Complete destruction of ideals taking place in India: Mallika Sarabhai
Kolkata (PTI): Eminent classical dancer and activist Mallika Sarabhai has voiced disappointment over the "complete destruction of ideals" in the country, alleging that Hindutva' is being shoved down the throat of people in the name of Hinduism.
Hinduism is actually all about asking questions, the 68-year old Padma Bhusan awardee said during a session about her life, career and initiation into the world of dance, at the concluding day of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival here on Sunday.
"What I am witnessing around today completely decimates me Never had I thought there will be complete destruction of our ideals in India, and so many people blinded by the glory of advertisement and brand-building," she said.
"It is so nice coming to Kolkata and actually seeing (people) of different religions living side by side... which I don't see in a similar way in Gujarat, in Ahmedabad, where ghettoisation seems to be so complete," Sarabhai said.
She claimed that many of her friends are in jail, facing trial for asking questions, apparently referring to the arrests of some rights activists in recent times.
"Hinduism is all about asking questions, as manifested in our scriptures. Unfortunately, it is Hinduism in the form of Hindutva that is quoted to us and shoved (down the throat of people)," the noted dancer said.
Sarabhai, who had essayed the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook's play The Mahabharata' in the 1980s, apart from acting in solo theatrical works Shakti: The Power of Women' and co-directing Women with Broken Wings', said Bengal is among the few states where pluralism still exists in society.
"Kolkata has always given me more love than any other part of the world".
Reacting to her comments, BJP leader Roopa Ganguly said Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life that is connected to nature.
Hindutva is a Hindi word and Hinduism is a globally known English word. That is the only difference between the two expressions, Ganguly, a former Rajya Sabha MP, said.
"About the ghettoisation comments, shall I ask her (Sarabhai) to go through the population chart of Gujarat and (charts) of all parts of India. As she specifically mentioned Gujarat, I would ask her to check how many people engaged in diamond cutting live there?
"Many of them are from Domjur in West Bengal and they are living peacefully in Surat. What she said is irrelevant," asserted Ganguly, who is also an acclaimed actor.
On Sarabhai's remark about many of her friends being in jail for asking questions, Ganguly claimed she has herself faced media trial for putting forth questions against the West Bengal government.
"Madam, please find out how many cases of molestation and atrocities on women are unregistered in Bengal before talking. This much I would expect from such a great personality," the BJP leader added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Banke Bihari temple rejects proposal to ban deity’s dresses made by Muslim weavers
Agra: The authorities at the Banke Bihari temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan have rejected a proposal to ban dresses made by Muslim weavers for Lord Krishna. The temple administration clarified that there have been no changes to the selection process for the deity’s attire.
Dinesh Falahari, president of the Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas, which is also involved in the ongoing Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura, submitted a memorandum to the temple administration, arguing that offerings made by non-followers of the Hindu faith should not be accepted, claiming that such offerings would be a “grave sin,” as reported by Times of India on Thursday.
However, Gyanendra Kishor Goswami, a member of the temple administration, told the publication that while the temple received the proposal to stop using ‘poshaks’ (attire) made by Muslim weavers, their primary concern was ensuring the purity and sanctity of the attire. “If members of the Muslim community have faith in Thakurji, we have no objection to accepting poshaks from them,” he added.
He said that the 164-year-old temple attracts between 30,000 and 40,000 devotees daily from diverse backgrounds, with the number rising to over one lakh on weekends and during festivals.
_vb_98.jpeg)
