Stories
BAPS 'Eiffelgate' Highlights Cultural Translation Challenges for Hinduism in France
- •The "Eiffelgate" incident involved allegations of women being sidelined during the inauguration of France's first traditional Hindu mandir by BAPS at the Eiffel Tower, to "minimise interaction" with celibate monks.
- •The author, a scholar and practitioner with four decades of engagement with BAPS, offers a counternarrative, stating BAPS denies requesting female staff be "hidden" and that a cordoned-off section was standard for large groups.
- •The incident underscores the difficulty of translating ancient monastic traditions, like the monks' vows of brahmacharya (celibacy), into unfamiliar cultural contexts like secular France.
- •BAPS, founded in 1907, is part of the Swaminarayan tradition, known for social reform, including fighting against female infanticide and building the first all-girls school in its region.
- •Local French officials, like Mayor Yann Dubosc, attest to BAPS's decade-long record of building trust and transparency, suggesting the media narrative may not fully define the organization.
Key Questions Answered
A strike and temporary closure occurred after employees and union representatives alleged that female staff members were instructed to step aside or vacate their posts to avoid interaction with a visiting delegation of BAPS Hindu monks. The delegation was visiting the Paris landmark during celebrations for the inauguration of a nearby traditional Hindu mandir.
Established in 1907 within the Sampraday founded by Shri Swaminarayan in nineteenth-century Gujarat, BAPS emphasizes bhakti and seva. Its initiated monks observe stringent lifelong vows of brahmacharya, which include celibacy and detachment from material possessions and worldly prestige to connect with the divine.
Paris officials including Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire condemned the incident and announced a formal investigation into the directives issued on public property. Meanwhile, BAPS issued an official statement apologizing to anyone affected and clarified that they never requested for female staff to be hidden or dismissed.
