A Siberian court has thrown out a petition that sought to ban a translation of the Bhagavad Gita as “extremist” literature.
Judge Galina Butenko of the Leninsky District Court in Tomsk ruled on Wednesday that there were no grounds for recognising Bhagavad Gita As It Is as extremist because the book was “one of the interpretations of the sacred Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.”
The defence side said it was fully satisfied with the court verdict.
“This court decision shows that Russia is indeed becoming a democratic society,” said lawyer Alexander Shakhov, who represented at the trial the local branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
India's Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra, who had fiercely opposed the trial, welcomed the court ruling.
“The verdict of the Honourable Judge in Tomsk in dismissing the case pertaining to the Bhagavad Gita deserves to be applauded,” said the envoy. “It is very nice to see that this issue has been conclusively resolved and is now behind us.”
State prosecutors had filed the petition against Bhagavad Gita As It Is, claiming it sowed “social hatred” and called for “violence against non-believers.” The case was built on expert testimony from local professors of philosophy and philology, who said the book expresses religious hatred and discriminates on the basis of gender, race, nationality and language. Prosecutors offered no comment as they left the court after the verdict.
“We are happy that the court showed reason and competence in passing the correct verdict,” said Sergei Zuyev, vice-president of ISKCON in Russia. “It is not right for secular courts to try religions.” On the eve of Wednesday's hearing, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had summoned the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi, Alexander Kadakin, asking the Russian government to provide all possible help to resolve the issue.
Russia's Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin welcomed the court decision. “I think the Russian government must draw the right conclusions from this incident. It should fight terrorism by exposing terrorist plots and outfits, not by passing judgment on ancient sacred scriptures,” he said.
The case against the book had been filed on the basis of the 2002 Russian anti-extremism law, criticised in Russia for its very loose definition of extremist activity. Human rights activists said the law had been used to suppress legitimate criticism of authorities. The Russian Christian Orthodox Church has also been accused of using the law as a tool to fight “non-traditional religions”, such as Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Hare Krishna movement in Russia.
In a particularly bizarre case, a court in Rostov Region two years ago accused Leo Tolstoy of extremism for his denunciation of the Russian Orthodox Church teaching as “a crafty and evil lie” and “a concoction of gross superstition and witchcraft.” Tolstoy was expelled from the Church nine years before his death for his repudiation of Jesus Christ and the Russian Church.
‘India happy'
New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:
“We are happy to learn that the case has been dismissed by the Hon'ble Court in Tomsk in the Russian Federation. We appreciate this sensible resolution of a sensitive issue and are glad to put this episode behind us. We also appreciate the efforts of all friends in Russia who made this outcome possible,” said the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Keywords: Bhagavad Gita translation ban, ISKCON, Siberian court
I personally appreciate the decision of the Honourable Court of Russia. This shows that the Russians are really intelligent, peaceful and loving people.
I know Russian's since 1985 and i have been living here for a long time now. Russian's are really peaceful and patient people. I don't know the reasons why Tomsk wanted to ban it. But Tomsk is not all Russia. To blame all Russians is not fair.
The book( ISKON Version), needs a ban if violence against is propagated against other Faiths. This can been seen When Kandmal Viloence in Orissa State in India ,hit out out against Tribal christians By fasists, 3,000 people where killed. The miltant version of any religion(Islam ,Christian,Sikh,Hindu,Jew) any where has to be banned.
The question that religious group(s), who brought the case against the sacred text of Bhagavad Gita, have links with neo con christian groups in the USA is worth considering given the timing of Dr. Singh's visit to Russia. Without wishing to subscribe to paranoia or conspiracy theories an attempt to undermine India - Russia relations through this perverse exercise cannot be ruled out !
As an agnostic, although having read & studied the major/minor religions of mankind, I would like to hope that people would simply be allowed to worship in peace. And stop the persecuting/killing over a supreme deity that in all major religions eschews love/understanding and peace. Kudos to the russian ambassador for taking a stand that defends peoples right to religious expression.
Dear commentors, please note that the Russian court has dismissed the case because they didn't think the allegation that the ideas in ISKCON's commentary on the Gita was extremist, met with the required burden of proof. The decision is not because the court believed the book to be a divine book of all humanity etc etc etc. I've read several ISKCON books and I've found their brand of theology goes way beyond what the original Gita contains. In particular, I've found their books to be very anti-scientific, against the teaching of evolution. Those teachings need to be challenged and exposed.
Even under communist system Holy Gita and other religious scriptures were allowed to preach and practice freely in Soviet country. The so called democracy tries to deprive the religious freedom. However,the feelings of non-believers should also be respected by religious outfits.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin deserves the gratitude of the Indians and he did well his ambassadorial assignment in India. He took the pain to go through the book under dispute and expressed his sympathy and support in public as an understanding Russian and an able Ambassador to build better understanding among the peoples of two countries.Thank you Mr.Alexander Kadakin, may you deserve richly for the grace of Lord Krishna.
Now that the case has been settled in Russia, we can get back to our own
religious shadowboxing.
Sir,
Every peace loving people of the world will be glad to know that a Siberian court in Russia has thrown out a petition seeking a ban on the Bhagvad Gita translated in Russian language. This great epic may be a religious book for Hindus, but in my view this is one of the greatest piece of philosophical literature ever found or created in this world. The minute analysis of worldly relations, discharge of duties without having any interest (NISKAM), purpose of life and other philosophical descriptions have placed the Gita above all the religious tenets so far as philosophy of life is concerned. History has witnessed that scholars from Russia,Germany and Britain have contributed a lot in the exploration of Sanskrit literature. We are obliged to Maxmuller of Germany for his arduous work in translating all the Vedas into English language. Similarly, many Russian scholars have taught Sanskrit in Moscow by founding a school there. The Russian translation of the Gita in 1788 supports this.
The reaction of the Indian Government shows that under this cloak of secularism, there lies a strong pro-Hindu Nationalist political culture. It is the same thing as "permitted" the Babri Masjid to be felled. When a mad pastor in the US burnt copies of the Koran, not a voice was raised by these very same politicians. When cartoonists in Europe hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Muslims by poking fun at the Prophet, where were these protests? Our country's religious behaviour is the mirror image of the Russian Orthodox Church's behaviour in its relationship to Mother Russia - anti-secular,religiously extreme and nationalistic. So Muslims are not the only extremists in the world - every religion has them in abundance.
I am glad that the courts in Russia kicked the case out. Religious tolerance is a must for people to coexist and cooperate. Any attempt by the majority to styfle minority goes againt the most important right, 'the right to speak your mind'.
Russians are people of freedom of consciousness that is the same thing the Gita tells in the nut shell. That is spirit is eternal and matter is just temporary. Court duly appreciated. I would have been happy if university professor had properly appreciated things objectively. Things normally settle down after up heaves that is what Lord Krishna also says ultimately when he leaves the mortal coil when hunter says i am a person did the wrong and unnecessary killed Lord Krishna. Lord says there is nothing called killing and giving life but that is the cycle for living beings in the mortal coil. Let that be so.
I am wondering what sort of church is this orthodox church. If you try to ban Bhagavad gita, we will also move to court to ban your sacred text Bible. This is also extremist from our point of view. These are junk fellows who don't know religions properly.
'Bhagavad Gita' is not only the 'holy book' of Hindu Religion, but it is also the 'holy book' of all religions in the world. It describes the goodness of mankind. Gita is a way of life. It is the philosophy of life. Gita enters into the depth of human mind. Gita gives the guidelines for leading a good life on earth. In short, all religions sacred books describe the same thing, i.e., the philosophy of good life.
Thank God.It is the will of Lord Krishna that the non believers be shown the right path.Bhagwad Gita nowhere says that salvation can be achieved by one route only.Hindu mythology says "Ekam sad vipra bahudam vadanti". (Truth is one, wise man describe it variously).It is this movement of ISKON which attracted large number of American youths towards Godhood.
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