Hindu Rashtra Explained, by Shobhit Mathur
Preface
“Hindu Rashtra” is the cardinal principle of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It is regarded as the life-breath of RSS. Ironically, it is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in modern India, and is often used to propagate false notions about the RSS and the Sangh Parivar in general. Many articles have been written on this issue and this article borrows ideas from two of them “Hindu Rashtra” by K. Suryanarayana Rao and “Why Hindu Rashtra” by K.S. Sudarshan. This article is by no means a substitute to any of the above articles, but is a mere compilation of ideas from them presented in a simple language.
Importance
Today every Indian interested in national issues has heard about the concept of Hindu Rashtra and has his personal opinion regarding it. The concept of Hindu Rashtra is not a creation of the RSS; great leaders and philosophers like Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Gosh, Lokamanya Tilak, Veer Savarkar and others have all proclaimed India as Hindu Rashtra. Dr. Annie Besant and Sister Nivedita, both accomplished intellectuals from the West, who were attracted by the culture and people of India, and adopted India as their motherland, have also acknowledged India as Hindu Rashtra. If such great philosophers can proclaim India as Hindu Rashtra, why are there misunderstandings regarding that concept? To understand the reasons we delve deeper.
Who is a Hindu?
To understand the concept of ‘Hindu Rashtra’, we first need to understand the meaning of the two words contained in it, ‘Hindu’ and ‘Rashtra’. We begin by understanding the meaning of the word ‘Hindu’.
The origin of the word ‘Hindu’ is purely geographical. The name Sapta-Sindhu is found in the oldest records of the world itself - the Rig-Veda- as an epithet applied to Vedic India. It is well known that the syllable ‘S’ in Sanskrit is at times changed to ‘H’ in some of the Prakrit languages and even in European languages. The ancient Persians referred to the people inhabiting Vedic India as Hapta-Hindus and later on the word ‘Hindu’ was used for the same purpose by all nations flourishing at that time.
As we can see, the word Hindu has a geographical history and does not mean a religious faith like Islam or Christianity. There are some instances which illustrate the use of the word Hindu.
- When the Shahi Imam of Jama of Delhi went to Mecca on a pilgrimage, a local resident asked him, “Are you a Hindu?” The Imam was startled by this question and replied, “No, I am a Muslim.” When Imam Saheb asked him the reason for calling him a Hindu, he replied that all Hindustanis were called Hindu there.
- Late Sri Mohammed Carrim Chagla, the former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court and Education Minister in the Central cabinet wrote that he is a Muslim only by religion but by culture and race he is a Hindu and all Muslims of this country are Hindus.
- The word Hindusthan and Hindu are often used with a national connotation only. For example, the first nationalist daily from Chennai, started in the last century, was named ‘The Hindu’. Many public sector industrial units are named Hindusthan Aeronautics, Hindusthan Photo films, Hindusthan Machine Tools, etc. The sea to the south of our country is called Hind Mahasagar.
- Mohammed Iqbal, the famous Urdu poet has sung Sare Jahan Se Achha, Hindostan Hamara — Note Hamara Hindusthan, i.e., Our Hindusthan.
The word Hindu thus connotes not a particular sect, a religion or a faith, but the people, the culture, the tradition, the way of life of the people inhabiting this part of the world from times immemorial. Before the advent of the British, Bharat was known as Hindusthan and all the nationals as Hindus. Only the British gave the new name India and the word Indian came to be used in place of Hindu.
What is a Rashtra?
We now try to understand the meaning of the second word in the concept of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ i.e. Rashtra or Nation. What is a Nation? Scholars on the subject agree that a mass of humanity assuming the nomenclature of Nation should be inspired by the feeling of ‘we-ness’ i.e. a common identity and identification. This means that people constituting a Nation experience a feeling of oneness with one another and consider themselves distinct from others. When Edward de Cruz asked a Japanese University student whether the Japanese people considered themselves nearer to the East or the West in their life-style, habits and beliefs, his reply was: “We are like neither the East nor the West. We are simply Japanese”. The young man’s assertion that even while mixing with the world in a hundred ways they remained Japanese, is in fact an indication of their true nationhood.
The stretch of land which a community, imbued with a sense of we-ness, forms the natural boundaries of that Nation. That community is not merely emotionally attached to it; it also derives from the mother soil a special characteristic for its life, civilization and culture. Thus the Nation imparts a distinct identity to its members.
Hindu Rashtra
Combining the meaning of the two words ‘Hindu’ and ‘Rashtra’, we are now ready to understand the meaning of ‘Hindu Rashtra’. ‘Hindu Rashtra is nothing but the Rashtra of Hindus. The Hindus have been living on their common motherland for thousands of years. They have common forefathers, common sages, saints and heroes, common values of life, common traditions and culture, common history, common way of life, which is called Dharma and common aspirations. Those who identify with these common factors form the Rashtra or the Nation here and that is exactly Hindu Rashtra. Thus Hindu Rashtra is not a religious or political concept but a cultural and emotional one, eternally asserting itself.
Nation Vs State
As we have seen above, Hindu Rashtra is not a religious or a political concept, but it is generally misrepresented as a theocratic state or a religious Hindu State. This is because of the confusion between the terms Nation and State. Nation (Rashtra) and State (Rajya) are entirely different and should never be mixed up. State is purely a political concept. It is a political authority with sanction, concerned with the governance of the people, laying down and directing the policies of the government. The State changes as the political authority shifts from person to person or party to party. The people and the Nation remain the same.
Since ancient days, various dynasties ruled in different parts of India at different times, but the basic and fundamental cultural unity of the people of India was never disturbed. For the past one thousand years various Islamic invaders ruled over different parts of the country at different times and later the British ruled over almost the entire country, but the people of India did not change, i.e. remained Hindus (as defined above) . After Independence, the Congress party ruled the entire country for some time and then various political parties captured political power in different states. But still, the common emotional factors of the people of Bharat have remained the same and the people too uphold those values and sentiments in one voice, rising above regional, linguistic and religious differences as was witnessed on several occasions. This is the uniform experience.
That clearly explains the difference between a Rashtra and a Rajya i.e., Nation and State. Rashtra is eternal and State is transitory. It is like the body and the Soul (Atma). According to the Hindu philosophy, the Atma is eternal and only the bodies and their forms are changed. Likewise, the Rashtra which is the soul of the country remains unchanged, but the State which is the body keeps changing.
Misunderstanding
All nationals of a particular country have an emotional attachment to its history, forefathers, heroes and traditions. This makes them work hard, suffer and sacrifice for the progress and protection of their country. The national sentiment is supreme and is above all other sentiments, whether religious or sectional. Take for example, one of the youngest nations, America, formed four hundred years ago by various people of various countries. For the past four hundred years they have developed an American identity, their own traditions and their own National heroes like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Every American holds this national tradition and their heroes with highest regard respect. No Jew or Muslim of America can say that because Washington and Lincoln were not Jew or Muslim he cannot revere them. The religious sentiments are subservient to national sentiments and values. As in America, in Hindu Rashtra, every national should hold its national heroes of Hindus like Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Shivaji in high esteem. They are the age old symbols of all the great values which the country stands for. Religion should not come into the picture at all!
However many consider the idea of Hindu Rashtra as rank communalism and a biggest threat to secularism. There are serious misunderstandings and confusion regarding concepts like nation, state, Hindu, secular, etc in the people’s minds. The reasons for these misunderstandings are plenty and are not a focus of this article.
Hindu Rashtra: The Vibrant Reality
What are the factors that have kept India as one in spite of foreign domination for over thousand years? It is its faith in its age old culture, Dharma, tradition, its forefathers and national heroes like Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Shivaji. All this can be condensed into one word and that is the Hinduness or Hindutva.
Hindu Rashtra is very much alive and it asserts in various forms. The RSS wants to make every Indian understand, realize and feel proud of the same. This is the strongest and the only integrating factor for binding people from North to South and East to West, rising above all other considerations of region, language, religion, caste or class. It is foolish to say that the idea of Hindu Rashtra will disintegrate the country into various Rashtras. In fact it is contrary to the very idea of Hindu Rashtra.
In spite of the havoc done by political parties and leaders for the last sixty years of independence, the country remains one only because of its essential Hindu character. Hindutva alone can integrate the entire country. Several fissiparous tendencies have cropped up only because Hindutva is being suppressed by politically vested interests. RSS is convinced that only when every person in India realizes that he is after all part and parcel of the Hindu Rashtra, the nation can progress, and stand up as one strong being. It is working hard against odds to see this goal realized.
Vande Mataram
Shobhit Mathur is a software engineer at Amazon.com in Seattle, WA. He is the youth coordinator of the “Yuva for Sewa” fellowship program of Sewa International, USA. You can contact Shobhit at shobhit.mathur@gmail.com.
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February 2nd, 2008 06:44
It is amusing to see that you equate the RSS and the Sangh Parivar with intigration
(ref: Hindu Rashtra is very much alive and it asserts in various forms. The RSS wants to make every Indian understand, realize and feel proud of the same. This is the strongest and the only integrating factor for binding people from North to South and East to West, rising above all other considerations of region, language, religion, caste or class. It is foolish to say that the idea of Hindu Rashtra will disintegrate the country into various Rashtras. In fact it is contrary to the very idea of Hindu Rashtra)
Don’t you remember the Gujrat riots? And i’m not even getting into who started it, but according to your rosey picture of the RSS as some sort a National conscious , you should have been trying o defuse the situation if actually you people believed in half you rehtorics and not killing people in the name of my religion. It really hurts to see some old farts hijacking such a beautiful religion and dragging it through their dirty sewers for their old age pensions.
February 2nd, 2008 08:24
Hi Samuel,
The Gujrat riots were tragic and and an outcome of public outrage. I do not understand why you refer to them here. RSS has neither supported them nor has there been any evidence about their involvement.
Just to clear your misunderstanding, the Sangh has been on the forefront of National service, irrespective of Religion, caste, creed etc. In the 1996 Plane crash in Chakri Dadri, Haryana which left 350 dead, the victims were mainly Muslims. RSS was the first on the scene and conducted the last rites with full respect. A more recent example is the relief effort during Tsunami where the villages affected were primarily Muslim or Christian. There are many more examples you can find, if you care to look http://www.hindubooks.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1389
http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/27/stories/2004122713750300.htm
Unfortunately, you missed the point of the article completely. The idea of RSS is to motivate the country to rise about religious interests and collectively work for the National interest. You are welcome to join it.
Shobhit
February 2nd, 2008 21:51
[...] Shobhit Mathur is a software engineer at Amazon.com in Seattle. He is also the youth coordinator of the “Yuva for Sewa” fellowship program of Sewa International, in the states. In the latest issue of Tattva magazine, published by the Hindu Yuva arm of the American Hindu Swayam…. [...]
February 3rd, 2008 02:14
You are a citizen of the Indian State. What makes you a part of the Nation is your way of life, which you rightly describe as being Hindu.
If you disconnect yourself from this way of life you loose your contact with the Nation. In the modern Indian state, all the secessionist and anti national movements are rising from areas where people have moved away from this way of life i.e. North East, Kerala, Kashmir etc.
As I have mentioned in the article, Hindu Rashtra is not an idea of RSS. It has been put forward by every Nationalist thinker since time in memorial.
February 3rd, 2008 04:11
Hi Shobhit,
Your article is very concise and well written. However, I would like to add a few things regarding the connotation of the term Hindu in the Sangh terminology.
You have written that “As we can see, the word Hindu has a geographical history and does not mean a religious faith like Islam or Christianity.” We need to understand that this is a stand taken primarily by the Sangh and it is not in resonance with the views of Swami Vivekananda or Sri Aurobindo or for that matter any Hindu spiritual leader. As you say, “The origin of the word ‘Hindu’ is purely geographical.” True, but that does not mean that the culture and the philosophy from which such culture emanates have to be confined to a certain geographical space. On the contrary, even in the times of the Mahabharata the Vedic influence (i.e. the Hindu culture) was spread far and wide. The countries of South East Asia such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar in the recent times and to some extent, even now, have been predominantly Hindu by culture. But by the given definition, we cannot call the cultures of such places ‘Hindu’, can we?
I feel that the basic flaw lies in the understanding of the Hindu Dharma (or Sanatana Dharma, to be more precise) or rather in our area of focus. The Hindu Dharma is nothing but the Sanatana Dharma which has come to acquire this new name due to some historical reasons and to attach too much importance on the etymology of the word ‘Hindu’ is purely unnecessary.
In fact, understanding the Hindu culture requires primarily the understanding of its spiritual essence which clearly shows how universal it is. Its rituals, its customs, its policies (social, political, economic, etc.) are all revolved around that essence which our Seers have realized and is meant to be realized by us (i.e. every being) as well. To confine this Hindu/Sanatana Dharma to a geographical territory would, therefore, be a great disservice to Hindu Dharma itself.
February 3rd, 2008 09:05
Dear Shobhit,
Thank you for sharing your ideas. It is a very well written article with a good introduction to the idea of Hindu Rashtra.
You wrote about the 400 year old American identity and talked about the forefathers as national heroes. I would like to mention that America hardly had any national identity before the American Revolution. Each state considered itself its own country and the people’s national identity belonged to various parts of Europe. A New Yorker was more familiar with the English culture than with the Virginian. What George Washington and others gave to Americans was a *state* identity (not a national). By unifying the provinces and declaring independence, the forefathers created this country. Therefore, it’s probably more accurate to describe them as state heroes (instead of national). The American identity evolved post unification and will continue to evolve. In my opinion, national identity is an organic concept which evolves on its own as the demographic and generation of the place and consequently their shared history changes over time.
Now, in the context of India, the heroes of the freedom movement gave her its state identity and they (shivaji being one of them) have been acknowledged as state heroes. However, claiming Rama and Krishna as national heroes of the same rank is a little bit of a stretch. Due to the amount of time passed, there is hardly any unbiased historical evidence of their existence much less to verify their achievements. Further, the epics attach a lot of metaphysical and mystical capabilities to these heroes which further enhances the suspicion that they are more likely symbolic figures or gods (if you prefer). Therefore, it is probably a little unfair to claim Rama and Krishna as non-religious national heroes. I would argue that if you want to talk about ancient heroes, Chandragupta and Asoka are probably better candidates for their verifiable achievements at unifying Bharat.
In my opinion, the idea of a one nation-state can no longer be imposed in today’s world of increased migration and globalization. A truly free society lets the people choose their own heroes individually. An effort to include Rama and Krishna in the Indian history books alongside the freedom fighters will only equate Sangh to the crazy evangelical Christians trying to include creationism in American science textbooks. I hope that doesn’t happen.
Thank you for reading,
Namaste,
rahul
February 3rd, 2008 16:15
Hi Abin,
The Hindu philosophy as you have has a world vision and is not restricted to particular geographic community - in fact that is against the very essence of it. In the past, this philosophy has traveled around the world and has increased its following by its own merits.
Newton’s law of Gravitation is applicable universally, but it is still called Newton’s law because of its origin. This does not restrict its applicability or its significance. Same is true for ‘Hindu’ Dharma. I guess that should resolve your confusion.
Shobhit
February 4th, 2008 01:04
Hi Rahul,
The very fact that Ram and Krishna still inspire people all across the nation itself says very much about their personalities. Just because we do not have material historical evidence about their existence, doesn’t mean they didn’t exist. Every National hero across the world is eulogized. The longer the time duration, the more epithets that get attached to the personality. By your argument, we can afford to have Heroes only a few hundred years old. Heroes should be judged on how they inspire people’s hearts through time and are not anything else.
The Nation-State concept is a reality, even though many liberal intellectuals would want to deny that. Recent examples:
- East Germany and West Germany were two States and one Nation. They had to merge
- China and Tibet are two Nations stuck in one State. Unless Tibet frees itself, the people will never be happy
- Pakistan is a failed state and Bangladesh is getting there. Putting artificial concepts of Nation (2 Nation Theory) into the minds of people to create a new State ultimately fails.
There are many more examples. Globalization does not determine destinies of Nations. You cannot change the Soul of a Nation. It exists in the people’s hearts and asserts itself over and over again.
Shobhit
June 20th, 2008 15:02
thanks it has help me a lot
October 22nd, 2008 12:44
Hi Shobhit,
The concept of hindu rashtra is good but it won’t happen unless and until there is a caste system in hinduism. This gives the inferiority among the lower caste hindus. If hinduism is to survive caste system should be removed, if it stays hinduism will be disappeared. Thus every hindus should be given equal status as those of brahmin. Then only hindu rashtra will be emerged.
Thanks.
October 22nd, 2008 13:21
Hi Manoj,
I totally agree to you. You had made a strong point. Yes this is true there is no need for others like Muslim & Christians to destroy hinduism. Hindus are much capable of destroying the hinduism.
We are in 21st century but still there is a practice of untouchables. Do you know that there are many districts in maharashtra where even today low caste hindus called dalits are not allowed to enter the temple to worship the god. This situation is there in every indian state and every distict of india. Even in their own Gujarat State which they called a hindu state also faces the untouchability problem.
If you won’t allow them to enter the temple they are now converting to Christians and some to Muslims. Only upper caste hindus are responsible for this.
Soon the time will come where the hindus will be in minority. This is true hindus are only responsible for their own destruction.
All the lower caste hindus are feared up of this hindu rashtra. Nobody wants this if hindu rashtra is achieved. Naturally all the hindus will throw or murder the lower caste hindus.
So all lower caste hindus beaware of this fact. Because this orthodox Brahmins wants to repeat their history once again.
Regards.
Suraj
October 22nd, 2008 13:50
Hi Suraj,
Your comments are totally true. All the upper caste hindus blames the lower caste ones for the conversion but they don’t know that its their own seed which they have sowed in the past and now they are just reaping it.
Do you know that there are only 5% brahmin population in India which wants to control the whole hindu society. Unless and until there are brahmins in India there will be no equality in Hindus. If Brahmins are thrown out of the country then only there will be a way for Hindu Rashtra.
Regards.
Ram
October 22nd, 2008 14:10
Hi Everyone,
Brahmins are the only curse to Hindu Society. They just want to fool others.
Do you remember that Kanchi Shankarcharya a Brahmin who was an accused in the murder. The allegations were made by Jaylalita. When he was in jail he refused to eat the food. He said that he will only eat food made by the brahmins. If there were no brahmins Shankarcharya must have died by eating the food made by mon brahmin.
October 23rd, 2008 12:41
Hi to all,
If the brahmins have the problem with the non brahmin hindus or lower caste hindus why don’t they leave India and go elsewhere wherever they want. They want to force their old brahminical rule on us. They are the real obstacles in India’s development. These people don’t want lower caste hindus to get educated they are feared if they are educated they would stand next to them. Then there will be no one on whom they can dominate their rule.
October 23rd, 2008 13:05
Hi,
Why Hindu Gods/ Goddesses = Shiva/ Rama/ Krishna/ Durgaa/ Kaali - DID Not Try to End - Brahmins Mafia Rule of Over 3000 Yrs ???
– It’s the Brahmin Priests , Who Decides - As Who Will Enter the Temple. So Hindu Gods are Captive/Hijacked Gods ! Even Hindu Gods Dare Not to Speak Against Powerful Brahmins. OoPs ! Why Only Brahmins Can Become Priests in Temples & Hold Religious Posts ? 2000 Yrs Old Resevation B/c of Money Factor ??? — Plus We all Know that - Non-Brahmin Hindus - Can not Become Priests/Rest - Even If they Want ? So Point Is - then - How Come they are Hindus ???
October 23rd, 2008 14:10
Hi,
Brahmans Have Been Virtually Sodomising the Upper Caste Hindu FooLs Since 2000Yrs.
Brahmans Say:- Kshatriyas/ Rajputs Have Brains in their Knees - Instead Of Heads. Kayasth/Lala-Vaish/Bania Are Cowards, Impotents, 420 (Hindi: Kamjor-Darpoke). Bhumihars Are Bastards, Product of Kepts (Hindi: Dogley). Rest SC-ST-OBC Are Animals, Born Slaves (Hnd: Gandi Naalee Ke Kidey,Gulam). All Muslims Are Pakistan’s ISI Agent. BUT Only Brahmans themselves Are of Purest Race/ Blood of Above All & Living Gods (Hindi: Brahmans Bhagwan Ka Hi Roop Hain.) & Belongs to God’s Family & Only Brahmans Have Right to Rule India. OoPs! Brahmans Also Claim Supriority For Being - Vegetarians By Births, BUT I Have NOT Come Across a SINGLE Person Who Is a Vegetarian by Birth & Is a NICE Person, All Were CROOKS, Don’t Believe JUST Look Around.
Wake up you all non brahmins!
October 26th, 2008 21:00
Hi to all Indians,
Do you know that BJP is the puppet of RSS Brahmins. Wherever there is a BJP government their goverment is just a tutorial head. All the government organizations are operated by the RSS brahmins.
See all the BJP state like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar(semi rule), Punjab(semi rule).
Even when BJP was in Center i.e NDA see below:
The So Called Leaders of BJP are Basically - Slaves/Orderly/Agents of RSS & Not People of Integrity/ Self Respect - Their Main Job Is to Capture Power - AnyHow & then Serve/Cater the Reins of Govts (Centre/States) - In the Plate of RSS Men - with PM/CMs Becoming Just Rubber Stamps. Actual Power Remains In the Hands of RSS Men/ Orthodox Brahmins. They (RSS Men) give Orders Directly to Local Administrations & Take Major Dicisions. Proof/Example = (i) Extra Constitutional Body, RSS Men Use to See Govt Files at the Official Residence of Former PM A. B. Vajpayee (Clear Case of Breach of Privilage & Oath taken at the Time Becoming PM) & Use to Talk to Press From there.
Wake up you all non brahmins!
October 26th, 2008 21:17
Hi,
If hindu rashtra is achieved by the RSS brahmins. They with the help of BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena will kill the minority communities including all the muslims, christians, buddhist, sikhs, jains and all the lower caste hindus like SC, ST and OBC.
So all the minority communities be prepared for your deaths by the militant RSS brahmins.
If you vote for BJP you will be calling your death. BJP is the puppet of RSS brahmins.
Wake up now you non brahmins.
October 26th, 2008 22:05
Hi,
When RSS Goons Go & Attacks Poor/Arms-Less Indians On Caste/ Communal Lines — Police Men are Told in Advance - Not to Stop/Arrest them (RSS Goons) — See How Brave they Are ! — But Tell them (Cowards RSS Men) to Join Army & face Terrorists In Kashmir - they will be Down with Diarrhoea !
When L. K. Advani Praised Jinnah In Pakistan, He Had Clearly Forgotten that His Masters In RSS will Not Like this - Result = Advani was Cut to Size & Wings Chopped-Off !
Angry RSS Chief K. S. Sudarshan Said: Politics Is Like a Prostitute, Which Keeps Changing It’s Cloths & Make-Up !
When Over Confidant L. K. Advani - Launched — India Shining Campaign - Advani Proved Beyond Doubt that He Does Not Understand India & Our (Common Man’s ) Basic Problems Or Don’t Care For Us ! May Be B/c Advani had Come from Pakistan ! INDIA has Given Advani So Much - BUT - What has Advani Given to INDIA ??? Except for the Divisions On Caste/ Communal Lines - Just to Capture Power ! Looking at Entire Political Life of Advani has only Derailed Our Progress & Disturbed Us By Divisive Politics - Which only India’s Enemy Can Do - Are You Pak’s ISI Agent Mr.Advani ??? I’m Not Scared of Pakistan - BUT - Yes I’m Scared of Your Cunning & In-Human Politics ! As Home Minister You Did Nothing Except Beating the Bushes, Protecting Gujarat CM Narendra Modi & Getting Your Name Dropped From Babri Masjid Demolition Case. You are Bane/Burden for India & Appear to Be Mentally Sick ! Advani & BJP as a Whole - Does Not Love INDIA , They Just Use/ Exploit India/ Indians For Personal Ends ! Mr. Advani Plz. Leave India & Go Back to Pakistan and Let We Indians Live In Peace !
Wake up now you non brahmins
November 2nd, 2008 16:59
I don’t know where you are getting the idea that RSS is “controlled” by Brahmins. One of the goals of RSS is to stop discrimination and social divisions on the basis of caste. When Gandhi ji visited one of the RSS camps, he commented that everyone there was living together, eating together, working together without even knowing or caring what castes the others belonged to. RSS conducts thousands of sewa projects without regard to the caste and religion of those whom it’s serving. If you take the time to get to know RSS workers, you will find that most of them are not Brahmins and none of them bears any feeling that Brahmins are in anyway “superior.”
November 5th, 2008 19:18
Hi H.Y.,
I think you are also an agent of RSS brahmins. If you reallly care for RSS, then tell all the RSS members to remove the caste system from India. I bet every hindu will praise RSS for removing the caste system. Everyone will follow what RSS tells them to do so. There will be no more conversion. Hindu rashtra will emerge only after caste system is removed from India else no hindus will support you. Only brahmins will shout for hindu rashtra as they do now because their brahminical rule is in danger now.
November 24th, 2008 22:45
Hi,
Most of the people who are criticizing Brahmins for division based on Cast are now repeating the same thing here also. Earlier Brahmins criticized low cast people and now these so called intellectuals who replied to this article are doing the same thing. So how RSS is supposed to change this when you are not ready to change your own mindset? RSS is not Govt to do all jobs, if you realize any social issue in India then what are you dong for it? Simply criticizing RSS and Brahmins? And by the way you folks missed the whole point of this article and are shouting over some nonsense.
Shobhit, very nice article! People need common sense to understand it which looks like very uncommon in these so called intellectuals.
Jai Shree Ram
December 1st, 2008 16:53
Prashant, it’s very easy to sit on the sidelines and shout comments. If you are so passionate about removing the caste system, then why not do something instead of just criticizing orgnizations that are actually working towards it.
Anyone who knows anything about the Hindu society should know that it’s impossible to change it in a day. The RSS runs 70,000 sewa projects in India without looking at religion, caste, creed, gender, etc. In every RSS activity, people work together without even knowing what each other’s castes are. So before criticizing, please take a look at the work it is doing.
December 10th, 2008 21:35
Hi to all,
Every one here is talking about caste system. So caste is a biggest problem in India So why don’t hindus Shankaracharya come forward and try to remove caste system.
Oh you expect Shankaracharya to do this. Do you really think he will do it. Do you really think that he will cut his own head.
Oh Stop Begging before this brahmin Shankarcharyas. They are the real Asuras of India.
Kaliyug ka Asur = Brahmins
February 9th, 2009 06:21
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ISLAM TOOK OVER THE WORLD ?
By S.P. Attri ( USA )
———————————————————————————–
1. If you put this top-flight question to a Phoney-Liberal Hindu politician in India, he would most likely recant with a saucy, sarcastic, high-spirited query in the opposite way, such as:
“ What would happen if earth stopped rotating ? “
But wouldn’t you worry if, the warlords of Islam take over your land, your people, and everything else ? Therefore, you need not be emotionally-crippled about this possibility. There is no need to be hesitant about examining, how Islam will boss this world.
To express the answer in a few words: It would be like being taken over by the Fourth-Reich ( of Islam ), and all Kafirs ( Non-Moslem Infidels ) of the world, shall domicile in the:
“ Biggest Dog-House of the world. “
2. There is prolific evidence from 1000 years of Islamic rule in India, to divulge to us what would be the fate of Kafir ( Non-Moslem Infidels ) subjects under Islamic-Domination of the world. Islam claims to be the most gracious, and the most merciful faith on earth. This excessively kind religion of “ all-merciful Allah “ shall bless the Kafirs of the world with, slaughter & destruction of hateful-Kafirs, on a scale without parallel in human history. These acts of moral outrage are completely justified in Islam, as long as these are conducted against Kafirs, in fact these acts are reckoned as acts of piety by Allah, who rewards his followers, with luxuries of Janat ( Moslem’s Paradise ), especially choicest sex with 72 houries for each Moslem. Make no mistake. Islam is fully committed to robbing & murdering Kafirs, under the dress of Jehad ( Holy-War ), which is the most sacred duty of a Moslem. Jehad is a mighty pillar of Islam, without which Islam would lose, a major part of its grandeur, greatness, and raison d’ etre. This holy-war is for the conquest of all Kafir ( Non-Moslem ) lands. Moslems are taught that, they have no recourse other than to overthrow, all governments that do not rest on pure Islamic principles, and are corrupt & corrupting. Islamic government is the government of divine rights, and its laws cannot be changed, modified, or contested.
3. Acts of murder, loot, pillage, rape, and destruction, are considered shameful acts, by civilized societies of the world. But Hazrat Mohammad told his followers that, since he was the last prophet, for all time to come, such raids were now sanctioned by Allah. Moslems must follow Hazrat Mohammad, as the Divine Model Of Practice. This is what Islam expects of Moslems. If they don’t, then they are sure to enter Hell, because then the Prophet will not intercede on their behalf.
4. If Islam ever gets control of the whole world, the mindless, empty-headed Sulla barbarians shall impose at least the following 20 shameful disabilities on the Kafirs of the world :
( 1 ). Kafirs shall not build any new place of worship
( 2 ). Kafirs are not to repair any old place of worship, which has been destroyed by the Moslems
( 3 ). Kafirs are not to prevent Moslem travelers from staying in their place of worship
( 4 ) Kafirs are to entertain for 3 days, any Moslem who wants to, stay in their homes, and for a longer period if the Moslem falls ill
( 5 ). Kafirs are not to harbor any hostility or to, give aid & comfort to hostile elements
( 6 ). Kafirs are not to prevent any one of them, from getting converted to Islam
( 7 ). Kafirs have to show respect to every Moslem
( 8 ). Kafirs have to allow Moslems to participate in their private meetings
( 9 ). Kafirs are not to dress like Moslems
( 10 ). Kafirs are not to name themselves with Moslem names
( 11 ). Kafirs are not to ride on horses, with saddle and bridle
( 12 ). Kafirs are not to possess arms
( 13 ). Kafirs are not wear signet or seals on their fingers
( 14 ). Kafirs are not to sell or drink liquor openly
( 15 ). Kafirs are to wear a distinctive dress, which shows their inferior status, and separates them from Moslems
( 16 ). Kafirs are not to propagate their customs and usages among the Moslems
( 17 ). Kafirs are not to build their houses in the neighborhood of Moslems
( 18 ). Kafirs are not to bring their dead, near the graveyards of Moslems
( 19 ). Kafirs are not to observe their religious practices publicly, or mourn their dead loudly.
( 20 ). Kafirs are not to buy Moslem slaves
This is not a complete list of disabilities, imposed upon Zimmies ( that is, those Kafirs who have not been murdered, and are allowed to live in the Islamic lands ( Dar-Ul-Islam, or the land of peace ), upon payment of Jiziya or Poll-Tax.
5. Hindu Dharam Shastras recognize six types of gangsters:
a. He who sets fire to other peoples properties
b. He who poisons other people
c. He who wields weapons for committing murder
d. He who robs other peoples wealth
e. He who forcibly occupies other peoples land
f. He who forcibly carries away other peoples women
Hindu Shastras & tradition prescribe that, the gangster should be killed as soon as he is sighted.
But in Islam, above mentioned acts of gangsterism, are sanctioned by Allah. Any Moslem who performs these acts ( on Kafirs ) stands hallowed as apostle, prophet, sufis etc etc. Worse yet, Islam lays down that, those who object ( that is, the Kafirs ) to advocacy of gangsterism or resist gangsterism, should be put to death.
6. American & Western-European leaders, as well as the Phoney-Liberal politicians of India, have a penchant for saying that:
” Radical Islam is a problem, but Islam is not a problem. ”
This is pure un-adulterated Non-Sense. The problem is Islam itself.
What brutal tyranny, ruthless slaughter, savage-suppression, did the Moslems not inflict on Kafirs, in the name of Islam ? This excessively kind religion of Islam, mercilessly cut down hundreds of millions of innocent Kafirs, under the Islamic sword of bigotry. What was all that for ?
For the glory of Allah, and for the establishment of a global Islamic empire. Are these the actions of a peaceful religion ( Islam ) ?
7. The civilized societies of the world, practice the concept of democracy & human rights, in which everyone ( man or woman ) is entitled to all rights & freedoms. But the Islamic Clergy does not consider democratice system suitable, either for the Moslems or for the practice & expansion of Islam. Kafirs can Never be considered equal to Moslems in Islam. Ideas of individualism, liberalism, constitutionalism, human rights, equality, liberty, rule of law, democracy, free markets, separation of church & state, have no resonance in Islam.
8. What about nationalism & secularism ?
Nationalism & Secularism, are totally incompatible with Islam, because Islam’s goal is global-empire ( Islamic empire ). In nationalism, all citizens are brothers & equal. But in Islam, a Non-Moslem is a Hateful-Kafir, who is an alien & needs to be eliminated. Islam totally rejects the idea that, citizenship depends on birthplace, Islam asserts that citizenship depends on belief, and Non-Moslem beliefs are totally un-acceptable to Islam. That is why, when Islam expands, nationalism is destroyed.
9. We are face to face with the fanaticism & blind-terror of Islam. In civilized societies, politics & religion are separated, but in Islam politics is religion & religion is politics. Moslems feel that ideologies of liberalism & nationalism, led by Kafirs, have caused Moslems to forsake the God-given law ( Allah’s law ) of Quran, and the religious life vouschafed to them. They consider their Jehad as a war between good Moslem world & evil Kafir-world.
10. Let the Kafirs of the world be warned that:
Democracy, Nationalism, Secularism, Individualism, Liberalism, Separation Of Church & State, Human Rights, Human Freedom, Free Markets
Are ideas of universal validity.
Islam is something evil. It is a cold-blooded killer & is plunged in darkness. If Islam ever takes over the world, then these ideas of universal validity, shall go to hell. They shall all be in the direct line of Islamic fire, and shall be demolished “ Brick By Brick. “
Surinder Paul Attri
February 16th, 2009 02:14
MESSRS. SURINDER PAUL ATTRI - SHOBHIT MATHUR:
I see in your writing an interesting example of the lamp calling the chimney, “Black”; in other words, hypocrisy cloaked in designer frills but visible nevertheless. If recorded history is accurate, the casualty figure of “Islamic Wars” were far, far less than wars inspired by political ideology and greed whether or not undertaken in the name of religion; and I don’t exclusively single out Islam as you do but, in all fairness, include Christianity, Judaism, and the noble mission of promoting unity by canvassing the “Hindu Rashtra” gift wrapped as Nationalism. Despite your creative rhetoric and play on words that a preschool kid may believe (Maybe!!), we all know that “Hindu” Rashtra has conspicuous elements of Caste-specific communalism. You see, the potency of snake venom does not diminish even if it is packaged in cute, little candy wrappers that boast a friendly shine. No amount of creative propaganda could convince you that the sword slitting your gang raped minor daughter’s and wife’s throats is a sacred Nationalistic ritual to facilitate your evolving into a Higher Level Being!
You indicated that “Hindu Dharam Shastras recognize six types of gangsters: to wit, a). He who sets fire to other peoples properties, b). He who poisons other people, c). He who wields weapons for committing murder, d). He who robs other peoples wealth, e). He who forcibly occupies other peoples land, f). He who forcibly carries away other peoples women. Hindu Shastras & tradition prescribe that, the gangster should be killed as soon as he is sighted”.
That certainly looks very honorable in print but weren’t all these atrocities committed by our Hindu brethren on the merry path to attaining Sanatana Dharma during the Gujarat Massacre of defenseless Muslim citizens; perpetrated behind the protective cloak of government sanctioned anonymity? Mr. Mathur’s intellectually degrading assumption that the readership consists of gullible, cerebrally vacuous pheasants with a beedi propped behind the ear is stereotypical of the chicanery RSS has been known to defecate on the unwary. Can one logically expect any “evidence of RSS involvement” when the farcical “investigation” was conducted by RSS serfs under Brahmin orders?
Shobhit Mathur refers to the Gujarat “riots” as a “tragic” outcome of public outrage. Either Mr. Mathur is ignorant of the radical difference between “riots” and “culling”, and between “public outrage” and “planned pogrom”, or he’s simply being an obedient, little sycophant following RSS’s marching orders to mislead the readership. If one were to accurately read between the lines, the only “tragic” outcome would have been if the shoe were on the other foot. Nevertheless, one must give credit where credit is rightfully due. And so I applaud your writing, Sir. You almost had me fooled.
March 28th, 2009 18:44
hi,
our ancestors where responsible for this rigid caste system & we hindus are continuing this even today.This is disheartning & a curse on hinduism .Due to this hindus are converting into other religions.our population is decreasing & this among the main reason hinduism has grown beyond s.asia.but those who r cursing the brahmins are continuing the hatred policy , they should remember that muslims & britishers exploited the caste system for there rule.
it would take time for the wounds to heal.equality should be provided everywhere not only in relgion but also in education,jobsetc. then only one should talk about rashtra “we ness”.
we all have to be united for the sake of us ,our religion& for our holy motherland bharat.
jai hind
March 28th, 2009 18:50
SORRY,
my mistake,casteism is one of the main reasons hinduism didn’t grow beyond s.asia.
in the above blog it was by mistake(hinduism has grown beyond s.asia)
June 26th, 2009 19:40
Mr. Prashant,
Anyone who supports some points of RSS are not its agents. If that theory applies to you, you can be called an ISI agent. Have you ever been to any Rss shaka or do you personally know any RSS man. First know what Rss stands for and then talk. Do not spew venom without veryfying the facts. I agree it is fashionable for some ignorant hindus to criticise hindu organisatoins (I do not know if you are hindu or not), but please get to reality before criticising. I know RSS members personally and believe me RSS camps are the only places on earth where there is absolutely no caste discrimination. Anyone who disputes this fact is an ignorant. He must watch RSS activities from close quarters. Please do not make judgements by media balbbering. RSS is the only organisation which is sincerely trying to eradicate caste discrimination. I am saying this after closely watching its activities over the years. RSS is the only place where a dalit and brahmin eat side by side without slightest of hesitation. Do you know this? If you doubt it attend RSS programs and know the facts. then only you have right to say something. Till then please spare your nonesensical talk to yourself. You people are only talking about brahmin domination of RSS by mentioning some brahmin names, but why do you turn blind eye to lower caste hindus who are leading RSS. Let me assure you, high percentage of RSS cadre is non-brahmin. Please set your facts right. I am repeating, RSS is the only organisation which does not discriminate between castes.
Jai Hind
July 15th, 2009 13:27
my name is amit,im a brahmin boy and i was really sad to read some of the comments here and see the hatred people have in thier minds for Brahmins,however i would like to say this to Shobhit Mathur and every hindu here that Brahmins are not controlling RSS,brahmins are not controlling India,India today is being controlled by anti national people who call themselves secular,these people are ready to sell our nation and our Kashmir for money and yet they have the audacity to speak against Hinduism and Brahmins,
I agree that caste exists in hindu religion but is it the fault of brahmins or is the fault of hindus who want caste to exist,no hindu marries outside his caste,are brahmins responsible for this,can a brahmin force someone to marry ouTside of thier caste when they dont want to.
I have seen the religious unity which Muslims and Christians have,a Christian or Muslim boy marries a Brahmin or Hindu girl but a Christian and Muslim girl will never marry a hindu boy.
I once had a fight with a Christian boy,he wanted to slap me in the face ,I grabbed his hand and punched him ,so 3 Christian boys came to beat me up even though it was all his fault,a Christian boy punched me in the eye and my eye got shorter,
AND YET THESE CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIMS TALK ABOUT SECULARISM WHEN THEY THESELVES ARE UNITED AND THEY ARE NOT SECUAR AT ALL,THEY ARE LAUGHING AT HINDUS WHO ARE DIVIDED ON THE BASIS OF CASTE,THEY LAUGH AT HINDUS CAUSE THEY KNOW HOW DIVIDED WE ARE,HOW “SECULAR” WE ARE,In unity lies strenght and hindus are not united,they are divided on basis of caste and they have all become secular.
SECULAR:WHAT A WORD,ALL RELIGIONS ARE THE SAME,ALL NATIONS ARE THE SAME,ALL PEOPLE ARE THE SAME,NO PRIDE FOR ONES NATION OR RELIGION,ONLY SECULARISM AND CASTE.
and yet people talk against Brahmins,Brahmins who have become poor,who have no unity,I CAN TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT BRAHMINS,BRAHMINS ARE NOT EVIL, BRAHMINS ARE COWARDLY DISUNITED PEOPLE WHO CANNOT EVEN FIGHT,THEY WOULD RATHER TOLERATE SUFFERING THAN TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE ENEMY,STOP BEING SECULAR,STOP SAYING THAT BRAHMINS ARE EVIL AND LEARN WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS.
August 13th, 2009 08:06
hai every body
Thaks to Shobhit Mathur for trying to unity among ever HINDU
The concept of hindu rashtra is good but it won’t happen unless and until there is a caste system in hinduism. This gives the inferiority among the lower caste hindus. If hinduism is to survive caste system should be removed, if it stays hinduism will be disappeared. Thus every hindus should be given equal status as those of brahmin. Then only hindu rashtra will be emerged.
NOT EVERY BRAHMIN, 90 % Brahmins are the only curse to Hindu Society,
BAN CASTISIM & RESERVATION,
BRING ONLY ONE LAW, ONE CASTE, ONE RELEGION, ONE NATION, EQUALITY, then i proudly shout I AM BHARATHIYA (HINDUSTANI)
UNTIL THAT WE ARE THE SLAVES OF INDIA (Britishers India - Ruleing by congis ) secularism
August 27th, 2009 15:14
i’m Brazilian, we don’t have religious traditions of imemorable past.i think it’s rich!! i’ve started my studies of religion whit Cristianism and i studied many variety of this.
i think that hindu is like Cristian and like Muslin but the system of cast should be really shame for who are Hindu.
The concept of God in any Tradition bring to all equallity! someone is wining something (or many tings) with this. and this one is not a Hndu i believe.
August 27th, 2009 15:16
just to recieve new comments.