Editor of the Marathi daily questions existence of Lord Ram, delegitimises preparation for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 
5 January, 2024
Case Summary
In Maharashtra, January 6th is celebrated as Journalists’ Day to honour the founding of the English and Marathi periodical ‘Darpan’ by Balshastri Jambhekar, known as the pioneer of modern Marathi journalism. The event took place at the Surendra Gavaskar Memorial Hall of the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya, where a literary festival featuring journalists and writers was held. Dr. Bhalchandra Munagekar, former vice-chancellor of Mumbai University, was the chief guest, accompanied by Ciciliya Carvalho and Sukrut Khandekar among other dignitaries. During the event, Prakash Pohare, editor of the Marathi daily Deshonnati, questioned the existence of Lord Ram in his speech and criticised the preparations for the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. He detailed the problems of Dalits, tribals, ‘have-nots’ etc. In response, Kiran Shelar, editor of Mumbai Tarun Bharat, refused to accept an award from those who deny the existence of Lord Ram, garnering support from the audience with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. “The problems of this country raised by the earlier speakers are real and the existence of Lord Shri Ram is also real. So I don’t want awards from those who believe that Shri Ram is an imagination, I will not accept it." Eventually, Shelar accepted the Darpankar Balshastri Jambhekar Memorial Award for Journalism from Sukrut Khandekar, editor of ‘Prahar’, following the organisers’ request.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category under which this case has been placed is- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith- Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. Aman Vashishth's derogatory remarks about Lord Ram and the Ramayana constitute a clear case of iconoclastic representation of Hindu deities and an overt mockery of the faith. His offensive comments about King Dashrath, Lord Ram, and Goddess Sita not only distort the revered Hindu epic but also denigrate figures deeply respected within the religion. By questioning the paternity of King Dashrath's children and trivializing Goddess Sita’s abduction as Lord Ram losing his "source of entertainment," Vashishth reduces sacred religious narratives to mere objects of ridicule. This act goes beyond mere irreverence; it reflects a deeper animosity towards Hinduism and its beliefs, aiming to discredit and insult the values it upholds. The mockery of these Hindu deities symbolizes a lack of respect for the sentiments of millions of Hindus who revere these divine figures. Further, questioning the existence of Lord Ram has become a recurring phenomenon among certain sections of Congress and leftist liberals, reflecting their deep-rooted disdain for Hinduism and its followers. This tactic, often used to undermine the religious sentiments of Hindus, is not just a challenge to a religious figure but a broader assault on the cultural and spiritual identity of millions. This pattern, driven by political motives, serves to alienate and provoke the Hindu community while perpetuating a narrative of disrespect and disregard for their faith. The continual questioning of sacred figures like Lord Ram, under the guise of secularism or political ideology, illustrates a systemic bias and an underlying animosity toward the religion. The intent behind such actions could only possibly be that of provoking Hindus and showing disrespect towards their faith. Since such callous behaviour can only stem from a profound contempt for the Hindu religion, this case deserves to be recorded in this hate tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
