India is a strange country. A country of extremes, a country where myth blends into reality, a country where several centuries reside by each other's side.A montage of disparate images knitted together by an invisible thread. Yet amidst these incongruencies one sees an enduring common thread. One such thread is the Indian psyche's unending fascination for the 'Renouncer'.
Right from the Buddha to the Mahatma, the renouncer has gained a special place in the hearts and minds of the Indians. Even to this day numerous ascetics throng the country holding sway over enormous masses. Even modern day politicians sought to project themselves as 'ascetic servants of the people'. Contrary to western materialistic philosophy which views the act of renunciation as a cowardly act of a loser, the Indian psyche's glorifies it as a brave act.For Indians it takes great courage to be a renouncer - the courage to 'Let go'.
Sonia Gandhi discovered that her stature went up by few notches when she renounced the prime ministership few years back. The mahatma became mahatma after renouncing his worldly passions. Even Buddhism, which is a quintessential product of pure Indian thought bases itself on letting go of worldly passions. The 'dhammapada' of Buddhism exhorts the virtues of asceticism and preaches its follower's to follow the simple yet enlightening path trod by the Buddha.
This attribute is not unique to purely Indian forms of thought but can also be seen in many foreign concepts influenced by Indian thought. A classical example of this is the liberal Indian 'Sufi' cult of Islam which is a radical shift from the conservative 'Wahhabi' cult that emerged out of Arabia. The Sufis renounced any form of material splendor and lived their lives composing hymns and forging social unity(Legend has it that they even slept in coffins to drive home the point).
Well it looks like whatever be the period the Indian fascination for renouncing will remain and is a source of intrigue for millions around the world.
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