Editor,
Apropos the letters by Salil Gewali, “Criticism against vulgar entertainment during pujas” (ST January 12, 2023) and rejoinders such as — “No More Wild parties on Christmas” by Robert Lyngdoh, “Religious leaders and CPC should take initiative” By Rupesh Nath, I also want to express through this daily my disappointment with Durga puja organizers and facilitators. In this regard, I wish to recall my ordeal while going around some pandals in the year 2019. My close friend and I were on fast on the 7th day of Navaratra which we keep every year. We both decided to visit a few nearby puja pandals in the evening. Full of excitement we set out on the journey for Goddess Durga’s darshan at around 8.30 pm. People were all in a festive mood and we were happy. Initially, we were not aware that three boys, who I believe were partly drunk, were chasing us from one pandal. They were also teasing us. I became aware of what they were up to. They followed us from pandal to pandal. Realizing the spooky situation, I sought the help of a gentleman on the road who was with his wife and children. Thank God, that person scolded those boys and chased them away. We thanked that person and his wife.
Co-incidentally what again terrified us was when we witnessed the drunken brawls outside another puja pandal. If not for the police, the situation at that time would have turned violent. We found it very difficult to reconcile with what we expected from the puja pandal and what I witnessed. My inside strongly revolted. We both felt deeply distressed and returned home. Since then we have not visited a single puja pandal till date.
I am disclosing this incident for the first time through this daily. After reading so many rejoinders to Gewali’s letter, I felt that I should open up people’s eyes and expose those who are responsible and who do not know the exact meaning of puja. I believe we should protest against the increasing sacrilegious indulgences. I completely blame the puja organizers who hold such kinds of programs and invite rowdy elements. They cannot differentiate between God and devil and they promote non-godly activities for entertainment. This all happened because there is no one to protest. My question to the puja organizers and CPC is would such godless things and violence have happened if there were BHAJANs and KIRTANs instead of noisy dance competitions? Without any reservations, I have to say that I have no respect for such puja organizers. They have gone against the objective behind the worship of Goddess Durga.
Even during Saraswati puja, Krishna Janmashtami, and Viswakarma puja they celebrate puja with Bollywood songs. Why does the Central Puja Committee (CPC) still not realize that we are falling from grace in the eyes of other faiths. Being a Hindu, my head hangs in shame. Can anyone quote from the sacred books in which there is mention that God will bless us all when we celebrate the sacred days with noise, drinks, and vulgarity? All should raise a strong voice against such sacrilegious puja, which is an insult to God.
Yours etc.,
Usha Kakoti,
Via email
Wrong Timing for Tiling.
Editor,
We appreciate the pavement tiling work presently being done at Laitumkhrah but is not the timing a little off? The work could have been carried out in December or early January when wheeled traffic was less instead of now when colleges and schools are about to start and main roads are getting more crowded by the day. Pedestrians now have to walk on the road itself as the pavements are blocked off and with umpteen cars and zooming two wheelers, we only hope it is not a disaster waiting to happen.
Yours etc.,
J.M Pariat,
Via email
Stormy parliament session ahead!
Editor,
The last 3-4 parliament sessions saw pandemonium in both houses and the very purpose of calling the sessions is defeated. Whereas India is the largest democracy and other countries follow the Indian democratic model it appears that such type of ruckus will continue till March 2024 when parliament elections will be declared. So we have to be prepared to see disruptions in parliament.
It is worth noting that public opinion is not involved in the bills passed by parliament. In this context I quote the example of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who called the joint Parliament Session to discuss the Hindu Code Bill and when one of members asked Nehru why he called a joint session when there is no opposition to this bill, he replied that in parliamentary democracy public opinion/will is a must otherwise democracy will have no meaning.
Crude prices are rising and has gone beyond the reach of the common man. It is incumbent on the government to convince the opposition parties that it is due to hike in international crude prices or whatever reasons. But the sanctity of parliament must be maintained. It is expected from political parties that they should not involve party politics but should uphold national interests above all. We have seen a lot of disruptions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as political parties settled political scores. without caring for the national interests. During the last two sessions due to disruptions in parliament many important bills could not be passed. It is expected that these bills will be passed in this session. Let us hope that good wisdom will prevail on parliament members and petty party politics will be kept away by both the ruling party as well as by opposition parties
I quote the expressions expressed by late Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, “If a person wants to enter politics then he/she must have to maintain the habit of expressing sorry for any act and as well to say thanks.” Much of the ruckus in parliament is because members don’t say sorry when they have broken the protocol of the House. During the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee there were instructions to the Parliamentary Minister that he should be more visible in the opposition benches/leaders than in the treasury benches so that the House may run smoothly. To maintain the sanctity of parliament it is expected from the ruling party that it should refrain from passing the bills in the last one or two days without any discussions as the ruling party had done in the last parliament session as the last session was also washed away.
India being the largest democracy in the world it is expected from the members of parliament to maintain decorum so that they may be the example for other countries also. The collective wisdom of parliament is not being brought to bear in crafting out legislation and this leads to flawed laws and the promulgation of ordinances to enforce amendments. In the end both ruling party as well as opposition parties should maintain decorum and the dignity of parliament.
Currently there is a tussle going on between the Chief Minister of Delhi and the Lt Governor. This will have an impact on the smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha as the AAP has ten MPs there but no MP in the Lok Sabha. The Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will be completed on Jan 30 but a new yatra will be started from Jan 26 for two months. In Bihar new issues are being raised every day and subsequently this will have its effect on the parliament session also. Elections to three north eastern states had been declared. Unemployment, price rise and demands of farmers are the burning issues. Joshimath will be a hot issue too. The Old Pension Scheme too is a burning topic for all political parties.
We can only wish for the smooth functioning of Parliament.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email