Gita controversy : Russia apologetic, but court to decide
ASHOK B SHARMA, 20-Dec-2011 08:49:28 AM
New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Indian people are perturbed over the attempts by some motivated individuals seeking to ban Bhagawad Gita in Russia. They are eagerly waiting for the decision on final hearing by the Tomsk District Court rescheduled on December 28.
Certain group of individuals in Siberia in Russia has apparently alleged that the third Russian edition of the publication "Bhagawad Gita As It Is" – a translation of a commentary by Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON – has certain portions that are "objectionable" and "extremist" in nature.
The public anguish was very much echoed in the Indian Parliament by leaders cutting across party barriers who demanded that India take up this matter with Russia. This prompted the Russian Ambassador in India Alexander M Kadakin to issue an apologetic statement late Monday night.
The Indian External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna, responding to the public anguish On Monday said in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) : "The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) representatives were advised to take legal recourse to counter this misdirected complaint. We have also taken up this matter at the senior levels of the Russian Government. The Ministry of External Affairs has been in regular touch with our Embassy in Moscow on this issue. The matter was also taken up with the Russian Ambassador based in India, H.E. Mr. Alexander Kadakin who is himself a well-known Indologist. In fact the Ambassador has been publicly critical of this episode. He has stated that Bhagavad-Gita is a great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world. He also said that Russia is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect."
"Russia, as it is known to anyone, is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect. Even more applicable it is to the holy scriptures of various faiths - whether it is the Bible, the Holy Quran, Torah, Avesta and, of course, Bhagavad-Gita -- the great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world," the Russian Ambassador said
"It is strange that such events are unfolding in the beautiful university city in Siberia, as Tomsk which is famous for its secularism and religious tolerance……Well, it seems that even the lovely city of Tomsk has its own neighborhood madmen. It is sad indeed," said Ambassador Kadakin.
Further expressing his personal views he said :"I consider it categorically inadmissible when any holy scripture is taken to the courts. For all believers these texts are sacred."
"It is not normal either when religious books are sent for examination to ignorant people. Their academic scrutiny should be done at scientists' fora, congresses, seminars, etc but not in courts," he said.
The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court was due on December 19, 2011, but has been rescheduled for December 28, 2011, as the Court has agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk District, and of Indologists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, who have greater knowledge and expertise on India.
Following the initial proceedings in August 2011, the District Court appointed its own three member expert group from the University of Kemerovo (in Siberia), which was to submit a report within three months. The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court was due on December 19, 2011, but has been rescheduled for December 28, 2011, as the Court has agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk District, and of Indologists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, who have greater knowledge and expertise on India.
Further assuring the Indian Parliament, Krishna said : "Hon'ble Members would agree that the Bhagwad Gita is not simply a religious text; it is one of the defining treatises of Indian thought and describes the very soul of our great civilization. The Gita is far above any cheap propaganda or attacks by the ignorant or the misdirected. In Russia itself, we have many great Indologists, scholars and experts who understand the essence of the Gita and have written on it with reverence and passion. We do not want to dignify with too much attention some misdirected individuals who have filed an absurd complaint. We are confident that our Russian friends, who understand our civilizational values and cultural sensitivities, will resolve this matter appropriately."
Certain group of individuals in Siberia in Russia has apparently alleged that the third Russian edition of the publication "Bhagawad Gita As It Is" – a translation of a commentary by Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON – has certain portions that are "objectionable" and "extremist" in nature.
The public anguish was very much echoed in the Indian Parliament by leaders cutting across party barriers who demanded that India take up this matter with Russia. This prompted the Russian Ambassador in India Alexander M Kadakin to issue an apologetic statement late Monday night.
The Indian External Affairs Minister, SM Krishna, responding to the public anguish On Monday said in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) : "The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) representatives were advised to take legal recourse to counter this misdirected complaint. We have also taken up this matter at the senior levels of the Russian Government. The Ministry of External Affairs has been in regular touch with our Embassy in Moscow on this issue. The matter was also taken up with the Russian Ambassador based in India, H.E. Mr. Alexander Kadakin who is himself a well-known Indologist. In fact the Ambassador has been publicly critical of this episode. He has stated that Bhagavad-Gita is a great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world. He also said that Russia is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect."
"Russia, as it is known to anyone, is a secular and democratic country where all religions enjoy equal respect. Even more applicable it is to the holy scriptures of various faiths - whether it is the Bible, the Holy Quran, Torah, Avesta and, of course, Bhagavad-Gita -- the great source of wisdom for the people of India and the world," the Russian Ambassador said
"It is strange that such events are unfolding in the beautiful university city in Siberia, as Tomsk which is famous for its secularism and religious tolerance……Well, it seems that even the lovely city of Tomsk has its own neighborhood madmen. It is sad indeed," said Ambassador Kadakin.
Further expressing his personal views he said :"I consider it categorically inadmissible when any holy scripture is taken to the courts. For all believers these texts are sacred."
"It is not normal either when religious books are sent for examination to ignorant people. Their academic scrutiny should be done at scientists' fora, congresses, seminars, etc but not in courts," he said.
The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court was due on December 19, 2011, but has been rescheduled for December 28, 2011, as the Court has agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk District, and of Indologists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, who have greater knowledge and expertise on India.
Following the initial proceedings in August 2011, the District Court appointed its own three member expert group from the University of Kemerovo (in Siberia), which was to submit a report within three months. The final hearing in the Tomsk District Court was due on December 19, 2011, but has been rescheduled for December 28, 2011, as the Court has agreed to seek the opinion of the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights in Tomsk District, and of Indologists from Moscow and St. Petersburg, who have greater knowledge and expertise on India.
Further assuring the Indian Parliament, Krishna said : "Hon'ble Members would agree that the Bhagwad Gita is not simply a religious text; it is one of the defining treatises of Indian thought and describes the very soul of our great civilization. The Gita is far above any cheap propaganda or attacks by the ignorant or the misdirected. In Russia itself, we have many great Indologists, scholars and experts who understand the essence of the Gita and have written on it with reverence and passion. We do not want to dignify with too much attention some misdirected individuals who have filed an absurd complaint. We are confident that our Russian friends, who understand our civilizational values and cultural sensitivities, will resolve this matter appropriately."
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