by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
By Arul Louis,
New York : Hinduism is a “wonderful” religion suited for the modern era of uncertainty and questioning because it values incertitude, according to Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor, who also excoriated the politicisation of the faith.
“Hinduism rests on the fact that there is a heck of a lot we don’t know about,” Tharoor said on Thursday during an interactive session at JLF@NewYork, the edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
What makes it fit for today’s world, he said “the first is the wonderful fact that in an era of uncertainty, incertitude, you have uniquely a religion that privileges incertitude”.
About creation, the Rig Veda actually says “where the universe comes from, who made all of this heaven and earth, may be He in the heaven knows, may be even He does not know”, he noted.
“A religion that is prepared to question the omniscience of the Creator is to my mind a wonderful faith for a modern or post-modern sensibility.
“On top of that, you have got extraordinary eclecticism” and since no one knows what God looks like one is free to imagine God as one likes in Hinduism, he said.
The Congress Party MP, who is the author of “Why I am a Hindu”, took issue with those who condemn the religion as built on misogyny and discrimination.
About the Laws of Manu, he said, “there is very little evidence as to whether they were observed” and there were many texts that existed.
Of these texts, “I don’t think every Hindu took the advice of the Kama Sutra, either”, he joked.
“For every misogynistic or casteist pronouncements (in Hindu texts) I can give you other equally sanctified texts that preach against casteism,” he said.
He explained that Hinduism “is not a religion of one holy book, but of multiple sacred texts. There’s an awful lot to pick from. What you pick is up to you. If you choose to pick the misogynist or casteist or offensive bits of the religion and say my religion allows me to discriminate against people or to oppress people, it is your fault not the religion’s.”
He made a distinction between religion and social practices that are not based on faith.
Tharoor’s expansive and deep explanation flies in the face of campaigns in the US against Hinduism with claims about caste discrimination and misogyny, including attempts to disrupt the World Hindu Congress earlier this month in Chicago.
Tharoor held out hope for the spirit of tolerance and acceptance to triumph in India.
The spasms of bigotry were a passing phase in India because tolerance and acceptance of the other was “built into the bones” of the Indian people, he said.
“That kind of bigotry that we have seen whipped up in the recent years is essentially a political exercise and to my mind not in any way reflective of the spirit of most of the Indian people,” he said.
“You can’t really change their fundamental nature,” he added.
The “resurgent Hindu nationalism is actually based on a dismaying inferiority complex” of those who feel their “religion has been conquered, subjugated; they feel a humiliation, an ancestral humiliation”, he said.
“Whereas the Hinduism that I have seen, read, grown up with, practiced and being taught is a much more self-confident Hinduism,” he said, conceding that the approaches may be a sign of a north-south divide.
(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Opinions
By Frank F. Islam,
“Recent events in India have damaged the country’s image as a vibrant, plural and successful democracy.” That is the opening line of former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran’s recent article in which he expresses his “growing concern over the rising polarisation and communalism of our social and political discourse”. Saran pointed out: “We pride ourselves in being the most tolerant of people, celebrating our diversity of faith, culture and tradition, ways of life and language. Diversity thrives on sharing; it becomes poison when it becomes an instrument for separating ‘us’ from ‘them’. One cannot construct an over-arching Hindu identity on the basis of creating a binary Hindu-Muslim divide.”
Indeed, we do not need a divide. We need instead to find our spiritual common ground. We cannot find that common ground by accident. It must be a consequence created through strong beliefs and a concerted and sustained effort over time. It must be an outcome that overcomes religious, regional and racial boundaries.
How do we reach that ideal state? We begin with where we are, find our shared values, leverage our strengths and then chart a path to where we want to be.
As an example of discovering our shared values, let me draw upon the teachings of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of Aligarh Muslim University, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, founder of Banaras Hindu University.
These men were visionaries who saw the world not though religious blinders but through an expansive view of what strong and inclusive faiths can do to unite rather than divide us.
Pandit Malviya instructed us: “India is not a country of the Hindus only. It is a country of the Muslims, the Christians and the Parsees too. The country can gain strength and develop itself only when the people of India live in mutual good will and harmony.”
Sir Syed expressed a similar philosophy, stating that the graduates of Aligarh “…shall go forth through the length and breadth of the land to preach the gospel of free inquiry, of large hearted toleration, and of pure morality.”
While there was not a religious bond between Malviya and Sir Syed, there was undoubtedly a spiritual one. It might be said they were soulmates.
They understood that spirituality is transcendent. They knew that spirit is the invisible force that brings us together regardless of our particular predispositions. They recognised that India would be best as one nation under God.
One nation under God. What would create such a nation? That God would not be a Hindu God, a Muslim God, or a Christian God. That God would be ecumenical and non-denominational. That God would be welcoming to all. That God would not discriminate nor encourage discrimination.
We can do that not by looking to the heavens and to the gods whom we worship. But by looking at the earth and the people and the family that we are. We all have a role to play in that pursuit. Some people have special contributions to make.
Religious leaders can promote interfaith dialogue. They can bring together followers of different persuasions for meaningful conversations. They can promote a dialogue of understanding and a shared sense of community with other faiths. They can call attention to the fact that an attack on one religion is an attack on all religions.
Political leaders can promote a framework of unity and civility. They can ensure that all laws are fair and fairly enforced. They can take affirmative actions to promote an atmosphere of communal peace and harmony. They can promote hope not fear.
Citizen leaders can promote collaboration. They can toil together transcending their creeds to plant the seeds for doing good deeds. They can invest in programmes that cut across and eliminate racial, religious and socio-economic divides. They can help shape a stronger and fairer India.
As the United States diminishes its role as a world leader for democracy under President Donald Trump’s leadership, there is a vacuum to be filled. By finding its spiritual common ground and becoming one nation under God, India can achieve its full potential as a country and become a world leader to fill that vacuum.
(Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, civic and thought leader based in Washington, D.C. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ffislam@verizon.net)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
By Vishnu Makhijani,
New Delhi : Religion is blamed for the “dirt it carries” but the fault lies elsewhere, says a timely new book on the subject given the difficult period India and the rest of the world is going through.
“Religion, as usually understood, is the outcome of the dynamics of spirituality, playing freely in a society. But unlike the world of matter, where the outcome of various forces working on an object can be predicted to precision, the forces of society, working out the application of spirituality, cannot be predicted to satisfaction,” writes Samarpan, a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission, in “The World of Religions” (Niyogi Books/pp 284/Rs 450).
The human mind is free and therefore has different levels of purity and unselfishness. Just as the purity of religion depends on the nature and character of its followers, the “not-so-noble” minds “invariably add dross to a religion” due to their incompetence and greed, writes the author, whose assumed name is Swami Samarpanananda, an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
“The onlookers blame religion for the dirt it carries but the fault lies somewhere else” — in materialism — says the author, who examines in detail eight major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
It’s quite “fascinating”, says the author, that every one of these has originated from Asia, today an area of major religious divide.
Noting that the present age, and possibly the coming years, belongs to materialism, Samarpan says “superficiality in the name of rationality, licentious in the name of freedom, greed in the name of a free market, and bloodbath in the name of ideology has grown to monstrous proportions” in what is his sixth book, even as the seventh is well on its way.
“Today, when every other young person believes in the truism ‘religion is irrelevant’, its standing in this e-age looks shaky. Will the high-tech generation of the future have anything to do with religion? Will they throng places of worship as their ancestors did?
“The answer is an emphatic yes,” maintains the author, who grew up in a traditional but liberal family in Bihar and studied in Delhi.
How did this book come about?
“When I joined the Ramakrishna Mission as a monk, some 40 years ago, a senior monk told me that it would be natural for me to know about my religion, but to grow I must read the sacred books of other religions too. That is how I got into studying about other religions with respect.
“It was fascinating for me to note how the masters from different religions were talking quite similarly (not entirely, though) about religion and religious experiences. This continued for most part of my life,” Samarpan told IANS in an interview.
Noting that it has been in his nature to explore the world of ideas by holding on to an idea as the rope to ascend that fascinating world where ideas are in their raw form, not limited by words or hindered by thoughts, he said: “It is this world in which a writer loves to meander to meet the unexpected and the unexplored. True creativity and originality come by moving effortlessly in this realm.”
Lamenting that the “blip and click” lifestyle of today does not allow the time to go deeper into subjects, Samarpan said: “Today we have a very narrow understanding of most subjects, including our own religion. And, we are hopelessly ignorant about other religions. Ignorance is the mother of all narrowness and intolerance.”
“So, I put years of my studying and contemplation into creating ‘The World of Religions’ with the hope that readers may have a quick overview of their own religion, as also that of other religions. As you might note, the book is a beautiful harmony of information, analysis and synthesis born of rigors and refined by the wisdom of masters,” he added.
What then is the essence of each of the eight religions he has written about?
“Every religion accepts that life is not merely about birth and death. The true nature of world is consciousness, known variously as God, Atman, Nirvana, etc. If one wants, one can attain that supreme state by making a sincere effort here and now. Real tranquility in life comes only after one has known his/her true nature that lies beyond worldliness.
“The goal of every religion is to make a person divine. Society, rituals, customs, etc., are secondary details. The fight all around that we see in the name of religion is not to be divine, but to impose one’s narrowness on others. How can someone who loves God be cruel towards the creation of God?
“True religion demands growth in solitude. This makes the mind calm, peaceful, loving and inclusive,” the author replied.
What of the future?
“I am more into thinking than into writing. I sincerely believe that ideas catch hold of you when your mind is calm and ready to hold it. When an idea enters you, it starts growing, and when it grows beyond the critical mass, it needs to be put down on paper. So, writing for me means waiting for ideas to grow slowly for years, and hence I don’t make plans, nor do I create projects for myself.
“For the present, I do have some powerful ideas taking up my mental space. So, I think some more books may come out. In fact, I am about to complete my seventh book “The Hindu Way: A manual for the Hindus”.
“Being a monk, I need to leave my future plans in the hands of the Divine, who, unknown to us, takes care of us and slowly but surely draws us towards Him by making us outgrow the world through our experiences,” Samarpan concluded.
(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Books
By Sheikh Qayoom,
Book: Aryabhata Clan; Author: Sudipto Das; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Price: Rs 595; Pages: 476
Spread across four parts, the narrative of Sudipto Das’ second book, “Aryabhata Clan”, starts like a typical crime thriller with the kidnapping of the protagonist, Kubha.
The book provides evidence that tackling sensitive and complicated topic like “Islamic terrorism” has its inherent risks. It is universally accepted that terrorism has no religion and yet the adrenaline triggered recourse to religion by Shamsur Ali, the terror mastermind of the book, would have us believe that the thick line between religion and terrorism does not exist.
Had the author, an alumnus of IIT-Kharagpur, not amplified the canvas of his narrative to encompass “Islamic terrorism”, we surely would have a plot for another James Bond blockbuster, what with all the international intrigues, and the beach volley played between India’s RAW and Pakistan’s ISI,
The oft repeated, misplaced references to the history of Islam by the terrorists can, however, act like a double edged sword in the book at hand.
“Rape can work like a dope for depraved young people wishing to exert their manhood, that too in a way approved by Islam,” asserts Shamsur Ali to Kubha, the hostage picked up by the terrorists from JNU, showing the levels of perversion to which a sick mind can stoop.
Kubha, however, wonders at the irony that the place where she is raped again and again is called the “Eight Heavens” by her abductors. Invoking the holy Battle of Badr led by the Prophet of Islam, the indoctrination of the terror recruits is done by reference to Islamic history.
Proving beyond doubt that his terror mastermind is no humble follower of any religion, the author’s “iconic Bangladeshi professor of death and destruction” does not hide his hatred for other religions as well.
“Jesus had spent a good amount of his growing years in Kashmir studying Buddhism. Many of the teachings of Jesus had surreptitious similarities with that of the Buddhism. If we want to eliminate all traces of Hinduism and Buddhism from the earth, we can’t spare Christianity.”
Gory, frightening and lunatic, the terror protagonist of the author will make you tremble at the sheer thought of waging a brutal war against the world in the name of fighting for peace.
It is precisely because of this realisation that an army general in Mardan tells Parush, the Aryabhata Clan’s superhero against terrorism: “Not the time for beach volley between the RAW and the ISI. You can give a press release blaming the murder on RAW and we can blame the ISI. But, do you realise that someone is fooling both the RAW and the ISI?”
The author takes the reader on a roller coaster ride to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and to the motifs of Khushawari rugs. Finally, Shamsur Ali is hunted down by Parush and Rahul, the terror fighters of the Aryabhata Clan.
As to where and how the final battle between peace and terror would be fought, the author has few answers. Sadly perhaps, the words of Kubha sum up the spirit of the narrative: “There would be more Kubhas like me. There would be many more Aryabhata Clans like ours. We will not allow any apocalypse to happen anywhere in the world, in life and in death.”
Sudipto Das has done well to portray the design that emerges as terrorists plot to strike innocent people in the world. A word of caution must be added to the oft-repeated reference to Islam and its history by the terror pushers in “Aryabhata Clan”.
Islam has as little to do with terrorism as any other religion we follow. In fact, the narrative proves that the first victim of the terrorists’ plan is the religion they claim to follow.
(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reminded people on the occasion of Independence Day that no religion teaches animosity.
As he and his deputy greeted the people on the occasion, Manish Sisodia told them to aspire for freedom from the shackles of caste, religion and narrow outlook.
Sharing a couplet from Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal’s patriotic song “Sare Jahan Se Accha”, Kejriwal wished that there be all around development in the country and peace should prevail.
“Religion does not teach us animosity… We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan,” he tweeted.
Sisodia said only political freedom does not make a country free.
“Let’s remind ourselves on the occasion that a free country is not made up of only political freedom. Freedom from the struggles over caste and religion, and narrow outlook towards women ensures that a country is truly free,” he said.
—IANS
