From: Firstpost Mumbai
Unholy poser: Must temples come at the cost of public good?
Akshaya Mishra Oct 31, 2011
A few questions first:
Why must groups of people go full blast with their bhajans on jam-packed locals?
Why must public roads in Mumbai be blocked and dug up for pujas?
Why must communities use loudspeakers on religious occasions, or otherwise?
Why can’t a few of Bandra’s crosses be relocated to improve infrastructure?
Why must religious celebrations by some, cause pain to others?
These have not been easy questions to handle for authorities anywhere. The laws of the land don’t normally apply to the faithful — at least that is the general perception. It takes courage to call them ‘nuisance’.
Let’s call it the greater common good versus faith dispute. It is one variant of the unending secular vs the religious debate. The Bombay High Court’s recent observation that God is never interested in huge places of worship appears interesting in this context.
Why must the temple come at the cost of the convenience of others? Reuters
The court was hearing a petition on demolition of an unauthorised temple inside a housing society’s compound at Prabhadevi. The flat owners’ society had objected to the illegal extension of a temple inside the complex which was blocking access to the building and hindering parking of vehicles. The court had earlier, according to the Times of India report, directed the BMC to demolish the temple without touching the deity and file a compliance report. However, no demolition was carried out.
The BMC’s hesitation is understandable. Headed by the Shiv Sena, a political outfit with strong Hindu right wing sympathies, it can afford to displease the court but not the God and the faithful. It could learn from Gujarat’s experience.
Here’s what happened in the neighbouring state:
It was an unprecedented step from someone so closely associated with hardline Hindutva. In late 2008, when the Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat ordered demolition of unauthorised temples in Gandhinagar, all shades of saffron were left fuming in anger and disbelief. As many as 90 temples were demolished in the span of a week. All of them were encroaching open public space and roads and had turned into a nightmare for urban planners.
“Not temples, he is demolishing Hindutva… When there was Hindutva wave in the state, he rode it to grab power. Now when all Indian states are vying to destroy Hindutva, Modi wants to take the lead,” a senior functionary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad told the media. The Bajrang Dal, the militant Hindu outfit, and sadhus with more than passing interest in politics were up in arms too.
Modi, of course, is not known to be patient with such opposition. He went ahead with the demolitions. The results are there for all to see.
Unfortunately, governments elsewhere in the country, and Maharashtra in particular, are not as clear on their priorities, or as determined. Politics and political considerations invariably kick in at some point.
For Modi, the greater common good was a bigger concern than matters of faith. Interestingly, he has lost votes because of his firm action. In fact, the public respect for him has swelled. It should be a lesson for governments elsewhere.
There’s always a thick line between simple acts of faith and vandalism. The leaders of the faithful brazenly overstep that, assured in their belief that their rights are bigger than the rights of the others and that the law will never step in to stop them. But the fact is, these people are in the minority; the suffering ones are always the silent majority inside every community.
This powerful lot has conveniently made God the excuse for every act of vandalism. The court did not miss that.
“People are interested in building places of worship. But God is never interested in huge worship places. He is satisfied with a small place also. If you really have the love for God, pray to God. He can give you more,” said the court, the Times of India reported.
The question to the men behind the temple could be made simpler: Why must the temple come at the cost of the convenience of others? Isn’t common public good greater than the faith of a few?
The state and the BMC must introspect.
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