Tuesday, November 2, 2010

[ZESTCaste] ‘English devi’ temple stalled

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/109098/english-devi-temple-stalled.html

Matter of faith

'English devi' temple stalled
Lucknow, October 30, DHNS:

The administration in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur-Kheri district, about
150 km from here, has stopped the construction of a temple being built
for 'English devi' (goddess of English).


The officials said no prior permission was taken for the construction
of such a temple and hence its construction had been stopped. The
temple was being constructed at a college in the Dalit-dominated Banka
village in the district.

The 'English devi' temple was slated to be inaugurated on October 25
last, the birth anniversary of Lord Macaulay (who was instrumental in
intoducing English education in India) but it was delayed, as the
construction work was not over due to incessant rains.

While the manager of the college, Amar Chandra Johar, criticised the
authorities for not allowing the construction, he later said no prior
permission was taken by the college management. "Such a temple could
trigger caste-related tension not only in the area but throughout the
state," sources quoting district officials said.

Johar said the idea behind constructing a temple after 'English devi'
was to popularise English among the Dalits. The idol of 'English
devi' had been brought from Delhi. It holds a computer in one hand and
a pen in the other. The temple too is designed like a computer, with
stairs designed like keyboard leading to it.

The directive of the authorities however has not deterred the
villagers. They have installed the statue of the 'English devi'
outside the college premises and were singing songs praising her.


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