Secularism: A Reality Check!

**All the views are personal, and are not intended to hurt any religious feeling, in case they do………GROW UP!**

I have been thinking of writing on this issue for a long time. It’s been in the news recently. A number of families got converted to Hinduism in Kerela. And since then, i’m daily witnessing heated debates on leading news channels in thePrime time, like it is a matter of national interest. But one thing that i found was common in the projection of the issue by the mainstream media is : Attempt to project conversion as a recent trend especially after the change of govt. And the educated “intellectual” generation is made to believe the false image of secularism which they believe without questioning or knowing the factual reality. I was going through my facebook and a post grabbed my attention, it was “i hate radical Hinduism and radical Islam”, i commented “radical Christianity?”. The reply was, “Much better than radical Hinduism.” I stopped the argument because taking any further step would have been taken as an offence against the intellectual-ity of that respected person by him. At that moment, i decided i’ll write on this.

So, Conversion! Before demeaning any religion ,i would go into a brief history. The oldest religion which dates back to 2000 BC was the Sanatana Dharma , the pure form of present Hinduism. Major religions in Asia like Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism emerged from it. Second oldest was Judaism (1500 BC), followed by Christianity and Islam (570 AD). Now, just these figures can give an idea of the conversion reality. Christianity and Islam share a historical and traditional connection being Abrahamic religions. Not much people know about the “war” between these two, where they fought against each other to propagate their religion. Known as the Crusades. Features were mass murder, plunder, forceful conversion….etc etc etc.Even a 10 year old can figure out how can a religion that started in the middle east propagated all the way to Europe and then the new world.

The problem with India is, Hindus are tolerant people. Trust me they really are. I mean i did not find any other instance in the world where a native major religion (oldest too), allowed the propagation of other religion on their soil peacefully. We find many records and writings by the travelers and philosophers prove this.

But the sad part is, Secularism is changing it’s definition into, favoring a particular religion. And, defaming the Hindu ideology! The vote bank politics in India has created such a disastrous scenario that anything and everything that could fetch the “Minority” votes, comes under Secularism. People are made to believe that Hinduism is the most intolerant religion on this earth by the projection in Media, yes i’m targeting the movie “PK”. Laughing on god is fine, even i laugh but why double standards.Why is it that the censor boards found no objection in PK due to “Creative Endeavors” and “Kamaal Dhamaal Malaamal” was shown to the catholic group before releasing and scenes were deleted? Why PK was made tax free in U.P only after the Hindu groups started opposing it?

Sure there are things to laugh, i mean Hindus have gods in 8 figures, even if you get 1 Rs per god, you’ll get a 8 figure salary! Sure, there are frauds (who actually have 8 figure salaries), and superstitions. But i don’t think any of the Indian gods ever made a statement that, “Kill every one who is not Hindu!” or “Slave those who are non Hindus!” or let’s say, “Killing every non Hindu will get you 72 angels in paradise…..or even a 3 BHK…not even one room set!”. Thought about it? No ? Start thinking before it gets illegal! 

Here the “God” said and I quote,

“And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing…

but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful.   And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone.  But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)”

“I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them”  No reasonable person would interpret this to mean a spiritual struggle.”

“Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people.”

I’m not against any religion, but the false portrayal of a religion that is, the backbone of the Cultural Identity of this Nation. There should be no double standards. Secularism by definition is,”Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries.”

In other words, the state will not interfere in the religion unless a severe reason. And, the person has the right to follow any religion. It is a personal choice! People call for State’s interference in the Conversion issue, and the same people agitate when the State try to amend the Muslim marriage law.

“Since the mid-70s Petro-dollars have been funding Bollywood and simultaneously a new underworld, supported by certain politicians and ME funding, blossomed not only to control Bollywood but Mumbai itself. And it then extended to terrorism, cultural codes like Muslims who earlier wore dresses like anyone else adopted more Pathani dresses, skull caps and burqas. There was phenomenal growth of Mosques and Madrassas. If all that was only for educational upliftment of Muslims that would be one thing but it became an “assertive” Islamic culture which resulted in more and more demands and our Central and State govts fuelled this culture with more appeasements. Kashmir Pandits were thrown out of Kashmir. Kerala saw a dramatic Islamisation of the State.Bengal and Telangana are following the same routes. UP and Bihar became terror-hubs.” – Ravi Narayan (Indian famous Blogger)

IRONIC! And all this under the flag of secularism, and this flag is not “Saffron“! The attack is culturally, politically and commercially! Target? Hinduism! The adultery and nudity is propagated and defended on the name of challenging “Orthodox” beliefs.And, that is all not being objected! The hard truth. Ending this on the quote by the first sultan of Egypt and Syria, “If you want to destroy any nation without war, make adultery or nudity common in the young generation” -Salahdiin Ayyubi.

Jai Hind!

I’m an Indian and I’m not a Rapist!

After the much drama, BBC finally aired their much awaited documentary ,”India’s Daughter” (although nobody knew about it until it got banned), I’ve been witnessing hate speeches about Indian culture and viral videos where people are laughing on the very issue they believe is “serious” and then blame people when they don’t take their issue seriously. Social Media is heated up with people posting and tweeting against the Indian Culture, and thanking BBC to bring to light the case that shook the capital city. Government’s decision to ban the documentary was opposed. I too saw the documentary. I wasn’t offended, but i was shocked. Shocked because a channel like BBC made a documentary to show the rapist’s perspective and then linked it with the statements from the lawyer to link it with the Indian Culture.

Rape is a heinous crime, and it can not be justified. The problem is, Are we figuring out the real reasons for rape? Or are we running from this job by blaming everything on our Culture because the rapist’s lawyer said so! Not much before the rape incident, every social media activist, blogger, reality tv hosts, Social media celebrities and even real celebrities used to say in one voice, “Nothing is responsible for the rape except the Rapist’s mindset!” BUT, immediately after the BBC documentary the cry was, Indian culture is responsible because the quote was,”Indian culture has no place for women!”

How easily we let a conservative lawyer to change our view on something we call “Serious”. How easily we accepted his statement as the generalized perception of every living and dead male in India. Nothing is causing rape except Indian Culture, not Pathetic Mindset at least! BBC smartly made this documentary to justify the rapist, How come no question was asked from the rapist to embarrass him? BBC is an International Media House, how come it never made any documentary on number of rapes in USA or UK. The thumb rule is, to talk in terms of percentage while comparing statistics. Two persons getting 50 marks and 70 marks respectively cannot be compared unless you have the percentage. India has 21,400 cases of rape every year, and Britain has 15,000 cases. But for an instance compare the population of two. We are over 1.25 Billion, on the other hand UK has 64 million population (2013 Census), Hey BBC, I thought charity begins at Home!

Nirbhaya rape case was a shame for the Capital. It happened. Could it have been prevented? Maybe! Were the culprits found? Yes! Justice served? Yes!

BBC documentary portrayed India as the state of Rapists! I’m not bothered. I’m more bothered about what the people here think. What does Culture means? By definition it is, “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” Yes, we have flaws! Yes, we have male dominated society! Yes, we need reforms! No, we donot provoke/justify/seek/promote Rape!

If a specific person came from a specific family, and he learnt to abuse the women in childhood from family, then the family is responsible for the wrong upbringing. We need family reforms. If family had it because the male was drug addict, then the drug addiction is the problem! If it was due to poverty, poverty is the problem. We need employment. Pointing anything on a “Broad” perspective is the way to complicate the problem.

I’ve saved 3 women so far, 1 from domestic violence, 2 from eve-teasers! I’m an indian, so that must be because of the Indian culture, Right?

No, i have been taught the family values to help the needy, not just women! Coming back to nirbhaya case, when the police patrol team found them on the road, how many people came to help? Is it because of the indian culture? I don’t think so.

Leaving this case aside, and talking about Bollywood. Isn’t bollywood responsible for portraying women as “sex objects”? What message do they send to the society when celebrities pour filth on each other publicly? Yes, I’m talking about AIB roast.

I’ve a simple question, wouldn’t there have been protests, if instead of the celebs, politicians have been there?

I know the answer as well as you do! Rape is a heinous crime, no reason, circumstances, set of events can justify that! But the seed lies in tolerance! Tolerate an eve teaser, he might evolve into an abuser, and might turn into a rapist later on!

Tolerating even a hook up request from a stranger is the seed! Tolerating the Friends with benefits offer from “Friends” is the seed! Tolerating an abuse from anyone is the seed! Tolerating a relative touching your baby girl wrongly is the Seed!

One cannot spot the potential rapist, but one can always prevent one! Learn the art of self defense. Women need non-tolerance more than empowerment, because they are already empowered! They have the power to become the president of the state. The day this tolerance decrease, the number of rape cases will go down.

And in the end, to the BBC, Your nation is worse in terms of number of rapes,number of divorces and deteriorating family values, criticize yourself first. Safeguard your daughters first!

Jai Hind!