The famous Edinburgh International Theatre Festival is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Recently, a play has come to light that has invoked the ire of Hindus overseas. Titled ‘Hindu Times’, the play is in the news for all the wrong reasons.
In the name of being modern, this play denigrates Hindu deities, making them use abusive words, showing them in obscene positions, and much more. Written by Scottish-Indian writer Jaimini Jethwa and directed by Caitlin Skinner, Hindu Times is scheduled to be released at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh between August 20-21.
So, what is so wrong about it? Well, the play mocks the religious beliefs and shows revered Hindu deities such as Bhagwan Brahma, Bhagwan Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi in a bad light. According to the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Shri Rajan Zed, Hindu Gods and Goddesses are meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines. He emphasised that they should not be portrayed as looking for alcohol in Dundee and breaking into closed shops for liquor. Zed lambasted Edinburgh International Festival for sacrilege, ridiculing the Hindu community and belittling other traditions. He has called upon Edinburgh International Festival to apologise for its inappropriate selection of a play.
Rajan urged the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival to train its executives for ‘cultural sensitivity’ and re-evaluate the systems and procedures in place to avoid selection of plays such as ‘Hindu Times.’ He has urged the partners and funders of the Edinburgh Theatre Festival such as the British Council, the Scottish Government, UK government to rethink their association with it.
The play has now drawn the ire of the 1.2 billion Hindus for deliberate mishandling and depiction of the Hindu faith. Reportedly, one of the scenes also showed Goddess Lakshmi and Bhagwan Brahma using the ‘F-word’. Kuldeep Shekhawat, Overseas Friends of BJP UK, too expressed anger with the Edinburgh Theatre Festival for its selection of a play that portrays Hinduism in a bad light. “We request EIF to withdraw this play if it is making derogatory remarks,” he said.
These days, it has kind of become a fashion to denigrate and shame Hindus, be it within India or outside India. However, the good news that Hindus have stopped taking such nonsense lightly. If someone creates such offensive stuff, he/she is also paid back in the same coin as well. This is evident from the anger and criticism that anti-Hindu web series and movies have faced in India recently.