Category:Modern Politicians
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda offers a scathing critique of modern politicians, characterizing them as unqualified, anxious, and spiritually blind leaders who sponsor a godless civilization. Unlike the saintly kings (rājarṣis) of Vedic history, such as Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, modern politicians are untrained in the science of administration (rāja-dharma) and are primarily concerned with their own remuneration and staying in power. They fail in the primary duty of government—protection of the citizens—being unable to stop even common theft. Their gravest error is attempting to establish a perfect society (Kingdom of Rāma) while banishing God (Rāma), a futile endeavor that results only in lamentation. Furthermore, they distort spiritual knowledge, misinterpreting the Bhagavad-gītā to suit their mundane agendas, and refuse to retire from active life to prepare for death, unlike the ideal monarchs of the past.
- Godlessness: They sponsor a godless civilization, leading to anxiety and lamentation.
- Incompetence: Unlike Vedic kings, they cannot protect citizens from thieves or calamities.
- Attachment: They refuse to retire even in old age, clinging to power until death.
- Deception: They misinterpret scriptures like the Gītā and pose as sober leaders while being disturbed (adhīras).
- Comparison: They are inferior to ancient demons like Kaṁsa and vastly inferior to ideal kings like Yudhiṣṭhira.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: A Critique of Modern Politicians.
Pages in category "Modern Politicians"
The following 26 pages are in this category, out of 26 total.
A
- A godless civilization arises from illusion, and the result of such a civilization is lamentation. A godless civilization, such as that sponsored by the modern politicians, is always full of anxieties because it may be crushed at any moment
- According to Vedic civilization, a qualified ksatriya monarch is given the respect of the Lord because he represents the Lord by giving protection to the prajas. Modern elected presidents cannot even give protection from theft cases
- Although they (modern politicians) have banished the idea of God consciousness, they still expect to establish the kingdom of Rama. Such a proposal is rejected by devotees
I
- In modern politics the post of monarch has been abolished, and the president is not held responsible for the comforts of the citizens
- It has become especially fashionable for modern scholars and politicians to interpret Bhagavad-gita as if it were something fictitious, and by their wrong interpretations they are spoiling their own careers and the careers of others
M
- Maharaja Pariksit was pious according to the scriptural codes, whereas the modern politician goes by his personal belief and sentiments
- Maharaja Yudhisthira was not a typically unenlightened political leader of modern democracy
- Maharaja Yudhisthira was not a typically unenlightened political leader of modern democracy. Maharaja Yudhisthira was instructed by Bhismadeva and the infallible Lord also, and therefore he had full knowledge of everything in perfection
- Modern administrators raise subscriptions for some political functions, but never give charity to the citizens in any state function. It is just the reverse in the injunctions of the sastras
- Modern politicians do not wish to retire from active life, even if they are old enough, but Yudhisthira Maharaja, as an ideal king, voluntarily retired from active administrative life to prepare himself for the next life
- Modern politicians should take lessons from Maharaja Yudhisthira about voluntary retirement from active life and should make room for the younger generation
- Modern politicians who pose themselves as dhiras are actually adhiras, and one cannot expect perfect knowledge from them. They are simply busy seeing to their own remuneration in dollars and cents
- Modern presidents, governors and chief executive officers are all unworthy of their posts because they are not conversant with Vedic administrative knowledge and they do not take direction from great saintly persons and brahmanas
R
- Raja-dharma is a great science, unlike modern diplomacy for political supremacy. The kings were trained systematically to become munificent and not merely be tax collectors
- Ravana and Hiranyakasipu underwent a severe type of bodily torture to achieve the end of sense gratification. Sometimes modern politicians also undergo severe types of austerities to achieve some political end. This is not actually tapasya
T
- The mass of people in general are tools in the hands of the modern politicians and leaders of the people. If there is a change of heart of the leaders only, certainly there will be a radical change in the atmosphere of the world
- The modern elected executive head of a state is just like a puppet because he has no kingly power
- This is the sign of a rajarsi. King Uttanapada was very opulent and was emperor of the world, and these attachments were certainly very great. Modern politicians are not as great as kings like Maharaja Uttanapada
U
- Unfortunately, modern politicians & other leaders stress the bodily comforts of life (yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke (SB 10.84.13)) & concentrate on the activities of this ism and that ism, which they describe in different kinds of flowery language
- Unfortunately, modern politicians want the kingdom of Rama without Rama Himself