Atheists, rationalists who in the past have publicly denounced Bhagwat Gita for being a racist text, oppose ban on Bhagwat Gita-23 Dec, 2011

23 Dec, 2011, 06.29PM IST, Divya Rajagopal,ET Bureau

Atheists, rationalists oppose ban on Bhagwat Gita




The Atheists and Rationalists society of India, who in the past have publicly denounced Bhagwat Gita for being a racist text, have opposed its proposed ban in Russia. In June this year, a town named Tomsk in Siberia moved to court seeking a ban of the Russian translation of Bhagwat Gita, on the grounds that the Hindu religious text propagated extremism. The ban has been directed specifically towards the Gita written by ISKON founder A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

The Russian court has directed the University of Kemerovo to read the text and come up with their findings. The suit filed by Tomsk Prosecutor Viktor Fedotov has also asked for the ban of religious group of International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKON.

"Bhagwat Gita promotes kin and kith violence, it promotes exploitation and ignorance, but still I will uphold the right of it being read," said Sanal Edamaruku President of Indian Rationalist Association. "Banning any form of literature is against the freedom of expression, even Gita which legitimises the caste system should be allowed to be read", feels Sanal.

"Gita is against the principles of Indian constitution, however banning is not the way to fight the reactionary, undemocratic message of Gita," feels Dr Jayagopal, founder of the Atheist Society of India. He suspects that the Russian Orthodox Christian Church is behind this proposed ban.

There are close to 15 thousand followers of the ISKON cult in Russia, the ban has been opposed by the expatriate followers of ISKON. The Bhagwat Gita ban created a furore in Indian Parliament as parties like BJP demanded the Indian government to take up the issue with Russian leaders. Foreign Minister SM Krishna had even asked his Russian counterpart to intervene in the matter.

Raj Mitter founders of the Tarksheel Society of India, also condemned the ban on the grounds that it is against freedom of expression. "Ambedkar had said religious books are against constitution, however no books should be banned", says Mitter. But he also thinks that if the people of Russia are offended by the text, than India should respect their sentiments.

But Dalit Marxist scholar ChittiBabu Padavala welcomed Russia's decision. "Gita is such a religious texts, unlike Bible or Quran where god mandates inequalities by birth, if Mein Kamph, burkha and female circumcision is banned in Europe, why not Gita which is worse than any of them", asks Padavala.

"The ban is not about freedom of expression or religion; it is about punishing fascist propaganda. "Hindu groups in the west are misusing multicultural space to spread fascism, and it is shameful that atheists and rationalists are succumbing to the Hindutva propaganda", Padavala says

However advocates of Bhagwat Gita rebut the charges that the text promotes violence and caste systems allege that the ban is proposed by people who have no knowledge of the book's wisdom. "Every word of Gita spreads peace", says Y Krishnamurthi of Gita Prachara Samiti. "Arjuna kills because as a Kshatriya it is his duty to kill", he explains. "Everyone must follow the duties given to their respective caste, one cannot expect the teacher to go and till the land," concludes Krishnamurti.

The Russian court on December 28th will announce its decision on ban's plea; meanwhile Indian foreign ministry is reportedly lobbying for preventing the ban in Russia.