Religion as Politics

Gradually we are witnessing a new equation. Our religious leaders are the modern day mythological heroes and their perceived enemies the evil villains of our epics. Things that way are getting more and more simplistic for the common man who no longer needs to think- only believe.

Pankaja Munde,the Maharashtra minister for Women and Child Welfare chose the annual Dussehra rally at the foothills of Bhagwangad shrine to address her followers thus: “Efforts are being made to frame me in false cases, entangle me like Abhimanyu.”

She was only following the foot steps of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

With background pictures of Lord Ram and a bow-arrow in hand, Modi looked the picture while equating terrorism alias Pakistan with evil Raavan. Speaking at Aishbagh Ram Leela Ground in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, he said : “If you think we are free of terrorism, you are wrong. It is a virus affecting our society. The whole world is being destroyed by terrorism. Terrorists need to be rooted out, and those who support or help them should also not be spared. So, when we burn Ravan, we should remember that humanity can't be saved unless we fight terrorism together.”

The day also marked the International day of the Girl child, and “Ramayana is witness that the first fighter against terrorism was Jatayu, who fought for a woman’s”honour.” Sudarshana chakra was presented to Modi on the occasion. This is the weapon used by Lord Krishna to behead the evil doers.

To make sure that the analogy was not lost, there was the faithful Lakshman, sorry Rajnath Singh, our Home minister. He said that the main difference between good and evil is character and that Modi has now wiped out corruption from India and also gracefully represented our country globally.

After the regular dose of Ram, Modi did not forget Buddha either. Afterall October 14 th is approaching fast, the day when Ambedkar took his famous diksha that he does not want to die a Hindu and converted to Buddhism. All our leaders today proclaim that they are followers of Ambedkar.

“Both Krishna and Ram had yudh in their life. But we are those who want to go from the path of yudh to Budh. This is the country of the charkhadhaari Mohan [a reference to Mahatma Gandhi and his yarn-spinning, which sparked a silent revolution] and Budh,” PM Modi added.

UDAAN