GUWAHATI, Jan 26 - Hindu Dharmat Iswar Aru Nastikata, a book by Mayur Bora on diverse aspects of Hindu religion, including the all-important quest for God, and contrastingly the traits of agnosticism, was released at the Guwahati Press Club on Friday.
Releasing the book, Prasanta Rajguru, Editor of Amar Asom, termed it a challenge to write a book on such a topic. �Bora has emerged as an important writer. It is a challenge to pen such a book, which is not just about religion but also delves into the deeper into the complex issues concerning the existence of God and atheism as well,� he said. �I was never concerned about religion, but today�s disturbing developments taking place under the pretext of religion, compel us to think about religion,� Rajguru said.
Writer Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury, in his address, stressed the need for healthy debates and discourses in society for stimulating and enlightening the mind and the intellect. �Of late, such debates had witnessed a wane but thanks to emerging writers like Bora, we are witnessing a much-needed revival in the trend. All the books of Bora are creating healthy controversies,� he said.
Writer and senior journalist Anuradha Sarma Puzari said that religion and God had no relation. �God is a realisation while religion was the result of social necessity. Human civilisations throughout the ages have been witness to the most despicable acts being committed in the name of religion,� she said.
�The persona of God has been distorted in the name of religion. God is distorted when knowledge and logic are allowed to be controlled by others. What dispels the mind�s darkness is God,� she said, adding that Bora�s straightforwardness and logic was evident throughout the pages of the volume.
�People will have a rethink on many matters concerning religion and God after going through the book,� she added.
The writer, Bora, said that he always held humanism to be superior to religion and that the present-day scenario warrants precisely such a notion to be upheld.
Bora said that the book was an attempt at exploring the vast and varied aspects of Hinduism which was different from other religions on many counts. �The vastness and diversity as also the philosophies ingrained in Hinduism sets it apart from other religions. But this is by no stretch of the imagination is an attempt at asserting its supremacy. All religions lead to the same truth, even though the paths may be different,� he said.
Senior advocate Arup Borbora, Dr Zoiinath Sarma and Dr Navneel Baruah also addressed the function.
