Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter by Eusi Kwayana captioned “I strongly object to the appointment of Shri Gossai as an adviser on ethnic relations and culture” (07.01.17).
Before addressing issues regarding the letter I wish to make a few points;-
Prakash Gossai is not my friend I am a Hindu (by birth) and I am not a member of the PPP/C.
Kwayana has made it clear that he objects ‘to the appointment of Shri Gossai as an adviser on Ethnic Relations and Culture’, but I have a difficulty with identifying (from his letter) why he so objects. He was not clear as to whether his objection is based on:
(1) the constitutionality of the office,
(2) the religious convictions of Mr. Gossai,
(3) the idea that Mr. Gossai is a man of ‘spirituality’,
(4) the fact that Mr. Gossai is a priest based in New York or
(5) the qualifications of Mr. Gossai.
Kwayana raised the issue of how the man (Shri Gossai) who is a spiritual leader does not have followers, he has supporters. Purely semantics Mr. Kwayana, purely semantics. But for the record this man has a gathering of people in several countries (I am one of those) who are willing to follow him to various corners of the universe to hear his discourses (religious sermons). Shri Gossai does not need supporters but he has quite a gathering, which is evident by the fact that whenever he offers a discourse on Hinduism, the number of people who attend allows the reasonable prudent person to believe he is a saint. If he was lecturing to the same people in the hope of obtaining their vote to an elected office one could then consider the word supporters. No Mr. Kwayana, Shri Gossai does not need supporters but he does have quite a gathering when he offers a discourse based on the sacred texts of Hinduism.
Is Shri Gossai qualified for the post? If he is not then maybe Mr. Kwayana can advise the President as to who is. Shri Gossai taught for many years in New York City where the students are from quite a diversified background (you ought to know what the demographics of a New York school is like), he has travelled the world over (countries too many to list) as an exponent of Hinduism, has had people of many different ethnic backgrounds as his audience and he was always able to hold their rapt attention. In all the discourses that I have been privileged to attend not once did I get the impression that he meant to tell the people that they can be saved only by being Hindus. In fact he, as any Hindu priest, would tell you that “Hinduism encompasses all”. Oh Shri Gossai has a Masters Degree.
Now Mr. Kwayana, can you tell me who you would rather have as ‘adviser on Ethnic Relations and Culture?’ A man who has established, internationally, that the religion he believes in and preaches about, ‘encompasses all’
