01-02-2005, 08:09 PM
Defining Hindutva
Prafull Goradia
The championing by the BJP of the Hindu ethos at its Ranchi meeting
would be welcomed by all supporters of Hindutva. It is appropriate
at this juncture to recount what the concept encapsulates especially
since, over the years, Hindutva has been used more as a slogan and
less as an ideology. In essence, it is a political cloth woven out
of the sliver and yarn comprising the tenets of the Sanatan Dharma.
The Hindu universe includes all living beings including animals,
birds and reptiles. Their souls transmigrate and in due course,
attain mukti. The paths to this salvation are several like jnana,
karma or bhakti yoga.
Many a policy even for the contemporary world can be drawn from the
sliver of Hinduism. Ecology and environment are important to enable
all living beings to survive. A free market economy would be the
corollary of the freedom to choose any path of salvation. The
foreign policy would be essentially non-aggressive because a Hindu
is reluctant to attack unprovoked anyone as aliens might be carrying
the souls of former Hindus. This theory of transmigration explains
why Hindu rulers have generally been non-imperialist.
The Semitic world divides human beings into two-Jews and gentiles,
Christians and infidels, Muslims and kafirs. The Marxists too divide
humanity between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. The presence
of these communities makes it necessary for the devotee of Hindutva
to seek the establishment of a Hindu rashtra (ramrajya). Its
foremost principles would be impartiality in the same spirit as
justice is blind. Recall how Lord Ram was anxious to not appear
partial to his family members even in matters as dear to him as his
beloved wife Sita.
Unfortunately, the present Indian polity is littered with
discrimination. To begin with, in the course of 1947/48, 565 princes
were dethroned and their states integrated with the rest of India.
The zamindaris were abolished. But the wakfs, which are the biggest
urban landlords in the country, were allowed to perpetuate. The
Caliph nationalised wakfs in the Ottoman empire way back in 1914.
Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution clearly discriminate against
the Hindus. Billions of rupees are spent on the upkeep of the
madarsas and other minority institutions. The Haj subsidy, which
this year will go to some 82,000 Muslims at the rate of Rs 20,000
each, is yet another act of partiality. The Minorities Commission is
now being made into a statutory body, and the establishment of two
more minorities commissions has been proposed. The Andhra Pradesh
Government announced reservations for Muslims in Government jobs.
Besides, the Muslim League, the chief culprit of the Partition, is
represented in the central ministry.
Either the polity considers Kashmir to be an integral part of India
or not. What is the sanctity of the Parliament unanimously passing a
resolution stating that J&K is an inalienable part of India, if the
Government negotiates with the separatist Hurriyat and also allows
their meetings with the Pakistan Government? All this is being done
to placate Muslims and to protect their locus standi as citizens of
India. To a Hindu rashtra all citizens would be equal. An
outstanding example of a Hindu rashtra in practice was the princely
State of Travancore until 1947. The Maharajah ruled the State as a
trustee of Lord Padmanabh. Read the history of the State to find out
how citizens belonging to other faiths were treated.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?
main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit4%2Etxt&counter_img=4
Prafull Goradia
The championing by the BJP of the Hindu ethos at its Ranchi meeting
would be welcomed by all supporters of Hindutva. It is appropriate
at this juncture to recount what the concept encapsulates especially
since, over the years, Hindutva has been used more as a slogan and
less as an ideology. In essence, it is a political cloth woven out
of the sliver and yarn comprising the tenets of the Sanatan Dharma.
The Hindu universe includes all living beings including animals,
birds and reptiles. Their souls transmigrate and in due course,
attain mukti. The paths to this salvation are several like jnana,
karma or bhakti yoga.
Many a policy even for the contemporary world can be drawn from the
sliver of Hinduism. Ecology and environment are important to enable
all living beings to survive. A free market economy would be the
corollary of the freedom to choose any path of salvation. The
foreign policy would be essentially non-aggressive because a Hindu
is reluctant to attack unprovoked anyone as aliens might be carrying
the souls of former Hindus. This theory of transmigration explains
why Hindu rulers have generally been non-imperialist.
The Semitic world divides human beings into two-Jews and gentiles,
Christians and infidels, Muslims and kafirs. The Marxists too divide
humanity between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. The presence
of these communities makes it necessary for the devotee of Hindutva
to seek the establishment of a Hindu rashtra (ramrajya). Its
foremost principles would be impartiality in the same spirit as
justice is blind. Recall how Lord Ram was anxious to not appear
partial to his family members even in matters as dear to him as his
beloved wife Sita.
Unfortunately, the present Indian polity is littered with
discrimination. To begin with, in the course of 1947/48, 565 princes
were dethroned and their states integrated with the rest of India.
The zamindaris were abolished. But the wakfs, which are the biggest
urban landlords in the country, were allowed to perpetuate. The
Caliph nationalised wakfs in the Ottoman empire way back in 1914.
Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution clearly discriminate against
the Hindus. Billions of rupees are spent on the upkeep of the
madarsas and other minority institutions. The Haj subsidy, which
this year will go to some 82,000 Muslims at the rate of Rs 20,000
each, is yet another act of partiality. The Minorities Commission is
now being made into a statutory body, and the establishment of two
more minorities commissions has been proposed. The Andhra Pradesh
Government announced reservations for Muslims in Government jobs.
Besides, the Muslim League, the chief culprit of the Partition, is
represented in the central ministry.
Either the polity considers Kashmir to be an integral part of India
or not. What is the sanctity of the Parliament unanimously passing a
resolution stating that J&K is an inalienable part of India, if the
Government negotiates with the separatist Hurriyat and also allows
their meetings with the Pakistan Government? All this is being done
to placate Muslims and to protect their locus standi as citizens of
India. To a Hindu rashtra all citizens would be equal. An
outstanding example of a Hindu rashtra in practice was the princely
State of Travancore until 1947. The Maharajah ruled the State as a
trustee of Lord Padmanabh. Read the history of the State to find out
how citizens belonging to other faiths were treated.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?
main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit4%2Etxt&counter_img=4