As the battle over a Russian translation of Bhagavad Gita continues, Russian scholars came out strongly in support of the book and condemned attempts to ban it as extremist literature. Over 60 Russian scholars gathered in the Siberian city of Tomsk for a conference on Bhagavad Gita. It adopted a resolution that voiced alarm over a court trial against the book “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” and stressed “the enduring historic value” of the ancient Indian scripture.
A court in Tomsk in December rejected a local prosecutor’s petition seeking a ban on “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” on the grounds that it incited “social hatred” and “violence against non-believers”. However, the Tomsk prosecutor has appealed against the verdict and the court is to hear his appeal on March 6. In a new petition the prosecutor is demanding a ban only on the Russian translation of comments in the book “Bhagavad Gita As It Is”, not the canonical text itself.
Russian scholars welcomed the Tomsk court verdict and said the prosecutor’s appeal was groundless because religious texts cannot be tried for extremism. They accused experts who prepared testimony against Bhagavad Gita of incompetence and bias and called for establishing an independent body of scholars and experts in religion, philosophy and social sciences, who would prepare objective and competent reviews of various texts. The scholars warned of “grave consequences the continuation of the trial may have for our friendly relations with India.”
(Continues from above...)
"Nationalist indignation" has nothing to do in this case.In my humble opinion it is the absolute merit of the Indian Government that they are inclined to support this facility for all foreigners to get in contact with the original culture and tradition of the Vedic civilization which is offered by Srila Prabhupada's international society: Iskcon.
The value of Srila Prabhupada's literary contribution is recognized from scholars and intellectuals from all parts of the planet, it would certainly be very strange if Indian authorities, so close to his teachings, didn't do the same.
Please let everyone decide which culture, faith or philosophy to follow. We certainly do not need "Russian courts" to protect us from so called "extremist" literature and incite like this further divisions amongst people in the name of their fanatical religious understanding. Such kind of actions delegitimize the same cause that they try to protect, is a disservice to God!
Ok Ashu, you may think Srila Prabhupada was intolerant. But can you indicate at least one incident of extremism in Russia or elsewhere caused by his translation of the Bhagavad gita? As Venkat mentions above it is true quite the contrary, many people feel greatfulness for such literary work of his.
However please note that fear for "extremism" is not the real issue here. This is just the legal excuse. The whole thing is generated by a local intollerant Christian orthodox cult that do not want the Hare Krishna movement proselytizing in what they consider "their teritory" Of course they forget their godbrothers do the same in India by "bribing" poor people to turn them into Christians with the offering them material benefits.
At least the Hare Krishna devotees convince people by offering them knowledge, education and possibly better examples of practice.
And is not about changing religious faiths. The truth of the Bhagavad gita is transcendental to all material designations.
But Prabhupada was intolerant, and said many crassly insulting things about non-Hindu cultures. But no one wants to admit that it is Prabhupada, not the Gita, who is in the dock, because that would prick the balloon of their righteous nationalist indignation, and righteous nationalist indignation feels so good.
The Bhagavad Gita translation under scrutiny is the one composed by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON. It is the most authentic translation of the Holy scripture in English. It has transformed many lives across the globe.
Please Email the Editor