All this commotion about re-conversion and laws to curb coerced conversion, I had to share my opinion on this. After all I am a citizen of this beautifully secular country. The BJP that mooted the point of instating a law to curb "coerced" conversions has suddenly pulled the "I was misquoted" trick - courtesy Mr Venkiah Naidu. It looks like the Delhi elections had had quite a sobering effect on their hindutva ambitions. The added push came from our PM's chaddi buddy Mr Obama as he stated it not once but twice about the sudden surge of communal intolerance in India. Mr Modi, quite the fast learner I have to hand it to him, made changes. He suddenly came out into a christian function addressing the nation about the freedom of choice for its subjects as far as religion is concerned.
The VHP is going all out to make itself heard and with all its might it is managing a few furtive conversions spread sporadically across the country. Their initiative can be called tepid at best. Their antics are really not worth a mention anywhere as all that they seek is publicity, and what other way to court fame than to display decadence in public! They are getting the publicity they want but they are missing the point entirely. A look at the voting pattern in Delhi in recently concluded assembly elections will tell even a child that hindutva is a failing propaganda in India today. They are a little too late on the hindutva bandwagon to have a positive impact on the vote bank anymore.
Now a small look at conversions in our country. Hinduism was a religion that held on to a long time in our country. It has been there in spite of rule by dominant islamic and buddhist rulers. It has also stood the time of the british, who were completely christian. So then what prompted the hindus to convert when the missionaries came. What prompted our steadfast hindus to choose buddism? The answer to this is glaringly available to us in every city, every village and every town of our country.
Last week I was having a discussion on the rout of the BJP in Delhi with a friend. The topic as expected swerved to the failing of hindutva and hate politics. As we approached the conversion issue my friend recounted a story from his life. He hails from a village that looks upon his family as one of great influence and respect. They have wielded respect from the villagers for generations. Recently when this friends brother was in the village he saw a bunch of people of the dalit community walking towards him wearing sandals. He called them up and beat the pulp out of them for the impunity they displayed - how could they wear sandals and shirts in front of him? On being asked by his family members he spewed venom about how these low lives have suddenly become so brazen.
I used to live in the house of an old lady when I was in school. I remember her mouthing filth about the men who came to her house to do the farm work. They were not allowed on the cement courtyard of the house and had a separate can of water kept a little away form the house if they wanted water to drink.
Kerala at one time had the unique disturbing distinction of seeing its lower caste women walk around without covering their breasts. This was the unwritten rule promulgated by the higher caste brahmins and any behavior in contrast to this decree would be met with punitive action.
And that is the reason for conversions. Plain, simple cruel inhuman discrimination is what pushed conversions in our country. Who would want to let go of traditions, customs and culture if there wasn't a strong enough reason to? The caste hindus pushed their brethren into destitution in the name of class divide and today when they have found better lives here comes along the custodians of religion wanting to bring them back.
Let us get back to the Delhi campaign again. It gives me joy every time to reminisce about the BJP's debacle, but that apart please take a look at the image below that is a courtesy of The Hindu.Only two categories of people accorded the BJP votes that was a sizable portion of its population. And no surprise to see one of them was caste hindus or brahmins if you will. It is no coincidence that Mr Mohan Bhagawat is exhorting his minions to bring in more of dalits into the folds of the RSS. It is imperative to their survival.
Although I think that VHP's intentions are clearly on attracting publicity, I have an idea for them and for all the hindu custodians to prolong their hold on hindu followers. Why don't you try to make your religion more accommodative for everybody? Why don't you guys try to be a little more humane and then maybe you can prevent even more defections. Maybe you can then preserve the existing lot. If you are blind to the fact of religious oppression, visit a few villages in Madurai, Erode, Bihar, UP etc and I am sure you will be enlightened.
The youth wont budge though, they're a smart lot - they know that all you politicians are a bunch of leeches constantly on the lookout for the next victim! Delhi is a proof of this.
The VHP is going all out to make itself heard and with all its might it is managing a few furtive conversions spread sporadically across the country. Their initiative can be called tepid at best. Their antics are really not worth a mention anywhere as all that they seek is publicity, and what other way to court fame than to display decadence in public! They are getting the publicity they want but they are missing the point entirely. A look at the voting pattern in Delhi in recently concluded assembly elections will tell even a child that hindutva is a failing propaganda in India today. They are a little too late on the hindutva bandwagon to have a positive impact on the vote bank anymore.
Now a small look at conversions in our country. Hinduism was a religion that held on to a long time in our country. It has been there in spite of rule by dominant islamic and buddhist rulers. It has also stood the time of the british, who were completely christian. So then what prompted the hindus to convert when the missionaries came. What prompted our steadfast hindus to choose buddism? The answer to this is glaringly available to us in every city, every village and every town of our country.
Last week I was having a discussion on the rout of the BJP in Delhi with a friend. The topic as expected swerved to the failing of hindutva and hate politics. As we approached the conversion issue my friend recounted a story from his life. He hails from a village that looks upon his family as one of great influence and respect. They have wielded respect from the villagers for generations. Recently when this friends brother was in the village he saw a bunch of people of the dalit community walking towards him wearing sandals. He called them up and beat the pulp out of them for the impunity they displayed - how could they wear sandals and shirts in front of him? On being asked by his family members he spewed venom about how these low lives have suddenly become so brazen.
I used to live in the house of an old lady when I was in school. I remember her mouthing filth about the men who came to her house to do the farm work. They were not allowed on the cement courtyard of the house and had a separate can of water kept a little away form the house if they wanted water to drink.
Kerala at one time had the unique disturbing distinction of seeing its lower caste women walk around without covering their breasts. This was the unwritten rule promulgated by the higher caste brahmins and any behavior in contrast to this decree would be met with punitive action.
And that is the reason for conversions. Plain, simple cruel inhuman discrimination is what pushed conversions in our country. Who would want to let go of traditions, customs and culture if there wasn't a strong enough reason to? The caste hindus pushed their brethren into destitution in the name of class divide and today when they have found better lives here comes along the custodians of religion wanting to bring them back.
Let us get back to the Delhi campaign again. It gives me joy every time to reminisce about the BJP's debacle, but that apart please take a look at the image below that is a courtesy of The Hindu.Only two categories of people accorded the BJP votes that was a sizable portion of its population. And no surprise to see one of them was caste hindus or brahmins if you will. It is no coincidence that Mr Mohan Bhagawat is exhorting his minions to bring in more of dalits into the folds of the RSS. It is imperative to their survival.
Although I think that VHP's intentions are clearly on attracting publicity, I have an idea for them and for all the hindu custodians to prolong their hold on hindu followers. Why don't you try to make your religion more accommodative for everybody? Why don't you guys try to be a little more humane and then maybe you can prevent even more defections. Maybe you can then preserve the existing lot. If you are blind to the fact of religious oppression, visit a few villages in Madurai, Erode, Bihar, UP etc and I am sure you will be enlightened.
The youth wont budge though, they're a smart lot - they know that all you politicians are a bunch of leeches constantly on the lookout for the next victim! Delhi is a proof of this.
No comments:
Post a Comment