A fresh debate has begun in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting the complex relationship between politics and cultural interpretation. The state government is initiating a special campaign to reshape the public’s understanding of a central mythological figure in Hinduism. The focus of this debate is the depiction of Lord Krishna as ‘makhanchor,’ or butter thief, a characterization the government now seeks to amend. The government’s argument is that the childhood ‘leelas’ of Shri Krishna were not acts of theft, but rather acts of protest against injustice.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has presented the campaign as a cultural corrective, suggesting that the narratives around Shri Krishna’s actions have been misunderstood over time. The Congress party has strongly condemned the initiative, accusing the government of leveraging mythological narratives for political advantage. Congress leader Umang Singar said that the Chief Minister is manipulating mythology for political motives and asked how the CM was elected.
The Madhya Pradesh government plans a campaign urging people to stop referring to Lord Krishna as ‘makhanchor,’ arguing that his childhood deeds were symbolic protests against injustice. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that his childhood actions were symbolic of protest. The campaign will be overseen by the state’s culture department. Cultural advisor Shriram Tiwai said that the public would be educated and the term ‘makhanchor’ removed.