Mysore, Sep 26: Jnanpith awardee writer Girish Karnad, on Thursday, asserted that it's high time people shed blind beliefs and superstitions.
In his Dasara message, after inaugurating 404th Navaratri festivities atop Chamundi Hills here, Karnad said, œWhen the country is making advancements in the field of space research, people should come out of their deep-rooted misbeliefs that has gained ground in the last 25 years.
Though vaastu and astrology are a part of our culture, it is unwise to treat them on a par with science by imparting education on the subjects, he said, referring to an attempt made by a minister earlier to include them in the curriculum.
Reminiscence
Going down memory lane, Karnad reminisced'jamboo savari' of the then Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in 1956. It was the time when the State of Karnataka had unified and it was feared that Dasara may not be held in future. Karnad said, œI was a student at Dharwad and came down to Mysore to witness jamboo savari.
Referring to the word Nada?Habba being synonymous with Mysore Dasara, Karnad said, œNada Habba saw its birth in Dharwad in the 1920s, when a group of thinkers like Da Ra Bendre, Alur Venkatrao and Betageri Krishna Sharma decided to organise the festival on a par with Navaratri.?It was also an attempt to rekindle the people's love for Kannada in that part of the State.
Saying that he was grateful to the government for inviting him to do the honours, Karnad recalled his meeting with?Pramoda Devi Wadiyar ” wife of the late scion of the royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. œSoon after my name was announced to inaugurate Dasara, I called on Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at?Bangalore Palace, seeking her wishes. Though?she was in distress, she assured her cooperation, said Karnad.
I'm a 'nasthika', but a believer!
After inaugurating the festival,?he said: œIt has been the debate during?Dasara every year that atheists should not inaugurate the festival, for the reason that they do not believe in the existence of God.
However,?Karnad said the meaning of the word'nasthika' is misunderstood for non-believers in God by people who have been levelling the allegations.
Karnad said: œAccording to my understanding, nasthikas are those who despise the Vedas and the caste system. If it is considered as the true meaning for the word, I am happy to be known as a nasthika, while Jains, Buddhists and litterateurs of yore?Pampa, Ranna and Janna also fall in the same bracket.
The writer said the exact word for'nasthika' in Sanskrit is'nireeshwara,' for people who do not believe in the existence of Eshwara (god).
Chief Minister?Siddaramaiah, who too elaborated on atheism, said: œI do not worship on my own, but visit temples and shrines like Chamundi Hills and Male?Mahadeshwara?Hills. At home too, my wife and children worship and I prefer to take mangalarathi, with the sole intention of not hurting their feelings.
Healthy debate
Siddaramaiah said the debate (on atheism) remains for long and a healthy debate on the issue is the need of the hour.
Referring to the protest staged by pro-Hindu groups comprising BJP,?Bajrang Dal and Sriram Sene against Karnad at the opening of the festival, Siddaramaiah said, œThere is room for differences of opinion in a democratic system.
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