Monday, December 19, 2011

Banning the 'Bhagvad Gita'?

It was on a delirious note that I'd lapped up this piece of news. Rightly, there was an uproar in our parliament over the issue and for a change, the outrage was expressed cutting across party lines!

The provocation is a petition filed by the state prosecutors in a court of the Siberian city of Tomsk for a ban on the Russian translation of the Bhagvad Gita as it incites people into going to war!! Further it would provoke 'social discord' among people!!! It shows the amazing levels of ignorance coupled with a narrow minded point of view amongst people. But I wouldn't blame those state prosecutors for pursuing upon their meaningless plea.

They're ignorant and unfamiliar with the cultural ethos of India, against the backdrop of which, the essence of the Bhagvad Gita could be clearly understood and assimilated. For them, the soul taking up various forms of life till it attains purity and then merging with the universal soul is anathema, as they aren't even aware and hence do not believe in the theory of rebirths! And mind you, this argument touches upon only one of the many aspects of life touched upon in the sacred book.

It's my sincere hope that the plea is rejected by the court of Tomsk failing which, the Indian government must resolve the issue diplomatically with the Russian government, in favour of the scripture.


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