Disagreements about Hindu culture in Guyana

May 31, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

A rebuttal letter by Mr. Balbadhar was carried in the 5/23/16 CHRONICLE, referencing the Mother’s Day Festivities orchestrated by the youths of the Tuschen South Shiva Mandir, Tuschen, EBE, in response to my letter in SN 5/20/2106.
What I found extraordinarily meretricious is Mr. Balbadhar’s attempt to extrapolate and adulterate two segments of my letter, in his most feeble attempt at redemptive rationalization, to wit:
(1) He quoted: “Bollywood-themed songs were crooned by various artistes. To create a convivial atmosphere, a Bollywood video of songs and dances was shown as guests were filtering in.” Firstly,, lest the truth be distorted, if the crooned songs like “Your Mothers Love, “Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare Soar,” “ Achi Achi Pyare Pyare Bole Wale Maa,” “ Usko Nahi Dekha,” and others of a similar genre were/are deemed sacrilegious in Balbadhar’s jaundiced view, I offer no apology. Secondly, a religious construct that may be apropos thirty years ago, may now be rendered obsolete. To explain further, Bollywood songs and video have exponentially proliferated Hindu, Christian and Muslims homes alike. If God, by any definition, is all seeing/ all knowing, then where is the degeneration? Also, Mr. Balbadar, Sir, there was no dancing to any of the Bollywood songs crooned, including “Maa Teri Mamta Kitne Pyare.” “Also, Maa Teri Mamta” is of Bollywood origin !!!! With the exception of a few singers, notably Hari Om Sharan, Pradeep Kumar, Anuradha Paudwahl and Anup Jalota, MOST OF THE HINDU DEVOTIONAL BHAJANS ORIGINATED FROM THE INDIAN/BOLLYWOOD FILM INDUSTRY.
Your intended or unintended hypocrisy, Balbadhar, is most unfortunate.
2) Dancing took place in the Mandir. He again quoted: “As dinner tailed off, DJ music (sic) wafted through the air, and a few mothers swayed to the rhythmic beats.” AGAIN, exhibiting circumcised intelligence, Balbadhar omitted the word “SLOWLY” from the second extraction even though KN italicized the word for crystallized comprehension.
All else being correct, I, again, offer no apology to Balbadhar, because a construct in his so called Hindu Organization that may be relevant thirty/forty years ago, may now be obsolete yet it’s irrelevancy is stubbornly denied by Balbadhar and his ilk.
Mr. Balbadhar mentioned that his organization comprises of 21 acolytes, some still in training. Could you publicly mention the name of one of the Teacher/Guru in possession of, at least, a Master’s or PhD. in Hindi or Sanskrit AND English from an accredited University AND is there a standardized exam at the end of the Chela’s (student) training? After-all, linguistically speaking, one must be able to read, comprehend, transliterate, analyze and deliver in the language of the masses, to effectively communicate and influence changes in Hinduism and/or Dharmic ways. In the absence of such, if you ask 100 lettered and unlettered folks about Hindu Dharma, you are sure to receive multiple interpretations- all correct in some ways, yet none definitive.
Apparently, you are creating a “tempest in a teacup” either for political patronage or financial gain, or both, by attempting to hijack Hinduism in Guyana and force feeding your monopolistic ideas to the Hindu masses. This is the age of technology and information and the youngsters (65% of the population) are a savvy bunch and change agents, and will see through the antiquated smoke screened argument you proffered.
On a personal note Mr. Balbadar, I attended two Hindu wakes in February, 2016, at Leonora, WCD. You were present at both, but, lo and behold, I was mystified as to why you were decked in a polo necked T-shirt and jeans and not the traditional “Pandit” Kurta and Dhoti or Kurta/Pajama, when you made your speeches, and further disappointed when your speeches, quoted from our Gita, lacked relevancy to the death of a Hindu, the deceased journey to the thereafter, how the family can cope with their loss, how man can use the reality of death to add quality of life to themselves, family, community etc, . Woefully, your hollowed speeches were but mere rhetorical ramblings. By contrast, even if Swami Aksharananda is called upon extemporaneously, he is cogent, succinct and always appropriately garbed as befitting a man of the cloth.
For pragmatism’s sake, should you and/ or you group wish to continue this dialog further, I will be willing to organize/ finance a televised debate on the merits and/or demerits of your stated position on Hinduism. My phone number will be residing with the Editor.
Jonathan Subrian

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Disagreements about Hindu culture in Guyana

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