctly condemned as unrighteous because they are wrong. Can the PNC really escape responsibility for the exodus of Guyana’s’ Portuguese population after they shared power with their United Force (UF) political party in 1964?  (You better watch out, you better not cry  man; Santa Claws is in tongue.)
Can Mr. Dev fathom the consequences of a former Guyana chief magistrate Juliet Allen Holder (noble Mr. Dev?) boldly writing in (KN, 11/6/10) that in Guyana “there is one set of laws that are already in place which if they are activated will put the entire PPP and their descendants (sic) and supporters (sic) clean out of this country. Just take care of yourselves. You are just visitors (sic) to this land. Remember that.”  Isn’t this a declaration of war on a segment of Guyana towards a ‘final’ solution? How does it affect your “new” Mahabharata view? Remember what the PNC did to the Portuguese population of Guyana?
May I remind Mr. Dev that it was the same former chief magistrate who in (KN, 9/3/08) declared that “You know what is right and wrong, what is legal and illegal, and the amount of illegality that is besieging your senses (in Guyana) is too much…There are two things that you can do and they are leave Guyana or take some action to see if you can fix it. Politics is about life. Politics is about society, so the only way that you can think about fixing it (the society) is by going into politics.”
However it was no other than ACDA’S Mr. Eric Phillips (noble Mr. Dev?)who in (KN, 1/18/10 reminded “his intellectual friend Mr. Dev that Martin Luther King Jr., once said, ‘He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it”.  Yet neither Mr. Phillips, the Guyana Human Rights Association, Guyana Ethnic Relations Commission nor any black or Indian groups have condemned Ms Holder -Allen’s for this declaration of war even though Ms Holder Allen has now become active in Guyana’s politics. Why is the Guyana Bar Association silent on such an explosive pronouncement from one of its own?
Surely Mr. Dev does not actually believe that the two parties can both be right and wrong at the same time, as in Guyana politics. The black-based PNC and Indian based PPP both must be reminded that selfish actions are wrong regardless of who commits them.
When Mr. Dev writes about ethnic politics in Guyana, especially in using the Mahabharata to illustrate a point of view, he must explain what right action is, and what wrong action is. He needs to correct his stand, that, those who supported the PNC era should be held accountable to maintain peace and security for all Guyanese. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna (God) was able to judge the righteous side by their actions and their choices. It was that side (Pandavas) to which Lord Krishna gave advice. It was the Pandavas who Lord Krishna’s supported and who won.
Just as King Solomon’s wisdom secured ownership of the baby to its rightful mother, Lord Krishna also advised likewise in securing righteousness for the kingdom to those who were cheated.  That kingdom belongs to all irrespective of fish or fowl.