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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Taste of Life: Sacred role of food in honouring the dead
Food is an integral part of commemorating the dead. People remember the deceased through the everyday act of eating and reintegrate the bereaved into the community in which the deceased no longer lives. After Tilak's statue was erected in front of the then Reay Market (now Mahatma Phule Mandai), people would queue to offer their respects and place 'naivedya', the consecrated offering of food, in front of it. 'Annadaan', the charity of food, was an important feature of Tilak's death anniversary in Pune. (HT ARCHIVES) Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the tallest Indian leaders, died in the early hours of August 1, 1920, at Sardargriha in Bombay. The entire nation was drowned in sorrow, and his funeral brought together the largest gathering on the Girgaum Chowpatty Sands in the city. The ashes of the Lokmanya were brought to Pune by a special train on the morning of August 3 by his two sons. They were carried in a sandalwood casket, which was placed inside a palanquin on a bullock cart. Thousands participated in the procession. People stood along the way of the procession with folded hands and tears in their eyes. Men, women, and children offered garlands to the ashes whenever they got a chance. The palanquin was led by groups singing bhajans to the accompaniment of cymbals. The chants of 'Tilak Maharaj ki Jai' and 'Ramkrishna Hari' filled the air. When the palanquin reached the mosque near Daruwala Bridge, the bhajans stopped and everybody chanted 'Hindu-Musalman ki Jai' in unison. It took six hours for the procession to reach Gaekwad Wada, Tilak's residence, from the railway station four kilometres away. Many households in Pune observed mourning for the customary thirteen days according to the Hindu tradition after Tilak's death. On the fourteenth day, they invited Brahmins to lunch to signify the end of the mourning period. It became a tradition for many families in Pune to observe Tilak's death anniversary and perform rituals to remember him. Dada Malshe, a leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), told me a few years ago about his uncle who fasted between Tilak's birth and death anniversary. After Tilak's statue was erected in front of the then Reay Market (now Mahatma Phule Mandai), people would queue to offer their respects and place 'naivedya', the consecrated offering of food, in front of it. 'Annadaan', the charity of food, was an important feature of Tilak's death anniversary in Pune. 'Annadaan' holds great significance across religions and is considered a holy and benevolent act, with several rituals associated with it. It is performed in different forms and ways. Some offer food daily to the needy, while others offer food to students. Food is donated at certain festivities. It is also offered in remembrance of a deceased member of the family. The practice of donating food on the occasion of the annual 'shraddha', the Hindu rituals performed in honour of one's deceased ancestors, is common. Noble families like Mehendale, Khasgiwale, Natu, and Raste were known for holding 'annadaan' lunches on 'shraddha' ceremonies. NB Dhumal, a famous bicycle dealer in Pune, was praised for his benevolence, where he organised 'annadaan' for five hundred differently abled people every year on his father's death anniversary. Many families donated food according to their capabilities on Tilak's death anniversary. Raghunath Gokhale, who worked as a teacher in a school in Poona Cantonment, told me about his grandfather, who, along with a Maratha colleague of his, took responsibility for feeding five students every year as a mark of respect for Tilak. Shrimant Dajisaheb Patwardhan organised a feast on Tilak's death anniversary at his residence near Shanipar for 'madhukaris', students who lived by begging for food grains which they could cook themselves. Shankar Gopal Karmarkar, owner of the Lokmanya Motor Service in Sangli, hosted lunch for eight hundred people every year on Tilak's death anniversary. In 1925, he decided to donate food in Pune, too. Accordingly, he spent ₹800 for the cause. Groceries and vegetables were bought, and more than 1,200 men lunched to commemorate Tilak. From 1928, prominent disciples and associates of Tilak organised a feast on the occasion every year for around ten thousand people at the ground behind Reay Market from 11 am to 4 pm. Rice, 'amti' (a sweet and sour preparation of lentils), and 'shira' (a sweet dessert made with semolina, ghee, and sugar) were part of the menu. Narsimha Chintaman Kelkar, Lakshman Balwant Bhopatkar, and Shankarrao Karpe, the mayor of Pune, kept an eye on all the arrangements. Volunteers from the Maharashtriya Mandal, Bharat Swayamsevak Mandal, and Anath Vidyarthi Gruha, under the leadership of Shivrampant Damle, Antukaka Phadnis, and Gopalrao Mahajan, were in charge of cooking and serving the food. A separate feast was organised for the junior workers of the Pune municipality. The municipality made special arrangements for the supply of water for cooking and drinking by installing taps for the occasion. These feasts were mostly exclusive to men. However, women thronged to have a look since such large feasts were not held in Pune at that time. 'Kesari', the Marathi newspaper co-founded by Tilak, had always promoted the cause of 'Swadeshi' with great enthusiasm. After Tilak's demise, though it prominently engaged itself with Hindutva, the newspaper published advertisements for Indian goods, especially sugar, a month before his birth and death anniversaries, urging its readers to pay their respects to the leader by vowing to use merchandise and food made in India. Well-known confectioners in Pune, like Kaka Halwai, also advertised their products, especially the 'pedha', assuring the customers that they were cooked with 'swadeshi' sugar and hence, were fit to be offered to the departed soul of the Lokmanya. It is noteworthy that Tilak's death anniversary was not observed on August 1 according to the Gregorian calendar, but according to the Tilak Almanack, the Hindu astrological almanack that he had reformed. It began to be celebrated on a large scale in Pune in the late 1920s, partly due to the growing tensions between Brahmins and non-Brahmins and the tussle between Tilakists and Gandhians. After Tilak had passed away, his associates like Shivram Mahadev Paranjape, Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar, and Vasukaka Joshi followed Gandhi. Kelkar, a lawyer, dramatist, novelist, essayist, poet, and politician, however, declared himself the leader of Maharashtra and became the foremost leader of the Tilak faction in the Congress Party. Kelkar and his followers disagreed with Gandhi on several issues, including non-violence, the non-cooperation movement, and electoral reforms. Kelkar, MS Moonjay, Jamnadas Mehta and others revived the Democratic Swarajya Party in 1933, which was originally established by Tilak in 1920. The commemoration of the death anniversary became a tool to assert political dominance and bring back Tilak's thoughts. Both Congress and the Democratic Swarajya Party observed Tilak's death anniversary in their own ways. The Congress organised speeches and lectures, while the Democratic Swarajya Party organised feasts and religious sermons. Madhu Limaye, the socialist activist, wrote in his autobiography that the followers of Tilak were later criticised by progressive students for organising Brahminical feasts on his death anniversary while completely ignoring his beliefs and indulging in hatred for Gandhi. Gandhi was a pallbearer at Tilak's funeral procession, and it was far from a symbolic gesture. It marked the beginning of a new era in Indian politics. Gandhi had rushed to Sardargriha immediately after hearing about Tilak's demise. When he went to lift Tilak's bier, he was stopped because he was not a Brahmin. He calmly replied, 'The servant of the people has no caste'. A few moments later, Maulana Shaukat Ali joined him. Tilak thus transcended caste and religion in his death. Chinmay Damle is a research scientist and food enthusiast. He writes here on Pune's food culture. He can be contacted at
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UP BJP chief pick a tight-rope caste dynamic walk for saffron party
1 2 Lucknow: The BJP faced a significant setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in UP, losing ground to the SP-Congress of the INDIA bloc. This setback, coupled with the subsequent rise of SP's PDA politics and increased activism by Karni Sena following SP MP Ram Ji Lal Suman's remarks on Rajput King Rana Sanga, has rapidly altered the caste dynamics in Uttar Pradesh. Previously reliant on support from upper caste, OBC, and Dalit communities—excluding Jatavs—the BJP now recognises the impermanence of political alliances. Addressing this shift presents a challenge as the party prepares for the 2027 UP elections. In response, the BJP has adopted a more cautious approach, slowing down vital decision-making processes, including the selection of the new UP BJP chief, since the current chief, Bhupendra Chaudhary, has completed his term. Party members and analysts are awaiting the central BJP's forthcoming strategies. "Party insiders told TOI that the homework to appoint a new UP BJP chief has been done and the announcement could be made anytime now," a party source said. Speculation surrounds the potential candidates, with names from various caste categories—upper caste Brahmins, OBCs, and Dalits—floating in discussions. Speculation is rife that after the new UP BJP chief assumes office, the Yogi govt might also go for a rejig. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Gandon Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Political pundits largely favour an OBC candidate for the role. A senior BJP functionary and minister in the Yogi govt told TOI that 90% possibility is of an OBC UP BJP chief while 10% chance is that of a Dalit one. He ruled out a Brahmin UP BJP chief. Others suggest that the BJP central leadership might choose a Brahmin chief to surprise the opposition, continuing the party's tradition of unexpected appointments. Each candidate category offers distinct advantages and challenges. Here's a lowdown on pros and cons of each one: If OBC candidate become UP BJP chief Pros: It could counter the Samajwadi Party's PDA (pichhda, Dalit and alpasankhyak) narrative, which contributed to the BJP winning only 33 seats in the LS polls compared to 64 in the previous election. An OBC chief might also balance the party's organisational structure and govt, while mitigating the opposition's caste-based criticisms. Cons: Lot will depend on the choice of the candidate even if he is an OBC. The incumbent Bhupendra Chaudhary, too, is OBC but the caste dynamic did not help BJP win more LS seats in UP. However, the success of an OBC chief would heavily depend on the candidate's ability to inspire confidence among party workers and voters. Additionally, there is a risk of further alienating upper caste Brahmins who may feel neglected. If Dalit becomes UP BJP chief Pros: Appointing a Dalit chief could help retain Dalit voters, especially Pasis, who shifted away during the LS polls and allow the BJP to come up as an option like SP and Congress are trying to woo mainly Jatavs, who continue to remain loyal to the BSP despite its repeated electoral debacles. It would also help the BJP shed the image of being an upper caste-dominated party. Cons: The sub-castes within the Dalit community might limit the candidate's appeal, and upper caste Brahmins may remain dissatisfied. If Brahmin becomes UP BJP chief Pros: Choosing a Brahmin chief would likely reassure upper caste Brahmin voters and maintain their support base as many of them are unhappy with the party's OBC outreach. Cons: However, it could alienate OBC and Dalit communities, reinforcing the perception of the BJP as catering primarily to upper castes and not addressing broader social groups. Though the scales appear to tilt in favour of OBC candidate, the new BJP since 2014 is known to spring up surprises.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Brahmin politics simmers in UP as parties vie for their support
Lucknow: Amid the PDA poll narrative of the opposition, it is Brahmin politics that has started simmering in Uttar Pradesh. The situation came to the fore days after senior SP functionary and leader of opposition in UP assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey, accused the BJP of "insulting the Brahmin community". Now, the focus is on BJP's next move to counter the charge. Pandey, a Brahmin, ratcheted up the recent incident in which UP minister of state for women and child welfare, Pratibha Shukla, staged a dharna on July 24-25 at Akbarpur police station, accusing cops of targeting her aides. Her husband and former MP, Anil Shukla Warsi, who was present at the dharna, claimed that Brahmins were being unfairly targeted. He even called up deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, urging him to intervene in the case and protect the "interests of Brahmins". The SP functionary's accusation that the BJP has insulted Brahmins is seen as an attempt to breach BJP's upper-caste vote bank, especially Brahmins. BJP sources said the party may seek to neutralise the opposition charge by hefting a Brahmin face at a prominent position within the organisation in UP or the Centre in a bid to consolidate its position among the upper caste, which has been traditionally supportive of the saffron outfit since the peak of the Ram temple movement in the early 1990s. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This, experts said, may help the BJP send a reassuring message to the community besides undercutting the SP's narrative that the BJP was getting overly focused on non-dominant OBCs at the cost of Brahmin representation. SP ally Congress too has been seeking to firm up its presence among the Brahmins since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when it appointed senior party leader Avinash Pandey as in charge of UP. BJP has been elevating Brahmins at prominent positions. The foremost example was the appointment of Brajesh Pathak as deputy CM in the UP cabinet. Pathak replaced Dinesh Sharma, who held the position during the first tenure of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Sharma is now a Rajya Sabha MP and one of the contenders for the post of UP BJP chief. Another Brahmin face who is eyeing the top organisational job is former Basti MP and current party in charge for Assam, Harish Dwivedi. In the UP BJP organisational structure, two vice-presidents — Vijay Bahadur Pathak and Triyambak Tripathi — and one general secretary — Govind Narayan Shukla — are Brahmins. A BJP functionary said the party certainly looked to consolidate its support among the Brahmins. Experts underscored how the social engineering comprising Brahmins swung the political fortunes of BSP chief Mayawati, who got an absolute majority for the first time in 2007. The community is also said to have supported SP in 2012 before shifting back to BJP in 2017.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Efforts to counter SP's PDA: BSP starts increasing Muslim focus in party organisation
With a view to countering Samajwadi Party's PDA (Picchda, Dalit and Alpshanyak) pitch, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has starting increasing the representation of Muslims, Other Backward Class (OBC) along with Dalit communities in the run-up to the 2027 UP assembly polls. Recently, BSP top brass appointed two coordinators each in eight assembly constituencies of Lucknow. (For Representation) Recently, party's top leadership appointed two coordinators each in eight assembly constituencies of the state capital. Notably, nearly 50% of the coordinators appointed are from the Muslim community. And one Muslim each has been made coordinators in all eight assembly constituencies. 'The BSP's move to appoint Muslims to key positions in the party organisation is seen as an effort to increase the party's appeal to the Muslim vote bank and counter the SP's move to target their Dalit and Picchda votes,' said a senior party functionary. 'The party has been working on the same lines for the past several months. There is no new thing to ensure representation of Muslim community in the party organisation,' BSP state unit chief Vishwanath Pal said. 'The BSP is witnessing a significant influx of Muslim community members across the state. In numerous districts, hundreds of Muslim youth, seniors and women are enrolling in the party. Notably, there has been a surge in defections from the SP and the BJP to the BSP,' he claimed. Pal has been actively campaigning in various districts, including Barabanki and Shravasti, and has successfully inducted many Muslims into the party. Another senior BSP functionary said the party had earlier formed the Pichhda Dalit Bhaichara Committee to reach out to the OBC community. He said the party is now making a concerted effort to reach out to Muslims. 'Behan ji (BSP national president Mayawati) had earlier directed to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. She had announced plans to reconstitute Bhaichara (brotherhood) committees to connect with Muslims and Brahmins along with Dalits and OBCs during the party meeting on September 16, 2024. In addition, she had asked to form Muslim and Brahmin brotherhood committees in each district to connect with people of these communities,' he said while explaining the party's plan to regain its vote bank. He further said the party has been actively engaging with Muslim intellectuals, clerics and scholars in Lucknow, with meetings being held under the leadership of Sarwar Malik, advisor to the party's Lucknow unit, for quite some time. The BSP's efforts to increase the participation of OBC, Dalit, and Muslim communities in the party organisation are seen as a strategic move to strengthen its base in the state before the 2027 UP assembly polls following the party's poor performance in recent assembly as well as parliamentary elections. BSP has appointed the following coordinators for eight assembly constituencies of Lucknow: BKT: Imamuddin and advocate Amit Gautam Sarojini Nagar: Javed Siddiqui and Ajay Kirti Lucknow East: Mohammad Anish and advocate Rameshwar Dayal Lucknow West: Dr Ziaul Haq Khan and Sajjan Lal Gautam Malihabad: Arshi Ahmad and Yashpal Verma Lucknow Central: Kamrul Hasan and Rajesh Gautam Lucknow Cantonment: Mohammad Haseeb and Devesh Kumar Gautam Mohanlalganj: Asif Mohammad and Kanhaiya Lal Rawat
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Roads In Congress-Era MP Were Like Om Puri, Now Like Sridevi': BJP MLA's Remarks Spark Row
Last Updated: Preetam Lodhi said that the condition of roads in Madhya Pradesh during Congress regime was like that of Om Puri, whereas under the BJP rule, roads are like late Sridevi. Remember former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad's old jibe about making the roads of Bihar as smooth as the cheeks of actress Hema Malini? Now a BJP MLA from Madhya Pradesh has stirred a political row by making an unusual comparison. BJP MLA Preetam Lodhi, who arrived in a cab at the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly on Monday was speaking about state's pothole-ridden roads during monsoon season. Making a bizarre comparison, he said that the condition of roads in Madhya Pradesh during the erstwhile Congress regime was like that of actor Om Puri, whereas under the BJP rule, roads are like actress Sridevi. 'During Digvijaya Singh's tenure (as MP chief minister), roads were like (cheeks of) Om Puri, while under the BJP, they are like Sridevi. But now it's raining. We still need to negotiate with Lord Indra," the MLA from Pichhore constituency in Shivpuri district was quoted as saying by news agency PTI when questioned about potholes and a recent cave-in incident in Bhopal. The controversial remarks sparked outrage and demands for his removal. MP Congress women's wing president Vibha Patel condemned the comment as indecent and disrespectful toward a deceased woman. She demanded that Lodhi either apologise or be dismissed by his party. 'BJP MLAs have become habituated to insulting women. Our brave women were insulted during Operation Sindoor," she said, apparently referring to controversial remarks made by the state's senior minister, Kunwar Vijay Shah, against Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the face of the official briefings during Operation Sindoor. 'The amount of training BJP leaders receive on culture and etiquette notwithstanding, the power-drunk leaders keep on insulting women. If the MLA does not apologise and if the BJP fails to sack him, we will take to the streets and won't let these MLAs sit in peace," she added. The face of Bollywood actor Om Puri who died in 2017, was scarred by a bout of smallpox in childhood, meanwhile veteran actress Sridevi passed away in 2018 at the age of 54. This is not the first time Lodhi has made headlines for his bizarre remarks. Around two months ago, while speaking on caste-based census, he had said, 'In India, the Modi-Lodhi coin will rule. The OBC community will benefit greatly from caste-based census. The Lodhis will rise." In 2022, he was criticised for his casteist remarks against the Brahman community. While addressing a students' function to mark the birth anniversary of warrior queen Avantibai Lodhi, he had said, 'The Brahmins were fooling people in the name of offering religious rituals and prayers, and grabbing money and other things from commoners. They (Brahmins) are prospering on our money and resources. Seeing beautiful women from good families, they (Brahmins) want to have food at these women's homes. They want young women seated in the front row and make elderly women sit at the back." (With inputs from agencies) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
