Letters to the editor: Should we do a re-think on public Ganesotsav?

Should we do a re-think on public Ganesotsav?
Most of the people are aware that sarvajanik Ganeshotsava was started by Lokamanya Tilak in 1894 to use it as a platform for mobilising more youths for the freedom struggle. But at the same time people do not know that Tilak had convinced his detractors that after achieving freedom this public Ganeshotsav will automatically stop since its purpose ends forever. When Tilak proposed such a public Ganeshotsav many of his own Chitpavan Brahmin Community, including  freedom fighters Gokhale and Ranade, had opposed the idea stating that since Lord Ganesha is the family deity (Kula Devata) of their community, its worship should be confined to only individual Brahmin houses. Many pointed out that the streets and maidans have ‘permanent negative energy’ since people walk and spit on them, and dogs, pigs, birds defecate there. But Tilak convinced them by saying that this is not a pure religious event but  just a façade for the Independence struggle, and hence, all had to compromise with some of the religious rules for some time. Tilak expired in 1920 and  his Chitpavan  Brahmin associates in the struggle also expired much before Independence. Now, even 65 years after Independence, we find that Tilak’s wishes not only remain unfulfilled but they are also getting more and more distorted. 

Today, Ganeshotsav is synonymous with Maharashtra. But our country’s religious history tells us that Ganesha was never a popular deity in Maharashtra prior to 1894, and this deity was just a family deity of Chitpavan Brahmin community who are numerically very small and also confined to only one districts of coastal Maharashtra called Ratnagiri. So, now the time has arrived to re-think how much this sarvajanik Ganeshotsava is relevant in Independent India, and is it not a sacrilege to install holy Idols on the unholy streets and maidans?
—Praveen S Shetty, via e-mail

Black market and VAT
This has reference to ‘Black market to blame for high VAT’ (Sep 23). This news highlights the state of affairs in real estate business very poignantly, particularly in Mumbai. Lot of coverage is given in the media for bigger scams which do not directly affect the common man. The mischief of the mafia for building material supply is a kind of scam which affects common man very gravely. This mafia again operates directly under the patronage of local politicians. These mafiosi also steal and misappropriate the natural resources of the state/country just like coal and iron ore.

Unauthorised quarries and rampant depletion of river beds is happening day in and day out. Yet, no concern of significance is raised as local authorities are hand in gloves and get their ‘chhota maal’ out of it. Furthermore, this also reveals that developers who encourage these mafiosi have to give no account to authorities on sourcing of these inputs and neither the authorities question them. It is to be seen that while submitting details of VAT computation, whether the sales tax department has the guts and gumption to cross examine where sand and metal came from, without which buildings cannot be constructed unless this department also prefers to look the other way. Let us hope somebody takes a corrective step to control this menace. DNA is doing excellent public service in this regard and deserves all the kudos
—NK Gupta, Navi Mumbai

Killing a father
This has reference to ‘Denied Rs150 to buy alcohol, man stabs father to death in city’ (Sep 23). At some point of time in life we feel why do we bring up a child? To get death? But on the other hand, we also feel that why not part with a paltry sum and escape from such cruelty. Children today want to live independently and any interference from parents preventing them from leading a carefree life irks them. Our society is getting more and more impatient. It is time we resort to re-learning the values of life.
—S Abhisheck Ramaswamy, Mumbai

Bank closes accounts
This has reference to ‘Hundreds suffer as ICICI bungles’ (Sep 23). The ICICI Bank mostly bungles when they deal with their valued clients. This is not the first time the bank is facing the ire of their own clientele. Instead of giving good customer service at the counter, the bank goes out of the way to give door to door service and then bungle up in the process. Instead of having a limited number of accounts and providing the best service, the bank opens excessive accounts and makes the customer
suffer all the time. By closing those accounts the bank has benefited, whereas customers have lost their hard-earned money. By simply saying they called every customer, the bank really exposed bungling. The RBI as a watchdog should look ito the customer complaints on priority basis. Going to the Bank Ombudsman is the only way to get an amicable solution. Banks should always have back-up but ICICI Bank failed to maintain its back-up in a fire-proof safe and that resulted in losing records in the 26/7 deluge. Instead of trying to solve the problem
within the four walls of the Bank with the customer, ICICI Bank closed those accounts.
—CK Subramaniam, Mumbai  

Pawar seeks aid
This is with reference to ‘Pawar seeks Rs500cr aid from FM to save 6 Co-op banks’ (Sep 23). Time and again the ugly head of mismanaging finances of 6 district co-op banks in Maharashtra have resurfaced threatening liquidation. Most of these banks are run by vested interest politicians rather than with sound background having economical brains. What is pity that customers deposited their hard earned money with these banks are at stake? It is more often than not milking from unsuspected banks is the hall mark of the tainted politicians. Modus operandi is borrowing loans under fictitious names only to be converted it as bad debts (Non Performing Assets) overtime. RBI must monitor loss making apex co-op bank MSCB of its functioning because Rs400cr tax payers’ money has been nfused by way of capital. State Govt keeps on bailing them out is no viable solution. Why no action is initiated against these scrupulous fraudsters?
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai