SHRI RAM SHAW
NEW DELHI: Premiere of a documentary movie titled “दिल्ली में हिन्दू पुजारियों की दुर्दशा” (Plight of Hindu priests in Delhi) produced by “Equal Rights For Hindus” (ERFH) was conducted at the deputy speaker hall of the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, bringing to the fore about the untold saga of Hindu Pujaris & Purohits in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The documentary depicts the trials and tribulations being faced by them, which exacerbated during the spread of Covid pandemic when Temples were closed and community events were banned or restricted. As we know, the Hindu Pujaris & Purohits who are completely dependent on Dakshina faced their worst nightmare during those days as they did not receive any help from the Government either.
And there is no significant improvement in the post-Covid period either. For various reasons, the community support system in Hindu society has also been waning. The next generation of Hindu Pujaris & Purohits now stands at crossroads, in a dilemma whether or not to follow the traditional vocation which would not augur well for Hindus and Hinduism.
The Film showed the utter neglect of Hindu clergy by Hindu society as well as the Governments, and to request to the Governments to sanction monthly Honorarium of Rs. 25,000 to every Hindu Pujari & Purohit or an amount at par with that being to Muslim Imams etc.
The Movie premiere was followed by a brief presentation given by the founder of ERFH and Former Director of CBI M. Nageswara Rao where he spoke about the concept behind the formation of ERFH and how Hindus have been denied equal rights by articles 25 to 30 of the Constitution, followed by the speech of the Chief Guest renowned scholar and linguist Prof Kapil Kapoor who gave historical references about how the priests and Purohit class preserved Hindu religion and culture when India was being brutally attacked by the invaders.
This was followed by a panel discussion where Panel gave their views. The Panel comprised of Delhi Study Group founder Vijay Jolly, Swami Vigyanand, Retired IAS officer Dasari Srinivasulu, Ashish Dhar, Journalist Pandit Ram Gopal Shukla along with the founder of ERFH M Nageswara Rao and Chief Guest Prof Kapil Kapoor. Smt Rati Hegde and Smt Ritu Rathaur from ERFH moderated the panel and gave the Thank you note respectively. Pujaris who were interviewed in the documentary attended the function and were felicitated.