Dear Editor,
Mr Charandass Persaud, MP for the ruling alliance government, found that the recently organized Diwali motorcade by the Dharmic Sabha in the Rose Hall Canje area was politicized (‘East Canje Motorcade was politicised’ SN, November 10). Well, Jai Shri Ram! Mr Persaud, moreover, does so on the firm ground that he does not know the Patra and therefore … He also does so following closely on the heels of the Minister and the President. Could anyone ask for better covering fire?
Arrayed in this little skirmish is the government on the one side ‒ the Minister, the President and now a government MP – and on the other, the Dharmic Sabha. The Minister has always insisted that his determination is the result of a “truth” claim – ask “my experts”.
And so, of course, does the Dharmic Sabha. Notwithstanding, any attempt to introduce “truth” into the matter has been long lost. The only consideration left is a political one: who does or should decide the correct date of Diwali?
For the government to jump in with both feet (three, in this case) suggests that the totalitarian instinct may not be far from the surface. However, we may want to slice this little tussle, the Dharmic Sabha is singularly and by far the largest Hindu organization in Guyana. Over the years, since the split with the Maha Sabha in the 1970s, pronouncement of and on things Hindu, in this or in any case, is a matter given up to its leadership. What it chooses to do with that mandate is entirely up to itself and its membership. The acknow-ledgement of living in a liberal/plural society depends on this recognition.
Finally, though we often like to remind ourselves of our democratic credentials we usually tend to forget that from the very inception democratic government has been constitutional government and, therefore, also by definition limited government.
Yours faithfully,
Rishee Thakur
