DNA Special: Importance of staying within one's Lakshman Rekha

Lakshman Rekha – a word most Indians are familiar with but not many understand its true meaning. So, today let us look back on the true meaning of Lakshman Rekha.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people are crossing the Lakshman Rekha by not following safety norms. Delhi has an average of 7,000 new cases of coronavirus per day, the highest in the country, while nearly 50,000 people have been confirmed to have been infected in the last 24 hours across the country. It is a violation of the social Lakshman Rekha, by not obeying the rules of social distancing.

Another instance of not adhering to the Lakshman Rekha is raising slogans against our own country. Misusing social media, not believing in the Election Commission, insulting the Prime Minister, mocking the Supreme Court, and instigating riots for political gain are all sheer violation of the Lakshman Rekha.

Contaminating the environment, polluting our earth, spreading noise pollution are also part of breaking this Lakshman Rekha. People have become so hollow that they don’t even respect relationships.

Spreading fake news, running the agenda of enemy countries, damaging the image of your country, acquiring fake TRP is the ‘Lakshman Rekhas’ that have been violated by the country's media in the past. Now, it seems that there is no Lakshman Rekha left in India, only one LOC is left, which is the responsibility of the army and the army has never given up on this line. If the LOC was also in the hands of the people, God alone knows what would not have happened?

People often equate Lakshman Rekha to be a reflection of keeping women in shackles. However, the truth is that the actual Lakshman Rekha doesn’t distinguish between a man and a woman, Hindus and Muslims, rich and the poor.

Boundaries are needed by every society and every civilization. Without borders, no civilization can take the form of a nation. Boundaries make a nation dignified and powerful. Staying within the limit is not a sign of weakness rather it is a symbol of restraint and no weapon is more powerful than restraint.

In today’s time, minimalism is also a sort of Lakshman Rekha. It means possessing only those things that are an absolute necessity.

Respecting other's privacy is also a way to adhere to the Lakshman Rekha. This also applies to data security and social media norms.

By discussing the true meaning of Lakshman Rekha, all we want to say is that people should always draw a line around them and not look at this as his weakness rather he or she should feel strengthened by it.