Ganesha: The Deity for Knowledge-Based Society

by NANDKUMAR KAMAT
Posted on 2008-09-01
THIS is an important week for the worshippers of knowledge because two events-one cultural and another secular would be celebrated across the country. The first one has a pan-Indian international appeal – the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi – a two millennia old celebration of ecotheological precepts of Indian civilisation.
The second is Teachers’ day. On September 5 is the 120th birth anniversary of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan – India’s only philosopher president.
Interestingly both the events have one thing in common – the worship of the ecosystem of knowledge. Although the sacred river of the Vedas – Saraswati was later immortalised as the Goddess of knowledge – Lord Ganesha is worshipped all over India as ‘buddhidata’ – the wisdom giver and as the Lord of happiness. It is the fundamental duty of a teacher to see humankind wiser and happier.
The wisest of the people in the society may not necessarily be educated. The most educated people in the society need not be necessarily wise. Dr Radhakrishnan impressed the world of capitalists and communists with timeless eastern wisdom and philosophy. He used to speak fluently on the most complex philosophical topics without referring to any notes – a hallmark of true and great teachers. Lord Ganesha is a very ancient national symbol representing multicultural strands of India’s complex civilisational fabric. The Hindu tantriks, the rice farmers, the sugarcane cultivators, the trading guilds, the village artisans and the seafaring merchants popularised it.
Under the British rule, India was experiencing an overwhelming transformation of its’ political, social and cultural ethos. Radical social reformists like Mahatma Jyotirao Phule impressed by European liberal ideas were ridiculing conservatism of the Hindus and were seeking liberation from oppression through modern liberal education. When the society was undergoing such ferment – Lokmannya Tilak appeared on the horizon. He believed in the unity of all Indians. He found immense appeal in the worship of Lord Ganesha. He laid down the foundation of public Ganesha festivals in Maharashtra. Lokamanya aimed to convert the platform of the public festival into a movement to forge unity of Indians seeking self-rule.
The mass cultural awakening which the festival generated in Maharashtra and elsewhere was unprecedented. It boosted voluntarism, patriotism and artistic and literary creativity. The stage was already prepared for the entry of Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 when Tilak expired. The tradition of public Ganesha festivals continued in Maharashtra. In Mumbai alone, about 10,000 committees celebrate Ganesha festival publicly and the total economic turnover surpasses billions of rupees in a few days. The idol immersion procession in Mumbai is one of the largest, unique and so far a peaceful event in whole of Asia. The Pune Ganesh festival with patronage from government and corporate sector has become one of the internationally famous cultural festivals. Knowledge is the focal point of the 21st century. India has come a long way since the days of Mahatma Phule, Lokmanaya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Radhakrishnan. Today India is dominating the world in information technology. Within a decade India would emerge very strongly in biotechnology, nanotechnology, communications technology, space sciences and ocean technologies. The country of 550 million youth would be in a position to explore its’ hidden talent and potential provided we give a creative meaning to the celebrations of our popular festivals. Perhaps for the first time many educational institutions may be forced to prepone or postpone the celebration of the Teachers’ day.
Why not the public Ganesha festival celebration committees keep teachers’ day on their programme agenda? The parent teachers’ associations could be involved in these celebrations. Goa has more than five thousand teachers in the formal sector of education. The enrolment of female students is showing a consistent and phenomenal rise in the institutions of higher education. Societies, which experience radical gender transition in higher education also have greater creative potential which benefits the economy.
The communication and multimedia revolution, which has extensively networked a small state like Goa, is a great boon to the worshippers of knowledge ecosystem. How effectively they would transmit the real message of the Ganesha festival and teachers’ day to the half million young knowledge consumers in Goa? The ecotheological precepts of the theogony of Ganesha directly connects the festival to the current concerns about the conservation and maintenance of the earth’s biosphere. Mere ritualistic idol worship would not have any meaning unless the symbolism is demystified and interpreted to suit the changing times. If our children understand that the worship of Lord Ganesha is actually the symbolic worship of earth, the biosphere and the sources of all knowledge then it would be easier for them to connect the rituals to reality. Innovatively, the celebration of teachers’ day could also be made more meaningful by stressing on the importance of the thankless mission of the teachers in the most demanding 21st century. Swami Vivekananda and Dr Radhakrishnan had a common vision – rebuilding a modern, secular, peaceful, progressive and prosperous India that would lead to the creation of knowledge based, truly enlightened, equitable and just society. But contrary to their expectations, the Indian society is seen drifting in the opposite direction with sectarianism, secessionism, communalism, fundamentalism and terrorism raising their ugly heads. The teachers have a great role to play under these circumstances to engineer positive thinking, inspire patriotism and globalism, ignite activism and create a new social architecture conducive for an explosion of powerful, creative ideas.
What was it in the personality of Dr Radhakrishnan, which made the notorious dictator of the erstwhile Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin to bow his head in profound respect? What magnetism the teachers of today have to make not only the students but even the most powerful, the wealthiest and the mightiest bow their heads before them?
The world has seen the likes of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Panini, Patanjali, Bharatmuni, Lord Jesus, Gautam Buddha, Paigambar, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Lao Tse, Confucias and in the modern times Booker T Washington, Gandhiji, Vinoba, Maharishi Karve, Bhaurao Patil, Vithal Ramji Shinde, Aurobindo, J Krishnamurti, Osho Rajneesh etc who were great teachers. Individually they had wielded such a power over the human mind that it is difficult for the world to forget the magic of their wisdom and the sincerity of their missions.
The present week needs to be considered as a sacred week to celebrate our heritage of knowledge and wisdom. India is destined to become a knowledge superpower. The enthusiasm of young Indians needs to be creatively and meaningfully channelised. Rituals and festivals are just useful tools for our common final goal – India and Indians have suffered too much on account of ignorance, poverty and bad governance. Let us now vow to make a radical difference with the blessings of Ganesha – the Lord of biosphere, knowledge and happiness.