Misguided protests!

I tried writing on culture, nature and architecture but am unwillingly drawn toward explaining the Prophet-related protests that seem to be spreading in many cities and towns like Delhi, Lucknow, Jammu, Srinagar, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Howrah and Kolkata. The Friday prayers and the fiery sermons from those controlling the masses seem to have a delirious effect on many.

Nupur Sharma’s comments and apologizing for the comments in religious documents must be a closed chapter. Those protesting seem to live in the stone age, suffer a shame and are not used to religious dialogues and debates.

However, to behead Nupur and cut off her tongue is laughable as Sharia does not rule India. It is bizarre in the face of repeated disrespect shown to Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Statues and Idols of worship are vandalized, and Gods and Goddesses are depicted in foot mats, toilet seat covers, slippers and underwear, not to speak of nude paintings. I guess such attempts of a deep frustration within which loves to confront other religions and not love co-existing with all others in peace. Hindus bore all these cultural and religious attacks with a characteristic calm and forbearance.

I guess I wrote about Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, which cast aspersions on Christ’s relationship with Mary Magdalene. There were feeble protests from the church even as people jostled to queue up to buy millions of copies of his books. None threatened to pluck his head or gouge his eyes.

I had also written that Gulf countries ganging up is a giveaway of their universal brotherhood, which goes beyond a love for their country of birth or domicile. Removing Indian goods from shops and Malls in the Gulf must be viewed as an opportunity for us to become self-reliant in manufacturing and consumption. If more than fifty countries can claim to be Islamic, no country in the world can be called Hindu. Nepal, which once used to be the only Hindu kingdom, was trampled by a Godless China and the communists, changing their country’s constitution forever.

India delights itself as a secular, but is this the show of secularism and freedom of speech? The opposition is gloating over the embarrassment to the Modi-run government and the BJP. Still, a future government change could mean a turn for the worse regarding religious freedom. The OIC has now tasted blood and will not rest until infidels and non-believers are removed. It is good to plan a gradual decrease of migrant Indian labour to the Gulf in the future.

In the war of the Abrahamic religions, Hinduism does not feature. It is the capture of the high seat in the Vatican, the ultimate goal of the Mullahs. Europe unwittingly has paved the way with lesser birth rates and more immigration and refugees from Islamic countries. The demography of many nations has changed, and we in India must preserve whatever we have.

I must end by stating that I am not a right-winger, not a member of the BJP or any other political party, but a liberal Hindu with hundreds of Muslim friends who agree with what I have to say. If the leadership of the minorities are up to divisive games, they must face the law.

Establishment of a minority face that is primitive, forever angry and protesting does not augur well for the community.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix