Mohamed Gazani and Mohamed Ghori broke idols of Gods for the love of loot. But these free thinkers broke the idol of Ganesha as a master strategy for the reformation of the society and its religion. But they did not achieve the expected results. The strategy misfired.

The removal of caste distinction and superstition is laudable. But where is the question of superstition and caste in the matter of Ganesha? He is a symbol Deity moulded by the God essence in man and he could be discerned only by the same faculty. A mahavakya (Great saying) says "Na Devo Devam Archayat" meaning one cannot venerate God unless one is God himself. Ganesha was originally a Sudra Devatha. Now he has also become a Brahmin Devatha. The smashing of Ganesha in public has done more harm to free thinking and rationalism than to Ganesha. So far as Ganesha is concerned it is his martyrdom and he has resurrected like Phoenix with more vigour. It may be noted that this vigour of Ganesha is imparted to him by the faith of his devotees. Faith like love is a higher quality of mind. But blind faith like blind love may not lead one to the desirable end. Faith in images and their worship should be kept within strict limits and knowledgeable people and spiritual heads should constantly remind people that the image is after all only a symbol of God without meaning any disrespect either to the image or its worshippers. It is said that when Khalif Umar expressed doubts about the Black stone in Kaba and its ceremonial kissing by muslim pilgrims. Hazarat Ali explained to him "Al hajru Yamin-ullah-f-il-Ard" meaning this stone is as God's right hand on earth.

Ganesha is not a mere piece of stone like the black stone of Kaba. As already indicated he is a Deity shaped by the sublime qualities of human nature. This Deity has acquired a sanctity that even the Mugal Emperor Aurangazeb is said to have made liberal endowments to the Ganesha Temple at Chinchawada near Poona.

Let us therefore sing Alleluia to Ganesha.