'Since when does the Bhagwad Gita need Sushma Swaraj?': Highlights from Firstpost Salon

The guest for the first edition of Firstpost Salon was author and journalist Aatish Taseer, who joined us for a lively discussion about one of the more incendiary topics in Indian politics: the elite of Delhi. Here are some of the most memorable moments from the conversation with the author of The Way Things Were.

‘Since when does the Bhagwad Gita need Sushma Swaraj?’

Given the multiplicity of statements regarding India’s history and the battle on highlighting the achievements of our ancestors, the author said right wing groups need to exercise caution.

When asked about the dangers of right wing groups reshaping the past and creating a bubble about Indian history, Taseer said some groups ran the risk about taking something very grand in Indian history and leaving it very “tawdry”.

“That is a danger. The Foreign Minister is talking about making the Gita a rashtra pustak (a national holy book). Who is she? Since when does the Gita need Sushma Swaraj? This text that is in fact bigger than the Indian nation. It is a bigger text than the republic of India,” Taseer said.

The author said that it would reduce the book to just mere symbolic action by India.

Check out the other highlights: