Press Release
Hindus of Greater Houston
October 26, 2002
Police case registered against Fake
Shankaracharya
What do you call a twenty-nine year
old man from Varanasi, dressed in saffron, who twice went to Puri to claim
the seat of Shankaracharya and both times left following judicial orders
and police intervention? What do you call a man in saffron who says
that India's Home Minister L. K. Adwani is the world's worst terrorist
and claims that Iraq's President Saddam Hussain is a great bhakta (lover
of God).
Call him Adhokshyananda, or a fake
Shankarayacharya. It would make no difference at all.
Adhokshyananda was in news again
- this time in Houston. A police complaint was lodged against him when
he hit a senior person of the Indian-American community who had come to
hear him speak on Friday, October 25, 2002. The announced topic for Adhokshyananda
was "Extremism: Its Long-Term Impact on India." The event was organized
by the local chapter of AFMI (American Federation of Muslims of Indian
Origin).
Adhokshyananda started his address
with a prayer. But the prayer was followed by promptly by his spilling
of venom. Without stating any facts or figures, the Swami spoke evil of
many people, some of whom are respected and revered figures of India. He
called L K Advani a terrorist; Dr. Hedgewar, founder of RSS (Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh), the biggest traitor; and Ashok Singal, the VHP-Bharat
President, a leader of a terrorist organization. Moreover, he said that
the current Indian Government, the VHP, and the Bajrang Dal were all responsible
for the downfall of India. He said that these people are like bugs and
rodents who need to be crushed and for whom sword is not necessary.
Adhokshyananda went on rebuking,
perhaps unaware of the fact that he, by criticizing the present Government
and its countrymen, was creating more wrath by widening the gap between
Hindus and Muslims, in Houston as well as in India. He criticized the present
Indian government, stating that it is responsible for the attacks on minorities.
In stating so, perhaps he forgot that the present President who is the
supreme commander of all forces of India is from that same minority community.
After patiently hearing to Adhokshyananda's
talk, Mr. Ashok Dhingra, President-Elect of India Culture Center
(ICC), went to see him. "Swamiji, I am disappointed to hear the tone of
your language, which knows no love, peace, harmony and compassion," said
Mr. Dhingra humbly. To which Swami retorted, "If you don't like to hear
me, get out from this lecture". Mr. Dhingra, surprised but not losing an
inch of patience and composure, replied: "The abusive language you used
doesn't suit and fit the expectations one would have of hearing from a
Shankaracharya-the highest of priests."
Adhokshyananda, perhaps construing
Mr. Dhingra's feedback as revealing his fakeness, started lashing out at
Mr. Dhingra. In a fist of anger, Adhokshyananda hit Mr. Dhingra with his
staff not once but three times, injuring Mr. Dhingra's thumb and finger.
No wonder Mr. Dhingra filed a police report concerning the assault, hoping
that the same type of violent acts might not be repeated upon someone else.
Having personally experienced the wrath, Mr. Dhingra felt that Adhokshyananda
is a terrorist, hiding behind the saffron robe, and that AFMI should screen
their future guests before they present to the community.
It takes courage of people like
Mr. Dhingra who dare to "call a spade a spade" and who can help separate
the chaff from the grain, the fake from the real. Let us in the Indian-American
community resolve that every Hindu boycotts the so-called Shankaracharya,
Adhokshyananda.
