Arun Pathak
| Arun Pathak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | अरुण पाठक |
| Born |
1975 Varanasi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | political activist |
| Organization | Shivsena |
| Known for | protection of Hindu culture |
| Website | arunpathak.com |
Arun Pathak is an Indian politician and social activist from Varanasi. He is the chief general secretary and spokesperson of Shiv Sena in Uttar Pradesh state. He is involved in charity work and campaigns for "protection of Hindu culture". He attracted public attention for staging suicide attempts as a form of political protest.
Personal life
Pathak was born in Varanasi on 16 June 1975 in Varanasi. He went to Sanatan Dharam Inter College in Varanasi to complete his high school but could not because of poor family condition. Later he went to Ballia to study Sanskrit because Sanskrit studies were cheaper in Ballia and he wanted to complete his Acharya but again he could not complete his education because of his poor family condition. He quit school and joined the Shiv Sena at the age 14.[1] At present he is chief general secretary and Spokesperson for Shiv Sena Uttar Pradesh and Head in-charge of Yuva Sena, a body of Shiv Sena to work with youth.
Pathak is married with Manisha and has a daughter named Rakshita and a son named Srinivas. He lives in a room at Jain Dharamshal near Bhelupur, Varanasi.
Political career
Pathak joined Shiv Sena in the year 1989 as a member when he was only 14. After 25 days of joining the Shiv Sena he was appointed as chief of Assi ward for Shiv Sena. He was promoted to the post of chief of 5 wards only after one and half months of joining Shiv Sena. After six months he was given the responsibility of chief of executive members for Varanasi region. In 1994, he was appointed as district organising secretary for Shiv Sena. In the year 2000, he was given responsibility of district chief of Shiv Sena. He worked with Shiv Sena as district chief till 2003. On 23 November 2003 he left Shiv Sena and formed his own political party called Kranti Shiv Sena. Pathak was the founder and national chief of Kranti Shiv Sena. On 23 November 2004, he changed the name of Kranti Shiv Sena to Kranti Sena. On 13 May 2007, Pathak joined Bahujan Samaj Party as a member. On 19 December 2008, he was appointed as coordinator for Rohania block of Varanasi. In the year 2009, he was given responsibility of coordinator for Rohania and Cantt blocks both. Pathak resigned from Bahujan Samaj Party and joined Shiv Sena again in August 2014. He is general secretary and Spokesperson for Shiv Sena Uttar Pradesh at the moment. He is also given head charge of Yuva Sena, a body of Shiv Sena to work with youth, for the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Activism
As of 2009 Pathak had been rescued from suicide at least five times by his followers.[2]
Protest against liquor stores near holy sites
In 1997 Pathak started a campaign to ban liquor stores from being close to holy sites. He wanted this policy to be in place in Varanasi as it is in another holy city, Ayodhya. To get attention for this campaign Pathak climbed to the top of a 300-foot tower in Varanasi and threatened to jump to his death. After getting written assurance from the police that the shops would be closed, Pathak climbed down from the tower.[1]
Protest to allow Babri Masjid demolition celebration
In 1998 Pathak organised a celebration in Varanasi to commemorate the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid. He put up flags as decoration, but the local police chief PK Singh had them taken down and destroyed. In response Pathak went to Singh's office and took 50 valium pills in a suicide attempt to get Singh fired from his job. Three days later Pathak woke up and found that Singh had not been fired, so Pathak took 50 more valium pills and threw himself in front of the car of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Pathak survived and a police officer who was responsible along with Singh was fired for misconduct in removing the flags.[1]
Movie protests
Organizing a demonstration against Girlfriend
Pathak led a Shiv Sena group in Varanasi to oppose the screening of the movie Girlfriend in that city and elsewhere. The movie was novel in that it was a Bollywood film which contained subject matter about lesbianism. During the protests Pathak said "We'll not allow such a film to be screened ... What one does in the bedroom and bathroom should not be displayed publicly".[3]
Protest to prevent filming of Water
Deepa Mehta filmed parts of the 2005 film Water on the ghats in Varanasi. The film was controversial to Pathak for having the line "... if a Brahmin or God sleeps with a woman she is blessed", which he interpreted to be oppressive to women's rights. To protest the filming, Pathak tied a large stone around his waist, took a boat to the center of the Ganges, and jumped into the river when the cameras were filming. His friends jumped into the river, rescued him, and rushed him to the hospital.[4] He arrived in critical condition. Pathak's actions were followed by some rioting. The Varanasi city government responded by ordering film production to stop.[5]
Protest against Ghulam Ali (singer) performance at Sankat Mochan music festival
Pakistani Ghazal virtuoso Ghulam Ali is invited to perform at Sankat Mochan music festival 2016 which Pathak did not like. He said that instead of offering the stage to a Pakistani singer, the organisers should invite Indian musicians. He also blamed the organiser for the controversy.[6] He also said that a beef eater like Ghulam Ali must not be allowed to enter in a Hindu temple.[7]
Social work
Arun Pathak is the founder of Sri Yajna Sodh Sansthan Trust, a social organization. The group organizes rudrabhishek and different yajnas for world peace. At these events Hindu sanyasis as well as Muslims are invited to encourage social harmony. The Trust also does research work in Sanatan culture, yajna and Vedic literature. as well as providing scholarships and accommodation to Brahmin priests and poor students.
Pathak has organised food and cloth distribution for blind people from Andha Vidyalay Bhadaini, Varanasi, and book distribution for poor students. In addition, he has organised fruit, cloths and blanket distribution for lepers at Sri Kashi Vishwanath Kusth Ashram Seva Samiti near Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi.
In Bollywood
Arun Pathak entered Bollywood as a director and actor for his upcoming movie called Soshan - The Torture. The movie, based on his own life, will have Pathak himself as the lead actor. It is about how a childhood gets wasted, how a child is exploited and how a poverty stricken child fights the odds to become an activist. The movie will also talk about how Pathak puts his life at stake to fulfill his goals. In an interview given to Washington Bangla Radio on Internet Pathak said that in his film he will be showing why he stood up against films such as "Girlfriend" and "Water".[8]
References
- 1 2 3 Rahul Bhatia (9 July 2006). "The invincible suicide attempter". Greenchannel blog. Retrieved 26 November 2010. Bhatia writes for OPEN and publishes additional details from his articles on his blog.
- ↑ Rahul Bhatia (5 February 2000). "YAMA, INTERRUPTED". Tehelka. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ↑ "Police guard Indian lesbian film". BBC News. BBC. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ↑ Haima Deshpande (26 December 2009). "Retired from Active Suicide". OPEN. Open Media Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ↑ "'Water' shooting stopped again, Mehta 'asked to leave Varanasi'". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. 6 February 2000. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Shiv-Sena-opposes-Ghulam-Alis-performance-in-Kashi/articleshow/51944692.cms
- ↑ http://epaper.navbharattimes.com/details/40301-69166-1.html
- ↑ "Washington Bangla Radio".