Reuben Horne on Hinduism and Indians

Submitted by Rakshas 10 Anan (India), Nov 12, 2005 at 04:27

I second Arvind on that, and thank Reuben for his sensitivity about the subject, a rare response in an international forum, either because people know very little about India, or tend to the truism that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing', waxing brutishly eloquent on what they know next to nothing about. This is as true of the half-baked academicians and area specialists as 'the common laity'.

Given the fact that the rise of Christianity in India was not a benign phenomenon, but an outcome of the Portuguese Inquisitions in Goa or the repressively racist, class-conscious British Missionary-Imperialist enterprise, the Hindus have nearly as unfortunate an experience of Christians, as of Muslim invaders! In fact the former was longer lasting and more insidious in impact, influencing the very structure of Indian society through prejudiced colonial education and institutions.

Neither of these groups are to be considered as minorities in the classic sense. It is true that in the earlier era there was much sympathy for Christian converts among the Hindus, as also between Hindus and other minority groups. However, the equations have changed radically because of aggressive fundamentalist posturings of Christian NGOs and missionary groups flush with western evangelical funding in the last 2-3 decades! It is these latter groups which are closely aligned with the Maoist, Marxist-Leninist and ultra-leftist violent insurgencies against the Indian State in its remotest parts.

It is not hidden now that when a person is converted to either Islam or Christianity, he tends to develop extra-territorial loyalties, becoming more amenable to acts of treason. No modern nation can permit such behaviour, but the geopolitical pressures in the region are such that it is the Hindus who have been repeatedly put to the Cross. Which majority group can suffer the kind of media attacks the Hindus face in India and abroad, motivated by minority vested interests with Western or Islamist support?

Also, as Arvind has pointed out, the record of terrorism against India exposes the double standards employed by the Westerm Christian nations on this score. It is not an accident that Pakistan happens to be their closest ally in the War Against Terror, even while it is deeply embroiled in terrorist activities against India, which has suffered even more casualties than Israel as a victim of ISI-supported terrorism!

While Hindus have previously displayed sufficient regard for all comers, all cults and religions even when they grossly abused our hospitality, can the same thing be said of Christianity? Do the evangelists grant the Hindu religion honour and respect on par with Christianity?

It is a fact that in India, it is the leftists in close alliance with Christians and Muslims who hold sway over the English-language media! Hindus don't proselytise; Hindus have no homeland other than India; why blame the Hindus when they are able to say at last that enough is enough in regard to Muslim and Christian conversions?

It is Hindus who are learning to reasonably manage internal conflicts and contradictions in a judicious and humane way. On the other hand, it is obvious that while economic and social betterment is offered as inducement for the immoral conversions, the promise is not followed through, with the result that Muslim and Christian converts are now demanding special quotas in education and employment, at the cost of merit!

After the New Orleans - Katrina spectacle, it does seem as though it would be much better for humanity if all the evangelists of the world focus attention on improving the lot of hapless people in the Bible Belt of America, leaving us polytheists to our own devices. It would be the biggest blessing the world has known since the times of British King Henry VIII!

Lastly. who can deny that it is the Hindus themselves that are the biggest minority in Secular India? And whatever names you choose to call Hindus hereafter, there is a growing resolve to rise up to the challenge of the unfair situation imposed by outsiders with vested interests in undermining India's sovereignty. We stood up to the might of invaders without Islamising or Christianising before now, and this time we are more than ready to give a fitting reply to all comers!

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