No Gloves
Was just thinking of something I have noticed for a long time and barely had the courage to speak up about it, for fear of political incorrectness.
But people in the currently intolerant and absurd political climes, have taken resort to a weird policy perhaps to assuage a sense of misplaced guilt. That of confusing Hinduism with politically motivated Hindutva and terror instigating "Hindu fundamentalism" and subjecting both the religion and the malpractices to harsh ridicule.
Perhaps because ridiculing something reduces its potency.
But it also unfortunately belittles the greatness that tolerates it.
It takes advantage of an expected benevolence.
And so, as a result, a lot of high minded secular and otherwise tolerant thinkers have taken to mocking and ridiculing Hinduism itself, of course joined by the not so secular forces, eager to take pot shots at this religion.
Now I humbly request people to think back to just how far Hindu fundamentalism stretches back really, compared to the fundamentalism of other religions, (think of the three main Abrahamic ones), resulting in forced conversions, mass genocides, establishment of de rigueur and totally authoritarian theocracies, that treats it's minority citizens as second class chattels and slaves.
Think back to the Christian Crusades against Islam, the witch burning at the stake for heresy and blasphemy.
Think back to islamic persecution under Aurangzeb, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq Timur Lane.
Think of restrictive prohibitions on food and dress codes that current day regimes blithely incorporate as part of the Law of the Land.
And not so much as a titter is heard that women are not allowed to drive motor vehicles in some parts of the world in this century.
Hindu fundamentalism is not to be excused.
But don't treat Hinduism with savage condescension either.
Had you not been from this mainly pacifist docile body of people, perhaps you couldn't even have practised your freedom of speech.
Because without being brought up in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom, "where the mind is without fear, and the head us held high", (to quote Tagore), where would our freedom of mind thought and expression have been today?
Sati and the caste system were ugly and reprehensible.
Like the Crusades where a man's genitals were cut off for not converting.
Or a woman burnt alive, for claiming to have had visions of God.
Religions have shed lot of blood.
But seriously, if we do a competitive and fair study the "bloody footfall", of Hinduism has been far lesser.
I'm not trying to say my religion above all others.
Be very fair. Think really think, if while critiquing a political party you're also sending out a message of utter disrespect and ingratitude to a religion whose core essence says that there are as many paths to God and Salvation, as there are opinions regarding them.
We have had golden eras of peace in a multicultural India too.
We have had foreign rule under Mughals who assimilated, (despite maintaining their proud identity), and under the British, who forever chose to remain outsiders.
But all along Hindus Muslims Sikhs Buddhists have remained brothers in this "Hindu majority democracy.'
It's a commendable record.
The Hindu Muslim riots were both instigated by the British Raj during the partition of Bengal and Independence of India.
As part of the Colonial Divide and Rule imperial policy.
Well my friends. We cannot change things till we realize respect is not apportioned out of a sense of compassion and neediness but out of a sense of justice and fair play.
To be the majority in India should not mean Hindus should have to wear an yoke of political correctness and restraint.
Or apologize for exercising their right to free speech.
Or have their opinions ridiculed and mocked in a hysterical mass booing by the intelligentsia.
Which perceives itself as liberal secular and enlightened but in a shallow non introspective manner.
Carried by the tidal waves of history.
Think. How Jesus was greeted with palm leaves on Sunday.
By Friday the same mob was crying, "Crucify him.'
Don't be swayed into feel good look good secularism. Be eminently fair. Blindfold yourself before you balance the scales. Then play Devil's advocate.
I think the only reason I could marry outside my caste community and religion without caring for even a single voice of dissent, from amongst my friends family and kith and kin is due to a hindu upbringing.
And in fact I didn't hear even one voice of doubt among these people.
Whereas my spouse to be had to kneel and beg for "permissions granted", and received flak for my outright refusal to convert.
When you bend your Truth once, you'll bend it many more times.
The fact is I'm blessed in rich meaningful memories.
Where many a night, my Brahmo mother read out to me from the Bible in my childhood and shed tears at the part where Jesus was crucified.
We were not taught that the Gods of other religions were false demons.
We were taught to empathize with the highest feelings of adoration that other human beings felt for the Divinity of their choosing.
My Hindu father even today keeps the Bhagwad Gita the Bible and The Quran at his little alcove of worship.
That's the true essence of Hinduism. A rich traditional of cultural borrowing and interchange of the best thoughts and ideas from every sphere of life.
An ability to celebrate life, and not just religion.
Hence Hindus don't borrow the traditions of Christmas trees, cakes and Santa only to deny their source/origin, by incorporating it into hindu festivals such as Diwali.
They give full and fair acknowledgement tothe original itself, and joyfully, zestfully participate in Christmas and Easter egg hunts or Iftar after Ramazan.
We don't take offence that people love our colorful festival of Holi which sprung from Lord Krishna's Mythical times, and play it as the "Colour Run" in the USA.
Humanity however, stands to lose the richness of its collective ancient heritage, the richness of diverse and meaningful human traditions, when we seek to cleanse it of it's religious roots and make it dull and secular in an antiseptic uniform manner.
Not to say plagiarism as part of another religion altogether. Without even a mention of roots.
Likewise the recent adaptation, (only in India), of fireworks, (traditionally burst during Diwali), at Christmas.
Or the Ostara egg hunt which us now synonymous with Easter.
History will out itself hopefully.
Because the very stuff of legends and ways of life of our forefathers should be commemorated even in adaptation.
I remember eating lunch at my Muslim friends house and blithely chomping beef biryani.
She forgot quite rightly, to remember I was Hindu, (but only that we were friends), and so didn't warn me.
When her Uncle harshly rebuked her I was forced to spring to her defence, smiling and assuring him that our religion was A okay if we ate beef, so long as it was unintentionally done.
The uncle's wry smile made me laugh, much later knowing he was totally seeing through my not so smooth cover up.
Yup. Many Hindus, like me feel revolted eating beef.
The way Muslims feel pork is dirty.
We are taught very early, that the cow is a docile animal which already provides us plentifully, in terms of milk from which we get so many other dairy products.
That it's one of the first feeds for human infants.
That's a reason for, almost, ;) but not quite, revering it as a bovine mother.
Not to talk of the anti septic qualities of its urine, the use of cow dung as fuel and leather after its natural demise.
But seriously, if Hinduism has been taught in its broadest essence, then it's understood by its apt pupils, without express instruction, that to "beef" about beef over friendship, peace and human happiness, is ridiculous.
Which is why at eighteen it was easy for me to suppress revulsion and plaster a smile on my face.
Which is or should be the hallmark of true Hindus.
Reason and Amity.
Otherwise the religion you are proclaiming is the very one you're violating.
I am not a Hindu apologist. But a secure and comfortable in my own skin Hindu, who is glad to be one.
I place humanity above my religion. But I expect you to do the same when dealing with me.
If you show bias towards your own religion, and want to dissect mine or worse malign it, that's your choice of fake secularism.
But don't expect me to condone it and treat your religion with velvet gloves, while performing open heart surgery without anaesthesia on mine.
In that case I will rigorously scrutinize your claims for authenticity with every rational means at my disposal, without getting offended or upset.
And reserve my rights to defend my religion within reason and logic, without a hint of apology in my ink.
It can't be expected of Hindus, to be guilt driven Messiahs, harboring Saviour complexes, simply because so far, we are the majority populace in India.
Intellectuals, please do refrain from crucifying us for sins all of humanity has in far greater proportions, committed at various stages of history.
Please don't turn a selectively blind eye to issues that you know are tougher to tackle and take on the sitting target.
Hindus are just as human as fallible as you are. And as capable of good too.
But the tact, sensitivity and respect that minorities require, is a requisite if the majority too.
Velvet gloves for all or none.
(c) Amrita Valan 2017
