Quoting shlokas, Pranab defines Hinduism, Hindutva for BJP

The matter came up in course of a calling attention motion moved by a number of BJP MPs led by deputy leader of opposition V.K. Malhotra on “the use of derogatory and insulting language about Hindu deities’’ in MA History textbooks of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

In his statement, HRD Minister Arjun Singh informed the House that the university had already decided to discontinue the course and set up an expert committee to review the syllabi. IGNOU had also written to all students who have already cleared the course asking them to ignore the earlier version of the study material.

That failed to satisfy the Opposition benches. Attacking the textbooks, Malhotra said they contained derogatory references such as claims that Hindu goddesses like Durga consumed alcohol.

At this point, Pranab Mukherjee rose to point out that the information itself was not incorrect. He then proceeded to read out Sanskrit stanzas from the third chapter (adhyaya) of the Sri Durga Saptashati — famous in Bengal as the Chandi Path — on the battle between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. The shlokas describe how the goddess drank once, and then again and again, in the midst of battle, her eyes bloodshot — as red as the rays of the rising sun.

His intervention did not go down well with the BJP benches although no saffron MP could counter the scripture or question its authenticity. They continued shouting about the UPA government’s disregard for religious sentiments and the House was adjourned.

The BJP’s charge cut little ice with Mukherjee who comes from a family of priests. “If these people do not know their religious scriptures, it is not my fault,’’ Mukherjee told this reporter later. There was no need, he agreed, to incorporate these facts in college textbooks but to question the authenticity of the scriptures smacked of ignorance.

“When Ma Durga was offered all the equipment for battle by different gods, the last was a drinking vessel given to her by Kubera. In our part of the world, even a schoolchild knows this. I don’t know why these people are making such a fuss,’’ he added.

But couldn’t the knowledge that Durga drank wine affect the sentiment of her devotees? Mukherjee cannot conceive such a thought. “How can it diminish her in any way? She is the preserver of good and destroyer of all evil,’’ the Defence Minister replied with disarming bhakti.