07-02-2004, 11:04 AM
Bravo, Kumar for a spirited defense of a tradition and a way of life and for many perceptive gems. I particularly like the following
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A nation cannot build an effective alliance with another nations if it self neglects to define or correctly prioritize what is important for this nation. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Starting with the refusal to accept a UNSC seat in the early 50's (nehru refused it saying Communist China deserved it more than India), and being more concerned with the fear of Korea being invaded by US than with Tibet being invaded by China, practically gifting away Aksai Chin to China (not a blade of grass grows there) and many other countless examples over the decades, we have practiced self abnegation much like sanyasi in international politics. But the end result of all this is not increased respect for being a sanyasin but ridicule and derision that we can be had for a song and a little flattery.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We have to hail Guru Gobind Singh and Shiva Jee as heroes and recognize Aurang Zeb as oppressor. Will it hurt the feelings of Muslims? My answer is it should not. After all, the Muslims are Indians too.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is the lament of the secularists. That we should not proclaim that we are Hindus, we should not praise Hinduism, we should not praise Hindu heroes, all because we should not hurt the sentiments of our loyal Muslim brothers. But this begs the question why should such praise hurt anybody' sentiments at all and certainly why should it hurt the sentiments of loyal Indians , Muslim or otherwise.
It needs to be said loud and clear. Praising Hindus and Hindu heroes does not hurt the sentiments of anybody.Neither does denigrating Hindus advance the cause of true secularism. Hindus should be ashamed of themselves comparing their fellow Hindus to nazis. After all let it be remembered that it was the grand Mufti of jerusalem who supported Hitler in WW II and not the Sankaracharyas or Swami Vivekananda or Sri Aurobindo or Ramana Maharishi and certainly not any Indian leader
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A nation cannot build an effective alliance with another nations if it self neglects to define or correctly prioritize what is important for this nation. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Starting with the refusal to accept a UNSC seat in the early 50's (nehru refused it saying Communist China deserved it more than India), and being more concerned with the fear of Korea being invaded by US than with Tibet being invaded by China, practically gifting away Aksai Chin to China (not a blade of grass grows there) and many other countless examples over the decades, we have practiced self abnegation much like sanyasi in international politics. But the end result of all this is not increased respect for being a sanyasin but ridicule and derision that we can be had for a song and a little flattery.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We have to hail Guru Gobind Singh and Shiva Jee as heroes and recognize Aurang Zeb as oppressor. Will it hurt the feelings of Muslims? My answer is it should not. After all, the Muslims are Indians too.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is the lament of the secularists. That we should not proclaim that we are Hindus, we should not praise Hinduism, we should not praise Hindu heroes, all because we should not hurt the sentiments of our loyal Muslim brothers. But this begs the question why should such praise hurt anybody' sentiments at all and certainly why should it hurt the sentiments of loyal Indians , Muslim or otherwise.
It needs to be said loud and clear. Praising Hindus and Hindu heroes does not hurt the sentiments of anybody.Neither does denigrating Hindus advance the cause of true secularism. Hindus should be ashamed of themselves comparing their fellow Hindus to nazis. After all let it be remembered that it was the grand Mufti of jerusalem who supported Hitler in WW II and not the Sankaracharyas or Swami Vivekananda or Sri Aurobindo or Ramana Maharishi and certainly not any Indian leader