New Delhi, Oct 13: After a Dalit magazine in its October issue published an article derogatory to Hindu Goddess Durga and Delhi Police raided the office of Forward Press and reportedly confiscated copies of the magazine’s October issue, Editor-in-chief of Forward Press Ivan Kostka and consulting editor Pramod Ranjan have gone into hiding. After two students of Jawaharlal Nehru University filed a complaint in Vasant Kunj Police Station in East Delhi, police took this action. The article titled ‘King Mahishasura’s martyrdom’ portrayed the demon king as a hero. The article also ridiculed Goddess Durga and called her a ‘vile woman.’ The article says, “Durga drank liquor to her heart’s content, before the murder of King Mahishasura.”
“Durga seduced Mahishasura in his bed chamber. She lived with Mahishasursa for seven days.” While speaking to Niti Central, Hindu scholar and Vishva Hindu Parishad’s national spokesperson Prof Surendra Jain said, “It is unfortunate that Hindu Gods and Goddess are being repeatedly targeted by the so-called secularists. The VHP will drag the magazine to court for hurting Hindu sentiments.”
But Pramod Ranjan, consulting editor of FORWARD Press does not feel so and was quoted as saying in a report in the hindu, “A special section has been devoted to ‘Bahujan-Shraman tradition’ and carries well-researched articles of leading writers and professors from prestigious universities. The Bahujan rendition of the story of Mahishasura and Durga has been presented in words and through sketches and paintings.” As per the Hindu legend, Goddess Durga had fought Mahishasura in a battle for nine days and on the tenth day, the Goddess defeated and killed Mahishasura. Thus, Vijaya Dashmi is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.