In an out-of-court settlement Penguin India has agreed to withdraw and pulp all copies of Wendy Doniger's 'The Hindus: An Alternative History' because it offends the religious sensibilities of six claimants. I am so mightily miffed. Not only is Ms Doniger's book excellent, it is a perspective into the Hindu faith from the lens of minorities, Dalits, women and animals. With inspiration from Billy Joel, here is my ode to Wendy Doniger!
Rig veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda
Ramayana, Upanishad, Mahabharata,
Shastras, Shlokas, Tantras, Puranas,
Shruti, Shruta, Kama Sutra
Dharma, Karma, Moksha, Samsara,
Renunciation, Meditation, Reincarnation,
Shramana, Brahmana, Ahimsa,
Manu, Kautilya, Vatsyayana
Wendy didn’t start the fire ...
The Hindutva wants singularity -
When Hinduism is all about plurality,
Hybridity, Multiplicity, Diversity
Unicorn seal from Harappa,
The Great Frieze at Mamallapuram,
Bronze dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro
The Linga at Gudimallam,
Ajanta, Ellora, Bhakti, Pashupati,
Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi,
Debate, Discourse, My view, Your view,
Who needs Hindu papacy?
Wendy didn’t start the fire ...
Offended sensibility, out-of-court settlement,
A penguin with tale between clipped wings,
So if you don’t fight it, instead retire
On the slippery slope of censorship,
Hindutva is cracking its whip;
Argumentative Indian, stand up,
Counter this ban in the land of Gup.
Remember, Wendy didn’t start the fire ...
© Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
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