Sarnath vs Kashi: A Tale of Lost Prosperity скачать в хорошем качестве

Sarnath vs Kashi: A Tale of Lost Prosperity

The prosperity of civilisations should be measured by the quality of their basic infrastructure. This has been the essence of prosperity across eras. Basic infrastructure includes well-functioning administrative systems, schools, hospitals, courts, roads, ports, rest centres, and similar facilities. The Indus Valley Civilization and the Mauryan Empire, known for being vast and prosperous in their time, exemplify advanced cultures of their eras because they prioritized infrastructure development over mere luxury. Without developing such essential infrastructure, any luxury becomes merely a reflection of a degenerate culture. The massive temples, palaces, and tombs of ancient Egypt never represented a prosperous culture. Instead, they symbolized exploitation and slavery. While public wealth was extravagantly spent on unnecessary luxuries, no attention was paid to basic development in ancient Egyptian civilizations. This was the state of many renowned cultures around the world. In the Indian subcontinent, many medieval Hindu kingdoms and some Muslim kingdoms exhibited similar cultural degeneration. They prioritized temples and palaces, squandering resources while ignoring the need for basic infrastructure. These cultural flaws set the subcontinent back by at least a thousand years during the medieval period. Anyone who thinks rationally can easily distinguish between advanced and disastrous civilizations. To understand this distinction clearly, one only needs to visit Varanasi. Just 10 kilometers from the famous Kashi Temple in Varanasi lies Sarnath. Visiting this historical site, which is over 2,500 years old, reveals remnants of a prosperous civilisation that once existed in the Indian subcontinent. Sarnath showcases the ruins of a vast educational center. It houses the Dhamek Stupa, built by Emperor Ashoka to commemorate Gautama Buddha’s first sermon, and the Ashoka Pillar, which forms India’s national emblem, standing as a testament to the grandeur of ancient Sarnath. In contrast, modern-day Varanasi, symbolised by Kashi, represents a culture of filth, stench, and poverty. While Westerners may only see charred human remains in cinematic graphics, in Varanasi, this grim reality is commonplace for many "Indians." The stark difference between Sarnath and Kashi, separated by just 10 kilometres, allows us to reflect on the thousands of years we’ve lost. Throughout history, the subcontinent has seen both highly advanced cultures and disastrous ones. Unfortunately, the latter still persist today. Therefore, it’s crucial to distinguish the wheat from the chaff in our cultures. The world continues to modernize, and if we fail to discard the flaws and progress alongside it, we risk becoming even more regressive and uncivilized in the eyes of the future world.