by B. R. GOWANI
in India, where there is abject poverty …
politicians/celebrities/sportspersons/influencers are like gods & goddesses
their followers’ belief in them is unshakable — as strong as a religious belief
the adherents ignore their follies, wrongs, crimes, violence, injustices, …
they’re blinded by the sycophant media & PR-created flawless personalities
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one such leader
the “Godi Media” avoids unpleasant facts about the Great Leader
God is always exploited by leaders who are communalist bigots
about the new Ram Temple where once Babri Mosque stood, Modi said:
“The Lord has made me an instrument to represent all the people of India during the consecration.”
“I seek blessings from all of you.”
extremist Hindus demolished centuries old Babri Masjid on Dec. 6,1992
to most of his followers, Modi is no less than a god; that also an ishta devata
one Modi bhakt saw Modi as the Greatest Lord of the Hindu pantheon
that is, BJP leader Sambit Patra, who said:
“Lakhs [hundreds of thousands] of people have gathered to see Modi. Lord Jagannath is a devotee (bhakt) of Modi, and we are Modi’s family. This is an unusual sight, and I am not able to control my emotions. I think it is a historic day for all Odias [Odisha residents].”
Lord Jagannath means the Lord of the Universe
now there is a bit of a universe problem
if Jagannath controls the Universe, then what does Modi control?
Modi should have power over something bigger than the Universe
i.e., Multiverse — because the Universe is too little for Modi’s “56-inch chest”
Patra apologized in the wake of heavy criticism for insulting Jagannath
to news agency ANI, he said:
“I had given out bytes to almost 15-16 channels wherein I was repeating that Prime Minister Modi is an ardent devotee of Maha Prabhu Jagannath Ji. …”
“… It so happened that amid a lot of people, hot weather, and noise, I unknowingly said just the opposite of what I had been saying all along. I mistakenly said that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi.”
“This is not possible; no person in his right mind can say that God is a devotee of any human being. The mistake happened unknowingly while giving out bytes to a channel. I agree that the sentiments of some people have been hurt due to my statement, but even the lord forgives a person for committing a mistake unknowingly.”
“It was never my intention to commit this mistake, but still because Mahaprabhu [Great Lord] Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe and I am an ardent devotee just like the hundreds and thousands of Odias, I feel I should convey my apology and offer penance to the Lord for a ‘slip of the tongue’ that occurred unknowingly.” “Hence, I have decided to observe fasting as an apology.”
whatever …
one thing is for sure:
Modi has become an almost unstoppable juggernaut
this juggernaut* is hellbent on crushing India’s secular democratic makeup
Note:
*Jagannath was turned into “Juggernaut” by Reverend Claudius Buchanan
Juggernaut was presented as a dangerous, violent, and bloody religious cult
these words were of a British official and a Christian missionary
decades later, lowercase “juggernaut” replaced the uppercase “Juggernaut”
Lord Jagannath was thus recognized as a Hindu god of the pantheon
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com