Sad story of Maha Kumbh
The stampede at Maha Kumbh, leading to loss of innocent lives is only a stark reflection of how politicization in tandem with VIP culture have devalued human lives. Why politics and pursuance of VIP culture? And the bigger question is why politics at the cost of people’s faith and why use religion for electoral politics?
These vital questions that have been staring the countrymen in the eyes have been begging for answers at least during the last over a decade with a new political culture gripping the country. These are the questions related to the politicians, particularly of the ruling hue, looking the other way. But no answers were forthcoming. Will the Maha Kumbh tragedy force the perpetrators of VVIP/VIP culture, political parties of all hues, bureaucracy, and a privileged section of people, to mull over the fallout of such a culture; also ponder over the use of religion for electoral purposes?
The Maha Kumbh normally occurs after every 12 years, the fact that the event of 2025 was occurring after 144 years, made it especially rare. Obviously for the devout who have been thronging Prayagraj in droves it something special. How could those viewing people in terms of votes let such an opportunity go; to not take a holy dip in the full public view no matter if that involved throwing the arrangements out of gear and causing many deaths?
It is a fact that this Maha Kumbh has been under a thick sheet of politicization from the word go. A double-engine arrangement (Centre and Uttar Pradesh governments of BJP) overseeing the management of the event with their hardcore Hindutava agenda at play. The key characters either thinking of establishing new milestones (in terms of burgeoning numbers) or attaching their political careers to the holy event; in the process ignoring safety and security of people, this tragic fallout is reprehensible.
It began with the hypothetical projection of a record number of devotees to take the holy dip, estimated to be 40 crore and the might of the double-engine mechanism to make “foolproof” arrangements for such a humungous crowd. No political leader particularly of the current ruling class variety (at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh), with their known penchant for publicity, will miss such an opportunity. All at the cost of sanctity of the religion and safety of the devotees. The unfortunate fallout came in the form of a stampede.
This was followed by attempts from the Maha Kumbh administrators to keep the gory facts under wraps for as long. It could have been without pressure from their top bosses- political and bureaucratic. Amazing, the system which could estimate a turnover of 40 crore pilgrims without any scientific basis took 18 hours to officially announce figures of casualties.
The politicization of the centuries old religious event was further reflected in the change of nomenclature. The name of the event was itself changed from Shahi Snan, followed since ages, to Amrit Snan, obviously to keep pace with the political narrative of the current ruling dispensation. On top of, not only the top notch but even the middle and lower rung leaders of the ruling variety vied with each other to be seen taking a holy dip in presence of a posse of cameras and an ever obliging media-persons who for unprofessional reasons tried to toe the administration’s line to put a lid on the tragedy that struck at Triveni Sangam- the confluence of three holy rivers.
Even this could have been tolerable had the pious spirit of the event not been compromised with the VVIP culture running riot and political stamp affixed all over. Who will be held responsible for the stampede and the resultant loss of innocent lives?
Is it not criminal to over-hype the Maha Kumbh without making arrangements equivalent to the challenge? And why not the leaders take a back seat?
A strong element of politics has been added to the spirit of Maha Kumbh by way of overshadowing the religiosity with the images of leaders and their overt political agenda. Portrayal of a political bonhomie between two leading lights of the ruling elite. These acts do not match either with their committed religious agenda or the welfare of the people.
And lastly the reaction of a religious leader after the deadly stampede that took place at the Triveni Sangam, must send alarm bells ringing. Particularly for those claiming credit for having made a foolproof arrangement to safeguard the lives of teaming millions.
How would the people at the helm view the statement of Swamy Premanand Puri of Niranjani Akhara that things would have been better had the management of the Maha Kumbh been given to the army. “All the akharas asked that the Kumbh should be handed over to the Indian army to be managed; there is no dearth of people who would serve selflessly in our country. If the Kumbh was handed over to the Indian army, I don’t think this big a tragedy would have happened. I am very, very sad,” he said.
This reaction should act as an eyeopener for those at the helm who have been using the pious occasion to pursue their political agenda.
However, the Swamy’s silence on why the VVIPs headed to the Triveni Sangam throwing the arrangements out of gear, tells another story.
Views are strictly author’s own.