Narendra Modi's Varanasi Sermon : Did He Get it Right?
Varanasi, May 18. I can imagine a conversation taking place at a Paan shop in the city over Narendra Modi's Varanasi sermon on Ganga Ghat :
One Banarasi said, "Ekare bade haman jhaadu chhod delin, ab ei kahat hai jhaadu leke gali saaf kara ( For him we rejected jhaadu- read Arvind Kejriwal-, now the gentleman is saying we should take a jhaadu in our hand and clean the street ).
Fellow Banarasi could not believe this - " Aisan kahlas" ( really? he said this)
Former one said, not only this he insulted Banarasi Paan and chided us for chewing Paan and spitting here and there. Panwadi, who was listening the running commentary of Varanasi sermon, stopped applying kattcha and chuna on Paan leaf and with wide open eyes asked, " sachcho! ei kahlas" ( really? he said this). With a pichch in naali below, the narrator said , "Yes, Yes."
Across the road a BJP banner is still hanging :
Banaras Ka Aam , Banaras Ka Paan
Sabse Upar Banaras Ki Shaan
Banarasis are wondering why is Modi showing disrespect to world famous Banarasi Paan ? And how can he claim to be a representative of Varanasi without performing "Mukhshodhan" with a Banarasi Paan . Contrary to Modi's Paan bashing, challenger Arvind Kejriwal made it a point to visit Keshav Paan Bhandar and demanded a Meetha Paan. There the Jhaadu messiah was gheraoed for more than a hour by Modi supporters and in the meantime he was offered Paans at regular interval. Panwadi refused to accept money for this. As the saying goes- one should learn good things even from enemies and rivals, Modi should emulate Kejriwal and try to develop Banarasi fineness like chewing Paan.
Narendra Modi's Maiden speech on Ganga ghats was emotional and touching one and he spoke as a son of Varanasi. It is apparent that Ganga is his mother and Baba Vishwanath is his guardian and speech left little doubt that he will be "our man in Parliament".
Like a Banarasi he taunted fellow Banarasis - Mein janta hun ki aapse kaam lena bahut mushkil hai " ( I know how difficult it is to make you do a thing). He got it right. Then he said, Aisa nahin hai ki mein aapke baare mein janta nahin hun ( Don't think I don't know about you). Here, Banarasis doubt this claim. Did he really know all about Banarasis ? Their lifestyle, temperament, likes and dislikes ? Banarasis think he is still a learner and there is much home work to do before getting full initiation in Banarasiness.
Modi said he wanted to start a nationwide clean India mission from Varanasi . And for this mission to succeed Banarasis should take responsibility. In other words they should take a jhaadu in their hands and clean the street. And then he said something strange. He offended Banarasis for their Paan chewing habit. Prime minister designate said : Paan khakar Bharat Mata Ki Jai Bolna Aur pichch se pinchakari marna ( with Paan filled mouth raising slogan in praise of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and then spewing red mixture here and there)
Writing this post while mouth is full of Paan mixture before I clear my mouth in a nearby washbasin for making room for another Paan, I simply wonder over the remark of Modi regarding cleanliness and "bad" habit of chewing Paan. How so early he is drifting form his newly acquired Banarasi identity. And Banarasis are duty bound to defend their God sent Paan and their right to enjoy it as much as they like.
First of all Banarasis would like to know from his elected representative why he is so much obsessed with cleanliness. We understand Modi's native town is Vadnagar, a famous Shaivite pilgrimage centre, a mini Varanasi. So we presume he is a Shaivaite like us Banarasis. Then why he is so keen to Vaishanavite obsession of cleanliness. Why is he doing a Vidya Balan to Banarasis : Jahan soch hai vahan Shauchalaya hai ( where there is thinking , there exists a latrine ) . Banarasis don't believe in this thesis. We know that soch is our city and shauchalayas are everywhere else in the world .
Modi should prioritize his Varanasi mission and refrain undermining social habits of Banarasis.
Varanasi, May 18. I can imagine a conversation taking place at a Paan shop in the city over Narendra Modi's Varanasi sermon on Ganga Ghat :
One Banarasi said, "Ekare bade haman jhaadu chhod delin, ab ei kahat hai jhaadu leke gali saaf kara ( For him we rejected jhaadu- read Arvind Kejriwal-, now the gentleman is saying we should take a jhaadu in our hand and clean the street ).
Fellow Banarasi could not believe this - " Aisan kahlas" ( really? he said this)
Former one said, not only this he insulted Banarasi Paan and chided us for chewing Paan and spitting here and there. Panwadi, who was listening the running commentary of Varanasi sermon, stopped applying kattcha and chuna on Paan leaf and with wide open eyes asked, " sachcho! ei kahlas" ( really? he said this). With a pichch in naali below, the narrator said , "Yes, Yes."
Across the road a BJP banner is still hanging :
Banaras Ka Aam , Banaras Ka Paan
Sabse Upar Banaras Ki Shaan
Banarasis are wondering why is Modi showing disrespect to world famous Banarasi Paan ? And how can he claim to be a representative of Varanasi without performing "Mukhshodhan" with a Banarasi Paan . Contrary to Modi's Paan bashing, challenger Arvind Kejriwal made it a point to visit Keshav Paan Bhandar and demanded a Meetha Paan. There the Jhaadu messiah was gheraoed for more than a hour by Modi supporters and in the meantime he was offered Paans at regular interval. Panwadi refused to accept money for this. As the saying goes- one should learn good things even from enemies and rivals, Modi should emulate Kejriwal and try to develop Banarasi fineness like chewing Paan.
Narendra Modi's Maiden speech on Ganga ghats was emotional and touching one and he spoke as a son of Varanasi. It is apparent that Ganga is his mother and Baba Vishwanath is his guardian and speech left little doubt that he will be "our man in Parliament".
Like a Banarasi he taunted fellow Banarasis - Mein janta hun ki aapse kaam lena bahut mushkil hai " ( I know how difficult it is to make you do a thing). He got it right. Then he said, Aisa nahin hai ki mein aapke baare mein janta nahin hun ( Don't think I don't know about you). Here, Banarasis doubt this claim. Did he really know all about Banarasis ? Their lifestyle, temperament, likes and dislikes ? Banarasis think he is still a learner and there is much home work to do before getting full initiation in Banarasiness.
Modi said he wanted to start a nationwide clean India mission from Varanasi . And for this mission to succeed Banarasis should take responsibility. In other words they should take a jhaadu in their hands and clean the street. And then he said something strange. He offended Banarasis for their Paan chewing habit. Prime minister designate said : Paan khakar Bharat Mata Ki Jai Bolna Aur pichch se pinchakari marna ( with Paan filled mouth raising slogan in praise of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and then spewing red mixture here and there)
Writing this post while mouth is full of Paan mixture before I clear my mouth in a nearby washbasin for making room for another Paan, I simply wonder over the remark of Modi regarding cleanliness and "bad" habit of chewing Paan. How so early he is drifting form his newly acquired Banarasi identity. And Banarasis are duty bound to defend their God sent Paan and their right to enjoy it as much as they like.
First of all Banarasis would like to know from his elected representative why he is so much obsessed with cleanliness. We understand Modi's native town is Vadnagar, a famous Shaivite pilgrimage centre, a mini Varanasi. So we presume he is a Shaivaite like us Banarasis. Then why he is so keen to Vaishanavite obsession of cleanliness. Why is he doing a Vidya Balan to Banarasis : Jahan soch hai vahan Shauchalaya hai ( where there is thinking , there exists a latrine ) . Banarasis don't believe in this thesis. We know that soch is our city and shauchalayas are everywhere else in the world .
Modi should prioritize his Varanasi mission and refrain undermining social habits of Banarasis.
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