Santosh Helekar wrote: I have already shown with quotes of da Orta that Fr. Ferrao's claim that the word Hindu as an identifier of people belonging to a religion distinct from Islam and Christianity did not exist in 16th century Goa
Dear Santosh, Why must you always sound like a stuck record? I think this is at least the eleventh if not the umpteenth time that you have taken the da Orta quote to beat poor Rev Dr Ferrao's back, and this after he quite generously conceded early enough, that there are different versions of the meaning of Hinduism. And your rantings have been rather boring to say the least. Can't you understand that Victor's essential point is not primarily about there being or not being Hinduism in the 17th century; but that the Hinduism of those days was and is different from the Hinduism of today. Hinduism has evolved over time. For instance what are described as the Scheduled Castes and Tribes who would not have been described as being Hindus and indeed would have been described as being untouchable in those early times now are. And they can enter temples where they were once not welcome. And that although there are some things which persist over the ages, many of the things for which Hindus are aggrieved about today because of what happened centuries ago cannot be used to beat the descendants of those times. For instance the Inquisition cannot be used as a whip to beat today's Christians because the Hindus of those times who suffered grievously were exactly those Hindus who are today's Christians. If you really want an education about the evolution of Hinduism which is where Fr Ferrao is taking his arguments from please do a little homework: You are welcome to read: Sharada Sugirtharajah', 'Imagining Hinduism: A Postcolonial Perspective, 2003 Brian K. Pennington's 'Was Hinduism invented? Britons, Indians and the Colonial Construction of Religion, 2005. Maurice Phillips, The Evolution of Hinduism, 2007 Rethinking Religion in India: The Colonial Construction of Hinduism ed. by Esther Bloch, Marianne Keppens and Rajaram Hegde, 2010 Regards Augusto -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal Moira, Bardez Goa, India E [email protected] P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350
