By a Secular Hindu and Media Veteran
At 82, having spent over five decades in journalism, I write this with a heavy heart—not as a critic, but as a concerned citizen, a devout Hindu, and above all, a lifelong practitioner of true secularism.
Mr. Revanth Reddy, I know you may not have personally directed it, but the responsibility still rests squarely with you. When the image of Goddess Saraswati—revered by millions as the embodiment of wisdom and learning—was placed at the feet of political leaders, including yourself and your spouse, it struck a raw nerve. That act, whether born of ignorance or overzealous party workers, was not just inappropriate. It was deeply offensive.
You may ask, why such outrage? Because for countless Hindu families, especially from Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, visiting the Basara temple is not a mere ritual—it’s a sacred journey. It marks the anna prasana of a child, a ceremony that invokes Saraswati Devi’s blessings for a life rooted in knowledge and righteousness. Basara, after all, is the only major shrine of the Goddess in South India.
Your government deserves credit for organizing the Saraswati Pushkaralu—an initiative that celebrates our ancient cultural fabric and could also boost the state’s Endowments Department. But when such a spiritually significant occasion is marred by an insensitive portrayal of the Goddess, it becomes more than a PR misstep. It turns into a breach of trust with the very people who hold that Goddess dear.
I have never played religious politics in my life. My colleagues know me as a true secularist—someone who respects all faiths equally, whether fasting during Ramadan or observing Christmas services. I am proud to belong to a nation where pluralism has been our strength. But secularism must never come at the cost of Hindu dignity.
We saw how your predecessor indulged in blatant minority appeasement—handing out doles while turning a blind eye to Hindu concerns. You were seen as a refreshing departure from that legacy. But this incident, unfortunately, dilutes that distinction. Add to that your refusal to visit the Bhagyalakshmi Temple under the historic Charminar, and one begins to wonder if political caution is trumping cultural sensitivity.
Mr. Chief Minister, you showed courage when you openly admitted the state’s financial crisis. I urge you to show similar moral courage now. Tender an unconditional apology to the Hindu community. Visit both the Saraswati temple at Basara and the Bhagyalakshmi temple in Hyderabad. Bow your head—not as a politician, but as a responsible citizen who understands the pulse of his people.
Faith is not a vote bank. It is emotion, identity, and reverence. Please do not allow ignorance—yours or your party’s—to widen the distance between your government and the Hindu majority. We deserve better. So does Goddess Saraswati.
— A Hurt Yet Hopeful Indian
