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religion

warily, fly and swim off.” • identity politics Politicians are trying to use himself as a monkey, playful and mis-
However, since our exploitative Lord Hanuman’s identity to their advantage chievous, bowing to Ram, happy to be
politicians are in the know that their a servant, when everyone knows this
Hanuman is not the dissenting one, in any religion), unconcerned about little monkey can turn into a giant, fly
they merrily continue to put forth vary- still continuing devadasi custom, un- across the sea, sprout five to ten heads
ing versions of Lord Hanuman’s iden- responsive to greater accountability to become Mahabali, conquer ghosts
tity to their advantage. in public life, political parties continue and goblins and even rescue Ram. He
to avert their attention from the real does not have to display his power. He
Mixing of religion and politics issues to reinforce their recourse to does not have to make you feel pow-
It’s not that politicisation of caste and populism. And therefore, while the erless........... Leaders often behave like
religion that continued with cow and responsibility squarely lies with the Ravana. They are glamorous and
monkey will end with Durga Puja political parties for playing with the entitled. And they use their power to
grants, stipends for Imams, pension for feelings of primarily semi-literate dominate and be territorial. ”
seers and Sabarimala issue — because and illiterate people, we cannot see it Since politicians loved, admired, and
these are all-too-familiar trajectory divorced from the new normal of politi- respected by the people are few and
to retain political support base while cal demonization that plagues us today. far between, it’s time for believers
simultaneously supplementing it In a country with fair levels of reli- invoking Hanuman, the Sankat
enough to ensure electoral victories. gious observance, the takeaway so far mochan (Danger freeing) and refrain
To be sure, there are plenty of political from politicians’ downright mixing of from provoking the Hanuman, Sankat
ploys that Indian political leaders have religion with politics has been that reli- amantrana (Danger inviting). As for
used that are appalling and hypocritical. gious faith, reduced to political analysis, political parties consumed by poor
But when it comes to basic democratic does little for one’s moral upliftment politics, priority should be freeing
decorum — or lack thereof — it’s hard and even less for society. If anything, it religion from political grip. It’s also time
to think of anything that compares to only magnifies one’s moral cowardice. for ordinary people like us to be aware
manipulating religious sensitivities. Devdutt Pattanaik in an article “How of those brazenly indulging into politics
Oblivious to absolute commerciali- Lord Hanuman can make leaders good on cast and religious lines and reject
sation of religion, indifferent to dis- human beings” writes “Hanuman is them completely.
charge of the sewer and drainage into powerful. So he does not have the
river Ganga (considered holiest river need to intimidate people. He presents letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 march 2019 41 www.Tehelka.com