“Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians-of Indians being one people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life” – and said what this means is that “if you attack the dignity of an individual – whether on the pretext of their ethnicity or language, religion or caste, sexuality or food habits or beliefs – then you attack the very foundations of India.” – Dr B.R. Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly in 1949
“Ethnic violence is a regrettable aspect of any society, and it has no place in the teachings of Hinduism. In India, the perpetrators of such violence are using religion to instigate hatred and animosity among different communities. Unfortunately, under Modi their support base has expanded, and the worst is they have the protection from the state and Modi himself. As a Hindu, I condemn such acts and stand in solidarity with those affected by these tragedies. It is essential to remember that the perpetrators of ethnic violence do not represent the vast majority of Hindus who uphold the principles of love and harmony.”
I am a Hindu and was born in India in Dec. 1956 to very religious parents in Delhi. While growing up I started realizing the wholescale corruption in public life, personality cult and few rich families controlling India’s commerce and politics. Since my adulthood, in my opinion India was never a Democracy to start with in 1947, rater it opted to be an elected autocracy by keeping the Moster & Slave, British Governance system. The elected representatives, bureaucracy, judiciary, and few rich families close to politicians has always behaved like master’s and treated the common man as their slaves. On top of that upper class Hindus have always considered themselves to be more superior than a person from other religions as well as low cast Hindus.
All my adulthood I spent fighting Congress rather Elected Aristocracy using the platform of Hindu organizations in the hope one day India will have real Democracy. I suffered financially, emotionally, and physically during the infamous emergency of Indira but that never forced me to stop fighting the Elected Aristocracy aka Congress. I became so disillusioned and decided to leave India in Dec 1996, with a hope that one day I will come back to India again to live with my family in a Democratic India. My hope was shattered by my own idol Atal Bihari Vajpayee of BJP that became Prime Minister of India in 1998. He started favoring Dhirubhai Ambani by selling National assets at throwaway prices and terms detrimental to India to wean him away from funding Congress. After that it was no u turn for India towards real Democracy when I realize BJP is worse than Congress and I took the Citizenship of USA in Nov. 2002.
With the coronation of a known communal and criminal Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India in 2014; financed by more corrupt and communal business families, now India has reached a point of no return even to the elected aristocracy. Now India in my opinion is an Elected Dictatorship financed and supported by Gangster Capitalist with money stolen from national resources purchased at throwaway prices with the help of leaders like Modi with the public money taken as low interest rate loans from the public banks.
As a proud Hindu, I believe in the values of peace, compassion, tolerance, and coexistence that lie at the core of Hinduism. However, since 2014 under Modi as PM, there have been a steady increase in the instances of ethnic violence against minorities, denial of basic human rights to the critics of Modi regime, the rise of dictatorship, and the propagation of fundamentalist Hindutva ideologies in India. No one including the so-called Hindu billionaires, intellectuals, journalists, and religious leaders have tried to address these issues and make a clear distinction between the true essence of Hinduism and the actions of a few individuals and groups who seek to manipulate it for their own divisive agendas.
The true essence of Hinduism: Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions and is known for its diversity and inclusivity. It promotes the idea of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which means “the world is one family.” The principles of Hinduism advocate non-violence, respect for all living beings, and the acceptance of different paths to the divine. Hinduism encourages seekers to embrace spirituality and attain self-realization, transcending the barriers of caste, creed, or ethnicity.
Ethnic violence is a regrettable aspect of any society, and it has no place in the teachings of Hinduism. In India, the perpetrators of such violence are using religion to instigate hatred and animosity among different communities. Unfortunately, under Modi their support base has expanded, and the worst is they have the protection from the state and Modi himself. As a Hindu, I condemn such acts and stand in solidarity with those affected by these tragedies. It is essential to remember that the perpetrators of ethnic violence do not represent the vast majority of Hindus who uphold the principles of love and harmony.
The Dangers of Dictatorship: A democratic society is founded on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice for all its citizens. Unfortunately, PM Modi have openly displayed and is practicing authoritarian policies and undermining the democratic, moral and social fabric of India. Hinduism encourages righteous governance and upholds the importance of a leader’s accountability to the people they serve. Dictatorship contradicts the pluralistic values of Hinduism and erodes the democratic rights and freedoms of citizens.
Fundamentalist Hindutva and its Detrimental Impact: Fundamentalist Hindutva is a political ideology that seeks to establish a Hindu-centric nation, promoting the dominance of Hindutva over other religions. This ideology, while claiming to represent Hinduism, actually distorts its essence. True Hinduism celebrates diversity and advocates unity among all faiths. The use of religion for political gains, divisiveness, and discrimination is contrary to the teachings of Hinduism.
Respecting Pluralism and Secularism: The true spirit of India lies in its secular fabric, where people of different religions, languages, and cultures coexist harmoniously. As a Hindu, I believe in promoting interfaith dialogue, understanding, and respect for all religions. Hinduism teaches us to embrace diversity and recognize that different paths can lead to the same ultimate truth.
As a Hindu, I firmly believe in the principles of love, compassion, and tolerance that are the bedrock of Hinduism. It deeply saddens me to witness the rise of ethnic violence, dictatorship, and fundamentalist Hindutva in India. It is essential for every Indian, regardless of their religious affiliations, to come together and reject any form of violence or divisiveness. They must reject divisive and communal leaders like Modi and those who are hurting India in the name of misguided Hindutva that has nothing to do with Hinduism.
Indians must strive to build an India that embraces its pluralism, upholds its democratic values, and respects the diversity of its people. Only by recognizing and celebrating their differences while finding common ground they can create a brighter, more inclusive, and peaceful future for their beloved nation. This India will be a true reflection of the values taught by Hinduism and the essence of its timeless wisdom.
(The author is a US based social activist)