BJP has found an ally in the Samajwadi Party on the issue of opposition to the Hindi version of E V Ramaswamy Naicker Periyar's book The Ramayana-A True Reading.

Former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav took up the issue as the assembly convened said that a book, which hurt the sentiments of so many people should not be circulated.

“I would like to ask Satish Mishra, Mayawati’s right hand man, a brahmin by birth and a minister in her cabinet, what he feels when he reads derogatory references to Sita in the book,” Yadav said, adding that it was not just a BJP issue but one which struck at the roots of Indian culture and heritage.

The BJP’s opposition to Periyar started with the party alleging that Mayawati was planning to install a statue of the rationalist. Next the party said that the Hindi translation of Periyar’s book penned in 1959 was distributed to thousands of people, who came to Lucknow to attend a party rally in October.

The book had since become a popular sell prompting the BJP to burn its copies. Yadav supported the BJP protest by declaring that his party was opposed to both the sale and publication of the book.

People’s sentiments

The Congress meanwhile also vehemently opposed the book, with party leader Pramod Tiwari claiming that he had opposed it in 1995, in view of the sentiments of the common man. The opposition was united in moving an adjournment motion in the assembly to discuss the contents of the book.

While the discussion was allowed, the government remained adamant on its stand of not imposing a ban, as the Hindi version of the book was not being circulated in the State. Ironically, Yadav who is now opposing the book had based his political initiation on a philosophy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all. Like Periyar, Mulayam vowed to promote social justice and a rational outlook.

BSP and Periyar

The BSP’s adoption of Periyar’s philosophy happened in the mid 1980’s, when the party began it’s bid to rearrange the social order of the Hindi heartland. The move had then been opposed by the brahmins, who have now joined hands with the party for the recent Vidhan Sabha polls.