Kabir's couplets: Criticism of hypocrisy in Kabir's couplets and its impact on youth

INDC Network : Soical Issues :  Understanding Kabir's Couplets on Hypocrisy and Their Impact: A Comprehensive Perspective

Introduction: Hypocrisy is a concept that has existed from ancient times to the present day, permeating various aspects of society. Hypocrisy refers to a state of pretense, deception, and detachment from reality. It occurs when a person acts contrary to their inner thoughts and beliefs, often with the intention of impressing others. The impact of hypocrisy is significant, particularly on the youth, as it deeply influences their mindset and behavior. In this article, we will explore Kabir's couplets on hypocrisy, analyze its effects on the youth, and seek to answer the question: Is it right to be hypocritical?

Kabir's Couplets on Hypocrisy: Saint Kabir Das, one of the prominent figures of the Bhakti movement, raised his voice against the widespread hypocrisy and pretense in society during his time. His couplets are simple, concise, and full of profound meaning, directly attacking societal hypocrisy. Here are some notable couplets:

1. "माला फेरत जुग भया, गया न मन का फेर।
कर का मनका डार दे, मन का मनका फेर।"

"Mala ferat jug bhaya, gaya na man ka pher.
Kar ka manka daar de, man ka manka pher."

• In this couplet, Kabir suggests that if a person is merely engaged in turning the beads of a rosary without any change in their mind, they are merely being hypocritical. True devotion is one that purifies the mind and leads it on the path of truth.

2. "कंकर पत्थर जोड़ी के, मस्जिद लई चुनाय।
ता ऊपर मुल्ला बांग दे, क्या बहरा हुआ खुदाय?"

"Kankar pathar jod ke, masjid lai chunay.
Ta upar mulla bang de, kya behra hua khuday?"

• In this couplet, Kabir criticizes religious hypocrisy. He says that merely building a mosque and offering prayers there is not enough; true devotion lies in the heart. God is not outside, but within us.

3. "पाहन पूजे हरि मिले, तो मैं पूजूं पहार।
ताते या चाकी भली, पीस खाए संसार।"

"Pahan pooje hari mile, to main pooju pahaar.
Taate yaa chaaki bhali, pees khaye sansaar."

• In this couplet, Kabir attacks the hypocrisy of idol worship. He argues that if worshiping a stone can bring you closer to God, why not worship an entire mountain? In his view, instead of such hypocrisy, a grinding stone is more important, as it grinds wheat to feed the world.

4. "साधु ऐसा चाहिए, जैसा सूप सुभाय।
सार सार को गहि रहे, थोथा देय उड़ाय।"

"Sadhu aisa chahiye, jaisa soop subhaay.
Saar saar ko gahi rahe, thotha de udaay."

• In this couplet, Kabir describes the qualities of an ideal saint, who is beyond hypocrisy. A true saint is one who holds onto what is meaningful and discards what is superficial and showy.

Impact of Hypocrisy on Youth: The minds and mentalities of young people are extremely sensitive. They are greatly influenced by their surroundings, the behavior of elders, and various aspects of society. Hypocrisy, deeply ingrained in society, has a negative impact on the youth.

1. Weakening of Value Systems: Hypocrisy diminishes the importance of morality and truth for the youth. When they observe people around them practicing religious or moral conduct only for show, they tend to follow the same path, weakening their value systems.
2. Drifting Away from Truth: Hypocrisy leads the youth away from truth. They begin to see pretense and external appearances as the ultimate reality of life. This affects their thinking and reasoning abilities, distancing them from reality.
3. Decline in Religious Faith: Hypocrisy, especially religious hypocrisy, fosters distrust towards religion and spirituality among the youth. When they see religious people not following the rules they expect others to follow, their faith in religion and religious rituals diminishes.
4. Indifference Towards Society: Hypocrisy breeds indifference towards society among the youth. They begin to view society as a facade, a deceptive structure, and hesitate to participate in it.
5. Is Hypocrisy Justifiable? Hypocrisy takes many forms and emerges as a serious issue in society. Being hypocritical is morally and socially wrong for several reasons:

Betrayal of Trust: Hypocrisy is a betrayal of oneself and society. It is a state where a person does something for show while their mind and intentions are elsewhere. This betrayal is not only towards others but also towards oneself.

1. Harm to Society: Hypocrisy fosters a culture of lies and pretense in society, weakening the foundation of trust and transparency. This is harmful to society, as it erodes mutual trust.
2. Spiritual Decline: Hypocrisy leads to spiritual decline. By staying away from truth and reality, a person relies only on external appearances, which hinders their spiritual growth. Honesty and truthfulness are essential for true spiritual development.
3. Moral and Religious Decline: Hypocrisy is undesirable both morally and religiously. The primary aim of religion and morality is to inspire people to walk the path of truth, honesty, and morality. Hypocrisy goes against these values and leads to the decline of religion and morality.

Conclusion: Hypocrisy is a serious social problem that has deep negative effects at both individual and collective levels. The teachings of Saint Kabir Das against hypocrisy are as relevant today as they were in his time. The impact of hypocrisy on the mentality and behavior of youth is harmful to society. Being hypocritical is not right in any form, as it fosters distrust, moral decline, and spiritual decay in society. We must strive towards living a true and honest life, where there is no place for hypocrisy. It is crucial to adhere to values of honesty, truthfulness, and morality to strengthen society.