The Hindutva bogey!
The Hindutva bogey!
My learned friend Salman Kurshid, otherwise an intellectual sort of person, has stepped into the muddy waters of religious politics, taking on Hinduism or Hindutva as no different from ISIS or Boko Haram. The comments may have been raised at his authored book launch event on Ayodhya. The timing of the book release, close to the U.P. polls and his comments may have been a ploy to boost the sales of his book, much like the Bollywood stars indulging in sensational scandals just before a film release, especially with poor previews. A few other Congressmen echoed Salman. Rahul Gandhi, the irrepressible Congress M.P., joined today in lambasting Hindutva.
I’m a Hindu by birth. I flout many advisories of Brahminism that are inconsistent with times. Most I know follow my path as liberal Hindus. I have often criticised ISIS for raping, enslaving women, and beheading non-believers. I have posted articles and poems against the lecherous representatives of the Church. I have criticised the Buddhist monks taking up arms and going on a rampage against the Tamils in Sri Lanka or the Rohingyas in Myanmar. I’ve penned poems condemning lynching of every kind!
I was confused about what the Hindus have done as a religious majority against anyone following other faiths. I have not come across a genocide of sorts like in Sri Lanka or other parts of the world. There have been a few stray incidents. ‘If one swallow does not a summer make,’ a few incidents in India does not make Hindus criminals like the ISIS or Boko Haram. I thought it would be my right to dispel the hatred and disunity sowed by political zombies, who picturise Hindus as saffron turbaned and Trishul carrying angry mobs, lynching anyone opposed to their religious beliefs.
I do not know much about religions, as I thought they are deep as oceans, and I always preferred to stand on the beaches and enjoy the gently lashing waves. There are more important travails for an ordinary man, unlike Salman or Rahul, who do not have to bother about fuel prices, admission in educational institutions, or jobs. They do not represent India at all.
I know my forefathers have taught me to realise God within me. What can be a more powerful form of divinely living? They have taught me to respect other religions and their followers. I go to the mosques and churches and have several friends from all other faiths. I love to clear my doubts and learn more about their beliefs, and do not find religion conflicting in my life or anyone else’s.
I would not like to spend time sieving history and finding faults if Gandhi or Savarkar must be regarded as the best hero or the worst foe. Driving the British out from India was important, or else they would have still plundering the wealth of India and we living in penury. My salutes are with everyone who fought for freedom, including Gandhi. Partition was an inevitable package that came together. It was a tumour surgically removed, which bled then. The wound has healed and must be forgotten now, much like Chengiz Khan and Babar.
I have never prided about Pichai, Nadella, Nooyi or Banga heading top U.S. companies because they were Hindus. For me, they were Indians. I would have felt as great if a top CEO was a Muslim or a Christian Indian. Please do not sow discord and disharmony simply because you must retain political relevance in India. The advice applies to all leaders and parties of all hues and colours. Do not belittle religions for your petty political agenda. Let religions flourish in mutual respect and admiration.
To end, Hindutva is the way of living to the tenets of Hinduism, and I find no fault in that if truly followed.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
In Pic: Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of former Indonesia president, converts to Hinduism from Islam
