Narendra Modi's Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb : An Unexplained Rhetoric
Varanasi April 26. Narendra Modi boast of his home work and research. So, supporters and detractors alike, curious to know what did he mean when he said in the holy city , that he swear by Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb (GJT) of the country.
For many decades, and even in this election debates, GJT remains a catch word for Indian intelligentsia, specially the liberal secular warriors. For Sangh Parivar GJT is an anathema as the Parivar believes in Hindu culture. One wonders whether Modi did a proper research or home work before uttering these words.
A lady reporter was struggling with words to translate GJT in English. I helped her suggesting Composite culture of the country. The Hindu reporter missing the meaning by miles, used word etiquette while Times of India was nearer to meaning chose, communal harmony.
Sangh Parivar's guiding light, M. S. Golwalkar (Guruji), who was product of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) , dealt with the question in following manner :- Answering the question, “May not the development of Hindu culture hinder the evolution of a composite culture?” Guruji said, “It need not. Firstly, a composite culture, if any, cannot grow on weak and deficient constituents. Secondly, the basic culture of the country, while absorbing elements of other cultures, retains its identity and name.” ( S Gurumurthy )
Times of India , in its editorial, commented on Modi's Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb thesis - " Victory in Varanasi is imperative for the narrative that Modi will uphold a syncretic Hindu heritage. Hopefully, this can trump hate-mongering HIndutva in BJP's identity."
As one understands the phrase, Ganga stands for Hindus and Jamuna (Yamuna) for Muslims and confluence of these two religious/ cultural traditions results into GJT. And this syncretic culture is in consonance with the Mainstream of the Indian nation, as envisioned by national leaders. But the Mainstream calls for common rules and standards for all the citizens and this is not acceptable to certain groups.
Times of India , in its editorial, commented on Modi's Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb thesis - " Victory in Varanasi is imperative for the narrative that Modi will uphold a syncretic Hindu heritage. Hopefully, this can trump hate-mongering HIndutva in BJP's identity."
As one understands the phrase, Ganga stands for Hindus and Jamuna (Yamuna) for Muslims and confluence of these two religious/ cultural traditions results into GJT. And this syncretic culture is in consonance with the Mainstream of the Indian nation, as envisioned by national leaders. But the Mainstream calls for common rules and standards for all the citizens and this is not acceptable to certain groups.
Why unexpected is expected in Varanasi? What is the reason? Why people are coming out in large numbers on streets in Varanasi?The answers of all these lies in disillusionment. The people of Varanasi including surrounding districts are in deep pain for the lack of development and deprivation of opportunities. The spread of mafias in the eastern UP have added to the woos. Any one can judge the tininess of development by the fact that the city is growing unplanned. If Modis road show took 4 hrs to reach from Lanka to Kachehari, the common Kashivasi usually spends half of this duration to travel the same distance with the same mode of convance. I still remember my childhood days when buses used to ply even upto Dashaswamedh. Later these city buses were restricted to Godowlia, then up to Girijaghar and now these are out of the city. The sewage system was introduced during James Princep 's time around 1824 after Calcutta, to serve about 20 thousand citizen, but now around 16 lakh voters are there in this constituency. The last major Karkhana was DLW during Kamalapati Tripathi era. But the fighting candidates are talking of local-non local, communal-non communal, Bulaya-Nahi Bulaya. No body is talking of deprivation. Why?
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