SOCIETY

V. Radhika on Environment and Hindutva

Environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna's Tehri movement threatens to assume religious overtones. A desperate Bahuguna, unable to muster local support, has taken recourse to invoking Hindu religious symbols, exploiting popular stereotypes about the Muslim community and even letting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) share his platform.

Bahuguna's new slogan is: "Save Ganga: The most sacred river for the Hindus, particularly for performing religious rites".

(He) describes the significance of Ganga for performing religious rituals, particularly for the dead (tarpan). (His) argument goes: If the Tehri dam is built, it will curb the natural flow of Ganga and people will not be able to perform these rituals.

Mr. Bahuguna (has) let the VHP share his platform. Several of its leaders, including its supremo Ashok Singhal, have visited Tehri... and expressed support.

In fact, several sadhus have joined the campaign demanding that the natural flow of the Ganga not be disrupted.

Some religious leaders, including Mr. Bahuguna's spiritual guru Swami Chidanand and Shankaracharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswati, have appealed for maintaining the "pristine purity" of the Ganga.

 (Some) feel that the VHP, which does not have any major issue at the moment, may hijack the agenda from Bahuguna.

(Source: The Pioneer, 12 June, 1996)

East West Airlines Welcomes the Divine

Mother Amritanandamayi Devi

Brahmasthanam - A Temple to cure all Evils

Brahmasthanam Temples have ushered in a new epoch in the ancient tradition of temple worship in India.

Graha Dosha Nivarana Pujas

Special Pujas are conducted here to counter the ill- effects of malefic planetary conjunctions on lifeto alleviate the sufferings and bring peace and prosperity to the individual.

Matruvani

Chief Minister (of Delhi) will release the Ist Hindi edition of Mathruvani - a spiritual monthly magazine.

Reception Committee

Chairman: Hon'ble Chief Minister, Delhi

Members:           Prof. PJ. Kurien

                        Dr. Najma Heptulla,

                          Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha.

(Source: The Indian Express, 15 March, 1996)

Subhash Kirpekar on 'Astrological' Reliance

While Mr. Deve Gowda's star signs made it imperative for him to move in PM's residence on Race Course Road on Friday 7 June, Mr. Rao's star signs suggested that he should not move out before June 10. Mr. Rao will therefore, continue to say in 3, Race Course Road, for another three days to propitiate the starts before moving to 9, Moti Lal Nehru Marg.

Mr. Deve Gowda merely "took possession" of Race Course Road. Three priests performed the griha pravesh puja and other rituals in the presence of the Prime Minster, his wife and daughter. It ended with all of them sipping milk heated on the premises as required under religious customs at the pre-determined time of 5.50 a.m.

At Tughlaq Crescent, where Mr. Deve Gowda used to reside earlier, bungalows Number 26 and 28 have been connected and renovated at considerable cost one estimate is Rs. 10 lakhs. But Mr. Deve Gowda's daughter- in-law, a firm believer in the intricate vaastu shastra torpedoed the idea of using the Tughlaq Crescent bungalows as a "temporary residence".

(Source: The Times of India, 7 June, 1996)

Congress Starry Way to Muslim Hearts?

Far away from the glare of publicity, a number of Ministers often accompany a lanky Brahmin astrologer on a BSF plane to different destinations.

Purpose: to beseech the alienated Muslims to vote for the Congress.

The group put together by Pandit N.K. Sharma has so far addressed 25 gatherings in different parts of the country. The turnout has varied from dismal to moderate.

A large tilak on his forehead, the pandit appears a bit incongruous in the crowd of Ulema and Maulvis. Strangely, however, he has been carrying on the "reconciliation campaign' for more than a year.

And the Ministers are ready to be a tow.

Some Muslim leaders in the Congress are openly critical of the astrologer whose only claim to fame is his proximity to the Prime Minister. "Who is this man," asked Tariq Anwar, Congress Minorities Cell chairman, questioning Sharma's locus standi.

Sharma, however, keeps moving from one obscure dargah to another seat of Islamic learning, holding talks with the Muslim clergy. More than the man's role, it is the Ministers allegiance to him that appears intriguing.

Despite doubts about the impact of his efforts to woo the Muslim clergy, he vows to visit more Islamic centers.

(Source: The Indian Express, 13 March, 1996)