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 on24thApril,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
