Thou shalt remain voter, even in heavenly abode

Jaipur: The government policy and political ideas have nothing to do with the facts, says the mythical character Sir Humphrey Appleby in the famous British television series – Yes Minister.

Ashok Gehlot led Congress government in Rajasthan has made a special arrangement with the state government of Uttrakhand to allow regular buses to Haridwar for immersion of ashes of those who have died during the lockdown period or earlier.

“It is a painful experience if family members are not able to immerse the ashes of those died in the Ganges at Haridwar. We would be providing free travel for two-three family members in special buses to Haridwar for taking the ashes,” Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan said. According to the arrangements made by Rajasthan, five buses would operate, initially, from major cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Ajmer to take ashes of the deceased to Haridwar.  

The scrambling of politicians started as a young BJP MLA from Sanganer in Jaipur took initiative and approached the state government to allow buses hired by him to go to Haridwar for the purpose. “There were no rules regarding sending ashes for immersion when we approached the state government. But since then, the idea has caught up. We had sent 36 people from 27 families on April 17 from Jaipur to Haridwar. ” Ashok Lahoti said. Ours was a personal effort, but the Congress government is now trying to do politics to earn some brownie points. Still, we welcome the fact that CM Ashok Gehlot is finally acting sympathetic towards Hindu sentiments, he added.

BJP MP from Ajmer, Bhagirath Chaudhary has now written to Union Railway Ministry to allow Train No. 19609/19610 Udaipur-Ajmer-Haridwar express, so that more and more people who are required to immerse ashes of their family members can reach Haridwar.

Hindu religious scripture says that the soul of a deceased will found salvation from the cycle of birth and death, if ashes are immersed in water of a ‘Teerth’ – a prescribed holy place.

“Purana says that Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Godavari, Sarswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri rivers and holy pond of Pushkar are those holy sites where ashes of a family member can be immersed for their salvation.” Shashtri Kosalendra Das, Assistant Professor –Darshan in Rajasthan Sanskrit University said. Everyone going to Haridwar is more of a modern trend and people from Rajasthan can go to Pushkar for the same purpose, he added.

But politicians have lapped up the idea hurriedly in Rajasthan. Around two dozen MLAs have already sought permission to send buses to Haridwar. Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister himself, is toeing ‘soft Hindutva’ line and making arrangement for a trip to Haridwar for those who need to go, which is definitely a risk of infection for these grief-stricken family members.

“Culture works as software in mind. These are set limits in which a human is supposed to act. Taking ashes of a family member to immerse in the Ganges is considered culturally very beneficial for the soul of the deceased. Thus it becomes a duty for the remaining family member to strive for the salvation of those left for heavenly abode. A politician helping out in such a situation would obviously be perceived as a friend who stood by in hard times, in turn increasing his own votaries.” Dr Rakesh Yadav, a Jaipur based clinical psychologist said.

Perhaps, Rajasthan politicians are betting on the fact that, in case, if one does not find salvation after immersion and reborn on this earth again, they may have a ready clientele to pursue for their next electoral endeavour.