District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram Ridicules Swami Vivekananda and Lord Krishna

District collector of Thiruvananthapuram has stirred the hornet’s nest with his recent ridicule of Swami Vivekananda and Lord Krishna. Collector Biju Prabhakar bared his mind before the audience at Thiruvananthapuram Civil Station Residents’ Association Annual Meet when he openly derided the installation of Swami Vivekananda’s statue at Kawadiyar Park and the age old custom of Uriyadi or “custom of breaking curd/ sweet pots” held in connection with Sreekrishna Jayanthi. Many have expressed their ire against the collector’s resentment of Hindu deities and luminaries.

However, this is not the first time that Biju Prabhakar has derided cultural observances related to Hindu festivals. The Collector had, on an earlier occasion, sent police force with an order to remove loud speakers, failing which, temple authorities were threatened with dire consequences. The person operating loud speakers in the temple was arrested.

The collector’s attitude evoked sharp criticism from various quarters, having been termed as ‘anti-national’ and ‘ridiculing beliefs’. According to sources, Biju Prabhakar is said to have remarked that “installation of the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Kowdiar Park was a gross mistake” and that the park served as “children’s park”

It was a gross mistake to have erected the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Kawadiar Park, a childrens’ park. Swami Vivekanandan once remarked that Kerala is a land of lunatics. By having set up the statue, it has been proved too,” sources quoted Biju.

Another of the collector’s statement ridiculing the “custom of breaking curd/ sweet pots in prominent places of the town/ city during SreeKrishna Jayanthi celebrations”, which according to the Collector “creates difficulties for common men and passer-bys”. The Collector, according to sources, spoke in a way which made his displeasure towards SreeKrishna Jayanthi celebrations and processions quite evident, suggesting a directive that “the custom of breaking curd/ sweet pot could have been avoided”.

Allegations against him state that he has conveniently shut a blind eye towards celebrations and ensuing processions in connection with Islam and Christianity, but made it a point to highlight and ridicule processions and observances related to any Hindu festival

Responses