An-Afro-Guyanese male puts a question to Hindus
Dear Editor, The dust have seemingly settled on the Diwali controvery with the Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, a Hindu, having the Constitutional and Ministerial power to declare and pronounce on the relevant dates for all national and public holidays. As an Afro Guyanese, male in my 50s’ the unfolding of the dates, subsequently enlightened me of two separate celebrations/observances, in North and South India. In voicing my concern of the saga, I would like to quote the Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, way back in 2011 at an AFC political rally, at the John Ford Car park, Church and East Street; “Brothers and sisters, I am a proud Hindu, proud of my culuture. In addition, I never heard before of a Diwali whine until President Jagdeo called a female singer on stage to sing and perform a Diwali whine. Jadgeo, upon resorting to having a backball, subsequently called presidential candidate Donald Ramotar on the stage to have a backball. But Donald missed the intended target and took a backball from Jagdeo!” Apart from being humorous, the following eventually dawned upon me: 1) Are Messrs: Jagdeo and Ramotar, Hindus, devout Hindus or atheists? 2) Wasn’t a political stage and rally being used to desecrate Hinduism, arguably the world’s oldest religion? 3) Wasn’t it hypocritical that the collective voices of the pandits, swamis, knowledgeable Members of Parliaments and prominent members of civil society that are Hindus, attempted to besmirch the integrity of the Hon. Minister, but were regrettably absent in the desecration done Jadgeo? 4) Diwali celebrations with is spiritual, including fasting can be equated with the Lenten Season and the Observance of Ramadhan, whose authoritative voices, would have been extremely vocal in their respective condemnation, had a politician referred to an Easter and Ramadhan whine. Is it because the Hon. Minister is from the coalition Government that he is being harshly dealt with? Finally, would the scholars of Hinduism publicly outline if it is true that, ganja smoking, in the Chillum by Holy Men, in India, is a ritual that has been observed for centuries, ahead of the annual pilgrimage/ritual to the River Ganges, for bathing/cleansing? With this being an established fact, would a clarion call be made to repeal the draconian laws, existing in Guyana, relating to the three years imprisonment for a mere joint? Alternatively, would hypocrisy continue to rule, since the majority of those convicted are not Hindus and are of another ethnicity? David Elias
