Hindus have welcomed the rejection by Tomsk regional court in Siberia (Russia) of proposed move to ban ancient scripture Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord).
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), thanked the honourable Court welcoming its decision of reaffirming the December lower court ruling and pointed out that it did the right and sensible thing befitting a democratic, open-minded and pluralistic society.
Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Bhagavad Gita was one of the holiest scriptures of Hinduism and banning it would have deeply hurt the devotees. He thanked the efforts of Hindus and other friends worldwide who supported the ban rejection.
Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and rich philosophical thought.
Zed argued that attempt at banning Bhagavad Gita was apparently an attack on religious freedom and belittling of the entire community.
Rajan Zed stressed that this philosophical and intensely spiritual poem, often considered the epitome of Hinduism, was highly revered by Hindus. Besides being the cornerstone of Hindu faith, Bhagavad Gita was also one of the masterpieces of Sanskrit poetry and a world treasure and had been commented by hundreds of authors and translated into all major languages of the world.
Established in 1604, Tomsk, one of the oldest towns in Siberia, is a major center for Russia’s IT industry and houses Siberia’s oldest university Tomsk State University. Nikolay Nikolaychuk is reportedly the acting Mayor.
