Era Fm Kavadi Uproar Teach Students About Thaipusam Aidiladha Lent Etc

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A video clip making the rounds which shows 3 DJs of Era FM’s Pagi Era show mimicking the kavadi dance while chanting “Vel Vel” and laughing is seen by many devout Hindus as mocking their faith.
Tapah MP and MIC deputy president M Saravanan, in demanding a public apology, said: “This is not just stupidity – it’s a blatant insult to the faith and traditions of Hindus in Malaysia. Such a disgusting display of ignorance and disrespect has no place in our society.
“ERA FM as a media organisation should know better than to allow this kind of offensive nonsense.”
Many are asking whether ERA FM, or its parent Astro Audio, checked the video’s contents before uploading it, especially so because issues involving the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) have become ever more flammable over the past two decades or so.
The trio of DJs – Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jasmin and Radin Amir Affendy Ahmad Aruani – later apologised for the video and acknowledged that it was insensitive.
“We never intended to offend anyone, and we deeply respect the beliefs and values of every individual. We will be more careful in the future,” they said in a post on Era FM’s Instagram account.
The Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the parent body of Hindu organisations in the nation, accepted the apology, with its president T Ganesan stressing the need for media organisations and content creators to be extra careful in handling religious and cultural matters.
Unfortunately, comments by some others, including controversial convert-preacher Zamri Vinoth, have only made the situation worse.
Zamri has often been accused of belittling his former faith after converting to Islam, and numerous police reports have been made against him in recent years. Many Hindus have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of punitive action by the authorities.
Fortunately, not everyone has been making negative comments or adding fuel to the fire. Some netizens – including Muslims – have taken a more reasonable stance.
On social media, I came across Muslims saying it was wrong on the part of the trio to make fun of any religion. Some of them noted that Islam does not teach adherents to speak ill of other religions.
A few said because of the actions of a few Muslims – in this case the DJs – all Muslims would be similarly tarred as being insensitive to other religions. Their fear is real because we humans have a tendency to blame an entire community for the idiocy, childishness or terrorism of a few.
I also found some Hindus saying that the DJs were just having some fun and did not appear to be intentionally out to mock the religion.
This issue will die down soon. But we can be sure that another will burst onto the scene to once again raise interreligious and interracial tensions and test our collective common sense.
The government cannot be acting against individuals ever so frequently when it comes to insults to race or religion. The police have better things to do than look for those making such comments on social media or elsewhere.
Right now, the government is merely fighting fires. We need a long-term solution to reduce, if not prevent, fires.
And education is the most practical.
I propose that students – from primary to university level – be taught some aspects of the cultures and religions of all Malaysians. This will give them a better understanding of their fellow Malaysians and, hopefully, result in fewer cases of insults against someone’s race or religion.
Let me give the current kavadi issue as an example. If Malaysians of all races know why the kavadi is carried, they are less likely to make fun of it or ridicule it.
One has to follow strict discipline – such as eating only vegetarian food or fruits, sleeping on a mat, not thinking or speaking ill of anyone, not consuming alcohol and not killing even an insect – in order to carry the kavadi.
Now, if I understand that kavadi carrying is an act of purification to make one a better, more disciplined person, would I make fun of it or ridicule it? I would welcome it because it means there will be more disciplined people in Malaysia.
Those dancing with the kavadi often are in a trance, which is safely and voluntarily induced. The idea is to have an altered consciousness experience which transcends personality and the ego.
I speak from experience when I say that in such a trance, one disengages from the external and goes deep within himself, as part of the spiritualising process.
This is so much better than taking drugs to experience a state of altered consciousness. And dancing is an expression of joy anyway.
Why do devotees carrying the kavadi and those accompanying them to pay homage to Lord Mururga during Thaipusam shout “Vel!Vel!”?
The ‘Vel’ – a spear-like weapon carried by Lord Muruga – represents knowledge, wisdom and willpower. The Vel is sharp and pointed at the tip, broad at its sides and deep/long at the handle. The Vel indicates that humans should constantly acquire knowledge and wisdom which must be sharp, broad and deep to face the challenges of life.
Repeating “Vel!Vel!” reminds the devotee to constantly sharpen his mind – to have clarity of thought – so that he or she can progress successfully in life. And that this is the best weapon against one’s real enemies: the ego, ignorance, stupidity, selfishness, greed and laziness.
Now, if I understand that this is the meaning of the ‘Vel”, would I make fun of it or ridicule it?
Similarly, the education ministry can pick out certain popular celebrations or rituals in all cultures and religions – such as Lent, Wesak, Aidiladha, Gawai Dayak and Vaisakhi – and teach their significance to all Malaysians.
Certainly, the subject matter must be well thought out and teachers must exercise care in how they impart it to students. But this can be worked out. It’s not, as the saying goes, rocket science.
Another way is to prepare video clips with such explanations which can be frequently broadcast on local television channels and shared on social media.
If we do that, we could have a future generation that understands better the principles behind the various religious and cultural celebrations of their fellow Malaysians.
And we probably won’t have to deal with situations such as that created by the “mocking” of the kavadi dance by the DJs or insults to Islam or other religions. At the very least, we can drastically reduce such incidences. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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