BY R.K.MISRA
Politics is the
science of domination for power and religion the art of salvation through
subjugation. Taken together, the two make for an explosive, self-destructing
mix.
Last week two
divergent scenarios involving religion evolved in two different parts of the
country. Both evoked an interesting reaction. And therein hangs a political
tale of different strokes for different folks.
The first one
acquired form in Gujarat, the second took shape in Tamil Nadu and the synthesis
occurred in Delhi though politics emanating therefrom diverged .
A controversy of sorts erupted within the
enveloping folds of the larger Hindu faith with the sadhus owing allegiance to
‘sanatani’ traditions ranged against those from the Swaminarayan sect. At the
centre of the controversy was a mural at the Sarangpur temple depicting the
deity Hanuman seeking the blessings of a
Swaminarayan saint. A popular pilgrimage site, this temple is located about 150
kms from Ahmedabad at Gadhada in Botad district of Saurashtra region in Gujarat
and comes under the Vadtal Swaminarayan sect.
After a video clip went viral around August
30,this year sanatani saints incensed at what they perceived was the
subordination of a presiding deity of the faith served a timebound ultimatum
seeking removal of the mural or face protest. The issue seemed set to snowball
as numerous religious heads and spiritual front rankers waded into the
controversy, the leading argument being that Lord hanuman existed thousands of
years ago whereas Swaminarayan was born merely two to three centuries ago. .
Said Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati of Dwarka's ShardaPeeth "Swaminarayan sect is just 250 year old,
whereas Skand Purana is thousands of years old, there is no mention of
Swaminarayan in the Skanda Purana, no one knows, if someone has added at
a later stage to suit someone or sect."
The seismic tremors and its political
implications set alarm bells ringing from Delhi to Gandhinagar and the might of
the politico-religious machinery moved in unison to douse the flames before it
turned into an inferno. A hectic round of behind- the- scene parleys which
involved saints and intermediaries alike and the RSS and VHP alongside, created
the platform for the overt intervention of chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.
Another round of arduous efforts later, a compromise was worked out and the murals
removed from the temple base.
Swaminarayan Sect leaders assured
that their saints would be
careful while making statements on Sanatani gods and goddesses. Vishva Hindu Parishad(VHP) issued a statement, in which it is stated
that Swaminarayan sect's Vadtal's head Rakeshdasji has clarified that,
"Swaminarayan sect is part and parcel of Sanatan Dharma, it respects and
follows the rituals of Vedic Sanatan religion, as the sect is part
of Sanatan religion, it has no intention to hurt sentiments of Sanatan religion
and its believers." . Meanwhile the three people arrested for
attempting to deface the murals, after the controversy ignited, have also been
bailed out.
If the
curtains have come down on this internecine sparring, it is in large measure
because of the unsparing efforts of the ruling BJP and the Sangh Parivar. The
Swaminarayan sect enjoys great patronage and power in Gujarat as well as with
Gujaratis worldwide more so amongst the politically and financially influential
patidars. Equally so for the Sanatanis countrywide as they are slated to be an
important part of the VHP- led nationwide padyatras before the inauguration
of the Ram temple at Ayodhya in the opening part of next year. The BJP cannot
afford to alienate either with the 2024 general elections shaping up as an acid test for Narendra
Modi’s re-election bid in the face of
the Opposition I.N.D.I.A.
alliance.
However, If BJP leaders countrywide have
maintained a stoic silence in the matter of the ‘saintly’ controversy in
Gujarat, it has chosen to ride out all guns blazing on DMK leader and Tamil Nadu sports and youth welfare
minister Udhaynidhi Stalin’s remarks on
‘sanatana dharma’. He was speaking at
conference titled ‘Sanatana
Ozhippu Maanaadu’(Sanatana abolition conclave) organised by the Tamil
Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association .
Speaking at the conclave the minister is
reported to have called for the eradication of
Sanatana dharma instead of opposing it. Sensing a political opening for
electorally taking up cudgels against I.N.D.I.A. wherein TN- ruling DMK is a
part, the BJP was upon it in a flash. It’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya was quick
to interpret it as a call for the
‘genocide’ of the sanatanis who according to him make -up 80 per cent of the population of
Bharat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah pounced on it to pummel the Opposition
alliance at an election rally in Rajasthan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted
a befitting response to it as well.
So does
Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K.Stalin “ give them a befitting reply get
all 40 Lok Sabha seats for the DMK including Puduchery. This decisive response
is essential to eject the BJP from power in Delhi and give the DMK a key say in the government that replaces
it”, he said. Two scenarios, two
different responses. Religion the battering ram. Toxic toss-up!.
This syndicated
news column was published in the respective newspapers edition dated September 12, 2023 whose links are given
below:-
http://epaper.lokmat.com/lokmattimes/main-editions/Nagpur%20Main/2023-09-12/6
http://odishapostepaper.com/edition/4638/orissapost/page/9
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