Muhammad Ali Jinnah said that “India is not a nation, nor a country. It is a subcontinent of nationalities”. This subcontinent has been a beautiful canvas representing diversity of cultures, religions and civilizations. For thousands of years, teachings of Hinduism has professed compassion, peace and happiness. One of the most popular deities of this world’s oldest religion is Ram or Rama, the just and kind ruler of the Kingdom ofKoala (Uttar Pardesh). Entire life of Rama sets standards and examples for the generations to follow. His biography tells us about a just ruler who relegated his personal comfort, choices and upheld the trust of his people even at the cost of his own family. Rama practically preaches about duties, rights and responsibilities of an individual and sets a perfect model of character to be followed for a ruler. Rama’s life is simple where kindness, compassion and goodness has priority. Beyond doubt, character of Rama is that of a Purushottama, an ideal person who has all the virtues that any individual would seek to aspire. He fulfils all his ethical and moral obligations thus becomes the best of upholders of virtue in Hinduism.
Vedas, the Holy Scriptures of Hinduism, emphasize that violence in any form for any reason is supposed to beget violence, as the law of Karma produces equal and similar reaction to any of the deed committed. This concept of Karma comes into play to deter persuasions for violence as elucidated in the Upanishads (highly revered books of Hinduism). Although a divergent opinion also exists in Bhagvad Gita where war is elucidated as a necessity for defense of justice, however one can find this concept somewhat akin to Islamic concept of Jihad. Just like the rules of engagement laid down by Islam, Rig Vedas also set down similar rules of engagement warning not to transgress the limits of violence; such as that during battles it stops warriors from poisoning the tip of his arrow and spare the young, women, sick and old. It even restricts a warrior that he should not attack from behind.
In today’s incredible India, essence of Hinduism has been lost and forgotten as the only Hindu dominant country begins to adopt, support and profess a false concept of Hindutva which has completely taken over the Indian society.Maha Bharat Varshwhich gave birth to the religion of Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs has now become the land for Hinduism which unfortunately stands hijacked and misinterpreted by the fascist mindset. The term Hindutva coined by Chandranath Basu was popularized by Vinayak Damodar Savakar in 1923. Vianyak professed the idea of Hindu Rashtra with fascist undertones. Accused of assassination of Mahatma Ghandi, due to his fascist label and hegemonic belief in ethnic absolutism, the founding fathers of India like Jawahir Lal Nehru abhorred Vianyak and even refused to sit in his presence. However they never knew that Vinayak’s violent concepts will one day challenge the very essence Hinduism, attracting hordes of extremists who find pleasure in rampaging attacking Muslims and other minorities, lynch Dalit’s and Shudhra’s and even abrogate constitution to eliminate very essence of democracy and secularism India took pride in. Today, India’s historical, cultural, religious and national essence stood hijacked, incapacitated and abolished. While the peaceful, accommodating and non-violent Hinduism fell out of social context, the false ideology of Hindutva has become India’s popular belief which people like Narendra Modi and his like-minds follow.
When the dust and smoke will settle over charred bodies and burnt houses in Kashmir; democracy, Hinduism, world peace and humanity will take their last breath
Unlike monotheist religions, in Hinduism there is not one specific persona which can be labeled as actual Devil. No character reflects the attributes of Devil reflected in Holy Scriptures of monotheist religions e.g. Islam and Christianity. In Hinduism and other polytheist religions, there could be many beings with both good as well as evil sides embodied in their single persona. Since they are good and evil at same time, thus they do not disqualify to be labeled as Devil or Satan that monotheists know.
Until the time I read about Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s repulsive past and his sordid present, I thought it would be quite difficult to find a comparison for Devil or Satan within Hinduism. After observing Modi’s debauched past and conjecturing his wicked schemes for his political future, I can justly claim my success for finding the Devil personified. Although Modi claims to be a Hindu, however has shown himself as Rakshas (a demon) who has complete disregard for teachings of Ram, forgetting the concept of Ahimsa and Karma. He follows not the Rama but Raks has. I find it quite convenient while labeling Modi a Rakshas of modern India mainly for two reasons: firstly because Modi uses all his energy in a negative modus and secondly there is no danger from devil except due to his thoughts to harm others. Narendra Modi exhibits both the qualities of devil very obviously.
Modi has been an active and ideological member of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for nearly forty years. He has a dishonorable and tarnished record for orchestrating massacres after raising religious tension in a country. Due his repute as Butcher of Gujarat, the US State Department denied Modi a visa to visit the US in 2005. But fortunately for Modi his communal hate and anti-Muslim posture benefits him politically. The illiterate chauvinist workers of BJP and their supporters really like Modi’s concept of nationalism based on Hindutva. This time Rakshas of modern India has brought the region right to the brink of a nuclear war. Under his leadership a genocide is being planned not only in Kashmir but also in states where there is a legitimate resistance to capitalism. The world can expect everything destructive from Modi but it is quite disheartening to see that the true Indians remain irrelevant and silenced while followers of Hindutva are bent upon destroying the world peace.
Today, events happening in Kashmir cannot be written in a sober mood. In days to come world will see the carnage from the comfort of their homes, angry mobs of Hindu extremists backed by military attacking and killing Kashmiris, burning houses, dragging women out of their homes and raping them. When the dust and smoke will settle over charred bodies and burnt houses in Kashmir; democracy, Hinduism, world peace and humanity will take their last breath.
The writer is a versatile analyst and a speaker on contemporary issues