Rahul Gandhi, Elon Musk depicted as Ravana, controversial posters surface in Lucknow ahead of Dussehra
New Delhi: Posters targeting several Indian and international public figures have appeared at different intersections in Lucknow ahead of Dussehra. They depict political leaders, foreign personalities and other prominent individuals as faces of a ten-headed Ravana.
The posters were reportedly put up by the Sanatan Raksha Sangathan. Among those featured are Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, tech billionaire Elon Musk and Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus.
They also feature gangster-turned-politicians Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari, along with advocate Prashant Bhushan and other public figures. The display brings together people from different backgrounds under a single depiction.
The posters have drawn attention because of their timing, with Dussehra approaching. The festival is traditionally associated with the victory of good over evil and is marked by the burning of Ravana’s effigies in several parts of the country.
Ravana imagery used
The ten-headed Ravana is a central figure in the Ramayana and a familiar part of Dussehra celebrations. The posters in Lucknow use this imagery to convey a political message against the personalities featured.
By portraying the individuals as different faces of Ravana, the organisation has used the festival’s symbolism to express its opposition to them. The depiction represents the organisation’s views and should not be treated as an established assessment of the people named.
The figures featured belong to different fields, including politics, technology and public life. While some are active political leaders, others are associated with legal work or criminal cases.
Posters precede festival
The appearance of the posters comes as preparations for Dussehra gather pace. Religious events, Ramlila performances and effigy-burning ceremonies form a major part of the celebrations across India.
In Lucknow, the placement of the posters at several intersections has brought the display into public view during the run-up to the festival.
The display uses imagery closely associated with Dussehra to deliver a political message, linking the organisation’s criticism of the featured individuals with the festival’s traditional portrayal of Ravana.