Anuncanny silence hangs heavy on the air with the gloom surrounding recent events almost palpable just as Durga Puja is around the corner. In the author’s home State of West Bengal, it is more so pronounced this time around and in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh it’s a case of history repeating itself first as a tragedy and then as a farce.
Nowhere in modern history has any community, save the Jews, faced as much hate, persecution and victimisation for celebrating their age old festivals as the Bengali Hindu community. This year being no different; The Bengali Hindus are facing not just strong opposition but determined resistance from expected quarters regarding the manner and also their right to celebrate Durga Puja in the two primary geographies in which the vast majority inhabit i.e West Bengal and Bangladesh.
Keeping Hindus Away from Dharma
First a rendition of facts. Bangladesh has recently seen a violent uprising resulting in the overthrowing of the Awami League Government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the first family having to flee into neighbouring Bharat. The so-called “secular” Awami League was seen as pro-Hindu and in turn pro- Bharat by Islamic hardliners and Jihadis even though it was not so in practice. During the Awami League years, Durga Puja saw frequent attacks with idols being burnt to ashes, devotees being physically harmed and attacked, the offering of the devotees being looted with alarming alacrity and general resistance from the locals. 2021 saw widespread violence during the festivities when as part of a conspiracy a local Muslim youth placed a Quran at the feet of Maa Durga. As this news was deliberately spread, an endless cycle of violence, arson and loot started with no let up or respite. The Bengali Hindus bid farewell to Maa Durga on Vijayadashami with immersion of the Goddess.
In 2021 the Hindus of Bangladesh were forced to do the immersion rituals two days earlier in the fear of further attacks. This endless cycle of violence has continued in one form or the other for decades on end. This year, the Government arm twisted the Puja organising committees into displaying the timings of daily Namaaz at the Puja venues so as to make sure that no musical instruments or devotional chanting take place at those times in a bid to insulate Islamic sensibilities in a secular nation that is fast becoming Islamic. The local police and other law enforcement agencies have had to provide 24X7 surveillance and enhanced security cover at all the 30,000-odd Puja venues across Bangladesh lest some random Jihadi takes the laws into his own hands and wreaks havoc on a helpless and long suffering minority. The vast majority of Muslims simply don’t care for those who speak the exact same language and share numerous daily practices just because they happen to be Hindus.
Mamata Insults Hindus
Across the border in West Bengal, the situation is going from bad to worse with each passing year. The untiring efforts and far sighted wisdom of Bharat Kesari Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee created West Bengal as a homeland for Bengali Hindus by carving out the Hindu majority districts from undivided Bengal. The homeland for Bengali Hindus is fast losing its Hindu majority character with Hindus now down to less than 70 per cent and Muslim majorities in three districts. Hindus in several minority dominated pockets face resistance in various ways ranging from a ban on Saraswati pujas in schools to stone pelting on Hindu religious processions on Ram Navami. The State Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has often altered or denied permission to immersion processions of Vijayadashami when it is on the same date as an Islamic festival like Muharram. This very tendency has been seen in so-called “secular” politicians across the length and breadth of India whenever it comes to Hindu festivals be it a ban on Jallitkattu celebrations in Tamil Nadu or height restriction on Dahi Handi in Maharashtra. Banerjee has cut from the same cloth as Congress can hardly be expected to be different. Blatant minority appeasement coupled with subtle Hindu hate has been Banerjee’s mantra while dealing with the two primary religious groups in West Bengal. This year, the Durga Puja celebrations are muted due to the ghastly death and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. Bengalis are naturally mourning the sordid saga and have largely not been in a festive mood and many Puja committees have refused the State Government subsidy which has riled Banerjee, who has now started using Durga Puja as a political weapon by asking people to focus on the upcoming festivities instead of being a part of the endless but rightful protests that have engulfed the State.
What is alarming is the fact that Hindus being the only surviving indigenous community with their traditions and customs in the whole world have to face constant challenges from atheists and Abrahamic faiths, to keep their religion intact
Banerjee has continued to use Durga Puja as a means to insult Hindus by inaugurating the Pujas in Shukla Paksha instead of Devi Paksha, which is nothing less than a cardinal sin to practicing Hindus. This has gone on for far too long and must be nipped in the bud or else a sorry future awaits all Hindus not just those who are Bengali.
Safeguard Religious Customs
What is alarming is the fact that Hindus being the only surviving indigenous community with its traditions and customs in the whole world have to face constant challenges from atheists and Abrahamic faiths, barring Judaism, in an order to keep our religion intact and free of encumbrances. What is true in Bangladesh today is well set to be a reality in West Bengal tomorrow and if Hindus are not awake to these dangers this might well be a reality in Delhi the day after tomorrow. The time is ripe for us to zealously safeguard our religious customs, practices and traditions today or else there might not be anything left to safeguard tomorrow.
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