Above: Mr Zed usurping Western sacred synbols. Below: Corrupt, crooked, criminal politicians can wear the bindi with pride and immunity?
Daily Fix
Missing the Mark:
Universal Society of Hinduism vs Selena Gomez
T. SHER SINGH
Religion -- as opposed to spirituality -- it appears, hardens one’s arteries and starves one’s blood vessels, thus restricting the blood flow into the brain.
This is no new medical revelation. Here is the evidence:
On Monday, April 15, 2013, popular actress-singer Selena Gomez sang and performed her new hit, “Come and Get It” at the MTV awards show.
In typical Hollywood manner, she put together and wore a costume and accessories to concoct, what was in her mind, an image reflecting the song which was inspired by Punjabi/Bhangra lyrics and accompanied by a tabla, et al.
As part of her act, she displayed a bindi on her forehead.
Right on cue, a group that calls itself the “Universal Society of Hinduism” -- one of hundreds of such instant groups that have sprung up recently all over the West -- immediately condemned Selena.
For wearing a bindi!
Why, pray?
Because, say the officials at the Universal Society of Hinduism, her wearing a bindi was “insensitive”.
How, pray?
“The bindi on the forehead,” explains the society’s spokesman Rajan Zed who touts himself a ’Hindu statesman’, “is an ancient tradition in Hinduism and has religious significance.”
Duh!?
"It is also,” the Hindu statesman continues, “sometimes referred to as the third eye and the flame, and it is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol ... It is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory aiming at mercantile greed."
Not a fashion accessory?
Sacred?
Before we get to the sacredness bit, let’s deal with first things first.
Mr Zed's views on fashion.
I don’t understand why the honourable “Hindu statesman” has himself abandoned the other, more significant Hindu sacred symbols -- the dhoti and the choti -- before defending the bindi?
[The dhoti is the flapping sheet worn by Hindu males, with one end pulled up between the legs and tucked into the rear, at the waist. The choti is the pigtail, again exclusive to the Hindu male, to ensure a firm hold as he is transported to heaven when he dies.]
And why, pray, has he usurped western sacred symbols such as the gentleman’s suit and tie, while chiding others on their fashion choices? I mean, surely one requires a minimum level of IQ before one can don these western symbols, Mr Zed? Isn’t it risque for a brahmin priest to be wearing trousers? Or shoes?
Now, let’s turn to the bindi.
If my grandfather was around, he would have simply asked Mr Zed in direct Punjabi fashion: “Why, does it belong to your daddy? Oye, keh eh terey pyo di hai?”
But I won’t.
Instead, I’m willing to risk adding a smidgen of seriousness to Mr Zed’s oral diarrhea by asking some logical questions:
The current incarnation of ‘Mother India’ -- Sonia Gandhi -- continues a long Indian tradition by heading the most corrupt family dynasty known to the country since the Dogras. If she can wear a bindi and all the brahmins of the land are willing to trip over each other in trying to genuflect before her, what then is sacred about the bindi?
If mass-murderers like Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar can sport a bindi smudge at will and have the Hindu masses of the land laud them as their leaders, what then is sacred about the bindi?
If the prostitutes of Mumbai freely advertise their wares while wearing the bindi … if Bollywood’s icons openly glitter in their bindi dots and smudges while pretending to be porno acrobats on both pop stage and screen, what’s Hindu and ancient and sacred and symbolic about the bindi, pray?
Not meaning to belabour the point, I have just two more things to say.
First, I believe that anyone claiming any kind of ‘religious leadership’ should first be required to take a test and prove a level of intelligence at least as high as Gomer Pyle‘s.
Secondly, I want to address Mr Rajan Zed directly:
Ever been shopping at a Target store? Well, the next time you are there to pick up another $2.99 tie (a western sacred symbol) to bolster your wardrobe, look at their logo.
It’s a huge B-I-N-D-I.
Now, git!
Go, sic 'em! Go nip at their ankles, and tell them about your sacred bindi.
That should keep you in business for a while.
And save good Hindus more embarrassment.
April 19, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Gagan Kaur (New Delhi, India ), April 19, 2013, 6:53 AM.
Good reason for us Sikh self-respecting women to refrain from wearing the stupid thing and stop looking like a bloody target! Thank you, Mr Zed, for pointing out how ridiculous it is for anyone to wear the silly thing in this day and age.
2: Baidyanath Dinkar (Jaipur, Rajasthan, India), April 19, 2013, 7:37 AM.
Really embarrassing! Superstitions and rituals do dull the brain. I'm glad he's left India and spreading his venom elsewhere. Keep him there, please.
3: Kanwarjeet Singh (USA), April 19, 2013, 4:50 PM.
Aren't these the same people who say to the Sikhs: 'When in Rome do as the Romans do' - meaning that Sikhs should shed their looks and fit in so as not to be racially targeted and 'mistaken' for being Muslim. What hypocrisy! I always wonder what should I do about my skin even though I may lose my turban and beard (hypothetical, of course).
4: Raj (Canada), April 19, 2013, 10:40 PM.
Not to mention, the shoes he's wearing are from Alberta-raised cow's leather. Wearing mummy's skin ...
5: N Singh (Canada), April 19, 2013, 11:18 PM.
This is how much respect desis have for the bindi: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311800/Five-year-old-girl-raped-days-kidnapped-neighbour-Delhi-paedophile-crime-month.html - the world's largest rapeocracy and mockery.