NATIMANITA [न-अतिमानिता]...2

The last quality mentioned in the III Shloka of the XVIII Chapter of Geeta is NATIMANITA.  It is न आतिमानिता, which means; ‘being unassuming’ or ‘absence of excessive feeling of dignity in one’.

In day-to-day conversation we use words like ‘being modest’ or ‘being unassuming’. Although, we generally use them interchangeably; but, they convey different meanings. The modesty implies underplaying, which has a sense of covering up or not being inclined to reveal everything one feels about oneself. For example, a king may be modest before the ordinary people of his kingdom, but, may not be that modest when in the company of other kings. As against this, the one who may be least concerned about anything that he possesses in excess of the others, may be thought of as ‘unassuming’.

Now, let us think about the following phrases; ‘dignity of manhood’, dignity of womanhood, ‘dignity of knowledge’, dignity of valor’, ‘dignity of entrepreneurship’ and ‘dignity of labor or skill’ etc.

According to ancient Indian “Darshan” (philosophy) and way of life, all that is living or non-living has its own “Swabhav” or “Dharma” which is naturally expected to regulate its behavior. For example, “Dharma” of a tree is to receive all that is needed for its survival and growth, like, sun rays, water, oxygen and necessary minerals and other food ingredients from the soil available in the nature according to its needs, but nothing more than what it needs; and, in return, provide, what it is capable of providing back to the nature, viz. oxygen, carbon-dioxide, leaves, flowers, fruits, shadow and shelter to whoever stays under it.

After having convinced ourselves with what has been said in the preceding paragraph, if we revert back to ‘dignity of manhood’ or ‘dignity of womanhood’; we realize that, if the nature has made the man somewhat different from woman, there must be a purpose behind it. And, for fulfillment of the given purpose the man must behave or act in certain specified ways, that is, according to his “Dharma”. Similarly, the women must also act to fulfill the duties allotted to them by the nature. In such cases, where is the question of attaching some ‘dignity’ to manhood or womanhood? “Dharma” is a “duty” that must be performed. There is nothing to feel elated about it, or feeling ‘dignified’ about it. Likewise, the human societies might have assigned different duties to different sections of their members for their benefit depending on their abilities or otherwise. The performance of such duties cannot be considered as associated with any dignity. A feeling of excessive dignity for oneself may lead to associating others with comparatively lesser dignity. This may lead to a dangerous trend; for, when dignity stealthily gets converted into ‘self-pride’, then to pride we never know. Perhaps, arguing as above may help us in realizing why “Atimanita” is prohibited for us human beings.

PROMOD KUMAR SHARMA