Namecalling Ganesha

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By: Runa :+: Under: Culture, Opinion, Religion
On: ⋅ January 18, 2008 ⋅

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The evil Western media does it again. The Guardian of the UK allegedly published an article about places to visit and mentioned Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav celebrations as a “festival for gay men”. Predictably, the nutso faction went into overdrive with the Shiv Sena foaming at the mouth. Kudos to them however for refraining from burning effigies or running amok and instead confining their outrage to writing a strongly-worded letter to the British High Comissioner [news story link].

From the original article in the Guardian:

Ganesh has always been non-Hindus’ favourite Hindu deity, as he is most commonly represented in the incarnation of a jolly rotund elephant boy. He is particularly revered by the gay community in Mumbai during his festival in September, because he represents the removal of obstacles – and it’s an occasion for them to express themselves as idols are plunged into the sea at Chowpatty beach. Self-expression for gay Mumbai usually comes – as it does at Mardi Gras and Pride parades worldwide - in the form of outrageous outfits and pounding disco. Only here, the pink pop songs are given a Bollywood cover version treatment.

Ganesh is my favorite deity. Lord of many names, he is instantly approachable with his round pot belly and benevolent gaze. Yet, this is not the first time that Ganapati has been at the center of controvery. Paul Courtright’s writing caused a furore that reverbrated far beyond the groves of Academy- he will forever be remembered - maybe unfairly - as the Westerner who dared to compare Ganesha’s trunk to a phallus. This article in Little India mentions the same. Paul Courtright explains his point of view here, where he argues for his right to apply psychoanalytical theory to the story of Ganesha.

Now I am strongly for freedom in art and academics. People should be free to study and write what they want. Indian mythology is abundant with stories that are filled with symbolism and ripe for analysis. The Mahabharata reads like a soap opera with power, love, lust, sin, out of wedlock children, abandonment,politics, religion, miracles all mixed in. The Ramayana , with the shoddy treatment meted out to Sita, is grist to the mill of any feminist. Indra, the king of gods, was a known philanderer. Garuda, the vehicle for Vishnu, is also half man -half eagle .

Yet it is Ganesh who seems to attract controversy when all that he wants is to be left alone to eat modaks. I wonder why!

Other Uber Desi posts featuring Ganesh:
Inebriated Ganesha

Discussion

5 comments for “Namecalling Ganesha”

1: Edsa | January 20, 2008, 1:30 pm | Direct Link

You say Indians reacted emotionally and someone decided to write to the British Commissioner. How stupid can you get? The Guardian is an independent paper that has published the item. What’s the Commmissioner to do with it?

Why not write to the offending paper itself online or email the editor? How naive the Indians still are when it comes to protesting against an item from an overseas paper or politician?

Instead of burning effigies or buses, let them use their intellect for a change and respond by a coherent, rational statement.

Can they do it?

2: Runa | January 20, 2008, 10:56 pm | Direct Link

How stupid can you get?

I assume the “you” is not supposed to be me -Runa- else I am gonna take offence.
Its true that a letter to the High commissioner is a purely symbolic gesture and a letter to the Guardian is more effective- however I am *not* the Shiv Sena!Anything is better than burning effigies or buses.I report the news,pal, I try not to make it.

3: Edsa | January 21, 2008, 8:12 am | Direct Link

Of course, I didn’t mean you, Runa but I think you could have commented that these emotion-charged Sena or whatever were barking up the wrong tree.

If they did meet the Commissioner, would they be able to put forward their case in a sane manner? More likely, they would start shouting slogans or chanting from the Vedas.

4: Runa | January 21, 2008, 12:07 pm | Direct Link

emotion-charged Sena or whatever were barking up the wrong tree.

Given the Shiv Sena’s past propensity to burn effigies/blacken faces/trash editorial offices I honestly thought that writing a letter - however misguided - was sane in comparison to their past antics

I do agree that in general its always better to present one’s case in a sane, rational manner!

5: Rahul | January 23, 2008, 3:20 am | Direct Link

Well, dude is a bachelor, shows off his big trunk, likes eating tiny round balls, and wears tight leather pants. Ok, maybe not the last one. Whaddya expect?

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