What is going on in the example you present would be seen as a setup. The carols took place at another venue, and not "jaadu-tona vashikaran," as the following statement suggested would be performed, as well as the next statement expresses, at : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Hindu_group_objects_to_Christmas_event/articleshow/3892516.cms Did something else take place other than the carols? "However, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said they objected to the programme on legal grounds. "We are not against Christmas but we oppose certain occult practices that were to take place at the Taloja ground. We objected as we found out that `jaadu-tona vashikaran (countering black magic)' was to be performed there. This is against our Constitution's Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954,'' Vartak said."
"Navi Mumbai commissioner of police Ramrao Wagh told TOI, "Neither did we cancel the programme nor did we ask the group not to perform at the Taloja school. The institue took the decision to do so after a Hindu group objected to something called, `magic healing', that was supposed to be held there."" But there is some hope in our being able to understand the "schisms" though a paper by S. N. Balagangadhara and Sarah Clarehout; as well as by those who are tapped into political conduits. I would not normally point to a scholarly paper but this is currently the best analysis at hand. This paper looks at the notion of dialogue, and gives an idea of what the Hindu minds at various levels are going through when they have been confronted. There are various kinds of confrontations and also various scapegoats. It eventually leads to violence in various forms. Do dialogue necessarily help? Hindus, even those who are not from the right wing will come together when they are questioned and feel uncomfortable as to their rituals, symbologies and iconographies. This is understandable. The reasoning in the paper is very complex and extremely valid. The two examples here look at Ganesa, and Ramakrishna. Additionally they have constructed a dialogical frame constructed between a Scholar and a Hindu. Needless to say the Hindu is being subjected to scenarios which forces him to question his own existence. This is broadly akin to a Christian being questioned / ridiculed on account of his faith, the virgin birth, etc. But it is still not the same. S. N. Balagangadhara's ability and scholastic rigor to engage with Western forms of discourse and how silencing is effected (to see whether it is it intentional, one has to digest the paper), by engaging in psychoanalysis and render mute a devout Hindu, on account of an inability to continue further in the discourse. I believe language and taboos also play a role. It matters not to me what Balagangadhara's leanings are. I believe it is possible to be neutral, and also that time does change people. Right now, I applaud his rigor. Rajan P. Parrikar, to my knowledge has been the only person who introduced to Goanet, a brief note that Balagangadhara had posted to a List. Are Dialogues Antidotes to Violence? Two Recent Examples from Hinduism Studies, written by S.N. Balagangadhara & Sarah Claerhout is in the JSRI archives at: http://www.jsri.ro/new/?Archive:JSRI_Volume_7%2C_no._19%2C_Spring_2008_-_Interdisciplinary_Approaches_in_Religious_Studies_and_Ideologies Other papers that are part of Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies (JSRI) may be found here: http://www.jsri.ro/new/?Current_issue I also believe that the fallout on different parts of our societies in what is collectively termed Indian society, including Goanet, is that certain minds, have to take it out somewhere. That where, could well as be on Goanet, See Argumentation Theory. Others are driven to do the same. Mayhem, whatever names it accumulates over time -- also has worked. This dovetails with changes that take place in strata of society, shifting hierarchies, loss of captive and cheap labor, worhip itself being questioned, Love being thrown in peoples faces (perhaps inadvertently), being castgated for casteist practices in the past -- although things have changed a lot. Peace people. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Frankly, I ought to be less on Goanet, but am drawn towards filling in the gaps where certain issues are not addressed or less adequately approached. I am very disappointed that I for one cannot get answers to the many cultural questions that I post. But thats OK. That I feel is also a loss to many others. But, I cannot afford my head to explode either. Although this is an issue that I would like to share input in, and one has to be committed as Marshall and the others are, I am not and cannot. I am also preparing for new works so the energy has to be directed elsewhere. venantius j pinto _______________________________________________________ > From: "Marshall Mendonza" <mmendonz...@gmail.com> > Subject: [Goanet] Hindu group objects to Christmas event > This is the kind of activity the HJS / SS is engaged in. Refer report in > Times of India dt 26.12.2008 below. > > Regards, > > Marshall > > > NAVI MUMBAI: A carol performance in Navi Mumbai had to be shifted to > another venue after a right-wing organisation allegedly forced the original > host, a school in Taloja, to cancel the programme. > > The even was finally held at St Augustine School in Nerul, Sector 11. > > The state minorities' commission vice-chairman Abraham Mathai said > initially, the Taloja school had offered its grounds to a group for their > Christmas celebrations. "However, when Panvel-based Sanatan Sanstha learnt > about it, the members forced the school management as well as the police to > prohibit us from celebrating our festival there,'' Mathai added. > > Navi Mumbai commissioner of police Ramrao Wagh told TOI, "Neither did we > cancel the programme nor did we ask the group not to perform at the Taloja > school. The institue took the decision to do so after a Hindu group > objected > to something called, `magic healing', that was supposed to be held there.'' > > However, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak said they objected to > the > programme on legal grounds. "We are not against Christmas but we oppose > certain occult practices that were to take place at the Taloja ground. We > objected as we found out that `jaadu-tona vashikaran (countering black > magic)' was to be performed there. This is against our Constitution's Drugs > and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954,'' Vartak > said. > > But Mathai and Catholic Secular Forum general-secretary Joseph Dias denied > the allegations. "These extremist groups bear a lot of hatred against other > communities. This is dangerous for our secular nation,'' Mathai said. > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Mumbai/Hindu_group_objects_to_Christmas_event/articleshow/3892516.cms > > >
