Welcome Mr Awhad to the club of Ram Bhakts

As the date of consecration ceremony in Ayodhya approaches, some elements are out to run their agenda to divide Hindus by misleading them. They pretend to be studious but their statements are mischievous and are intended to hurt Hindu sentiments and divide them.

 

 

 

 

Recent such example is NCP leader Jitendra Awhad in Maharashtra. Awhad is always in the limelight because of his roguish statements. At a party meeting on Wednesday, Awhad made some comments on Prabhu Ramchandra. He raised two points – firstly, Ram was a non-vegetarian and secondly, Ram belonged to the Bahujan community.

 

Awhad is habitual of making statements, which would hurt Hindu sentiments. He is always accused of running the agenda of urban Naxals. Jitendra Awhad critics affectionately call him ‘Jituddin’. Awhad is the same NCP leader, who had supported Ishrat Jaha, who was killed in Gujarat in a police encounter for her alleged connections with terrorists. The fresh statement was made by Awhad in an official party function in presence of other leaders, including Pawar family.

 

Awhad is protected by constitutional and fundamental rights. He is free to express his feelings. Leaders like Awhad cannot be expected to understand and follow the constitutional concept of ‘freedom with reasonable restrain’. In fact, Awhad’s speech amounts to `hate speech’ in view of his past statements. Fortunately, Awhad’s statement had no takers in his own party. All the NCP leaders distanced themselves from him out of fear that they would have to pay the price in the Lok Sabha election.

 

But Awhad is a symbolic incident. Matured people always discuss the issue and not the individual. Let us keep aside Awhad and focus on the intention of his remarks. By describing Ram as a non-vegetarian and proclaiming Ram as the God of Bahujans, the concerned leader wants to suggest something else. Both the remarks certainly have a casteist connotation. It is surely an attempt to divide Hindus, who had buried all the discriminations, and stood united for Ram Janma Bhoomi temple in Ayodhya.

 

 

 

Hindu unity is the biggest achievement of Ram Janma Bhoomi agitation but leaders like Awhad and his handlers are unable to digest this reality. They are increasingly experiencing frustration because of unprecedented and unimaginable support from all quarters of the people. Such is the atmosphere that the entire country has immersed in `Ram Bhakti’. Awhad's statement is the outcome of the reality that his school of thought has no more takers. Politically, his ideology is on the verge of collapse. Their existence depends upon political status, which has been eclipsed for the past few years. Neither they are hopeful about the future because of inbuilt limitations of the ideology, from which they draw intellectual inspiration.

 

Awhad represents the notorious elements in the country, which are fighting for their political survival. Statement is testimony of the reality that Awhad camp has become desperate due to the fear of extinction. The only tool they have left is to divide Hindus by using some or other method. They will make all attempts to refresh caste sensitivities. It is the responsibility of every Hindu to neglect such notorious elements, who are driven by divisive political agenda and not national interests.

 

Silver lining to the unwarranted controversy is that Awhad had admitted that Ram belongs to Bahujans. All the organizations, which are involved in Ram Janma Bhoomi agitation, never ever claimed that Prabhu Ramchnadra belongs to a particular community or caste. In fact, the Ram Janma Bhoomi agitation is the greatest manifestation of Hindu unity, which was not possible without burial of caste sensitivities. Ram Janma Bhoomi agitation left behind all the narrow discriminatory considerations like caste, race, language and sex. All found themselves on the same footing. This was unimaginable as social reformers were struggling to achieve this sense of equality for years. Remember, this sense was not a temporary phenomenon. It continues to prevail, giving a big big push to establish ‘Samajik Samrasta’ among Hindus. Kameshwar Chaupal, who performed `shilanyas’ of Ram Janma Bhoomi temple, belonged to the scheduled caste community. Chaupal was not merely performing ‘shilanyas’ of Ram temple but he was laying the foundation of a new temple of equality, which will inspire Hindus eternally. Prabhu Ramchandra and Ram Bhaktas do not know caste. They feel by heart that Prabhu Ramchandra occupies the minds of all Hindus, bringing them together with a deep sense of fraternity, which has no place for any discrimination. But the Awahd camp never speaks about this as its intentions are sick and perverted.

 

 

 

 

We have solace in the entire episode. People like Awhad always used to challenge the existence of God and Prabhu Ramchandra. They used to describe Prabhu Ramchandra as imaginary. Now they have accepted the existence of God and Prabhu Ramchandra. Another silver lining is that Awhad has ‘regretted’ over his statement for hurting sentiments of the people. He continues to be firm on his remark but has regretted it. It means, Awhad has accepted that Hindus have sentiments like non-Hindus. The third hope is that Sharad Pawar’s NCP distanced itself from Awhad’s opinion. One of the party leaders was seen running away from the camera when media persons asked him questions about it. Of course, NCP leaders are mature enough to understand implications of Awhad’s remark when Lok Sabha elections are few months ahead. But they have become aware of possible wrath of Hindus, which is likely to be reflected in the voting. Awhad episode shows that we have come to a stage when Hindus can no longer be taken for granted. We have reached a stage where leftist eco-system will think twice before hurting Hindu sentiments.

 

 

 

An old timer recalled an incident, which explains how Hindu organizations have deep commitment to the principle of equality. Mulayam Singh Yadav once remarked that Vishwa Hindu Parishad launched agitation on Ram Janma Bhoomi as Ram belongs to upper caste. Mulayam, in an attempt to assert his point, also remarked that VHP did not undertake agitation on Mathura as Shrikrishna belongs to the backward Yadav community. Ashok Singhal sharply responded saying that he would be the first person to participate in the agitation on Mathura if Mulayam launched it. Singhal’s response shows deep commitment to the principle of equality. It is evidence of the strong belief that Hindu unity has no place for discrimination.

 

The Awahd camp ought to understand that awakened Hindus do not believe in any discrimination. They have gone far ahead, leaving behind all the outdated narrow considerations. Ram Janma Bhoomi agitation was the most effective and meaningful vehicle to bring about this social revolution. Hindus should understand that caste sensitivity is kept alive by politicians for their political gains. Dividing Hindus along the caste line and appeasement has been a political strategy of people like Awhad. But this political strategy is not working out now because of the changing Indian psyche. We ought to remember all the time that caste sensitivity is withering away from all the walks of social life. Days are not long when it will be irrelevant in politics as well. So, let us be cool.

 

 

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