I cannot define Hinduism, because no one can, for Hinduism does not have a founder, it has no ecclesiastical order, no prophet nor any binding book, it is not just a religion, it is a way of life. The Hindu belief is totally non exclusive and accepts all other faiths and religious paths. A true hindu would say “I believe this is the truth, you believe that is the truth, we both will respect each other’s truths”, it does not tolerate other faiths but accepts them. On the contrary Hindutva is a much narrower term which is tied to a Political identity, it was articulated by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1923 as political thinking in the world in the 1920s was based on asserting muscular nationalism based on race and ethnicity. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics and International Relation, the term Hindutva has fascist undertones thus Hindutva today as we see is antagonistic to Hinduism as it violates the principle of Ahimsa, Satya and notions of coexistence and acceptance which are the key teachings of Hinduism.
The “Gau Rakshaks” going across and beating up those who are eating beef and those involved in the demolition of the Babri Masjid are certainly not true Hindus, this is not what this Sanatana (Eternal) Dharma teaches us. I am filled with pain when I see cruelty and barbarism in the name of a faith which teaches us Ahimsa.
Hinduism is completely different from the dogma ridden, hate filled, islamophobic set of structures called Hindutva.
I don’t go to temple everyday and I don’t put tilak on my forehead every morning but I still am a true hindu for I am a seeker, and my religion provides me the freedom to choose my own path because no matter what path I choose, the truth shall remain the same.
A religion which gives you the freedom to choose from 33 million gods, to choose all 33 million or to choose none is a religion of thinkers and seekers, not fundamentalists.
Hello, I’m Atmana Gupta, from Delhi Public School Varanasi, I write because my mind needs a paper to share the weight of thoughts, nature fascinates me and peace eludes me.
I love books, sitcoms, long drives, night sky and chocolates.
I like mulling over a strange idea and spend a great deal of time doing it.
People call me a dreamer, well maybe I am.
