08-06-2004, 11:16 PM
2004
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Vivekananda and Hindutva
Bulbul Roy Mishra
The word "Hindutva", etymologically as also judicially construed by the Supreme
Court, means Hinduism. Nevertheless, it has been assigned the following
pejorative meaning in the latest edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary: "A
very strong sense of Hindu identity, seeking the creation of a Hindu state." In
defining Hindutva, the COD has obviously been influenced by political
propagandists, which has led it to ignore the court's decision, as also the
tenets of Hindu philosophy that speak of the unity and identity of souls and not
division.
To ensure that such disinformation does not stretch any further, it is time to
understand Hindutva in the light of the thoughts of its greatest exponent in
modern time, Swami Vivekananda.
"The greatest name man ever gave to God is truth," said Swami Vivekananda.
"Truth is the fruit of realisation; therefore, seek it within the soul." Man's
search for the ultimate truth, according to Swamiji, was like the chemist's
resolution to find the one element from which all elements had derived. As
chemistry will become perfect after reaching that single source-element, so is
the case with religion. Once we reach the ultimate source of creativity, we
discover the perfect unity of humanity, the summum bonum of Hindu religion. Only
after realising that ultimate source of unity could the Vedantic sage exclaim
"Tat tvam asi" (thou art that).
To Vivekananda, Hindutva taught self-abnegation. "Religion comes with intense
self-sacrifice. Desire nothing for yourself. Do all for others." The secret of
liberation was not to be bound by anything, not even good deeds. "Therefore,"
wrote Swamiji, "be not bound by good deeds or by desire for name and fame. Those
who know this secret pass beyond this round of birth and death and become
immortal."
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...pd3%2Etxt\
&counter_img=3
Vivekananda and Hindutva
Bulbul Roy Mishra
The word "Hindutva", etymologically as also judicially construed by the Supreme
Court, means Hinduism. Nevertheless, it has been assigned the following
pejorative meaning in the latest edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary: "A
very strong sense of Hindu identity, seeking the creation of a Hindu state." In
defining Hindutva, the COD has obviously been influenced by political
propagandists, which has led it to ignore the court's decision, as also the
tenets of Hindu philosophy that speak of the unity and identity of souls and not
division.
To ensure that such disinformation does not stretch any further, it is time to
understand Hindutva in the light of the thoughts of its greatest exponent in
modern time, Swami Vivekananda.
"The greatest name man ever gave to God is truth," said Swami Vivekananda.
"Truth is the fruit of realisation; therefore, seek it within the soul." Man's
search for the ultimate truth, according to Swamiji, was like the chemist's
resolution to find the one element from which all elements had derived. As
chemistry will become perfect after reaching that single source-element, so is
the case with religion. Once we reach the ultimate source of creativity, we
discover the perfect unity of humanity, the summum bonum of Hindu religion. Only
after realising that ultimate source of unity could the Vedantic sage exclaim
"Tat tvam asi" (thou art that).
To Vivekananda, Hindutva taught self-abnegation. "Religion comes with intense
self-sacrifice. Desire nothing for yourself. Do all for others." The secret of
liberation was not to be bound by anything, not even good deeds. "Therefore,"
wrote Swamiji, "be not bound by good deeds or by desire for name and fame. Those
who know this secret pass beyond this round of birth and death and become
immortal."