Will Prime Minister's Outburst Pacify Cow-Vigilantes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again warned those involved in cow vigilantism. Speaking during the all-party meeting ahead of the monsoon session of parliament beginning tomorrow, the Prime Minister said no violence in the name of gau raksha will be tolerated. He said that states have been asked to take strict action against those involved such violence.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said that the Prime Minister underlined the belief of many Hindus that cow is like mother, but said that this should not let people take law in their own hands and every state government should act against violation of the law.
In a Hindi tweet later, the PM said that Hindus see a cow as mother and it is alright. But we must understand that there were laws to protect cows and one does not need take law into one's hand.
The prime minister also thanked all the parties for the cooperation extended in the implementation of GST.
The issue of north east flood also came up for discussion during the meeting. Government said it has taken all measures required to provide assistance to flood hit states.
The Prime Minister said that strict action must be taken against political leaders indulging in corruption.
Meanwhile, BJP Parliamentary party executive also met in parliament today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the meeting. Currently leaders of ruling NDA are meeting to chalk out their strategy ahead of the Parliament session.
In the evening, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has also convened a meeting of leaders of political parties. The meeting has been called to ensure smooth transaction of business.

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People are enjoying religion as never before

Twice within last ten days, I travelled to Nashik, that old city in North Maharashtra which, it is said, Lord Ram, Seeta and Lakshman visited while in their exile to forest. The city reverberates with the same ancient spirit of holiness and faith. And this time, the spirit is especially evident as millions of devotees throng to the banks of river Godavari to have a dip in its specially-made clean stream during the auspicious period of Sinhastha.

Kumbh Mela, the grandest of all festivals is currently on in the city. Kumbh is the 12-yearly gathering of almost all important saints and holy men in Hindu faith. But my trips to Nashik were not connected in any way to it and I was not there at the shahi snaan, the extravagant holy bath done by sadhus and devotees. However, once after putting my feet on this land of pious worshippers, I couldn't keep myself off from the enchanting glimpses offered at the ghats.

The main ghat of the Panchvati area glittered with all kinds of lightings. Men, women and children, in all kinds of attires and with varying ages, filled themselves and their kin with happiness of having attained one of the most relieving satisfaction ordained by the culture. Innumerable ascetics, with almost everyone in his unique dressing and hairstyle, walked past the frenzied crowds with ease, with barely any concern or disdain for the scene around them. They were just a fraction of the sadhus camping around this city and tens, if not hundred, times more than them station in specially created colony.

The pantheon of godmen keeps enlarging, not only in Hindu but probably every religion of the world. It may not particularly point towards the increasing piety of the faith but it doesn't show any diminishing of its hold either. True, people are not bound by the religious dogmas the way they used to be, say, a hundred years ago. But they are not letting it go out of their conscience either.

Speaking more accurately, the people are enjoying the religion as they never did in the past. This holds true especially in case of Hindu faith where all leashes are open in an already disorganized fold and everyone is free to follow his own path.

For centuries, Hindus were infected with caste system with its strict hierarchical demarcations and very few individuals, if any, took joy in adhering to his or her rituals. This was true for the castes at lower rung of social ladder and even more for the so called upper castes. The members of some of the outcast castes were not even allowed to walk side by side with those ruling them.

After independence in 1947 and introduction of the Constitution of India, these socially deprived people attained the freedom and equality, howsoever compromised they might be at times. However, the members of these communities were still languishing in economic deprivation as centuries of slavery and exploitation left them in penury. They struggled for existence while ruling castes jostled with each other to capture modern means of progress.

Add to this that elusive emancipation of women which was on debating table for two centuries. That is realized, again, in a limited manner. But whatever is realized is enough to bring about a new uprising in the hitherto repressed expressions of emotions.  Female were no longer weaker sex. All shackles binding them were free.

All this changed in 1991-92 when India, having forced by the abject restrictions, mended its path - from Nahruvian economy of deprivation to liberal economy of post-Cold War era. Coupled with reservation in jobs and education, the backward classes came closer to their former masters while forward castes, due to their advantageous position, accumulated fortunes in greater proportion where once even shadows of their forefathers was forbidden.

These developments manifested in the form of frolicking women in Ram Ghat at Panchwati in Nashik where Lakshman said to have marked a line for Seeta warning her not to cross it. They came to fore in the form of groups of villagers, clearly showing their rural origins and caste markings, freely offering aartis to the river Godavari.

These all are signs that gone are the days when religion used to be a force to be feared of, an all pervasive power which curtailed individual’s freedom. Now, individual is bending his faith at his comfort and relishing the offerings as just another recipe to be savored.

In Nashik, the traders and businessmen complained that their business was hit by low numbers of devotees who did not turn up on the auspicious day because of heavy deployment of security personnel. The merit of this complaint is another thing. But the very fact that these businessmen looked at this event as an opportunity to make money because of large number of devotees itself proved that this was not just a spiritual and sacred occasion, but a chance of wealth creation and this because devotees were prepared to shed their money for earthly pleasures.

The self-professed progressives pride themselves in deriding the religion and rituals. They don’t feel any need to separate grain and chaff. Last month, in a program organized by weekly Sadhana, veteran journalist warned the intellectuals of the pitfall. “You are right in denouncing religious dogmas and taboos. But I tell you, please look at the religion seriously,” he said. If the ongoing Kumbh has any message to give, it is this.

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The Same Old Story And Meaningless Too

It is funny and at the same time distressing to point how the stories are repeated. About a year ago, I was among the reporters who reported on controversy raised by the Maratha organizations. The issue was not much different from the one which has plagued Maharashtra for over a century-the Brahmin-Maratha tussle.

Last week, the city of Pune witnessed much heartburn over the issue of a minuscule statue. “Dadoji Konddeo has no place near Shivaji,” argued the Maratha organisations. Some see in it anti-Brahminism. Some – like me – try to find strains of political overtones in the drama. I would hardly repeat the same words and sentences, eating out tons of megabytes and draining down much valuable time.

The thing forgotten here is: in a land with a known record of at least 700 years of militarism (Maharashtra), Chhatrapati Shivaji is the only unifying force. Dividing him will not make any detriment to him, but the resulting loss in our present time will do irreparable damage to ourselves.

A News Story

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Taxing The Religion

The Maharashtra government retracted its controversial decision to charge some money for the express darshan of the deity at Pandharpur. The reason for this retraction was the heavy opposition from various quarters, especially from the warkaris. Vitthal, the reigning deity of the Pandharpur not the kind of god prevalent in India. He is supposed to be the most favourite, not venerated, god of common people of Maharashtra, Karnataka and large part of Andhra. Even though the bhakti tradition, which has built a long tradition of love between god and devotees, is firmly trenched in the Indian minds, Vitthal has quite another place. Originally Krishna, he is god, friend, father, mother and even servant of his devotees.

People from all over the Maharashtra throng to holy city of Pandharpur twice in the year. About 0.5 million warkaris on an average converge to Pandharpur in a year while the converge is less once in each month. These people walk on barefoot for a month, some travelling almost 1000 kms. This is considered a miracle from the point of view of management. About a month ago, almost 0.25 million warkaris gathered in the small town. On the background of these large figures, came the decision by Maharashtra government to charge Rs 200 (US$4) each for quick darshan. This amount was to be charged from those who wanted a glimpse of their Lord within minutes. The system is place in religious places like Thirupathi and Shirdi. But considering the nature of Pandharpur, this was unlikely to be taken easily. Obviously, the voices of protest rose quickly forcing the government to go on back foot. Still, the people are wary that it might come again any time.

This is partly because government machinery has come to realise lately that all the religious places all over India are brimming with the crowds. People are heading to religious places like never before. Increased income, better facilities of transport and communication media reflecting the popular sensibilities, has tremendously boosted the what has come to be called 'religious tourism'. With government more and more looking for more avenues for income, tit can not find a better thing to do. The trend has taken its toll on some of the historically important entities, but presently none seems to capable to hold it.

The economics of the religious places and shrines can be outlined in few numbers. The shrine of Sai Baba at Shirdi got an immense boost after a movie on the 19^th century saint came through Bollywood. Last year, the revenue of Sai Sansthan (trust managing the shrine ) at Shirdi was pegged at Rs 230 Crores (US$ 500 million) while the expenditure is Rs 150 Crores ($ 300 million). In Andhra Pradesh, the revenue of Thirupathi Balaji temple is supposed to be Rs 250 Crores (US$ 500 million). The revenue of the Maharashtra for year 2010-11 is expected to be Rs 5,97,542 Crores (approximately US$ 120 million). The thing has come to such a pass that the Trust is lending money from its coffers for various works done by government like road building.

Shirdi is not alone. There are many places in Maharashtra which have revenues running into millions. Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai has an annual revenue of Rs 50 crores ($ 10 million) while the Ganpati at Lalbaug nets Rs 15 crores ($ 3 million). With manjor industries reeling under either recession or discounts, the only way government can earn the money is taxing the religious sentiments. With most of the appointments at the temples done under political considerations, a part of the booty is sure to fall into these leader's lap.

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Ganeshotsav Off to Good Start

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi got off to a well start today. The swine flu seemed to have little impact on the morale of the people in Pune. People were seen thronging temples and Modak, the special type of sweet which is said to be favourite of Lord Ganesh, was in full demand. Even rain graced the city on the occasion.

Roadside vendors made most of the business as the sale of big idols were hit this time around. Ganesh idols in Pune come mainly from Pen in Raigad district. But because of scarcity of water and then H1N1 scare, the number of idols coming to Pune were much lesser. Last fortnight, major Ganesh mandals decided to keep the festivities subdued because of H1N1 Flu scare.

Five main Ganpati mandals (Ganesh Mandals) have special place in the city. First of them all is Kasba Ganpati in Kasba Peth which is city deity. The festival of Kasba Ganpati started with pranpratishtha of Ganesh idol at 11 AM. A procession of the idol was brought out before the main ceremony. The procession was bereft of any kind of musical troupes because all prestigious mandals decided to refrain from musical troupes on account of H1N1 Flu.

In Mumbai also, chief minister Ashok Chavan installed a Ganesh idol at his official residence 'Varsha'. Speaking to mediapersons, he said he prayed to lord for good rains in the state. “I also prayed to god for controlling the inflation, to solve drinking water problem and to make the state wealthier,” he said.

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The Magic of Wari

It is the same ritual for over three centuries, repeated year by year with same vigor and enthusiasm. Even the rising concern for security and growing attraction for materialism does not deter the warkaris from thronging the streets of Pune in search of Viththal, their beloved god. For the warkaris, Pune happens to be only a stage in their quest for this eternal deity rising above the caste and religious limits. A magic among the living species, the wari or annual sojourn is conducted by the lakhs of people from Maharashtra as well as Karnataka. The warkaris come from every corner of the state and all the roads lead only to Pandharpur. This year also warkaris have come in innumerable size, in groups as well as individually. This annual sojourn takes place without any formal organizer. Each person comes with his own instinct.

In Pune, both the palkhis of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar come on same day. They have a one day stay here and head towards Saswad from where they go to Pandharpur. Passing of these palkhhis through Dive Ghat (Dive Pass) is one of the most spectacular sights of wari. Many a people are mesmerized by the sight of this passing of palkhis. This year the monsoon is yet to arrive otherwise it is a visual treat to see a large human see spiraling itself along the hilly terrain in a rain soaked environment. Last year I was witness to such a treat. Even those who have regularly attended this spectacle for years can not escape the magic of this moment. I spent a day listening to voices who went on to narrate their earlier experiences in wari. But come the main chariot in which the image of Sant Dnyaneshwar is placed, everybody motions to the same rhythm. Everything else in the world does not exist at that moment.

I am always amazed at the way these warkaris manage their affairs. This is normally the most important season for any Indian farmer when the rainy season is started. Sowing seeds for the new crops takes place at this juncture. Yet it is the people from farmer community that comes largest for wari. As a journalist, I always give an excuse of busy schedule when somebody asks me whether I have attended any wari. Seeing these farmers and peasants perfectly balancing their work, on which depends their livelihood and their commitment to faith always makes me feel ashamed. It is easy to say that it is a wastage of time and nothing else. But just think, how much time we lose in movies and gossiping. If a person invests his time in a thing which does not bring any benefit to him or society, it is a wastage of time. But if a mass of people engage in a ritual for centuries, the fruits of which can not be negated by a conclusive evidence, and that too for centuries, then it is a movement. A structure of culture and tradition.

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