Smriti IraniUnion HRD minister Smriti Irani's argument that organising 'Mahishasur Puja' in JNU by a section of students was an insult to Hindu gods and such expressions cannot be counted as 'freedom of speech' is an open declaration of her ignorance of the discourses over subaltern studies that all the higher education centres of humanities across the world have been witnessing in recent years.
Also read: Made Durga, Mahishasur comments to explain truth: Irani
Addressing Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Smriti said "When they (students) went to JNU, they wanted insult of gods and goddesses be within freedom of speech." She was referring to a 'Mahishasur martyr day observed by a section of students by celebrating the demon king believed to have been killed by goddess Durga. The students must have done that as a counter observance against the celebration of popular Hindu gods, who they look at as symbols and reminiscences of the Aryan invasion over native Indian communities. These students, who are part of a larger circle of an academic community, which is engaged in hectic discourses over subaltern studies, believe that deconstruction of popular Hindu mythology is a must to address the casteist hierarchies of the religion.
Check: Opposition demands Smriti Irani apologise on goddess Durga statement
The students, in their attempts to demythicise the Hindu gods, must have presented some counter narratives, as the one cited by the minister in this case. But then, be it a believer or non-believer, who doesn't know that Hinduism is known for its many narratives, which sometimes counter each other? For example, in Kerala, Duryodhana is worhipped in a temple when the popular belief is that the Kourava prince was evil personified. Sometimes the counter narratives could be radical and unacceptable to believers or certain sections. But the problem arises when the government sides with the dominant narrative by trying to suppress the other by calling it 'insulting' or offensive.
Also read: Smriti Irani brings Mahishasur to RS
Post 90's, students and activists across the country, whose thoughts are fuelled by the theories and praxis of subaltern studies, have been challenging the popular Hindu beliefs through writings and activities that placed the native kings -- or so-called demons -- against the Aryan gods. Honourable HRD minister, for your kind information, a large number of students of English and Foreign Languages University and Hyderabad Central University have been committing the same 'crime' for many years now. The students who are highly critical of Onam celebration, the so-called secular national festival of Kerala, perceive it as a day which should be observed as the martyr day of Mahabali, the Dravidian king who was murdered by Vamana, a brahmin. The students used to observe an Asura week by celebrating the black Asura kings who are depicted as the symbols of evil in Hindu mythology.
Such celebrations, discourses and debates were possible in Indian campuses because the constitution ensures its citizen the right to express their views, or dissent. Opposing such programmes and ideas without knowing anything about the textual theories behind them is like attempting to douse fire using kerosene. Despite the progresses that we as a nation claims to have made, the HRD minister has shown her inability to head the coveted post she occupies.
More dangerously, the minister with her administrative clout is labelling anything and everything that question the popular beliefs as anti-national. Her arguments on behalf of gods and goddesses only validates the claims by the propagators of Hindutva. Her words sound divisive to a person who believes that the office she holds has the most important responsibility of uniting people above all by-birth or jati differences in a pluralist country like India.
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.