Yohan wrote:Good points! Still there seem to be an encroachment of fundamentalism, driven by RSS type orgs, in Hindu society. This is giving a feeling to the world that Hindus are slowly becoming intolerant.
Nobody really cared for them for more than 60 yrs among Hindu societies of India. But they clinched power at Delhi in next 10-15 years becoz of many wrong decisions & apeasement policies practiced by the Congress Govts. It was a knee jerk reaction of Hindus. Even I voted for BJP between 1988-2002. But they became arrogant & corrupt instantly after coming to power, whereas Congress became alienated from the people after remaining in power for much longer duration. Hindu voters are very complex, and if RSS/BJP felt that they can befool Hindu voters by creating Islamophobia only then it was only very foolish on their part.
Yohan wrote:Evidence of this comes from news items from India. In the current election, if BJP comes to power, one would definitely experience the after effects of a much more strengthened RSS. It will be a bane for all India.
Whole English Media is very suppotive to RSS/BJP becoz they truly believe in BJP claims that Islamic Terrorism can be checked thru POTA. If you will look at the caste composition of Indian Media then you will find all of them come from the upper castes only, while the majority of Indian voters belong to Middle castes, Lower castes & Muslims. There is a clear bias in the Indian Media for the BJP due to this reason on one side, and also a huge communication gap between the media & the leaders & voters belonging to middle/ lower castes & minorities on the other side. In such a situation, one can imagine how misleading can be the Media reports in the contexts of General elections in India. BTW, BJP had already lost all the sympathies of middle Castes & lower Castes Hindu voters already, and in this elections they have relied on Regional parties to secure some votes of these sections.
In the present scenerio, BJP can have any chance to make Govt only if BSP supremo agrees to support them. BSP is expected to win 40-50 seats from UP, and will be the third or fourh biggest party after the elections. Having BSP as the coalition partner, Advani may prefer to marginalise RSS altogether instead of seeking any guidance from these rogues.
Yohan wrote:Your point of 'Hinduism is basically secular way of life' is well noted, but it secular in a peculiar way. This Hindu tolerance has been developed over eons to accomodate multitude of castes in the society. It comes with its own intolerance or caste barriers.
Actually Caste System is nothing Hinduism but anti-Hinduism only. I think following equation summarise it very well-
Hinduism = Hindu Religion -Caste System
Caste system is a racial derivative only. When other parts of the planet were enjoying brute concepts of Racism, then Hindu Society of India was content with a lesser evil product like the Caste System. After independence Hindu Society has decided to replace the Caste System by the concept of Democracy, therefore one can understand the various stages of evolution of Hindu Religion as under:
In ancient times :
Hindu Religion = Hinduism ( immortal spirtual wisdom) + Varna System ( Mortal Social Code)
( Varna system was not based on Birth, it was a division of labor acc to abilities)
In kalyugi times:
Hindu Religion = Hinduism + Caste system
In Modern times:
Hindu Religion = Hinduism + Democracy.
Yohan wrote:Though Hindus don't have sharia, most Hindus self police themselves with manusmrithi laws, at social and moral levels, which are beyond the reach of modern laws. In Islam sharia is much more legalised in some countries, and hence more visible.
ManuSmiriti has no relevance in modern India. It has already been consigned to dustbin by the Modern Manu i.e Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Brahminsts belonging to Pune may go mad due to jealousy & contempt for Ambedkar, but they have no way to skip the provisions of 'Modern Smriti of Hindus' wrote by Ambedkar. Pandit Nathu Ram Godse was hanged like a Mad Dog for committing a heinous crime & sin. RSS or Kayar Savarkar could not save him. Same may be the fate of many Banjaras & Pragya/ Purohit, if they agreed to became the Hindu Talibans under the guidance & inspiration from their RSS Masters.
Yohan wrote:In India Hindus had been successful in legalizing manusmrithi law of banning cow slaughter in most states, preventing others the right to eat beef.
Cow slaughter is not banned in every state of India. It's a political decision mainly like the Caste based Reservations.
Being an agragarian society, Cow & its progeny provided maximum support to Indian econmy till recent past. This may be the reason why most of the Indians ( not only Hindus) are emotional about treating cow at par with other animals. Outside India, Hindu kids also enjoy beef & beef products like all others.