MOSCOW: Russia has rejected as misplaced India's complaints about the trial in the Siberian city of Tomsk against a translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was not the Bhagavad Gita as such that was on trial but some comments contained in a 20th-century Russian translation of the scripture.
Russian prosecutors are seeking a court ban on the book, which they claim is extremist and insulting to non-believers.
“I would like to emphasise that this is not about ‘Bhagavad Gita,' a religious philosophical poem, which forms part of the great Indian epic Mahabharata and is one of the most famous pieces of the ancient Hindu literature. In Russia, the book was first published in Russian in 1788 and then went through many editions in different years and in various translations,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.
“The Tomsk court case is about classifying as extremist material the Russian-language edition of the Bhagavad Gita. As It Is, written in 1968 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,” Mr. Lukashevich said in reply to a request from The Hindu to clarify the Russian official position on the court trial.
The statement came a day after India upped the ante in the controversy.
“The Russian authorities have been approached at high levels to appropriately resolve this matter,” said Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra.
“The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most important and respected scripture in the world. First translated into Russian in 1788, it is not merely a religious text, but one of the defining treatises of Indian thought,” Mr. Malhotra said in a statement.
“The Bhagavad Gita has circulated freely across the world for centuries and there is not a single instance of it having encouraged extremism. So, the case before the Honourable Court in Tomsk is indeed absurd, bordering on the bizarre,” he added.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Tomsk court was not trying the ‘Bhagavad Gita.”
“As evident from the testimony, the complaints of law enforcement authorities relate, not so much to the text of the book as such, even though its double translation contains distortions, but rather to the author's commentaries, which are considered to fall under Article 13 of the Federal Law ‘On Counteracting Extremist Activity',” Mr. Lukashevich said.
On Monday the Tomsk court adjourned the case till December 28 as it agreed to hear testimony from the Russian Ombudsman on Human Rights and Russian Indologists, who favour dismissal of the charges.
Keywords: Bhagwad Gita ban, ISKCON
i agree with san jose and GauraSo. it would be helpful to know what sections of the
Gita are found to be offensive. is it the Gita itself that is banned or this particular
interpretation/translation of it? surely, there must be other russian translations? are
they all being questioned. i was in a Gita class yesterday discussing the meaning of
Ahimsa in the context of the Gita. even for yogis, the text is very complicated and
difficult to understand; continually debated by scholars. that is partly what makes it
so intriguing and well studied. it seems that there is misunderstanding and
ignorance as to what the text is saying, or perhaps religious fundamentalists find its
message to threatening? its a bit obscure for the general masses and popular culture
in siberia, no?
The comments by some readers that the petitioner should state clearly which portions are "extremist" in nature is rightly placed. I can quote umpteen number of scholars who have appreciated Gita As It Is of Srila Prabhupada.
"The Gita can be seen as the main literary support for the great religious civilization of India, the oldest surviving culture in the world. The present translation and commentary is another manifestation of the permanent living importance of the Gita." Thomas Merton, Theologian
"The scholarly world is again indebted to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although Bhagavad-gita has been translated many times, Prabhupada adds a translation of singular importance with his commentary...." Dr. J. Stillson Judah, Professor of the History of Religions and Director of Libraries, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California
"Bhagwat Gita as it is" a commentry on Gita written by founder of ISKON, I have read it, it simply condemns non believers and make them fearfull of other worlds punishments but does not incite any its follower to harm non believers in any way.
I wish the concerned authorities would be specific about the particular commentary or commentaries that seems to have raised their anxiety, and led to the consideration of the ban.This would give the public a clearer view of why the objections have been raised.
even in the matter of Iskon temple at Moscow religious heads of Jews
Muslims and Christians raised objections.During communist regime there
were restrictions on religious freedom. The Jews suffered even worse in
Nazi Germany.Those who cried for freedom of thought have united in
supressing the Hindu voice ,which declares that all religions are equal
and lead to God.The opposition is due to sheer fear that such freedom of
thought will shake their foundations.The well known legal principle
supresso veri sugistio falsi well suits to the situation.
The Bhagavad Gita, the essence of Indian Philosophy, as acknowledged by great Western scholars such as Max Mullar,Emerson and so on stresses on action/duty withour passionate attachment.If you follow the teachings of Lord Krishna as revealed in the Gita, you can attain real peace of mind and heavenly bliss.The Gita never preaches hatrid and offences. It rather teaches to sympathise with the enemy as done by Arjuna.It rather teaches that happiness, sadness, life, death, cold, warm, darkness, light,believer, non-believer,hatrid, love...all are equal to one who can acquire the teaching of the Gita properly. So there is no question of spreading hatrid against non-believers in The Bhagavad Gita.
So what, specifically, are the texts, comments, etc. that the government is objecting to? This article should state them, so everyone can examine and know the exact comments. Only then can the basis for 'extreme-ism' be known, and the real reason for objections be known also.
Gita is not like any other book it is civilization in itself. Even
many Indians cannot comprehend the meaning of the Hindu scripts how
can we expect it from any foreigner. The present controversy has been
used an instrument to get the attention of the world to the little
known area of Russian TOMOSK. If Gita is containing Hatred, extremism,
or insulting attitude for non followers like the one present in the
scripts of other religions, No other religion could have propagated
and flourished in India. No where in the world (EVEN IN RUSSIA) other
religion have been given same degree of freedom as it has been given
in India at any point of time in History.
@ Abhi...What do you say for the Russian Archbishop who called Lord Krishna "An Evil Demon". That silly comment followed by complaints by certain groups in Tomsk calling for ban on Gita is a part of larger conspiracy using ISKCON as a punching bag. The Indian Ambassador Mr. Malhotra is absolutely right in calling this shameful episode as "indeed absurd, bordering on the bizarre". There are more verses in Bible and Quran that are much more offensive, hateful to non-believers. Imagine if some high ranking Hindu leader had called gods of Christianity and Islam names. People like you will the first people to call for the head of that Hindu leader. Request you to read more on this controversy that blindly supporting the viewpoint of some non-descript groups petition in Tomsk, Russia.
This statement of the Russian foriegn minister makes a futile attempt at covering up the fault of banning the Bhagavadgita As It IS. The commentary they are referring to and claiming to be on trial is the commentary by Srila Prabhuapda. THis commentary has transformed lives of thousands of devotees world over, it made hippies happies. It has given new life to thousands, just as Krishna's talk removed the dilemma of Arjuna and gave him new direction.
The commentary of Srila Prabhupada in particular has been appreciated by many scholars.
"...Translation of such a work demands not only knowledge of Sanskrit, but an inward sympathy with the theme and a verbal artistry. .... The Swami does a real service for students by investing the beloved Indian epic with fresh meaning. Whatever our outlook may be we should all be grateful for the labor that has lead to this illuminating work."
Dr. Geddes MacGregor, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Philosophy
University of Southern California
I would like to stress on the point that Russia, as a country, has all the rights to decide whether or not Gita to be banned. The concern of Indians is above the limit. When the hindus doesn't complain the ban on all kinds of religious symbols and books in Saudi and Kuwait - they are ok with it. Recently when France banned burqa, there was a leading tv channel supporting it by saying it is to save the culture of France. the same channel took a U-turn in this issue. But, more than that I would like to throw some light on the misguided reporting of ISKON document banning as Gita banned. That was totally uncalled.
"The Baghvad Gita is not on trial in Tomsk: if it were so, a protest by India would have a legitimate basis" Does it have a legitimate basis? I am not too sure. Ours is a Godless constitution, meaning that it allows its citizens the right to believe what they want and practice the customers that they want, without interference or favoritism by the state. The state has no opinions in matters of religion and it should not get into the religion business. Sure, the people governing us are religious and they have a right to protest individually or through any Hindu groups. But the constitution forbids politicians like Laloo from using the state machinery and state resources to defend their pet religious views.
Good News,
The historians and intellectuals in Hindu community should find out the real conspiracy behind this issue. i am sure some extremist in Hindu community by inserting some false remarks or comments in the Bhagvatgita's translation try to modify the scripture which results in shame to the Hindu Community.
So all the translations of the different Hindu Scriptures should be re checked and if found any fabrication in the original books the offender should be severly punished.
The Baghvad Gita is not on trial in Tomsk: if it were so, a protest by India would have a legitimate basis. The complaint has been filed under Russian law pertaining to published material that may promote or provoke "extreme activity," and principally cites not the text of the Gita, but the specific Russian translation in question, with it's commentary authored by the founder of ISKON.The Russians have made their position very clear, and it is Ambassador Ajai Malhotra who has taken a position that is "indeed absurd, bordering on the bizarre." The Baghvad Gita, as commented on by ISKON, is NOT the scriptural foundation of Indian thought. I am sure most Indians are thankful for that little mercy!
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