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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 3:50:26 am

Kolhapur’s Pilgrimage Paradox

Kolhapur: Even as the state government clears the first tranche of Rs 1,500 crore under an ambitious Rs 5,000-crore plan for the development of Kolhapur as a major pilgrimage centre, the ground reality for devotees tells a far less reassuring story. Each month, the temple’s donation boxes swell by an estimated Rs two crore, while crores more lie parked in bank deposits earning interest. Yet, for the thousands who arrive daily to seek the blessings of Goddess Ambabai, the journey to the...

Kolhapur’s Pilgrimage Paradox

Kolhapur: Even as the state government clears the first tranche of Rs 1,500 crore under an ambitious Rs 5,000-crore plan for the development of Kolhapur as a major pilgrimage centre, the ground reality for devotees tells a far less reassuring story. Each month, the temple’s donation boxes swell by an estimated Rs two crore, while crores more lie parked in bank deposits earning interest. Yet, for the thousands who arrive daily to seek the blessings of Goddess Ambabai, the journey to the sanctum begins with an ordeal—walking barefoot on scorching roads under an unforgiving sun. With temperatures in Kolhapur soaring past 40°C, asphalt and concrete roads leading to the temple radiate intense heat. For devotees—many of whom travel hundreds of kilometres—this translates into a painful trek, quite literally. The situation is particularly harsh for senior citizens, who are often seen hopping from one foot to another in a desperate attempt to avoid the burning surface. In such conditions, the absence of even basic protective arrangements raises uncomfortable questions about priorities in pilgrimage infrastructure. Stark Irony The irony is stark. While policy blueprints and financial approvals move through bureaucratic channels, immediate, low-cost interventions remain unaddressed. Simple measures—laying heat-resistant carpets along key approach roads, ensuring regular water sprinkling to cool surfaces, and erecting temporary shaded canopies—could significantly ease the devotees’ distress. Such steps do not demand massive outlays, only administrative initiative. As chairperson of the temple trust, the Kolhapur District Collector is uniquely positioned to catalyse this response. The summer vacation period only amplifies the challenge. Families flock to Kolhapur in large numbers, often combining visits to Ambabai temple with pilgrimages to nearby shrines such as Jyotiba. The surge in footfall transforms the temple precinct into a sea of humanity. Yet, the infrastructure has failed to keep pace. A similar concern was flagged last year as well, with limited, ad hoc relief provided by a few local traders who laid makeshift carpets for their customers. This year, however, little appears to have changed. Humane Pilgrimage The issue, therefore, is not merely administrative—it is collective. The responsibility to ensure a humane pilgrimage experience cannot rest solely with the temple trust or the municipal corporation. Traders and business associations operating in the temple vicinity, who benefit from the steady influx of devotees, must also step forward. Kolhapur has historically demonstrated remarkable civic spirit during festivals such as Navratri and the Rathotsav. Extending that ethos to provide shaded pathways during peak summer would be a meaningful gesture of reciprocity. Across India, leading pilgrimage centres have invested in visitor comfort—air-conditioned waiting areas, chilled drinking water, and clean sanitation facilities are increasingly the norm. In many cases, nominal user charges are levied, and devotees are willing to pay for such services. Kolhapur risks falling behind if it does not address these gaps with urgency. At its core, the issue is one of dignity. Devotion should not come at the cost of physical distress. Until basic amenities are ensured, the promise of transforming Kolhapur into a premier religious tourism hub will remain incomplete. For now, the pilgrim’s experience continues to echo a troubling refrain: first the searing heat beneath the feet, and only then, the grace of the goddess.

The Berlin-New Delhi Axis

From steel to submarines, Indo-German ties are moving from pure commerce to defence.

Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Germany signals a shift that has been long in the making between the two countries. From a relationship once defined by trade, the ties between India and Germany are finally moving towards defence. India wants German technology and co-production while the latter, newly alert to hard security after Russia’s war in Ukraine, is more willing to provide both.


The two countries have been partners for decades, though mostly in commerce. Diplomatic ties were established in 1951, and early cooperation produced industrial landmarks such as the Rourkela Steel Plant. By the 2000s, intergovernmental consultations and a formal strategic partnership gave the relationship institutional depth. Yet defence remained marginal, held back by Berlin’s caution on arms exports and Delhi’s habit of diversifying suppliers. Compounding this has been Germany’s post-war strategic culture, which has generally been wary of militarisation. This sat uneasily with India’s appetite for large-scale defence procurement.


Shedding Inhibitions

That restraint is now eroding. India’s push for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ demands not just imports but technology transfer and domestic manufacturing. Germany, meanwhile, is rethinking its role as a security actor, loosening long-held inhibitions. The overlap has created an opening that both sides appear ready to exploit.


This has been helped by Berlin’s ‘Zeitenwende’ - a proclaimed turning point in defence policy that has begun to ripple outward, reshaping its partnerships beyond Europe. Announced in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it brought with it a €100bn special fund to modernise the Bundeswehr, a commitment to meet NATO’s 2 percent spending target and a loosening of long-standing taboos on arms exports and overseas deployments. Thus, a response to a continental crisis is now informing Germany’s external posture whereby it is exhibiting a greater willingness to engage in defence-industrial cooperation, diversify partners and project stability in regions such as the Indo-Pacific. In that sense, outreach to India is emblematic of a broader recalibration by which Germany is moving from being a largely civilian power to a more assertive, if still restrained, security actor.


Talks during Singh’s visit focused squarely on co-development and co-production. This is significant as India has long sought to escape the limits of buyer–seller arrangements that deliver hardware without know-how. German collaboration, particularly in high-end engineering, offers a way to build capacity at home while reducing dependence on traditional suppliers.


Naval cooperation stands out. Discussions around submarine development for the Indian Navy hint at a more ambitious industrial partnership. Germany’s expertise in conventional submarines is well established, and joint projects would align with India’s goal of strengthening indigenous shipbuilding. A visit to German maritime research facilities reinforced the seriousness of these plans.


Leaping Ahead

The agenda extends beyond platforms. Artificial intelligence, cyber security and drone technologies featured prominently. For India, these domains offer a chance to leap ahead; for Germany, they provide a route into a large and fast-growing defence market.


The strategic logic is straightforward as India seeks partners that can enhance its capabilities without constraining its autonomy. Germany wants to diversify its defence engagements while supporting a stable Indo-Pacific. Neither side is pursuing an alliance; both are hedging in a more volatile world. Defence cooperation thus becomes a practical middle ground.


There are, however, familiar obstacles. Germany’s export controls remain stringent, shaped by domestic political sensitivities. India’s procurement processes are slow and often unpredictable. Bridging these gaps will require more than declarations of intent. Past agreements have sometimes faltered at the level of execution.


Even so, the trajectory is clear. The relationship is acquiring a harder edge, driven by converging interests rather than sentiment. Defence is no longer peripheral; it is becoming central. If co-production projects materialise, they could redefine the partnership, embedding it in shared industrial and technological ecosystems.


The broader context reinforces the shift. Both countries mark over seven decades of ties, but the anniversary coincides with a less forgiving global environment which is marked by conflict in Europe, instability in the Middle East and intensifying competition in Asia. In such a landscape, economic partnerships alone look insufficient.


Rajnath Singh’s visit reflects a mutual recognition that the old template of ‘trade first, security later’ between the two countries needs updating. Whether the new approach delivers will depend on execution. But the intent is unmistakable: Berlin and Delhi are no longer content with merely a ‘comfortable partnership;’ they are testing the terms of a strategic one.


(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

 


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