Hindu fundamentals under attack

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Written By murali772 - 4 October, 2008

Bangalore Religion Analysis Language and Culture

As a believing Hindu, I am ashamed of what is being done by people claiming to be acting in the name of my faith. I have always prided myself on belonging to a religion of astonishing breadth and range of belief; a religion that acknowledges all ways of worshipping God as equally valid - indeed, the only major religion in the world that does not claim to be the only true religion. Hindu fundamentalism is a contradiction in terms, since Hinduism is a religion without fundamentals; there is no such thing as a Hindu heresy. How dare a bunch of goondas shrink the soaring majesty of the Vedas and the Upanishads to the petty bigotry of their brand of identity politics? Why should any Hindu allow them to diminish Hinduism to the raucous self-glorification of the football hooligan, to take a religion of awe-inspiring tolerance and reduce it to a chauvinist rampage? For more, click on
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Columnists/Hindu_fundamentals_are_under_attack/articleshow/3535323.cms

The Bajrang Dal chief, Mahendra Singh, had admitted to the attacks being mis-directed, adding along-with that the mainstream Christianity was doing a lot of good work, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare. Even L K Advani admitted to the wrongs, and between the Parivar chiefs, they decided to ease out Mahendra Singh also. Now, as a gesture of atonement, why don't they undertake 'kar-seva' and repair/ re-build the damaged/ demolished churches? That would be the best way to re-build the harmony that had flourished between the followers of the two religions since ages.

Muralidhar Rao

 

 

COMMENTS


Its about power!

narayan82 - 4 October, 2008 - 13:16

Every group seems to want to show that they are in control.Goes back to our animal links, where Lions protect tier territory! and we can oursleves civilized!!! Violence most definately is on the rise, both - trivial issues and organized terror crimes. Its time for us to really see what the root of these causes are, and address where dialog is possible and force where needed. I think we have let this go too far. from Local Goonda's to other religious political motivated groups. They have too much power and too much vested interests to stop and be reasoned with - they just wont listen! How do we solve this issue? I have no idea. To me this is more embarrasing to the country than any other issue. What if we used Gandhigiri? Silent protests (in large nos.) for tiny attrocities? Try to educate the next generation not to follow the same paths - face it sooner or later goonda's have to retire, we can stop a successor taking his place!

Competitive Victimhood

kbsyed61 - 4 October, 2008 - 14:51

Usually nations progresses in the civilization, thought process and human good. But its a Tragedy in India and other countries, instead of progressing, we are digressing in the basic human relationships. If early 20th century gave the gift of nationalism and a cause for standing upto foreign rulers, late 20th century seems to have lost this battle for ethnicity based on religion, regionalism and language. The fear of marginalization has taken the journey from complaining of high handedness to assertion of their rights. Mixed with political and power, this assertion has taken the form of arms aggression and even justifying the killing of few thousands. All in the name of religious doctrines or spontaneous reaction (newtons law). If one has to closely analyze this, this is nothing but COMPETITIVE VICTIMHOOD. All these pseudo-nationalist/Pseudo-Fundamentalist are competing with each other in proving that one is more victim than the other. Otherwise how do you explain people becoming refugees in their own land. Unless people stop looking for murderous revenge and ideology of hate, India will continue to witness riots, assaults and killings. For the serenity to prevail, a total 180 degree shift in attitude is required. From everybody. Majority and Minority. Majority should shed the fear that minority would ascend to the throne. Majority should stop worrying about minority's progress in economic and social stature. On the same token minorities should stop projecting themselves as oppressed and victims. A lot of water has flown into Ganges, Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari. Instead of asking for alms and charity (special treatments), should learn to earn their share by competing with majority. For that Education is the key. Basically, we all need to shed this cloak of majority and minority for real progress and betterment in life. Instead of asking for individual favors lets fight for others rights. Lets fight for education to all, health care for all, fight for affordable living, fight for just police and judicial system, fight for better political parties and leaders. This is not an impossible task. Take the example of recent J C Nagar mosque incident. Local youth and citizens stood ground to see that not a single untoward incident takes place. Things were normal in few hours without any major incidents.

Hindu fundamentalism is reactionary

mcadambi - 4 October, 2008 - 15:31

Hindu Fundamentalism, according to Sir V S Naipaul, is a "corrective force" in the current Hindu/Indian society. It is like how Japan was transformed during the Meiji Era. Like it or not, Hindutva economics is what is driving Gujarat's Industrial progress. See for yourself how "secular" Waste Bengal is doing. Hindutva is a counter force to the sinister forces of Islamic fundamentalism (which has already claimed large parts of our country), Western Christian Imperialsm - which is supporting and propping up terrorists in Nagaland and other NE areas. We also have to contend with Marx putras and Mao putras among us. So as long as the mountains and rivers continue to exit, so long will dharma exist. As long as enemies of dharma exist, protectors to it will exist.

What is Hindutva economics

s_yajaman - 4 October, 2008 - 16:24

MCadambi, Can you please enlighten me on "hindutva economics"? The means are as important as the ends. Please remember that Hinduism has survived 1000 years of Muslim rule and 200 years of British rule without needing the Bajrang Dal or the Shiv Sena or the VHP. Upper caste Hindus have treated lower caste Hindus as sub-humans for many centuries and even now. If some of them want to leave the fold (whether for a blanket or for rice) what is the problem? Terrorism is an attack on the state and the nation. Not necessarily on Hinduism (which btw like it or not is not the state religion). It affects all law abiding people. Last but not least - Hindus make up the majority of this country. A very high probability that they make up the bulk of legislators, bureaucrats, local bodies, etc. So one can blame most of the ills of this country on Hindus. Muslims have to constantly prove their patriotism, but why is it assumed that Hindus are born patriots? Sd/- An ex-Hindu atheist.

fundamentalism + law and order

silkboard - 4 October, 2008 - 09:15

Thanks for starting this, because let me admit, I didn't have the guts to start one such thread myself. Past few days, it seems like certain liberties are under attack. Orissa, Karnataka, The bomb blasts have religious color on them. Other similar events may not have religious color. But one thing in common is that the notion that law and order has to be above all else is growing weak.

  • A CEO getting lynched to death by a mob is crime. Whether there was justification or provocation or not doesn't matter.
  • A nun getting gang raped in Orissa is perhaps a crime worst than murder. Provocations don't matter.
  • Vandalising churches is goondagiri, forced conversions may too be branded as polished goondagiri. But tit for tat is not the way to deal with things in civilized setups.
  • Blasts killing innocents are just that, crimes of worst order. If any past events were provocations, those too were crimes. Step a notch down from all these events.

Take the religious cover off for a moment and read some other experiences I can share.

  • A grocery shop-keeper decides to sell milk one day. The 'self professed' authorized milk dealer of the area doesn't like that and beats the shop's attendants black and blue.
  • A friend calls BBMP to complain about an illegal structure coming up on a main road without any provision for parking. Forget privacy and all, goons show up next day to remind that one should only mind his own business.
  • Owner of a property refuses to sell out to a builder who wants to build a private layout in the area. He then gets slapped with frivolous notices after notices, gets his water and electricity connections cut on regular basis. All this, till he relents and sells out.
  • A sundry traffic cop beats up a young well-meaning guy for he could't lodge his complaint in kannada, and then locks him up. And that young guy's father has no help, nowhere to go to complain.
  • A new shop shows up with a lot of glass to show, and the owner is not a native kannadiga. Folks show up asking for money or .... Next day, a red/gold flag shows up on the commercial building's front facade, and its business as usual.

The basic fabric of law and order has grown too weak. And since a majority of us don't get to deal with all this (except small business owners) on daily basis, we have been living in ignorance.

Police reforms are long pending. The 'last mile' setup of our law and order infrastructure (eyes and ears of police) are just too weak and inefficient. Everything I refer to above (blasts to riot to goondagiri), at some level or other is a result of that. However, we get to see the symptoms in religious or regional fundamentalist or whatever colors.

Its time. Its long pending, and something that just needs to be done, and needs to be done now. Law has to rule and rule firm, everything else comes later.


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