The dispute about the religion of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi just before his anointment as the chief of Congress party has raised serious questions on the functioning of democracy in India. Before going deeper into the issue, I must make it clear that we respect the prohibitory guidelines of the Election Commission of India on seeking or casting votes on the name of religion and caste.However, concealing the religious identify by a LokSabha MP who is being anointed as chief of the second largest political party in the Parliament of India is definitely a matter of serious concern.
The entry made about Rahul Gandhi and his party colleague Ahmed Patel as ‘Non-Hindu’ in the register of prestigious Somnath Temple of Gujarat by his media advisor has raised an alarm in the Indian political system. Above all the vague defense of Congress by calling itsscion as ‘JaneuDhari Hindu’ (sacred-thread wearing Hindu) only reveals the habitual divisive politics of the decaying Congress which always nourished, groomed and used the leftists to name and shame each and every tradition of janeudhari Hindus including the Janeu (sacred thread) itself.
Since independence flaying Hindus and Muslim appeasement have been the winning strategy of Congress in all the elections but why its tallest leader is roaming in temples and sporting janeu? It’s not a change of heart but a classical “Mareech” diplomacy of the thugs within the Congress. His father gagged Shah Bano. The mother wept bitterly on the encounter of Islamic terrorists in BatalaHouse and now their son is showing Janeu to Hindus.
Was Rajiv Gandhi, a Hindu?
Jawaharlal Nehru recognized himself as a Kashmiri Pandit but never sported ‘Janeu’ as evident from his bare chest photos doing Yoga and water play. His daughter Indira Nehru was married to Feroze Gandhi. In his popular book ‘India after Gandhi’ the eminent historian RamchandraGuhawrites ‘Feroze Gandhi was also from Nehru’s home town, Allahabad. A Parsi by faith, he at first spelt his surname ‘Ghandy’. However, after he joined the national movement as a young man, he changed the spelling to bring it in line with that of Mahatma Gandhi. That amended surname proved to be incalculable significance to his wife; for most foreigners, and not a few Indians, assumed that she was in some way related to Mahatma Gandhi’ (Part Three – Shaking the Center, 14. The Southern Challenge, superscript 1, page 586/709).
Subsequently, FerozeJehangirGhandy, the son of FaredoonJehangirGhandy became popular as Feroze Gandhi. He simply changed his surname but did not embrace Hinduism. This change of name is almost akin to that of matinee idol Muhammad Yusuf Khan, who is popularly known as Dilip Kumar.
In line of the popular tradition, Indira Nehru adopted the surname of her husband and became Indira Gandhi. However, Congressmen argue that she continued her faith. What would be the religion of Rajiv Gandhi even if the argument is accepted? Not only in India but across the world the children are identified with the religion, caste and surname of their father. What was religion of Rajiv Gandhi, the son of Feroze Gandhi alias FerozeGhandy? Even a blind will answer - Parsi.
There is no evidence to prove that Rajiv Gandhi embraced Hindusim. Therefore his son Rahul Gandhi is a Parsi by birth. However, RajyaSabha MP Subramanium Swami claims that he has converted to Christianity.
There exists provision where a non-Hindu can adopt Hinduism by getting deekshasanskar from a Guru or GharWapsi ceremony etc. Congress needs to explain and give evidence on when, where and by whom Rahul Gandhi or his father Rajiv Gandhi was brought into Hinduism? The janeu is not mere a ‘sacred thread’ but it has certain do’s and don’ts on daily basis.
Once worn, a ‘janeudhari’ Hindu is required to perform those actions on daily basis till his death. By proclaiming Rahul Gandhi as ‘janeudhari’ Hindu, Congress has once again insulted Brahamans in particular and Hinduism in general. Whatever disrespect and neglect, Congress leaders and the members of ‘holy Gandhi alias Ghandy family’ express for FerozeJehangirGhandy and his Samadhi in Allahabad, he will be known as father of Rajiv Gandhi.
If Rahul Gandhi is Hindu, how Taimur is ‘Ali Khan’?
Besides the family of Indira Gandhi, the family members of grand thespian PrithvirajKapoor are also facing questions. KareenaKapoor, who was born in fourth generation of PrithvirajKapoor, is Christian from mother’s side but was raised as a Hindu. She married Saif Ali Khan and the child is ‘Taimur Ali Khan’.
Like Rahul Gandhi the grandmother of Taimur Ali Khan - Sharmila Tagore; is a Hindu and may be Shiv Bhakt. Similarly, Saif’s sister Soha Ali Khan married KunalKhemu, a Kashmiri Pandit. Their child is InnayaNaumiKemmu not Khan.
Moreover, the children of Rahul’s sister Priyanka are – RaihanVadra and MirayaVadra. In the third generation of Kapoor family we see Ritu Nanda who married RajanNanda. Their son Nikhil Nanda is married to SwetaBachchan, the only daughter of AmbitabhBachchan. The children of SwetaBachchan are – NavyaNaveli Nanda and Agastya Nanda; not Bachchan.
The only daughter of AishwaryaRai and AbhishekBachchan is AradhyaBachchan not Rai. There are innumerable examples not only in India but throughout the world where the children are known from the surname and religion of the father unless they convert and adopt another religion.
Rahul Gandhi must come clean on his religious identity
The Election Commission of India must make it compulsory for candidates in elections to write their religion in nomination papers and any evidence contrary to the claim shall be the basis of their disqualification even after being elected. If legal proceedings can be initiated against a youth for submitting wrong caste identity to get reservation benefits under OBC, SC or ST category, why legal proceedings not be initiated for concealing religious identity and getting undue benefits?
The religious identity affects the voters and the demands for reservation on the name of ‘adequate representation’ are based on caste and religion. This is the reservation politics Congress has been using to disturb Gujarat since past two years. Rahul Gandhi should stop Congress’s divisive politics of divide and rule. He must come forward and tell the people of the nation about his religion. Having said this we respect his right to contest elections irrespective of his religious belief but he must stop propagating falsehood and fooling the people of India.
Furthermore, it’s also a legal issue. There are different marriage rules for Indian citizens on the basis of their religion. Is Rahul Gandhi is not marrying or not revealing his marriage to avoid the clutches of the law? Which marriage act will he follow – Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, Christian Marriage Act or Parsi Marriage Act? Rahul must answer to ‘we the people’.
(The writer is former Leader of House, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and a BJP functionary)