Comment: Hinduism of my childhood made no fearful threats

	Comment: Hinduism of my childhood made no fearful threats
	By Rebecca Kurian, Bangalore India May 04, 2003 I read the article "The Source of Bias against Hindus" by George Thundiparambil, Germany on this topic. I agree with certain points he has raised but have some observations on certain other parts. He might be right in "diagnosing" the problem that the Western media or organisations have with the true understanding of Hinduism as practiced for millennia. When Mr. Thundiparambil talks about Hinduism, which particular section of Hindus does he mean? Surely he knows that there are a multitude of groups within the Hindu faith, many different ways of worship, many different emphasis on the different aspects of faith etc. The Hinduism I was familiar with in Kerala for many years is something I do not see anywhere else. What used to be the norm is not the same now. I have great trouble understanding the militant version of Hinduism that seems to be popular among some people now. The Hindu faith I have known and respected all my life was an all-enveloping one that has stood the test of time and have accepted other faiths through thousands of years without being reduced to a dead state. The Hindu faith, in its pure form, was never the angry and bitter proclamation of faith as I see now. The Hinduism of my childhood in Kerala (many, many years ago!) was one that made no fearful threats or declarations to the other faiths in our state. It accepted all other faiths, all of us grew up respecting other faiths and never thought that any one faith was detrimental to any other. Where have those days gone? Even today, I truly believe that the militant version which says that religious faith of the majority is threatened by the other faiths in this country, doesn't include the thousands, even millions of Hindus who follow their faith without fearing other faiths. Why is it that the pure faith practiced by the majority of Hindus never felt the need to use trishuls or anything else, for thousands of years? Don't get me wrong on this. I do not agree with people of any religion finding fault with any other while practicing their own. In the secular democracy that we are, one should be able to practice one's own religious faith without restraints put on it by the government or organisations. What has come over our country that we are so suspicious of anything Muslim or anything Christian? Why are we acting as if we have to "defend" ourselves all the time? Just because we worship different gods, we don't have to become so hostile to each other and play into the hands of people who do not want a united and harmonious India. Can't we just take care of the internal matter of religious harmony before we worry about why the Amnesty International or any other western organisation misunderstands everything Hindu or Indian? Everything Indian is common to Indian people of all faiths. It is not necessarily Hindu or Christian. I wear a saree because I am an Indian, not because I am a Hindu. I go to church to worship not because I am not an Indian but because I am an Indian whose religious faith happens to be Christianity. My going to church doesn't change my Indian-ness in any way. I do not think like any westerners, I don't think like people in Palestine {where Jesus was born and brought up, by the way!}... I think and act like an Indian. It has nothing to do with being a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian. If we could come to our senses about these things and not look for differences all the time, we could emerge as such a great power in the world; instead we are concentrating on minor issues and wasting our energy. I read about the website which talks about the Hindu faith and gods in a derogatory manner. The man is totally off the point. I would request you not to give him the satisfaction of thinking he has done something great. Let him say what he wants but his ignorance will catch up with him finally. People who really know Hinduism will decide for themselves what their faith should be. I am a practicing Christian but I do not think judging anybody else's religious faith is my business. My life has been transformed by Jesus but that doesn't mean I have any right to make derogatory remarks on others. I do not agree with that at all. Let the Dr. Jeromes of the world say what they like. What difference does it make to the real faith you have? I believe that God is quite capable of defending himself; we are wasting time doing that for Him. Also Read response article by Gaurav Moghe, Mumbai India Do you wish to reach IndiaCause readers? Write @ IndiaCause Copyright and Disclaimer: The author is solely responsible for the contents of the opinion/column/letter. 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