Shankaracharya’s Constitution Remark Sparks Firestorm – Here’s Why It Matters
Let’s be honest—when a prominent religious figure says something controversial about India’s Constitution, you know it’s going to get messy. That’s exactly what happened when Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati sat down with NDTV last week. His claim? The Constitution has “divided the country and society into two pieces.” Boom. Instant Twitter war.
Who Is This Guy Anyway?
Okay, first things first. The Shankaracharya isn’t just some random priest—he’s one of the four top dogs in Hindu spiritual leadership. Think of him like a CEO of one of India’s biggest religious brands. He’s got form too—remember that whole caste debate last year? Yeah, same guy. Love him or hate him, when he talks, people listen.
Breaking Down That Explosive Quote
So what exactly did he say? During the interview, he dropped this gem: “The Constitution has divided the country and society into two pieces.” No sugarcoating there. But here’s the thing—he didn’t really explain which parts he meant. Was it about reservations? Religious rights? Federalism? Who knows. And that vagueness is exactly why everyone’s losing their minds.
Some folks are nodding along—”Finally someone said it!” Others? They’re practically spitting their chai. A constitutional expert I spoke to put it best: “It’s like blaming the stitching when the fabric itself is torn.”
The Political Circus Begins
You can guess how this played out:
- BJP: *crickets* (Well, mostly. A few mumbled “respect all views” lines.)
- Congress: Full drama mode. “Attack on our founding document!” etc.
- Legal folks: Pissed. One retired judge called it “dangerous nonsense” off the record.
Twitter? Oh Boy.
#Shankaracharya was trending for two straight days. You had:
- Hardcore supporters: “He’s speaking truth to power!”
- Angry liberals: “This is why we need secularism”
- Random meme pages: *inserts SRK “Don” gif*
The Dalai Lama’s office even chimed in with that classic “unity in diversity” line. You know it’s serious when Tibetans are weighing in on Indian politics.
Why This Hits Different
Here’s what most people miss—the Constitution wasn’t written for some utopian society. It was crafted for a country fresh from Partition, still bleeding from colonial wounds. The reservation system? Minority rights? They weren’t about division—they were bandages for wounds that already existed.
But try explaining that in 280 characters. Impossible.
The Media Angle
NDTV’s getting flak too—”Why give airtime to divisive rhetoric?” But let’s be real, they knew exactly what they were doing. Controversy equals ratings. They made up for it later with a panel of experts, but the damage was done.
Why Should You Care?
Because this isn’t just about one interview. It’s about what happens when we start questioning the very document that holds this crazy, diverse country together. Next thing you know, someone’s suggesting we rewrite the Preamble before chai breaks.
Final Thought
Everyone’s got hot takes on the Constitution these days. But here’s the reality—it’s easy to criticize, harder to offer solutions. Maybe instead of tearing it apart, we should focus on making it work better. Just a thought.
FAQs (Because People Keep Asking)
Q: Did he really say the Constitution divides India?
Yep. Word for word.
Q: Is this the first time a religious leader attacked the Constitution?
Nope. But rarely this directly.
Q: What’s the most misunderstood part of our Constitution?
Probably Article 15. People think it creates division—actually prevents discrimination.
Q: Will this blow over?
*laughs in election season*
Source: NDTV Khabar – Latest
