This is a very interesting article. Just one or two comments.
It is mentioned that Hindus are a tolerant race. That they believe that God is One and is manifested in various forms. True. But RSS definition of Hinduism is not this. It is stifling the very essence of our religion and fitting it into a narrow bigotic slot.
I could discern a definite sympathy for the RSS version of Hinduism in the author's article. Muslim fundamentalism can never be fought with Hindu fundamentalism.
I dont know what IDRF is doing. If it is doing an honest and essential job I suspect the cries for their ban/hrassment wouldnt be loud or consequential.
A historical wrong cannot be made right by killing a few hundred muslims in the most dastardly manner possible. There is a need for common law, education and justice and strict laws regarding foreign aid et al and many other steps essential to solve the problem
Rightly said Mr. Francois, Hinduism is the most tolerant spirituality in the world. It is because of this tolerance that so called fanatics are lurking round in our country otherwise they would have been erased long back from the surface of earth.
hello everybody, One open challenge: Try learning history of India , not history of the sangh and make such irresponsible comments. I invite everyone including Francois who seems to be sleeping in a sangh pillow to learn what Islam is and how it spread in India(and everywhere in the world) with an open mind, and then come up with all this slanderous statements.One thing, "telling a lie million times can never make it a truth". Satya Meva Jeyathe
Sir, In your first paragraph, you said, "but one is also subjected to the humiliation of seeing one's own countrymen spit on India in mainstream foreign newspapers and television". Why do you see every criticism as humiliation. Dont Americans criticize their own country, their own president? Are they humiliated by that? Dear sir, a religion can survive if it has a strong case for its truth claims. Not by crying foul that everyone is humilitiang you. Many who are born as christians criticize christianity left, right and center. Does anyone say that they are being anti-national, unpatriotic etc. A genuine Christian reponds why he disagrees. So is the case with a Hindu too. I respect a Hindu who responds by defending Hinduism and its tenants, insted of merely justifying killing of preachers of other religions and mass killing of people of a particular community (justifing them in the garb of "tolerance reaching a limit" etc)
I fully agree with the article.Indeed, this propoganda war by some pseudo-secularists is a big obstacle in the progres of India.Now, we need more Indians like Mr. Francois
I agree to your article. This anti press is giving rise to militant hinduism. We should call a spade a spade. Why does all Indian leader rush to organise Iftar parties. It is for Muslims to break fast not to propogate your electoral ambition. The conversion part is true . I come from atribal dominated area and have seen conversion to christianity for money. Some new churches, specially those funded from America even convert mainstream Christians (Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox) to their church. I have been accosted numerous times in front of the Indian Musuem in Calcutta.
This is an interesting article, because it seems to come from a person who is not easily slotted as a "communal"/ "secular" guy.
But take a real life example: a man is attacked by a dog. Should be bite the dog, or grab a stick (let's assume there's one within reach) and hit it real hard?
In my view, the current path of Hindu extremism reduces the greatness of Hinduism by planting the cancer of mindless fundamentalism in Hindu thought. Why should we reduce ourselves to dogs, even if we are surrounded by some dogs?
Hindus have been losers. We need to ask ourselves why, and make up for our lost respect.
Tolerance is a great virtue, but tolerance and kindness become more respectable when a strong person exhibits them.
The questions we must answer are: were all the people killed in the Gujarat riots the people responsible for Godhra and the other incidents started by Muslims? Do we have the capability to hit back hard at those who sponsor enemies of Hinduism and of India? Can we ensure that Veerappan is caught? Can we stop discriminating on grounds of colour and caste within India? Are those of us (like me) who studied in good Christian missionary schools traitors to Hinduism? Why are the best schools (and I mean the ones with excellent academic results) not run by Hindu missionaries?
Why did I chose to have my only son born in a Christian missionary hospital? I'd like to state the answer: my wife had had a miscarriage earlier. We were scared most doctors would push her into a C-section (it's a valid fear). There was this one retired doctor who strongly believed in natural birth. She worked in a Christian missionary hospital.
Back to a question which we must answer: why are there so few institutions like excellent schools and hospitals run by Hindu bodies, but open to all? Why do we need so many new temples and statues with the lala's name on them?
We must assess the new Hindu mood without blinkers, yes. But we must know the dangers of Hinduim which is revivalist but primitive!
