The Proud Hindu

THE PROUD HINDU

BY

MURALI MURTHY

Hinduism is probably the only religion that is inclusive by nature, vibrant, accommodative, and has evolved with time.

It is so accommodative that it encourages resentments, disagreements in philosophies, and 100s of variants emerged, founded by thinkers and philosophers who disagreed with certain aspects and started their own castes, sub castes and cults.

It probably also has maximum number of atheists/non-believers!

Diversity is in it's nature that revere millions of Gods, and cannot get any more diverse as it already has been, yet Hinduism constantly keeps adapting and evolving.

No one religion can have so many variations and differences in rituals, festivals, cultures, cuisines. Forget different festivals in different states, same Festival (like Ugadi, Navarathri) are celebrated differently in different parts of Hindustan.

Take Shivarathri for example, Shaivites observe Fasting on that day, while Vaishnavites celebrate the same day by preparing and eating festive food.

Coming from the understanding and background of Hinduism followed and practiced in Udupi, Mantralaya, Tirupati and other such places, when I see people cull animals in the name of Sacrifice for the God in temples, I sometimes wonder are they even Hindus!

Such is the diversity, multiplicity and richness of our Hinduism that has stood the test of times for over centuries and has stayed strong and unhindered. With all this plurality, we still stand strong, bound, connected to our roots - yet progressive, evolving and co-existed amongst other religions in harmony.

It is disheartening to now see people use it to serve their personal, vindictive agenda who are spewing venom in the society that Hinduism is in Danger and they are here to protect (sic)!

What is more disheartening and dangerously intimidating is - in this rush to "save" Hinduism, can other religions be smothered?

The sacred Saffron colour is pious and respectful part of Hinduism, as it's worn by Sages, Saints, Gurus. But now, the Saffron is worn by politicians, goons during protests and bringing disrespect and making it a identity for violence.

It's a carefully planned poison being rolled into the minds and society that Hinduism can be saved only by sabotaging and eradicating other religions. A sect who follow the great philosopher - Basavanna, the followers now would not want to be identified as Hindus and claim to be a separate Religion. Now, would they also be targeted?

What they fail to understand is the pain, compulsion their fore-fathers might have go through, choices they had in front of them, to get converted.

While politicians are making a mayhem of the present situation, it is upto us -proud Hindus with right thinking minds, to not fall prey to games Politicians play and get carried away with unwanted emotions.

New issues being raised now on a daily basis, to further choke and target one community. Started with a simple Head scarf conflict, turned into Hijab war, then came Halal, Shops owned by other community, to all other possible means and ways to stop them make a living.

We can't sit now and judge what went wrong in the past or correct historical blunders. So, should historical errors be ignored/forgot? Yes, if it doesn't help us to progress as a society, it deserves no attention. If Historical errors has to be corrected, let us take progressive steps to remove practices like - Women to sit in a corner they have their periods - Women to wear Ghunghat - Caste system that was created centuries ago based on their Profession, and all such practices which is given name of ritual/culture but were actually relevant to the times they were put to practice.

No doubt Politicians are fishing in the troubled waters and igniting fire in the community, not realizing the repercussions what you and me (as common man) will have to endure.

Our Home Minister just gave a communal twist to a Murder of a young man named Chandru, and this great leader jumped and said it's a Hindu-Muslim conflict and provoked rage and angst. Eventually had to shamelessly backtrack the statement which was found to be a case of road rage. The most laughable aspect was the victim was found to be a Christian!!

This is the problem if Parties ask votes in the name of one Man, and the Devotees blindly vote seeing the face of one Man and not of whom they are actually voting locally. Such clowns bring disrepute to that One Man, to the State. Probably that One Man doesn't even know what's happening under his Nose, who is just being used to win elections.

What is most disconcerting is - all these are happening in my state, in my city. The most vibrant, cosmopolitan city and an IT hub that has a global repute, is now a test bed for such communal disharmony.

We are proud of being a Hindu, and it's spirit of inclusiveness, our in-bred acceptance to diversity has to be restored.

If we believe Hindu as a religion is supreme, let us demonstrate it's supremacy by being tolerant. Afterall, all other Muslim majority countries have declared themselves as Islamist states with religion-first policy and no other religions have a place in their country.

Wheras, Hindustan is home to multi ethnicity for centuries. Now that's why I am a proud Hindu!

Do we want to become another Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran to make Religion as our identity?