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The subject of 'India' and 'Hinduism', and their
relationship is one of hot debate between the so-called Hindu Nationalists on
the one hand and the pseudo-seculars and other opponents of Hindu Nationalism on
the other. This article aims at making a realistic assessment of the
relationship between the two entities 'India' and 'Hinduism', from a
nationalist's perspective.
To begin with let us enlighten ourselves with what some of
our leaders during the freedom struggle had to say on this subject. Annie Wood
Besant, a senior leader of the congress party during the freedom struggle
expressed herself in the following words... "After a study of some forty
years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect ,none
so scientific, none so philosophical and none so spiritual than the great
religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake, without Hinduism, India
has no future. Hinduism is the soil in to which India's roots are stuck and torn
out of that she will inevitably wither as a tree torn out from its place. And if
Hindus do not maintain Hinduism who shall save it? If India's own children do
not cling to her faith who shall guard it. India alone can save India and India
and Hinduism are one."
Annie Besant was not the only one to hold such views. Her
views were shared by yet another freedom fighter 'Rishi Aurobindo' also known as
'The thinker of modern India'. "In a brilliant speech, Aurobindo equated
the Indian land with Sanatana Dharma or Hindu religion which is but another name
for the yearning of the Divine or the quest of the Spirit. He also said that in
India religion and nationalism are one. India rises with religion, lives by it
and will perish with it and to rise in religion is to raise India."
(source: The Soul of India - By Satyavrata R Patel p. 206).
It is unfortunate that the party whose leaders once held
such views is today so strongly opposed to 'Hindu Nationalism'. There is also an
attempt by some to separate Nationalism and Hinduism. But sadly they forget that
the concept of 'Motherland' or 'Mathrubhoomi' itself originated from the Hindu
philosophy. It is the Hindu philosophy that makes us see a Mother in other
objects other than our own biological Mother. The Hindu sees a 'River', 'Cow',
and his 'Land' as his sacred Mother. 'Vande Mataram' is a song that expresses
the love and devotion of a Hindu towards his Motherland in the true sense of the
term. Thus 'Hindu Nationalism' could be precisely described as 'Bharatiya-Oriented
Nationalism'.
To realize the significance of the existence and domination
of Hindu culture/way of life in India, we need to look at those regions in the
Indian subcontinent where once upon a time Hinduism flourished and today it is
hardly existing there. Afghanisthan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are some good
examples. Afghanisthan was once a region where Hinduism did flourish, and it was
a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society where Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists
inhabited in large numbers. But today the region is flourishing only with
terrorism, sectarian-violence and war-mongers. It only goes to show that how
when a region of the Indian subcontinent is separated from Hinduism that the
region becomes alien to India.
Not just in Indian subcontinent but also around the world
we have similar examples related to other ancient civilisations. The ancient
Greece of Alexander and acropolis, the Egypt of Pyramids, and the Persia of
Zorastrians (Parsis) all were ancient civilisations like India but today all
that remains of them is mere monuments. We learn from these examples that when
the culture/way of life, of a civilisation is replaced by another it results in
the total annihilation of the civilisation. Thus to put it in precise words the
culture and way of life constitute the 'Soul' of a civilisation whereas the
'Land' and 'People' only constitute the necessary physical attributes of a
Nation.
Thus protecting 'Hinduism' is in the true sense of the term
protecting the very 'being' , 'existence' and 'soul' of India.
As I end my article I would like to conclude its theme in
the following poetic phrases,
'India is our Motherland,
Hinduism her soul,
This who doesn't understand,
Plays an anti-Indian role !'
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