Why are Indians obsessed with idols?

Call it fascination or obsession or lust, but Indians love idols. Idols or statues are ubiquitous. We love to have them at markets, railway stations, bus stations, schools, colleges, government buildings, historical monuments, road dividers, chau-rasta, gali, mohalla, nukkad, mod, pole etc. Be it a politician/ scientist/ historian/ freedom fighter/ diplomat/  orator/ teacher/ doctor/ engineer/ inspiring leader or whatever, we revere them by dedicating a statue or bust or idol or portraits to him/her in all possible sizes like medium, XL, XXL, XXXL (probably) and draped in all the possible colours known to man. India, naturally, has a pantheon of leaders and visionaries who are worthy of receiving such an honour. In fact, idolatry seems to seduce Indians in a way denizens of no other country experience.

So, why do I say that we are obsessed? Today, installing a statue has, nevertheless, become a tool for political showmanship. We have more statues or idols than we’ve ever had and this is increasing at a frenetic rate. And that too, for all the ludicrous reasons. Today, the greatness of a leader is directly proportional to the number of his idols across the country. The size of the statue is a metric of his/her public appeal. The place of installation is a benchmark of his/her achievements. The person invited for inaugurating is a determinant of his/her prominence. The frequency of ksheerabhishekams decide his his/her charisma and fan-fare. The number of rasta rokos, rail rokos, bandhs, lathi-charges upon vandalizing or desecration signifies his/her mass following.

In all the toothless-hortatory surrounding this issue, we’ve forgotten the very vision behind this exercise which our forefathers had in their mind. They thought that by carving out a legend in stone, we were not only immortalizing his/her silhouette, but also his/her valuable teachings and lasting legacies for the future generations who would tread the path shown by them. That their resolute to do something extraordinary for their fellow beings and their undisputable sacrifices could imbibe in us those much needed qualities that would make us a  benevolent and charitable race and that would make us a great nation. By remembering them on their birth/death anniversary, we would commit ourselves to excellence and to relentlessly pursue our goal with patience, passion and perseverance.

But, is this the key idea behind all the installations that we’re witnessing today or is the real motive one of gaining undue credence or political mileage? Let’s consider the following-

1.       How about when I told you that former UP CM Ms. Mayawati set out on an idol installation spree, and in a bizarre case, inaugurated her own statue and that of her party symbol also?

2.      What if I were to tell you that recently Anna Hazare complained to BJP supremo Rajnath Singh to clear all hindrances for installation of his idol in Haryana?  

3.      How would you react when I’d tell you that YSRCP, a yet-to-be-recognized political party in AP, undertook a vow to install statues of slain leader YSR, its ideological mentor, in every village and town of AP?

4.      What’d you think when I’d told you that installation of “Statue of Unity” that is mooted to be the largest in India is being constructed by allegedly breaking the environmental laws in Gujarat?

These are but a few instances where those who relentlessly pursue their goal to encroach and fill every inch of free space available to install the idols of their demi-gods while we continue to transform into a passive, pseudo-democratic, pseudo-secular, corrupt, violent and intolerant race. While we bow in reverence to the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and hurl abuses at one another during the closed door battles in the parliament. While we sing paeans to extol Pt. Nehru and incite communal violence across the country.

This reminds me of a scene  from the movie Lage Raho Munnabhai where Bapu urges people to desecrate his idols, tear his portraits and remove his image from the currency notes but to keep him in his heart and follow his path of truth and non-violence. Only that will give him solace.

A small request to the idol-crazy-brethren – the next time you plan to undertake any such exercise, kindly re-check yourself and give it a thought. Because erecting an idol is only a battle half won. The other half is to be committed to tread the path shown by their demi-god and carry on his legacy forward.