Tag Archives: NYtimes

Survival of the Tolerant—Hinduism

Hinduism has always fascinated people across the world, only religion whose date of origin is absolutely open for anyones guess, some theologists dated the origin of Hinduism as about 3400BC, some say it dates more then 5000 BC, astonishing as such an old religion still thriving and more and more people in the world are being attracted towards it.

The reason behind the success of the Hinduism lies in its ethos of acceptance of every kind or nature of person, it values all the philosophies and forces none.

Here is my Summarisation of the essence hinduism:

  1. Believe in God ! – Aastik – Accepted.
  2. Don’t believe in God ! – you are Accepted as a Nastik.
  3. You want to worship idols- please go ahead you are a Murti Pujak.
  4. You don’t want to worship idols – no problem you can focus on Nirguna Brahmin
  5. You want to criticise some thing in our religion, come forward, we are logical, Nyaya, Tarka etc are core elements of Hindu schools.
  6. You want to accept beliefs as it is, most welcome please go ahead with it.
  7. You want to start your journey by reading Bhagwat Gita – Sure!
  8. You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads – Go ahead.
  9. You want to start your journey by reading Purana- Be my guest.
  10. You just don’t like reading Puranas or other books, no problem my dear, go by Bhakti tradition.
  11. You don’t like the idea of Bhakti ! No Problem do your karma, be a karma yogi.
  12. You want to enjoy life, very good, no problem at all, this is Charvaka Philosophy.
  13. You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life and find God, Jai Ho! be an ascetic.
  14. You don’t like the concept of God, you believe in nature only- Welcome (Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).
  15. You believe in one God or supreme energy Superb! follow Advait philosophy.
  16. You want a guru go ahead obtain Gyaan.
  17. You don’t want a guru …Help yourself! meditate, study!
  18. You Believe in Female energy! Shakti is worshipped.
  19. You believe every human being is equal, you are awesome, come on lets celebrate Hinduism “Vasudev Kutumbakam” (the world is a family).
  20. You don’t have time to celebrate a festival, don’t worry, one more festival is coming, there are multiple festivals every single day of the year.
  21. You are a working person, don’t have time for religion, its ok you will still be a Hindu.
  22.  You like to go to temples, devotion is loved.
  23. You don’t like to go to temples, no problem you are still a Hindu.
  24. You know that Hinduism is a way of life with considerable freedoms.
  25. You believe that evert thing has god in it, so you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, river, Prani-Matra, Earth, Universe!
  26. And if you don’t believe everything has GOD in it – No Problem we respect your view point.
  27. “Sarv Jana Sukhino Bhavantu” (May you all happily).

This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive, that is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspect from everything. That is why it is eternal! There is a shloka in Rigveda, the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hindu Philosophy in a nutshell “Ano bhadrah krathavo yanthu vishwathah” let the knowledge come to us from every direction.

Advertisement

UNKNOWN MANIBEN & an ungrateful Country

Maniben Patel was Sardar’s only daughter. When only 16 she switched to Khadi and worked in Gandhi Ashram!
When 17 she put all her gold bangles, earrings Gold Wrist Watch and all ornaments & jewelleries in a bundle of cloth and obtaining her Father’s nod, deposited them in Gandhi Ashram, for the cause of freedom.
All the garments Sardar used to wear after 1921 were woven out of the yarn made by Maniben.
Unlike Nehru’s daughter Indira, Maniben was a freedom fighter, who actively participated in the non-cooperation movement.
In 1928, in the Bardoli Satyagraha she helped out Satyagrahis in Camps.
She was arrested and Jailed in 1930 in the Salt Satyagraha!
Thereafter, she was arrested and jailed on several occasions.
Defying ban in Bardauli, arrested in 1932 again re-arrested for defying ban in Kheda and Sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, for arousing people in villages of Rajkot arrested in 1938!
Gandhiji complimented the girl that he had not seen another daughter like Maniben!
Under Gandhiji’s selective disobedience, Maniben was arrested in 1940 and was released from Belgaum jail in May 1941. When she again wanted to court arrest Gandhiji had prevented this frail girl for ill-health!
She got arrested during Quit India 1942 with
Kasturba Gandhi and released in March 1944 and again re-arrested in May 1944 in Bardauli and was sent to Surat Jail & then to Yervada jail!
She didn’t marry and served her father till
Sardar Died in 1950!

Here is a shocking episode relating to Maniben based on various sources, specifically Dr Kurien’s autobiography: ‘I too had a dream’!

Sardar Patel had no bank balance or property!
Even though he had substantial earnings as a very Successful Lawyer, he gave up everything after plunging into the Freedom movement.
He used to say: THOSE IN POLITICS SHOULD NOT HOLD PROPERTY, AND I HOLD NONE!
(Today Everybody in India may think Sardar a Big Fool)

When Sardar died, he kept nothing for his daughter!
With Sardar no more she had to vacate the house!
With no roof over her head and no money
Maniben had to fend for herself!
Obeying Sardar’s parting instruction, Maniben had gone to Nehru to hand over a bag and a book!
Dutifully, she took an appointment with PM Nehru, she handed over the bag and the book to Nehru in person!
The book was an Account Book!
The bag contained rupees Thirty Five Lakhs! (It was 1950)!
After delivering both to Nehru, she waited a while!
Nehru did not thank her!
Nehru didn’t enquire what she would do!
Nehru didn’t ask where she would stay!
Nehru didn’t ask if she had any money on her!
Nehru didn’t ask if she was in need of any assistance or help!
Nehru didn’t ask, if he could do anything for her!
Nehru, not to speak of sympathy, had shown absolutely no interest in her!
For him, after receiving the huge sum of Rupees 35 lakhs Maniben didn’t exist!

Maniben went back to Ahmedabad to stay with a cousin the rest of her life, forgotten by an Ungrateful Country !

Via.. Dr. Gour Mohanty

The Afghan Betrayal

It’s incredible to watch how fast the USA can forget the biggest attack on its soil, once again  turning its back on the dark world the AFPAK region,  and my fear is that whenever (not if ever) islamists attack the USA, it won’t be as simple and medieval as the 9 “11”.

Islam is the most violent religion in the universe, it advocates and justifies killing innocents in the name of God , they glorify revenge and allows pedophilia. Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda are the true disciples of the Islam, they are blood thirsty monsters who want to destroy life on earth, the monstrosity they manifested on the innocent women and children in Afghanistan, would put the most dreaded historical monsters to shame.

Exit of USA is like a surgeon leaving the patient in the middle of surgery, within a week of the exodus of US forces, Taliban baked by Pakistan, has started wracking havoc on Afghanistan, they have already conquered 2 provinces and it will be only a matter of time, when Taliban will have the country and millions of men, women and children, under there bloody claws.

Reeling under popular political pressure, Joe Biden made the decision of abruptly leaving Afghanistan, no prise for guessing, who would be the first country the Taliban would come after, they are unabashedly supported by nuclear armed Pakistan, in fact they are proxies of the Pakistan Army.

Last time the US turned its back on Afghanistan, was right after the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of USSR, it resulted in 9’11, once again they are leaving the country in an even precarious situation, in the hands of Taliban, Pakistan and China.

In the last 20 years of US occupation, the various US administrations were concerned only about achieving the military objectives, they never tried to uplift the average Afghani, they spent billions on bombs and missiles, pounding Taliban and afghans in general, but not a single dollar was spent on education or health care which the Afghans needed so badly, its a deja vu, USA did exactly the same in the 80s when they supported Afghan uprising against the USSR.

I won’t be surprised that the next attack on the US soil would dwarf all earlier terrorist attacks, including 9’11, and it would for sure emanate from Afghanistan.

 

 

Self-Awareness answer to all your problems

 Awareness is the solution 4

Awareness bring a heightened understanding of intense emotion and distorted thinking. Awareness breaks the cycle of turmoil, alienation and isolation caused by inner wounds. Look for guidance and presence on the journey to awareness, especially as you begin the work of healing and the painful emotions from the past start to surface. Do not act out the emotion or inner sensations in ways that hurt you , other property or the environment.

you must become aware of your emotions and learn to accept them. Feel your emotions and express them safely.  n abused; either mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually.Abuse combined with a lack or absence of love can create deeply painful inner wounds. Abuse is the extreme of lovelessness.

In your journey, you will meet people who are in touch with being. They are precious gifts on the road of healing, but you must be ready to recognise them as valuable allies in confronting the inner pain and the untruth associated with inner wounds.Lack of love and abuse lead you to believe lies about yourself and others,  which can distort your awareness.Inner wounds not only cloud perception but also block being.

Awareness of being is essential in the work of inner healing.

It is only from the solidity of being that you will be able to face the inner pain of abuse and confront the lies of lovelessness. Take the time to become aware of being. If you want to begin the work of inner healing, work with safe and trusted mentors or friends who have travelled the road of healing or who have been on the road for some time. This is especially important when beginning the journey of healing. The presence of others is a powerful way to awaken your intellect to your presence within.

The being of others touches the Love, Life, Existence,Presence and Truth within you.

This is one way the intellect is awakened to the Reality of Being within. The intellect, body and emotions are awakened to Love, Life,Existence, Presence and Truth “within”.

The Love of other awakens the Love”within”. In Being there is communion with self, others and God.

Communist Party of China –Celebrating 100 years of oppression ….

There are stark similarities between the Nazis and the Communist party of China, 1) They enslaved there own people, 2) They have (Nazis still exist, AKA White supremacists)  serious superiority complex, 3) They both were cowards.

China is a villainous bully, the only way to face them is by standing up against them, If a country shows slightest sign of weakness, it will surely loos its territory and its people will be butchered.

If a country really want to learn how to confront China, they must learn it from India, the only country in the world which opposed the pet project of “XI” Belt and road project and the way Indians confronted the Chinese on the Himalayas.

World must realise that is bully is actually the weakest one, he will seek vulnerable opponents to oppress, and will backoff if the opponent retaliates.

World must stop this evil ideology and must unite to overturn the vile government of China, must support the democracy to liberate more than a billion human beings.

This can only happen if the people around the world start discarding Chinese Goods, please remember that if you are purchasing any thing that’s made is China, you are supporting slavery and feeding the monster who will eventually come after you.

PERFECT PEACE

In the external universe there is ceaseless turmoil, change, and unrest; at the heart of all things there is undisturbed repose;  in this deep silence dweller the Eternal.

Man partakes of this duality, and both the surface change and disquietude, and the deep-seated eternal abode of Peace, are contained within him.

As there are silent depths in the ocean which the fiercest storm cannot reach, so there are silent, holy deaths in the heart of man which the storms of sin and sorrow can never disturb. To reach this silence and to live consciously in it peace.

Discord is rife in the outward world, but unbroken harmony hold sway at the heart of the universe. The human soul, torn by discordant passion and grief, reaches blindly toward the harmony of the sinless state, and to reach this state and to live consciously in it is peace.

Hatred severs human lives, footers persecution, and hurls nations into ruthless war, yet men, thought they do not understand why, retain some measure of faith in the overshadowing of a perfect Love; and to reach this love and to live consciously in it is peace.

And this inward peace, this silence, this harmony, this love, is the kingdom of Heaven, which is so difficult to reach because few are willing to give up themselves and to become as little children.

“Heaven’s gate is very narrow and minute, it cannot be perceived by foolish men Blinded by vain illusions  of the world; E’en the clear-sighted who discern the way, and seek to enter, find the portal barred, and hard to be unlocked. its massive bolts are pride and passion, avarice and lust.”

Men cry peace! peace! where there is no peace and strife. Apart from self- renunciation, there can be no real and abiding peace.

The peace which results from social comfort, passing gratification, or worldly victory is transitory in its nature, and is burnt up in the heat of fiery trial, and only the selfless heart can know the Peace of Heaven.

Holiness alone is undying peace. Self-control leads to it, and the ever-increasing light of Wisdom guides the pilgrim on his way. It is partaken of in a measure as soon as the path of virtue is entered upon, but it is only realised in its fullness when self disappears in the consummation of a stainless life.

“This is peace,

To conquer love of self and lust of life,

To tear deep-rooted passion from the heart to still the inward strife”.

If, O reader! you would realise the light that never fades, the Joy that never ends, and the tranquillity that cannot be disturbed; if you would leave behind for ever your sins, your sorrows, your anxieties and perplexities; if Isay, you would partake of this salvation, this supremely glorious life, then conquer your-self. Bring every Thought, enery impulse, every desire into perfect obedience to the divine power resident within you. There is no other way to peace but this, and if you refuse to walk it, your much praying and your strict adherence to ritual will be fruitless and unavailing, and neither gods nor angles can help you. Only to him that overcometh is given the whit stone of the regenerate is given the white stone of the regenerate life, on which is written the new and ineffable name.

Come away, for awhile, from external things, from the arguments of the intellect, from the senses, from the arguments of the intellect, from the noise and the excitements of the world, and withdraw yourself into the inmost chamber of your heart, and there, free from the sacrilegious intrusion of all selfish desires, you will find a deep silence, a holy calm, a blissful repose, and if you will rest awhile in that holy place, and will meditate there, the faultless eye of truth walloped within you, and you will see things as they really are, This holy place within you is your real and eternal self; it is the divine within; and only when you identify yourself  with it can you said to be “clothed and in your right mind . “It is the abode of peace, the temple of wisdom, the dwelling- place of immortality. Apart from this inward resting – place this Mount of Vision, there can be no true peace, knowledge of the Divine, and if you can remain there for one minute, one hour, or one day, it is possible for you to remain there always. All your sins and sorrows, your fears and anxieties are your own, and you can cling to them or you can give them up . Of your own accord you cling to your unrest; of your own accord you can come to abiding peace. No one else can give up sin for you; you must give up yourself. You can obtain freedom and peace alone by your own efforts, by yielding up that which binds the soul, and which is destructive of peace.

The angels of divine peace and joy are always at hand, and if you do not see them, and hear them, and dwell with them, it is because you shut yourself out from them, and prefer the company of the spirits of evil within you. You are what you will to be, what you wish to be, what you prefer to be. You can commence to purify yourself, and by so doing can arrive at peace, or you can refuse to purify yourself, and so remain with suffering.

Step aside, then; come out of the fret and the fever life; away from the scorching heat of self, and enter the inward resting-place  where the cooling airs of peace will clam, renew, and restore you.

come out of the storms of sin and anguish. Why be trouble and tempest-tossed when the haven of peace of God is yours!

Give up all self seeking; give up self, and lo! the peace of God your!

Subue the animal within you; conquer every selfish uprising, every discordant voice; transmute the base metals of your selfish nature into the unalloyed gold of love, and you shall realise the life of perfect peace. Thus subduing, thus conquering, thus transiting, you will, O reader! while living in the flesh, cross the dark waters of mortality, and will reach that shore upon which the storms of sorrow never beat, and where sin and suffering and dark uncertainty cannot come. Standing upon that shore, holy, compassionate, awakened, and self-possessed and glad with unending gladness, you will realise that

“Never the  spirit  was born, the Spirit will cease to be never;

Never was time it was not, end and begin nine are dreams;

Birthless and deathless and changeless remained the spirit for ever;

Death hath not touches it at all, dead though the house of it seems you will then know the meaning of sin, of sorrow, of suffering, and that the end there of is wisdom; will know the cause and the issue of existence.

And with this  realisation you will enter into rest, for this os the bliss of immortality, this the unchangeable gladness, this the untrammelled knowledge, undefiled wisdom, and undying love; this and this only, is the realisation of perfect peace.

who wouldst teach men of Truth ! hast passed through the desert of doubt ? Art purged by the fires of sorrow hath ruth .the fiends of opinion cast out of human heart? Is they soul so fair that no false thought can ever harbour there?

o thou wept through the dark night of grief? does it move (now freed from its sorrow and care) thy human heart to pitying gentleness, looking on wrong, and hate and, and ceaseless stress? O thou who wouldst teach men of peace! hast thou crossed the wide oven of strife? hast thou found on the shores of the silence, Release from all the wild unrest of life? from thy human heart hath all striving gone, leaving but truth, and love, and peace alone ?

Emergency In India “Decoded”

How Emergency imposed by ex – PM Indira Gandhi in 1975 changed Indian politics forever 

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and grandson of late PM Indira Gandhi said that Emergency                    was a ‘mistake’ and what happened in that period was ‘wrong’.

On June 26,1975, former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Proclaimed a national emergency across India, Under the directions of the then Prime minister of India Indira Gandhi- which lasted for 21 months. During this time elections were suspended and civil liberties curbed.

After 46 years, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi- Congress leader and grandson of late PM Indira Gandhi, said at an event that the emergency was a mistake and what happened in that period was “Wrong”. Rahul Gandhi also said the emergency during which time constitutional rights and civil liberties were suspended, the media was severely restricted and many opposition leaders were jailed, was “fundamentally different from the current scenario.'”I think that was a mistake. Absolutely, that was a mistake. And my grandmother (Mrs Gandhi) said as much. (But) the congress at no point attempted to capture India’s institutional framework…frankly, it does not even have that capability,” Rahul Gandhi said in a conversation with renowned economist Kaushik Basu.

But what is Emergency and how did it came into effect and how it changed the entire political dynamics of this nation – is something this generation may not know. So here we bring you in simple words on what happened in 1975, which can be easily be termed as the biggest political blunder of independent India.

 

The Justification for Emergency

The reasons given for the emergency in the country was to control “internal disturbance”, for which the constitutional rights suspended and freedom of speech and the press withdrawn. Former PM Indira Gandhi gave three reasons to justify the extreme step- first, India’s security and democracy was in danger owing to the movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan.

The second reason cited was that Indira in 1971- In parliamentary elections, Indira Gandhi had defeated Raj Narain from the Rae Bareli constituency, who subsequently had filed a petition in the Allahabad High court accusing Indira Gandhi of electoral malpractices.

January 1974- Students in Gujarat protested against raising prices of food grains and other essential commodities and corruption in the state government. Major opposition parties joined the protests, this led to the imposition of the president’s rule in the state.Demands for fresh elections became intense. subsequently elections were held in Gujarat in June 1975, which the congress lost.

1974- Students in Bihar started a movement to protest against the same issues. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), who had given up active politics and was involved in social work, lead the movement. This took the issue to a national level.

June 12, 1975- Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha found the Prime Minister guilty of misuse of the government machinery during her election campaign and declared her election null and void and also barred her from contesting an election for the next 6 years. The court, however gave the congress 20 days to find a replacement to Gandhi as PM. Indira Gandhi moved the Supreme Court against the verdict.

June 24, 1975 – The Supreme Court granted her a partial stay on the High court order till her appeal was decided and that she could remain an MP but could not take part in proceedings of the Lok Sabha.

June 25, 1975- JP Narayan led a huge political rally in Delhi’s Ramlila ground where he announced a nationwide Satyagraha for Indira Gandhi’s resignation. The employees of the railways too called for a nationwide strike, led by George Fernandes.

June 25, 1975- This fateful night a state of emergency was declared as a government response to the June 25 Strike. All the powers were concentrated in the hands of the Union Government. The Government restricted the fundamental rights of the citizens during the period. All elections were suspended  and civil liberties curbed.

Most political opponents were imprisoned. Press was censored. All newspapers needed to get prior approval for the articles to be published. Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jamait-e-Islami were banned. Constitution was amended in an autocratic manner, particularly in the 42nd amendment.

An amendment was made declaring that elections of Prime Minister, President and Vice- President could not be challenged in the court. Sanjay Gandhi, who did not hold any official position at the time gained control over the administration. The period saw the symbolic forced mass sterilisation campaign spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi.

Blessings and Disguise

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it , and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only halffull.

For a full two year this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do

After two year of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the steam. “I am ashamed of my self, and I want to apologise to you. “why?” ‘I have been able , for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,”the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot , and in his compassion he said , As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path. “Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of up the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this charred it somewhat. But at the end of the trail.it still felt bad beacuse it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologised to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot,”Did you notice that there were flower only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them For two year I have been able to pick these beautiful flower to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are , he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. In this world, nothing goes to waste. You may think like the cracked pot that you are inefficient or useless in certain areas of your life, but somehow these flaws can turn out to be blessing in disguise.”

How our Life changed By Yoga

                       The Effect of yoga on Body , mind and soul for the Elderly Population 

                                      What is Yoga ?

Yoga is a combination of both mind and body practice and traces its origin to the ancient Indian philosophy. The practice involves meditative movements helpful for health purposes.

There are various styles and forms of employed , which include breathing techniques, physical postures, relaxation or meditation, and distinct philosophy. Some of the examples practiced under these are, namely, ananda, ashtanga, anusara, kundalini, viniyoga, Bikram and Kripalu among other. in the United States and Europe, the common from of yoga practiced is the hatha yoga that emphasizes meditation, breathing, and postures Birdee & Legedza , 2009).Fundamental challenge if raging is the non-communicable diabetes, sciatica, arthritis, ischemic, and hypertension. studies, on the other hand , have projected that there would be a high percentage of elderly across the globe, especially in India and Asia by the year 2025 (Bower, 2010). The author further explains that a carefully adopted set if yoga poses and practices are necessary to reduce the pain occasioned by these ailments of the aged. The adverse effects if the ailments to the aged, Bower (2010) explains is the low Quality of Life (QOL),which is characterised by pain, fatigue, and impairment of mobility. For instance ,Birdee & Legedza (2009) indicate “….epidemiological studies have reported a high ptorevalence of psychiatric disorders like depression and dementia in the elderly, ranging from 9% to 35%(p.1654). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) adversely affects the quality of life in the elderly. Such effects include; sleep disturbances, insomnia, restlessness, excessive daytime sleepiness, nighttime awakening, periodic, leg movements, and snoring. Yoga therefore, comes in as a body and mind intervention used for its therapeutic potential to the elderly.

Studies indicate that American population of roughly 15.8 million, which constitutes 6.9% of her entire population practice different forms if yoga, Moreover, a sizeable proportion still indicates the willingness to take it up in future (Bower, 2010). Thus , yoga is practiced largely across the globe for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

                                                Why Yoga is good for Your Health?

The approach of any medical system for elderly woman and men needs to address to the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life. Not satisfied with allopathic medications and the threat of serious side effects ever looming large in their minds, the elderly women and men have begun to use the complementary medical systems as a viable alternative to address to their health problems. including Yoga, physical therapy, diet and aromatherapy

Research suggests that yoga therapy is a viable gentle physical activity option with a variety of health – related quality of life, psychological and physical symptom management benefits. Diet and nutritional therapy on the other hand, has shown solid evidence as an alternative medicine to reduce the symptoms of chronic diseases in elderly population.

Who is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s next President ?

From his time at the seminary in Qom to hardline president elect, Ebrahim Raise has come a long way

                          raise will remain chef justice until he takes over from outgoing president Hassan Rouhani

    Iran – Judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi has been elected as the next president of Iran at a critical juncture for the country. Who is the conservative leader and what are his positions ?

The 60-year- old Raisi , who enjoys wide backing from the conservative and hardline revolutionary camp and its base , will remain Chief Justice until he takes over from moderate outgoing president Hassan Rouhani in early August as did not resign from his post to run for president.

Like supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , the leader wears a black turban, which signifies that he is a sayyid – a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.

Raisi is referred to as a likely successor to the  82-year-old Khamenei when he passes away