Hindutva — Context and Clarification
Hindutva is a political movement that is similar to Zionism, Islamism, and Neoconservatism. It is represented by a minority within Hinduism and other groups that adhere to violence. These insecure group of individuals, distort their beautiful religion to fulfill their desires for control, dominance, and the subjugation of others.
Hindutva and the Urge for Dominance
Often, they believe in their superiority and insist that others must live under their control, frequently resorting to violence as a means of establishing dominance. Such individuals fail to respect the uniqueness of others, refusing to acknowledge differing perspectives or seek understanding. As a result, they develop hatred towards others without attempting to comprehend their differences. In contrast, the majority of people in each group believes in respecting the otherness of the others, while followers of these political movements do not.
Hindutva vs. Hinduism — Core Differences
Hinduism, like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other faiths, is a religion that teaches principles for living harmoniously with oneself and others. It is also known as Vedic or Sanatana Dharma. All the religions share similar moral principles that emphasize healing the world, justice, charity, and kindness toward others. However, adherents of Hindutva, Zionism, Islamism, and Neoconservatism do not want to acknowledge the beauty of other religions and perpetuate misguided narratives about others as though it gives them legitimacy.
Hindutva and Secondary Texts
These short-sighted individuals often draw from secondary texts created by authors lacking wisdom, such as the Manusmriti in Hinduism, the Sharia in Islam, and the Talmud in Judaism. The equivalent texts in Christianity are less clear. These ideologies frequently contradict the original teachings found in the Torah, Bible, Quran, Vedas, and the Upanishads.
Hindutva and the Value of Life
For example, Judaism and Islam teach that killing one person is akin to killing all of humanity; do the Zionists and Hamas truly believe in this? Hinduism holds that every life is precious; do the Hindutva supporters embody this belief? Jesus teaches, “Love your neighbor”; do Neoconservatives adhere to this principle? All the three Abrahamic religions emphasize the importance of welcoming the stranger, and so does Hinduism, which is deeply rooted in the concept of Atithi Devo Bhava—treating the guest as if they were God. Unfortunately, if given the chance, extremists Hindutva men and women seek to cleanse India of Muslims and Christians leading to destruction of the nation(check the references).
A Hindu is simply a follower of Hinduism, much like Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, and others who follow their respective faiths.
Hindutva and Hinduphobia — Clarifying Terms
Hinduphobia refers to a misguided animosity towards Hindus, often expressed through violence against them, decrying practices such as idol worship. Just as anti-Semitism arises from misconceptions about Jews, it is usually based on the unfounded belief that they were responsible for killing Jesus (even though Jesus himself was a Jew). Islamophobia reflects ignorance regarding Muslims.
It is important to note that no mainstream Hindu, Jew, Christian, or Muslim seeks to harm others. Much of the negativity you hear originates from right-wing factions in each community, while good people strive to understand and respect the otherness of the others.
In a debate with Sean Hannity, and also Megyn Kelly, Stuart Varney, and other Fox News personalities, I presented a scenario. If their young niece from Spokane asked them whether she should accept a job offer in New York or Dallas (where I was living at the time), they all responded, “Come to New York.” I countered, “You know what I would tell her? Come to Dallas and avoid New York; the New Yorkers are rapists.”
Of course, they protested, but I pointed to the statistics. That year, Dallas had about 700 reported rapes, while New York had more than 2,700. My point was made, and they understood it. Yes, there are rapists in New York, but that does not mean that New Yorkers themselves are rapists. Similarly, while there are terrorists among Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists, it is foolish to label all members of these faiths as terrorists.
Hindi and Hindustan
For the purpose of clarification, Hindi is a language spoken in some parts of northern India.
Hindustan and Bharat are traditional names for India.
Hindutva, Extremism, and Social Conditioning
This toxic prejudice is instilled in the extremists by politicians, religious leaders, and family members through their stinky attitudes. They rob us of our peace of mind, injecting Hinduphobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, and xenophobia, which our Hinz (Hindutva, Islamophobia, Neocons & Zionism = HINZ) friends often accept without questioning their validity.
At the Center for Pluralism, we reject all forms of bias against Hindus and Hinduism. Prejudice damages relationships, and no one can live freely in such an environment.
Hindutva, Extremism, and Social Cohesion
There is an extremist faction within Hinduism that promotes ideologies reminiscent of those espoused by Hitler and Mussolini. This ideology poses a threat to India’s social cohesion and is unfortunately making its way into the United States as well.
When observing the harassment and lynching of Christians, Muslims, Dalits, Sikhs, atheists, moderate Hindus, and others, it might be tempting to blame the entire Hindu group associated with the perpetrators or to criticize the religion itself. That is wrong, as more Hindus speak out against extremism and do get along with fellow Indians. In every place where I speak, I emphasize that terrorists are a small fraction of extremists and do not represent the entire religion, city, ethnicity, race, or social group.
Hindutva and Community Safety
Look at it this way, if a rapist is running around in your neighborhood, everyone is cautious and watches out for strangers. You are careful to close the doors and accompany your wife, sister, mother, and daughter when you are out. It is undoubtedly difficult for a single woman or a woman in a household. But when the rapist is captured and punished, we all feel secure again and breathe fresh air. Don’t you feel happy when the villain is caught and beat up in a movie?
The killers and lynchers are no different than rapists; we need to capture them; it will free society from anxiety, and we trust that righteousness will return to the community. Mr. Modi’s party felicitates the criminals instead of punishing them.
Blaming religion achieves nothing, as it is intangible; you cannot kill, hang, bury, or shoot the religion. Such actions are futile and misguided.
The root of terrorism lies with cult leaders. These individuals are skilled orators who deceive their followers into believing that they are superior. They manipulate vulnerable people into thinking their way of life is under threat. As a result, these individuals become consumed by hatred and schemes, aiming to annihilate others or assert dominance, rather than focusing on their own lives and allowing others to live theirs peacefully.
These men are in every religious group. Osama Bin Laden, Abu Bakr Baghdadi, in the case of Islam, Hedgewar, Veer Savarkar, Guru Golwalker, and even sneaky Modi, in the case of Hinduism.
“Hinduism is a religion, guiding one to live a meaningful life, whereas Hindutva is a political movement claiming Hindu beliefs to be superior to others. Hinduism guides people towards Moksha or salvation from the conflicts of life and frees them. In contrast, Hindutva guides people to acquire political power and subjugate all others – and of course, everyone lives in tensions forever. What a dumb thing to do.
Hinduism emphasizes humility and not arrogance. Indeed, if anyone believes that their faith is superior, they have not understood the religion. The purpose of life in Hinduism is four-fold: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Dharma means living righteously and acting morally and ethically throughout one’s life. Artha means honest work to live a good life, and Kama is about fulfilling desire and passion in one’s life. Finally, it is Moksha – freedom from the cycle of life, and to me, it means living freely with the least tensions and least conflicts – that is what paradise is all about.
Similar bottom line is expressed in all religions, one has to have a clean heart and mind to see that and not go by what is their political leaders say.
More about Hindutva in Haaretz
More about Hindutva in Haaretz, even though the word Hindutva has Hindu in its name, it is not Hinduism by any stretch of the imagination.
The Hindutva movement has been described as “fascist in the classical sense,” adhering to a disputed concept of homogenized majority and cultural hegemony. Savarkar’s (one of the fountainheads of the movement) ideology meant the socio-political force to unite all Hindus against foreign influence.” It is like Christians in America wanting to give a boot to all others who are not white and not Christians, and that is what the Hindutva forces want to do in India to boot 230 million Christians and Muslims.
Haaretz writes. “Hitler and Mussolini have inspired the fountainheads of the Sangh Parivar. “In 2004, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, school textbooks published by the Gujarat State Board portrayed Hitler as a hero and glorified fascism. The tenth-grade social studies textbook had chapters entitled “Hitler, the Supremo,” and “Internal Achievements of Nazism.” The section on the “Ideology of Nazism” reads: “Hitler lent dignity and prestige to the German government. He adopted the policy of opposition towards the Jewish people and advocated the supremacy of the German race.” Further praising Hitler’s “inspiring leadership,” “achievements,” and how the Nazis “glorified the German state,” so, “to maintain a German race with Nordic elements, [Hitler] ordered the Jews to be persecuted.”
A growing contempt for India’s minorities manifests itself in racist remarks passed with casual insouciance. Our Nationhood Defined is a book by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue MS Golwalkar.
”To keep up the purity of the nation and its culture, Germany shocked the world by purging the country of Semitic races – the Jews. National pride at its highest has been manifested here. Germany has also shown how well-nigh impossible it is for races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindustan to learn and profit by.”
Hinduism has always been a pluralistic tradition, and it has welcomed Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Zoroastrianism, and other cultures into its fold. All religions have thrived in India, just like they do in the United States, but not since Modi came to power.
Hindutva, Pluralism, and Responsibility
No Religion is ever the problem; it is the small band of people in each religion that creates a mess. To get a complete picture of the dangers of Hindutva in India and here in the United States, please read the links provided below.
Here is an unnecessary, but pointed, dialogue between Bhakt (a member of the Modi cult) Bannerjee and Devdutt Patnaik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgDBDrOFhYw Hindutva is a political movement akin to Zionism, Islamism, and Neoconservatism. A minority in each religious group subscribes to these extreme ideologies, which exist in every spiritual and social community.
Latest articles about Mike Ghouse
A Lamp That Connects Hearts: Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse — A Radiant Journey of Love, Thought, and Service
https://thejagotimes.com/a-lamp-that-connects-hearts-dr-mike-muhammad-ghouse-a-radiant-journey-of-love-thought-and-service/
Mr. Pluralist of America Panorama https://www.theindianpanorama.news/profile/dr-mike-mohamed-ghouse-mr-pluralist-of-america/
Background of Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse
https://interfaithmarriages.org/muslim-background-of-dr-mike-mohamed-ghouse/
Dr. Ghouse is the President and founder of the Center for Pluralism and director of the World Muslim Congress. He is an Interfaith Wedding Officiant for InterfaithMarriages.org and a Muslim Wedding Officiant. He is a Muslim, Pluralist, activist, speaker, author, and social scientist. More on- Google.
References
- Nazi loving Hindus, Hitler’s Hindus – https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/hitlers-hindus-indias-nazi-loving-nationalists-on-the-rise-1.5628532
- Dossier on RSS – the Paramilitary Hindutva organization https://countercurrents.org/2020/09/rss-as-a-terrorist-outfit-evidences-from-its-archives/
- Sadhavi Prachi – Muslim Mukt Bharat – https://www.theweek.in/content/archival/news/india/sadhvi-prachi-calls-for-muslim-free-india.html
- How to Exterminate Muslims in India https://centerforpluralism.com/how-to-exterminate-muslims-in-india/
- Poisoning your kids
https://centerforpluralism.com/poisoning-your-kids/ - USCIRF Report – https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/India.2017.pdf
- NPR on Hindu Nationalism in India https://www.npr.org/2019/05/03/706808616/the-powerful-group-shaping-the-rise-of-hindu-nationalism-in-india
- Sadhavi Niranjan – Muslim Mukt Bharat – https://www.asiatimes.com/2018/01/opinion/modi-davos-rhetoric-differs-actions/
- The Disappearing Muslim in the Indian Republic. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/the-fast-disappearing-muslim-in-the-indian-republic-bjp-mla-hindu-saffron-religion-5034205/
- Muslim Mukt Bharat – Vinod Dua (4:00 – 8:35) https://www.siasat.com/attempts-are-being-made-muslim-mukt-bharat-vinod-dua-1589236/
- Modi’s dream of Muslim Mukt Bharat – https://strafasia.com/modis-dream-of-muslim-mukt-bharat/
- It was never about the cow, it is Muslims they are after – https://www.dailyo.in/politics/vhp-wants-muslim-mukt-bharat-milking-dadri-murder-akhlaq-modi-government/story/1/11088.html