prople condemned for distorting Bhima Bhoi's personal life

Locals condemned the writers of the book ‘Popular religion and Ascetic practices: New studies on Mahima Dharma’ for including a chapter in the book on Bhima Bhoi where the writers Kedar Mishra and Johannes Beltz have described him as ‘lady killer’ and ‘womanizer’ by giving derogative and malicious fact on the saint poet’s personal life. The book has been published by Monohar publication of New Delhi in 2008, and edited by Johannes Beltz and Ishita Banarjee-Dube where a chapter under title ‘ascetic, Layman or Rebellious Guru?’ is included.

Eminent educationists and social activists have warned the writers to beg immediate apology and to delete the controversial chapter from the book in a meeting held in Sambalpur on Tuesday morning. They opined that the writers have insulted the people of Orissa, as the description does not based on fact and truth.

“We condemned the writers for giving such derogative comments on Bhima Bhoi’s personal life in the name of research We call upon the writers to beg for a public apology and to delete the controversial chapter from the book immediately”, retired administrator Debendra Mishra told while convening the meeting.

“When Bhima Bhoi is being accepted worldwide for his simplicity and high spiritual ability, the writers have committed unforgiving mistake by characterizing him as a ‘lady killer’ and ‘womanizer’ in the book with out verifying the facts and truths. They should beg apology for such character assassination of a great personality ”, activist Dilip Padhi said.

“We want to create public awareness against such writers who with out having any basic information distorted the personal life of great personalities who people have a faith a regard. We are also trying to take legal step against the writers for giving such derogative comment on Bhima Bhoi’s personal life with out having any prove and fact”, eminent lawyer and BJP leader Suresh Pujari told.

On the other hand the writer of the article Kedar Mishra when contacted said he was never intended to do character assassination of Bhima Bhoi. “I have just tried to include the collections and myths of the local people and never intended to depict the character of Bhima Bhoi”, Kedar Mishra told TOI over phone.