Nehru could not have believed that one of his own kin would spread the poison of communalism against which he devoted his life…
To whomsoever it may concern,
I am a 20-year-old “Hindu” Indian boy. I would not normally disclose my religion as a part of my primary identity, but these days it is different. Due to the vituperative speech by Varun (I can’t use Gandhi, he doesn’t deserve it) made recently, to merely win an election, this identity has been forced on me. I will always unwillingly be “the other” to millions of Muslims in my own country.
But I feel ashamed to be born as a Hindu today. Just recently I was talking to one of my close friends, Faraz. And he was of the opinion that the Muslims are the most alienated community in this country. I defended the secular credentials of my country passionately. I said that look around India, Sri Lanka has an ethno-centric war going on, in Pakistan the minorities are non-existent and in China you cannot openly practice your faith. It is only in India that the minorities have such rights.
He brought my attention to the Gujarat Genocide (Not Riots), and I said that despite that the civil society and majority of the political class was opposed to it and that it was an aberration. I gave examples of states like Israel and Iran where minorities are given no representation. “But Anshul”, he said, “What is the use of all this when I don’t feel safe “in my own country”?” I reassured him, that it wasn’t that bad.
But today I cannot face him, as his stand has been vindicated. I can’t imagine how he must have felt when in his own country; people’s representatives were talking of chopping off his hands and forcefully sterilizing him or members of his community just because they happened to be Muslims! (Much like the Nazi rhetoric) I put myself in his shoes and am horrified! Pandit Nehru said that he does not understand concept of Hindu Rashtra, but the Pakistanis would agree with it entirely, as the idea of Pakistan is the one closest to this ideology.
And what is worse is the fact that such an ideology has found legitimization in my country. But Varun should remember as long as there will be RSS and Bajrang Dal there shall be IM and SIMI! What can I possibly say to my friend to make him feel safe? Such invective does not polarize the Hindu vote (rabid communalists will vote for you anyway), it alienates the secular, patriotic Muslim, which has been the single most disastrous effect of the Hindutva Movement in India.
With this diatribe of Varun, Taliban has come a step closer to India. For Hindu Rashtra and Taliban are two-sides of the same coin. Now call me “sickular” or psuedo-secular it doesn’t matter. All I can say right now is, “Sorry, Faraz Bhai… per hum sab inke jaise nahin hain…”(All of us are not like them)
Just like all Muslims were forced to exhibit their “patriotism” post the Mumbai Attacks by the right wingers, I show off my tolerance and secularism in the face of an equally devastating attack on the Idea of India…
Please save this land of Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar…
Anshul Trivedi
Great work! still a long way to go!
Comment by Ojas — March 24, 2009 @ 4:52 pm |
“But I feel ashamed to be born as a Hindu today.”
That is only because you identify the Hindutva with Hindus and will ignorantly continue to do that being unenlightened about any deeper philosophy. What do you indetify as being part of “Hindu culture” is the question Anshul.
I am completely and strongly against statements of Varun Gandhi. So what if he is a Gandhi? Are they a family of people who can never no error?
I have plenty of Muslim friends too. Clearly the majority of Hindus in this nation haven’t as a majority alienated anyone. Ask your friend Faraz if he has been alienated in India by the majority of the Hindus he meets. Has Varun not faced discontent and legal action on making those remarks? If he didn’t but got support from Hindus, your friend Faraz has a reason to worry, like how the Hindus in Pakistan have a reason to worry. Would you or I ever support Varun Gandhi? Never. There are millions of other Hindus (by birth) like us. The only ones lauding him are the Hindutva like the Shiv Sena. And why should the majority of Hindus in this nation (with their opinions) be put aside to regard these goons as the “All Hindu” opinion?
Are the Hindutvas the law here like how Taliban is the law in Pakistan? If they were, your friend Faraz has reason to feel threatened. Point is, they aren’t and the majority of Hindus in this nation will NEVER give side to violence against a community.
Neither you, nor anyone should judge a community by the acts of some induviduals, nor are we to feel “guilty” or “ashamed” for it. Do Muslims need to feel ashamed of being Muslim on account Islamic extremists? No. Their belief in their faith is personal and completely different from the extremist violence of Al-Qaeda. The same goes to majority Hindus and Hindutva violence.
What does come to question is why you easily and quickly associate violence of Hindu extremists to the Hindus (as a commmunity) in this country.
Comment by Vivek — April 1, 2009 @ 12:21 pm |
Hi Dear Vivek & Anshul,
I am not talking about politics, be it Varun Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru. I will talk about some ethics. Is RSS a political body? Why drag a non political body into dirty politics.
What do you both (Ansul & Vivek)mean to say I cannot understand. Why talk flak about RSS??? Do you know that RSS was formed 22yrs before independence. Mahatma Gandhi supported RSS. Do you know that Bapu Genu was a from RSS. The ideology then and even today of RSS is the same: People staying in “Hindustan” is a hindustani or hindu. So from where does muslims and christian or people from their community feel that they are minority.Do you find any country with 2 or 3 names??? Why do not people outside Bharat (Hindustan the original name)and people even in Bharat feel proud to say “WE ARE INDIANS” not “WE ARE HINDUSTANI” OR “WE ARE BHARATIANS”? People staying in Pakistan are a pakstani. They are not ashamed to say this. Remember Pakistan was formed from Hindustan. The ideolgy of RSS was and always will be this that people staying in Hindustan is a hindustani or a hindu. So as it was said by Swami Vivekanand “Garv se kaho hum hindu hai.” I will question Faraz:(Ansul do it on behalf of me)Are you a Hindu staying in Hindustan?? Can you proclaim it and say aloud in front of your muslim community? Can Faraz take this challange. I am 200% sure that Faraz won’t proclaim himself as hindu of Hindustan. Test your friend Ansul. Now is the chance to know whether Faraz is a true by heart to his original country (Hindustan). RSS teaches us to stay united. All sect from hindustan is accepted as a hindustani in RSS. Do you feel that proclaiming “Bharatmata ki Jai” is a sin?
Feeling hurt when freinds like you fall prey to politics and divert your self from being one as true “Hindustani” of “Hindustan” The politicians are dividing the hindustanis into hindus, muslims, shikhs christians and whatever they feel like and you are falling prey to their mischiefs. Stand united my friends and not divided. It is high time to be united.
Jai Hind,
Jai Bharat,
Bharatmata ki jai’
A true Hindustani,
Dhananjay
Comment by Dhananjay — April 10, 2009 @ 11:57 am |
Dhananjay,
I know quite a lot about RSS and their ideology, being a political science student. It is complete rubbish that RSS is a “non-political” organization, it is the parent body of BJP. You can sell this argument to someone else.
I also know Golwalkar had a fetish for Hitler and Mussolini and extolled their qualities and politics. I also know, that unlike popular belief that Jinnah first devised the two-nation theory, it was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who came up with it in 1923! I also know their views on democracy and what a Brahmin dominated institution it is!
“People staying in “Hindustan” is a hindustani or hindu.”
Absolutely wrong. A gross manipulation of history. Linking religion with nationality and culturally is not only factually incorrect but is dangerous! Their inane argument that Muslims invaded India thorugh the Mughals and hence committed a cultural genocide, is also unsubstantiated, as India was never a Hindu Rashtra! During periods of history has been dominated by Buddhists too… I think then by this argument Gautam Buddha wasn’t an Indian!In no other country except Islamic states and Israel does this concept find currency, and we know what these countries are like! For example (One of a billion I can quote), England doesn’t have a religion, they don’t have to proclaim they are Christians to prove their nationalism!
I also know the Kandhamal genocide against Christians and what is the stand of the saffron brigade on this. I also know that it is an organization that was banned in the light of assassination of Bapu and twice (legitimately, if we discount Indira Gandhi’s emergency) in the history of India!
So please bring arguments that can at least be considered and then blasted. You seem like a nice guy, don’t be an apologist for RSS and accept it for what it is.
A Hindu Fascist organization and a great threat to the unity of India.
P.S. -> Faraz is not a Hindu, so he does not have to proclaim to be one! He is Muslim and an Indian and there is no contradiction in this. Except in the bankcrupt ideological make up of RSS.
May be not a true Indian by the Sangh’s definition and proud of it,
Anshul
Comment by Anshul — April 10, 2009 @ 4:09 pm |
Dhananjay, thou art the venom in the amrut of the celestial ocean!
Let me not use this website of Anshul (PBUH, hehe) as a platform to settle a debate with you. But I am tempted to answer this. Feel free to visit my site and READ what I have typed of Hindus, and the Hindutva.
“RSS teaches us to stay united.”"
Yes but under what identity? I don’t know what ideals RSS was founded by but if you want Anshul’s friend Faraz to say he is Hindu, your fanatism is no short of Taliban which would treat people with respect once they change their identity. So why should Faraz proclaim himself a Hindu?! It shows the tolerance level you have really. So yes, stay united **despite** your religous and cultural differences. Can the RSS teach that?
“Why drag a non political body into dirty politics.”"
Haha, that is funny. An organization that works through mind warfare to influence the thinking of this population says it is not a political organization. They are dragged into “dirty” politics because they play dirty politics, just as how a gangster is murdered because he murders. You spread an ideology into society so openly, you will be dragged into politics.
Comment by Vivek — April 18, 2009 @ 6:09 am |
Good Blog
Atta Boy
Gaius Marius
Comment by Kanwar Simar Singh — July 11, 2009 @ 11:41 am |