Hinduism
is at crossroads in India. There is a real danger that the religion is
about to be hijacked by fanatical groups and the majority will be forced
to follow suit. To us who are far away from the fray, it is unacceptable.
These are not the values we grew up with. So what went wrong? What is
pushing Hinduism, the gentlest of all religions, into this path of revenge
killings and fundamentalism? Has all sanity left the practitioners of the
religion in the name of defending the faith?
The Upanishads taught us that all humans are potentially divine. The
custom of joining the hands in the sign of prayer is the greeting one
receives from a stranger and is unique to Sanatana Dharma. There is no
difference between prayer and greeting another human being. If a human
soul has a piece of God in him (Aham Brhmasmi), it is only fit that
he is greeted with the hands put together in form of prayer (Namaste,
Namaskar). A religion that treated all humans as divine is now
embroiled in hunting down others in order to kill.
What are we afraid of? That this religion that has been practiced in one
form or another for at least three thousand five hundred years and
practiced by a billion people is suddenly going to disappear, if we do not
defend it with the might of the sword? Let me paraphrase from a British
publication that was published about one hundred years ago. It predicted
that Hinduism could not sustain itself with the arcane ideology it
proposed and would be extinct within one hundred years. It spelt doom and
gloom for the religion if there were no internal reforms. The book
published under British India by the Christian Literature Society for
India, at the turn of the 19th century claimed that Hinduism was
hopelessly archaic, incapable of reform and mired in poverty, corruption
and despotism. In another title in the same publication titled “Hinduism
incapable of reform”, it suggested that Hindus give up idol worship,
pantheism and renounce all the Vedas, Manuva Sastras and the epics
Ramayana and Mahabharata. It called the idea of Aham Brahmasmi – I
am Brahma – blasphemous. Here we are one hundred years later, greater in
number, stronger than ever before, at least doubling in number in the last
fifty years! The Hindu concept is alive and well.
The reforms in Hinduism in the last two centuries have been significant.
Burning of widows (practice of sati), female infanticide and ostracized
untouchables class have been reformed. Rajaram Mohan Roy, Dayananda
Saraswati, Ramakrishna Pramahamsa, Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi worked
diligently to reform it. Perhaps it is time to reform the caste system all
together.
India was modeled after the Western secular civilization and the
intellectuals hoped that India could easily transform itself to imitate
that model. They envisioned India as a secular society with its mystical
religion practiced at a personal, private level as it was meant to be.
Others viewed the gaining of independence and division into two countries
gave them the mandate to ‘rehinduaze’ India. This faction is now becoming
stronger.
There is no doubt that the caste system was exploited by foreign religions
in the past. The Islamic rulers discriminated between Brahmins and other
castes in levying of taxes and this naturally led to disgruntlement. Later
the British played the upper class against the lower and neighboring
princely states against each other in their quest to gain control. Hindus
with their diverse views and practices seemed to be weak pushovers. But
history attests to the fact that the religion has survived many onslaughts
over thousands of years and today is one of the oldest continuous
religions in the world.
This brings us back to the question – do we panic now that there is the
appearance of fresh attacks on the Hindu doctrine? Today there is a lack
of reformers and leaders in the country. Instead much energy is spent on
condemnation of other religions. A neighboring country is trying to attack
India and it happens to be a Muslim country. It is the duty of every
Indian – Hindu, Muslim or Christian to defend the country from a foreign
threat. Unfortunately, Pakistan is using religion and jihad to motivate
their citizens. Should India do the same and use religion to rile up its
citizens to counterattack? Or should it condemn the practice of exploiting
the masses in the ruse of defense of religion? If Hindu principles are to
be practiced, it should be the latter. Otherwise there is a danger of us
becoming indistinguishable from the enemy.
India is in sore
need of reformers and the time seems to be ripe for another Mahatma or
Swami to come along and set the religion and country in
the right track.
Readers' Comments Dr
Hebbar's perspective on Hinduism is that of a highly educated,
sophisticated and literate person. A poor Hindu living in a slum with the
threat of conversion or even loss of life may not have such thoughtful and
or altruistic views. The role played by political parties that pit one
religion against another is a major factor in fomenting religious warfare.
A revival of Hinduism is certainly needed. Do you remember the story about
the rats deciding to tie a bell around the cat to announce it's arrival?
Who will be the brave rat? We need a qualified volunteer to initiate a
major reform.
– Raj Warrier, New Orleans, June 1, 2002
Hinduism
needs reforms alright. But why should we wait for a reformer? The
Talibanisation of Hinduism is gaining momentum by each passing day. An
individual reformer, today, will be burnt alive. Why can't we, the real
Hindus, put our heads together to arrive at a practicable solution to this
menace of fanatical Hinduism? Our books are full of wisdom for almost all
human situations and predicaments. The learned ones like Dr. Hebbar should
take the initiative through IndiaNest.
– A Rishi, Calcutta, May 26, 2002
The greatness of Sanatana Dharma is that it is inclusive not exclusive. No
one has to convert to be be a Hindu. The problem in India is not religious
but political. This political problem is created with the help of troubled
individuals who wants their bread and butter and exist at the expense of
ordinary peace loving people. The country has to be strong and citizens
should be loyal to India and solve their little problems in peace. India
has great potential and together we can make lives of individuals better
and comfortable. This is only possible if we listen to innerself and not
to the propagators of hate. – Baldev Sood, Canada, May 24, 2002
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