The Dip Test

The modern Hindu, whether he takes a dip at the Mahakumbh or not, prefers to go along with Sahir Ludhianvi's famous formulation—ye paap hai kya, ye punya hai kya, reeto par dharm ki mohre hai

- Harish Khare

ON January 26, the country was treated to the uplifting sight of a grand spectacle, reaffirming the Republic and its symbolic rituals. The very next day, on January 27, the nation was subjected to the curious sight of the Honourable Home Minister of India taking a dip at the Kumbh. And, one can bet one's left arm that we shall shortly be gratified to see the Prime Minister keeping his own date with the holy waters at Triveni.

Many are tempted to see the impresarios from the ruling party hogging the limelight at the Kumbh as another instance of the 'saffronisation' of an ancient Hindu ritual. Yet, it is also possible to suggest that Narendra Modi or his senior party managers have no choice but to be seen at such a gathering, performing the same rites and rituals that millions and millions of their fellow-Hindus do. Having loudly proclaimed themselves to be staunch saviours of the Hindu samaj from assorted enemies and having benefitted electorally from such a marketing strategy, the BJP bosses cannot risk not demonstrating their immersion in the ancient ceremony.

The king is enjoined to be seen on the same page as his praja in matters of common beliefs and dogmas, which could be religious or secular or pagan. Only a ruler whose reign is anchored in despotism can afford to ignore the expectations of most of his subjects.

It is worth recalling that, incongruously enough, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, too, went to the Kumbh and took the holy dip in the company of President Rajendra Prasad and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant. There was, however, no attempt to graft any political purpose on the event. A personal pilgrimage, that was it.