Re: New Campaign Against Domestic Violence towards Women Using images of Devi
Namaste Avyaydya,
I had not thought of how this campaign could have the capacity to numb its audience into feeling less whenever they see these shocking images, but you make a very good point. There are instances when shock imagery and campaigning can used as a highly effective wake-up call for people who perhaps hitherto the issue only were partially aware, or showed and real consciousness of what was going on. Road safety advertisements and tobacco warnings are just some which spring to memory, but there have been others that I can recall simply because of the stark imagery and wording.
But as I pointed out in my original post, other than give a general kind of shock across the Hindu populace and maybe bring back to the world's awareness that India is starting to wake up to the violence that can occur amongst womankind, what other purpose is there in showing Devi in this manner? One thing is for certain. I have never seen the same kind of use of religious figure in other campaigns that was not meant to be purposely derisive. I could not comprehend actually seeing Jesus Christ or Mohammed being portrayed in a similar fashion without there being some explosive uproar and backlash against campaigners. Perhaps it is just because I am not Indian myself and so I have not the benefit of an intimate understanding of the political and cultural underworkings of how Hindu Deities are treated across a multi-faith nation, but I am growing more and more convinced everyday as I come across stories regarding Hindus and Hinduism that my fellow posters here may not be exaggerating in the slightest when they claim there is an anti-Hindu agenda out there in India, and indeed maybe the rest of the world.
Om namah Shivaya
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
Om Gam Ganapataye namah
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu
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