NEW DELHI, Feb. 10 -- In 1985, a Hindi film titled Ram Teri Ganga Maili became a superhit and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. The heroine Mandakini sings a song: "Ram Teri Ganga Maili Ho Gayi, Paapiyon ke paap dhote, dhote." The lyric reads, "O, Ram, your Ganga is stained by washing the sins of the sinners."

Hindus deeply believe that one's sins are washed away by the river Ganga. I do not refute that faith. Let that faith be deeply rooted in their lives. The verses in the above-quoted lyrics are quite cynical. The message of the song is that the holy river Ganga becomes stained by washing the sins of the people.

On the one side, February 05, 2025, was an important day as the Assembly election was held in Delhi, and the pe...