“Who is Mahisasur?”

This article is reply of

“Who is Mahisasur?” – A Reply to the Anandabazar Rabibashoriyo Article by Gautam Chakraborty as published on 24th April,2016

What a compelling question that is burning our so called intellectual class and it’s representation in today’s modern Indic society. While going through the Article written by Gautam Chakraborty in Anandabazar  Rabibashoriyo published on24^thApril,2016 in Bengali.I am amazed to realize how the depiction of “Mahisasur” has been used to promote and reignite the Caste system and social classification in modern Indian society. As, it seems to me, the whole pretext of the Article is about somehow finding justice and finding the ‘True race’ of Mahisasur. But, that is what my mind conjuring about the pretext! Let us first ask our intellectual editors and sub-editors of Anandabazar (belongs ABP group), what is the actual pretext of such a horrendous article on a premier news paper’s Rabibashoriyo? And what compelled or motivated them to publish such an Article?

As, an informed reader, I can very well see the pretext as the recent controversies in JNU regarding celebration of “Mahisasur Day” for the martyrdom of great Dalit King Mahisasur. Mahisasur who is considered and regarded as great martyr according to the so called communism inspiredstudent leaders.

Now, anything in society can been seen in many different perspectives so is our much celebrated “Durga Puja”. One can very see it as just as a ‘Celebration’ that many so called secular Bengalis prefer describing. One can also put altogether a different dimension to it by accepting this as a celebration of victory of ‘Good over Evil’ and henceforth the depiction of ‘Asur’ is just representation of evil qualities of humans. There also can be more politically beneficial perspective for our communism inspired friends as well as the author of the article is that Mahisasur is a Dalit and was wrongly killed by a sultry lady called Durga (whom we Hindus worships as Maata) by using her enticing beauty and tricks.Hence, as intellectuals we must fight the injustice done to Mahisasur in today’s time. Therefore, it’s a fight for the injustice done to the Dalits. Wonderful! What an imaginative representation of convenience?

As, per my understanding, when any such article of this kind is written the pretext should be - how to connect, rejuvenate and encourage social harmony through celebration rather than taking ‘Durga Puja’ as an opportunity to raise mythical communism theory of injustice of lower section of people in every ritual ofHindu tradition. Writer also seem to lack knowledge of Hindu traditions and as well as Durga Puja rituals. When we do Durga Puja, along with Mata, Mahisasur is also worshipped in true sense and also we do ‘Pran daan’ of Mahisasur. That means Mahisasur is considered and revered equivalent to any other god including Devi Durga. 

For us, Durga puja is not just a celebration, but an occasion that brings every fold of society together.

Writer must know that Durga puja cannot be initiated without soil of wench home. Even if you consider it as a mere ritual, I would like to remind that these rituals are formulated and nurtured in Hindu society for a purpose and the purpose is social togetherness.There can’t be any better example of social togethernessin a Hindu celebration by consideringwenchladies as intrinsic element of the whole Durga Puja celebration.The reason, I am citing this example is that wench ladies are the most exploited in our modern society and this is much bigger example of social injustice than so called Dalit Mahisasurparadigm.  Unfortunately, the author either conveniently overlooked all of these aspects of Durga Puja or is ignorant to write such malicious, derogatory, condemnable article.   

Then author also quoted few things in the article mentioning the current generations of Mahisasur have converted to Christianity as they couldn’t bear the social injustice anymoredone to them by upper caste Hindus! Firstly, how did the author certify the people he has quoted belong to the generation of Mahisasur?Secondly, how does the author know that the current generationsof Mahisasur converted to Christianity because of social injustice and not because of lure of missionary money? Author gave examples of tribes and described them in low light that they are ‘not so welcome in Hindu society!’ Preposterous!!! Hindu belief considers every living and non-living entity as living bodies and hence, in our ancient Vedas ‘Panchamahabhuta’ i.e. conforming sub-elements of the universe isgrandly celebrated. Unlike few other religions, Hindu tradition is very unique that treats every element of the universe (living as well as non-living) as integral part of the ecosystem. So, the imaginary theories of sections and castes are not welcome in Hindu society and not celebrated as per true Hindu traditions.

Lastly, the author also described Goddess Maa Durga accompanying Mahisaur to drinking places (called ‘Suri khana’ in colloquial Bengali). What a derogatory, obnoxious, sexist, condemnable depiction of a Hindu Goddess Maa Durga!! Is this called education where revered Maata is described in such a horrific language?    

Nowadays, in the name freedom expression we have seen people utter and write anything and describe that as an intellectual freedom. Why can’t use the same freedom to depict celebrations in a way that brings people together, rather than promoting imaginary or not so imaginary theory to promote social partition? That’s the larger question, so called intellectuals; authors and poets must answer to the modern society. Hindu traditions have evolved and transformed itself in many dimensions over hundreds and thousands of years. It’s our morale duty to present it in a way so that we can imbibe, mingle and amalgamate everyone in one uniform society maintaining individual diversity as truly depicted in our Vedas in these following words:

‘ॐसर्वेभवन्तुसुखिनः

सर्वेसन्तुनिरामयाः

सर्वेभद्राणिपश्यन्तु

माकश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्।

ॐशान्तिःशान्तिःशान्तिः’

Author: Bhaswar Goswami (Technologist, Rationalist and Social thinker)

Email: goswami.bhaswar@gmail.com

Samvad Cell email: bjpsamvad241@gmail.com