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Oct-20-2008
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Continued from Part 2..
One question does arise - why is our media, politicians and human right activists so biased and one-sided. Is it just their naivety? Is it their lack of self esteem, resulting from centuries of foreign rule? Is it fear from otherwise becoming the "target of wrath of minority extremists"? Or is there some other vested interest like power, money and influence? Do they really hate the faith of their motherland so much that they cannot see through the nefarious designs? Why is the Indian media, specially of the English language variety, so hell bent to belittle and ridicule Hinduism and its priest and followers and almost invariably go gaga on any achievement while pretending ignorance in case of any blemish of other religions and its propagators?
Are Hindus Violent? - Part I
Are Hindus Violent? - Part II
Are Hindus Violent? - Part III
Forty years of selfless, dedicated work of Swami Lakshmanananda, himself a Dalit, amongst the tribals of Orissa, fails to impress our media. Contrast that with Graham Staines" motivated, missionary activities that were glorified by pages of mainline news, after his death. When was the last time we saw an article praising the work of Ramakrishna Mission or Bharat Sevashram Sanga? Is it because they are Hindu, Indian organization, not as filthy rich as World vision International or Caritas India, Delhi, that their effort and spirit is not worth mentioning?
A Hindu God-man in far off Austin, Texas, accused of sexual charges or a child death in a Hindu Ashram is sensationalized with speculations. How often do the India media try to illuminate the mass about the menace of child pornography or sexual exploitation practiced by Christian priests worldwide that are acknowledged and covered up by huge compensations? (Catholic sex abuse cases. Evangelist arrested in child porn case. Kerala priest, film director, politician held for minor"s rape)
Why do the mainstream media do not miss any instance of glorifying the "saints" of Christianity but fail to explore criminal activities of Christian pastors. (63 priests in Kerala face criminal charges)
Where is the follow up of alleged 975 "mysterious deaths" that took place at The Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala"s Muringoor, which claims to be the largest Catholic healing centre in the world, between 1996 and 2006 (Scandal at Christian retreat centre)
Why does one not come across any investigative journalism on mainline newspapers on cases like the "suicide" of "sister Abhaya", the 21-year-old Catholic nun found floating in the well of the Pius X Convent Hostel at Kottyam, March 27, 1992, under mysterious circumstances. Fathers and Sisters of the convent are suspects, and it has been reported that a former Congress Prime Minister"s office had tried hushing up the case and that the High court, had reprimanded the CBI for tampering with some relevant CDs containing data on narco-analysis. The case remains undecided even after 16yrs.
A recent, similar "suicide" case of Sister Anoopa Mary, 23-year-old nun, found hanging dead, inside her room at the Saint Mary"s Convent at Kollam, is now under judicial probe after accusation of mental and "other" harassment from the victim"s family.
A church is destroyed and the blame is automatically placed on "Hindu fundamentalists". A temple ransacked however becomes the work of "unidentified miscreants". (Now, attempt to attack temples in Orissa.)
And how about when it is a Christian who attacks the church? (Church attack in Kerala, A Christian under arrest
Church Games spread to other states)
Why can"t the visual and print media who run sensational stories to link Hindu organizations with the attacks, fail to report these game plans and managed attacks.
Or do they don"t want to?
It is time for these so called secular politicians and media personnel to realize that Hindus are not going to take it anymore. Hindus realize that they are cornered and isolated. Their media, their political leaders, their government hardly care for their well being because they are perceived to be peace-loving, tolerant and thus incapable of protest or retaliation. Above all, they do not take a united stand and thus do not count as vote banks.
But things have started to change. The silent, united resolve of the Jammu people should serve as a warning. The restlessness in Orissa and Karnataka are early signs. Hindus are rising! Beware the traitors! Bharatvarsha and Hindus have been around since ancient time and have survived assaults after assaults. Yes, we are peace loving, tolerant and non-interfering. We had sheltered the Jews and the Parsees during their difficult times. We are broadminded enough to accept people of all religious faith including the Muslims and Christians. We consider the Indian Muslim and Christians as sons of the soil and admit their equal right and freedom. But Hindus want reciprocity. Hindus want coexistence with respect and honor. We want non Hindus to respect our temples and our deities if they desire that we will respect theirs. Hindus are no more willing to accept their malicious intents of intrusions and heinous designs of deceptions. We have learnt from our mistakes and do not want to live anymore as second class citizens in our own land. We want to live with our heads held high; we want to protect our culture and revive our pride.
We want to do it peacefully. But if that is not acceptable to others, then we are prepared to fight for our rights. We have fought for our "azaadi" before and we sure will not shy way from another fight against all the evil forces that threaten our existence and our country. The cycles are changing. The uprising is visible, the mood change is palpable. At least some Hindus are preparing to pay back in the same coin. The Khudiram Basus, the Mangal Pandeys and the Bhagat Singhs amongst us, are ready for sacrifice again.
How about the rest of us - the peaceful, tolerant and forgiving, if not indifferent, Hindus? We took pride and satisfaction at the steely resolve of the people of Jammu when they brought the government down to its knee, with their united stance. But did we, the rest of the country, really join them? Do we stand united? Do we claim our majority interest? Why not?
We forgave Muhammed Ghori by mistake and the Muslim rule started. We welcomed East India Company and the British Rule ensued. We allowed Vasco da Gama to land in Goa and the Inquisition followed. When are we going to learn? We dream to be a superpower but hesitate to uproot a few weeds in our backyard.
Are we going to sit on the fence always or are we going to join now? What is each of us supposed to do? We need to think hard.
Should we continue to compromise our self-interest, as we have done for centuries, for the belief that "all religions are equal", when Muslims and Christians continue to remind us that they do not consider Hindus as their equal? Should we continue on the path of "nonviolence" and "tolerance", despite being gradually decimated?
If an intruder comes to our house and wants to take our valuables, wants to hurt us, how should we react? If they lure our unsuspecting son or daughter with "gifts" in exchange of their soul, should we protest? If they abuse our heritage and threaten our faith and tradition, should we resist? If yes, then why should we react differently when it involves our larger family, our motherland?
Should we react and resist?
Do we have the right of self- defense?
Should we use violence for our self protection?
Is that violence condemnable? Or, is it to be embraced?
Each of us has to make that decision and work for it. Our country is at crossroads. Our future depends on how we fight now. Will India head for another partition? Will India become a Christian nation?
Koenraad Elst, in his book, "Negationism in India", writes, "Consider the situation in Africa: in 1900, 50 % of all Africans practiced pagan religion; today Christian and Islamic missionaries have reduced this number to less than 10 %.....That is the kind of threat Hinduism is up against.
Do we think it is inconceivable? Have we forgotten history so soon? Have we forgotten the "friendly" nation of Iraq that was once "used" against Iran? Are we not subsequently witnessing the invasion that started on the pretext of "weapons of mass destruction" and has killed over one million Iraqis, all because the "born-again Christian" American President had "received a call from God"? Should we be waiting for that kind of a catastrophe to strike Bharatvarsha?
What is our role going to be? Look to the inner Krishna forever guiding us through the Gita at every battle where Dharma stares upon the face of Adharma. The battle is eternal as is the call for righteous action, irrespective of consequences, that the Lord takes responsibility for.
There in lies the answer.
CONCLUSION
(The author, a practicing physician, is not affiliated with any Hindu organization.)
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References & Notes:
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