I find myself in coherence with most of views in your article "Hinduism of my childhood made no fearful threats" that was written in response to "The Source of Bias against Hindus" by George Thundiparambil. I agree that violence never has, and will never be a solution to religious problems. But sometimes, firm and strong actions need to be taken. Let me brief you with some of the religious disparities and problems which have fuelled the process of dividing India :

Islam in North India has been more violent and Pak-biased than in South India. In fact, the South has given us our great President, who himself is a Muslim. One important reason for this is the presence of a WRONG leadership in North India. People like Syed Shahabuddin, Imam Bukhari, sects like the Deobandi sects and the thousands of madarsas along the border and within fuel passions through their interpretation of the Koran and Hadith. Islam is projected as in a state of perpetual war with its neighbors. (Imam Bukhari of the Jama Masjid, during one of his speeches during Kargil War, exhorted the Muslims not to pray for the Indian soldiers in Kashmir, coz they were fighting against "OUR OWN BRETHREN")

Islamic scholars and "literates" like Aga Khan, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and today's "secularists" like Mahesh Bhatt, Angana Chatterjee, Rajdeep Sardesai etc. do nothing for the upliftment of the Muslim community, but only criticize the majority for their problems.

If Islam in India desires to remain pure and thriving, I believe, not just the Muslim scholars, but also the media and us, have to make conscious efforts towards their upheaval. The Muslims must, in turn, seek the goodwill of the majority if things are to be set in the right direction.

No doubt, the service missions in India have contributed a lot to the betterment of society, but sometimes, things do seem a little weird.

1) Council of Indian Bishops, after the Graham Staines episode, giving a statement from US to the effect that if Christians were not safe in India, we would carve out CHRISTIAN STATES in India, especially Kerala and North East.

2) The DANGS episode in 1999, when a church was brought sown by locals in Dangs district of Gujarat. The world cried by what was reported, and India's "secular" fabric was damaged. However, no one reported the reason for the mob's fury....a Hanuman idol being broken to pieces and thrown in a nearby river on Hanuman Jayanti Day.

4) The Pope coming to India in 1999/2000 and announcing in the Bishop's conference that
In the first millenium,it was Europe
In the second millenium, it was America and Africa
In the Third Millenium, it is Asia

And this, when China had refused permission for Pope to step on its soil, and India had given him a red carpet welcome. Obviously, with Asia, he couldn’t have meant China, or Pakistan, or Bangladesh, but primarily India

Hinduism, on the other hand, definitely is based on love and compassion for all. It is a way of life, yes. But sometimes, as in the case of Mahabharata, in case of a lurking danger to the country or the religion, the "bad-guy" face needs to be expressed. If not done so, that nation or that religion ends up being a SOFT TARGET, as has become India.

Whatever militancy and intolerance is being seen in Hinduism is because of :

1) Increasing force of the winds of globalisation
2) Foolishness on part of sections of other Indian communities.
3) An attitude of idiocy on part of the Indian media, most of which is controlled by leftist JNU crops.
4) A desire to be seen as YugPurushs, observed in some Hindu leaders

I, and this is my personal opinion, firmly believe that :

1) All Indians WHO ACCEPT INDIA AS THEIR MOTHERLAND, and who feel equated with the Indian culture and ethos, have the right to be called Indians.

2) Religion is just a mode of equating oneself with the Higher Being. It should not be confused with nationality. ( RSS runs schools in Meghalaya, where Christian students come to study, and in the morning recite Sarasvati Vandana in front of the Holy Cross. Their religion has not been changed. They have been oriented to become Indian in a Khansi Christian background)

3) The media should play a pivotal role in setting things right. Definitely not the likes of Barkha Dutt and Rajdeep Sardesai. Indian-ness should be adored first.