Ernie : Not a good day for a debate, but as a reflection maybe a few comments might be useful. We have very different outlooks on Hinduism. Why ? Several reasons are easy to identify. One you have alluded to, namely some kind of opposition to you and your family on the part of Hindus, some of it contemporary, presumably mostly in the Andamans. >From a few inferences I gather there was serious anti-Christian animus in the past on the part of Hindus in that part of India your family hails from. How far this went I have no idea. I can tell you that my grandpa was sought be the GESTAPO immediately after Hitler's rise to power, and chances are had they caught him he would have been killed. While I have a raft of reasons to detest Nazis, you can be sure that this past threat to my grandfather guarantees permanent hatred of Nazis on my part. Still, I try to give credit where credit is due. Clearly the Nazis did some things right, including an economic recovery years ahead of the rest of Europe. If my interpretation of your past is more-or-less correct that would help explain your opposition to Hinduism -not counting major theological reasons. My issues with Hinduism are different and I have never perceived a threat to myself on the part of any Hindus, ever. The exact opposite is the case. Still, I can fathom the fact that there are Hindu groups who might be capable of almost anything. Just as, in the past, there was the quite substantial KKK and it was American fascism in everything but name and caused all sorts of harm to many, many people. I tend to look at Hindu violence, etc, as a similar phenomenon, that is, yes, very real, but not mainstream except in scattered localities, Gujarat as an example. I also have serious criticisms to make of such things as the caste system. However, while there are reactionaries, and the gvt has dragged its heals for decades, my sense of things is that the caste system is on its way out, with most educated Hindus embarrassed by it and wanting it to go away. In short, while India is closing there gap as fast as possible, in different areas it lags 50 to 70 years behind the USA. But in one area it was ahead of the USA by decades. I also have some issues with him, but by and large, who cannot be thankful for Gandhi ? He was a major force for good not only in India but in the world. And he was ahead of America-- as a Hindu. No-one can pretend otherwise. MLK was influenced by Gandhi, as if this needs to be pointed out. So have generations of other Christian leaders -as well as "average believers" of many walks of life. There have been other Hindus of great merit. I like to put Aurobindo in this category, someone who did as much as anyone else to promote interfaith understanding and the best of what we now call multi-culturalism. This said, despite admitting a variety of weaknesses in Hindu society as such, India has given us the world's largest democracy. 700 million voters last election, this whole edifice supported on a Hindu foundation. Therefore, I wonder how the claim can possibly be made that Hinduism is as evil as Islam ? Where is there a Muslim Gandhi at any time in modern history ? What Muslim state has been as democratic as India ? What Muslim leader has ever promoted interfaith harmony to anything remotely like Aurobindo's extent ? What American of stature has been influenced for the good by Islam the way that MLK was influenced by Hindu Gandhi ? None of this counting such things as India's looking to America for leadership in all kinds of areas, from Bollywood to its new auto industry. To me, while there are real problems, Hinduism is a natural in alliances of many kinds, from personal to national. And not to enjoy sittar music and so forth , well, that would boggle my little mind. There is nothing remotely like it in all of Dar al-Islam, which, generally speaking, detests music since Muhammad disliked music. Which seems to me to be symptomatic of the entire religion, antithetical to almost everything that we value as Americans. Heck, Hindus even have their own equivalent of Christmas, Diwali, even if it is a celebration of late Fall. What am I overlooking ? My humble opinion Billy In a message dated 11/26/2009 11:55:51 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Sounds a bit ideological, but he has a point. There are many who would happily cite tons of evidence purporting to demonstrate that Hinduism is just as evil as Islam. I don't agree with them, but it does make one wary of anecdotal argument and listening to strongly-biased sources... On Nov 26, 2009, at 10:24 AM, [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) wrote: _Kancha Ilaiah's -- Post Hindu India _ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FHRS_USA/message/16473;_ylc=X3oDMTJzanFzYmQ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE0ODMxODgwB GdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA3NTk5MQRtc2dJZAMxNjQ3MwRzZWMDZG1zZwRzbGsDdm1zZwRzdGltZQMxM jU5MjQxMDcy) Posted by: "sri venkat" [email protected] _ (mailto:[email protected]?subject=%20re:Kancha%20Ilaiah's%20--%20Post%20Hindu%20India) _viji123 _ (http://profiles.yahoo.com/viji123) Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:44 am (PST) FYI -- "This work challenges Hinduism`s interpretation of history, with a virulent attack on caste politics, and also takes a refreshing look at the necessity of encouraging indigenous scientific thought for the sake of national progress" _http://www.sagepub.http://wwwhttp://wwhttp://www.&;<WBR>m_ (http://www.sagepub.in/browse/book.asp?bookid=1422&mode=1) *With Regards Abi* At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst *- Aristotle* --- On *Tue, 11/24/09, Madhu Chandra <[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) >* wrote: *Dalit Freedom Network* Medchal Road, Jeedimetla, Secunderabad 500 055. www.dalitnetwork. org Dr. Joseph D'souza - International President *Press Invitation* Launch of the Best Selling Book "*Post Hindu **India*" by Prof Kancha Ilaiah New Delhi, November 24, 2009 "Post Hindu India: A Discourse on Dalit-Bahujan, Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution" authored by Prof Kancha Ilaiah, which The Hindu has reported as the best selling on November 17, 2009 will be launch tomorrow. After press briefing, a penal discussion will follow. *Press Briefing* At Gulmohar, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003 November 25, 2009 at 6.15 PM *Penal Discussion at 6.30 PM* Panelists 1. Prof. S. K. Thorat, Chairman, University Grants Commission 2. Dr. Joseph D'souza, International President, Dalit Freedom Network 3. Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations Prof. Kancha Ilaiah is the chairman of the political science department at Osmania University, Hyderabad, a social activist and author. He has authored the best selling book "Why I am not a Hindu." Therefore, I on behalf of the Organising Committee would like to request to assign your journalist, photo and video journalist to cover the event and media briefing from the author. Mr. M. Chandra Media In-charge 9716004939 *About the Book* ** *_http://www.sagepub._ (http://www.sagepub./) in/browse/ book.asp? bookid=1422&<WBR>mo Kancha Ilaiah, the author of the best selling book *Why I am Not a Hindu*, pens a thought-provoking critique of Brahmanism and the caste system in India, while anticipating the death of Hinduism as a direct consequence of, what he says is, its anti-scientific and anti-nationalistic stand. This work challenges Hinduism`s interpretation of history, with a virulent attack on caste politics, and also takes a refreshing look at the necessity of encouraging indigenous scientific thought for the sake of national progress. It establishes Hinduism as a `backward` religion that suppresses the latent scientific and productive potential of the DalitBahujan communities. The author says this oppressive system of spiritual fascism is detrimental to both the future of religion and the nation-state. He thus criticizes the idea of spiritual justice or *varnadharma*criticizes the id the caste system, as rooted in spiritual inequality. On a micro-analytical level, it is based on a thorough study of the productive knowledge systems of the DalitBahujan communities of Andhra Pradesh, and provides a detailed day-to-day analysis of the scientific technological processes and events at work in the life of a member of these communities. On a macro level, it shows how Hinduism fails to negotiate between faith and reason, unlike other major religions of the world. Kancha Ilaiah critiques the intellectual imagination of the dominant communities and inspires the marginalized. In the process of doing so he crafts a work of immense socio-political interest which appeals to academics, and also to all those who are concerned about contemporary India`s polity and social fabric _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) _http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com_ (http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com) Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/ _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/
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