The time-honoured Carnival tradition of attacking Hindus

It appears that no Carnival season will be complete unless there is a verbal assault on the Indian community and the Hindu community in particular by those who claim to be calypsonians. Unfortunately this year has been no different. On Thursday February 12, 2004 the Tobago House of Assembly held its Inter-departmental Carnival Show at Shaw Park. At this show a representative from the Airport Authority of Crown Point Airport made an appearance at the show at about 9.30 pm with an insult to the Tobago Hindu community.

She made her appearance with a lighted deya on the stage and she then proceeded into a religious devotion to Lord Shiva. When this was complete she placed the deya on the ground and went straight into a suggestive ‘wine’ to the tune of Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon’s “Indian Man.” This week the Hindu community celebrates the holy event of Maha Shivaratri therefore the use of a Lord Shiva devotion on a Carnival stage cannot be termed as coincidental. This act of defilement is being viewed by Tobago Hindus as a pre-meditated act. Other than Divali, Maha Shivaratri is the most auspicious event for the Hindu community. Maha Shivaratri falls on the 13th day of Krishana Paksha of Maagha Maasa (February - March). It is a night of fasting and prayer in honour of Lord Shiva in His aspect of destroying sins and all things bad.

At all the Maha Sabha mandirs will be marked on that night with prayers and religious songs. While non-Hindu Trinidadians are busy revelling and devouring the last bits of Carnival, the devout Hindu will be praying at home or at a mandir. On Friday February 13, 2004 the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Tobago branch was inundated with calls from the Hindus on the island protesting this latest insult to Tobago Hindus. The President of the SDMS Tobago branch contacted the performer to ascertain the exact details of the event as well as to relay the sentiments of the Hindu community. Much to the surprise of the SDMS branch President, she refused to discuss the matter. Tobago Hindus still vividly recall the statements in the run up to the last Tobago House of Assembly Elections when the Tobago PNM leader, Orville London stated in a political meeting ‘if we leave this island in the hands of that individual [Panday] and his minions, by 2005 everyone of you who look like me will be third-class citizens in this country and that is a reality.’ London further warned that ‘the predators have entered our bedrooms and we don’t have the ammunition and the will to drive them out.’ The NAR’s Hochoy Charles also echoed a similar statement when he claimed that the ‘Indians’ were coming to Tobago to take lands from Tobagonians.

In Trinidad Xtatik lead singer Machel Montano stunned members of the audience when he unveiled a computer-generated image called the “Delay Lama” image during his performance at “Ladies Night Out II” concert at Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, on the night of Tuesday February 10, 2004. The Buddha Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Buddha, the ascetic prince who renounced the throne to lead the world on the path of peace. He is the founder of the Buddhist religion prominent across the world. This however is an acceptable target for Trinidad Carnival. His Holiness the 14th the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva (Buddha) of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people. The Dalai Lama has won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, lives a spiritual life in India and revered by millions of Buddhists. Therefore this portrayal by Xtatik of Lord Buddha and the twisting of the Dalai Lama is viewed as having poor taste.

This however is not the first time that Xtatik has exploited Hindu imagery in its Carnival performance. Carnival 1998 Xtatik essentially defamed the Hindu deity Lord Krishna in its song “Harry Krishna.” This year has also seen Cro Cro’s “Face Reality” which has angered the Indo-Trinidadian community and the Hindu community. It is a matter of statistical fact that the majority of kidnapped victims were Indians and indeed Hindus. Yet ‘Face Reality’ has been dismissed by politicians and those who perhaps secretly sees this commentary as well deserving against the Indian community. In 1965 Bhadase Sagan Maraj threatened bloodshed if the proposed band on Hindu Gods was not stopped. Later in 1965 Mr Simbhoonath Capildeo made a logical and an impassioned plea in the House of Representatives that the government of the day intervene in the portrayal of Hindu deities in a Carnival band.

The PNM government responded and paid the bandleaders for their costumes and then destroyed them. In 1997 Mr Satnarayan Maharaj made an identical request with regards to the portrayal of Lord Shiva in Peter Minshall’s band. Will only the threat of violence stop this constant attack on Hinduism and the Indian Community? The struggle contines...