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June 19, 2004 What President Kalam said and why Sonia did not become PM of India are really all non-issues. Not a single person, man or woman, was ever born of the earth. All were borne by human beings. People have moved, migrated and lived in places other than where they were born a long time and that is what has enabled humanity to survive and flourish. Can any Indian or a citizen of any country honestly proclaim they were born of a certain territory? While constitutions and laws have their own roles to play, there are other laws that play a bigger role. On the one hand some people take pride in their so-called ancestry (read 'Aryan') for example, while they simultaneously use 'nationalistic' and parochioal arguments when they feel threatened, for some rather narrow or selfish reasons. This is all politics and politics, ultimately, is the art of fooling the foolish, not that they need too much to fool them. India and many Indians have shown that they are truly broad-minded. India is a nation influenced by what is called the Hindu culture. Unfortunately, most of what remains of Hinduism in modern Indian polity is the narrow later-vedic and not what is truly Hindu or Hinduism. A Hindu is a philosopher and a philosopher is one who loves. Visiting temples and bowing before god-figures, killing others or usurping their natural rights was never a Hindu belief or tenet. A Hindu is one who reflects and tries to unite himself...not divide himself or others. Whatever Mr. Kalam said or did not say will be recorded in history books, rightly or wrongly. Importantly, India has reflected some of its vision and its Hinduism to the rest of the world. Now, it is for the intelligent to make sense or nonsense of it or to consign it to whatever they wish to consign it to. While most ancient religions have perished and perished a long time ago. Hindu (or Sanatan dharma, if you like) has survived. It will continue to survive as long as it is not killed from within. Nations are made and unmade by people but humanity is a handiwork of nature or God, if you like. Unfortunately, there are so many trying to undo what a greater power has done. At least, you don't! I am proud to be a Hindu...proud in the sense, that I count myself fortunate to be born a Hindu. And by Hindu, I mean, one who thinks, one who loves, one who unites. ------------ About the author: Rajesh Kanoi currently lives and teaches English at a university in China. His short-stories have been and are being published regularly in an English-language print publication, Overseas English. A book of his short-stories, "Hua Fei Hua" has been published in China and is now being considered for publication in the UK. It can be ordered at: http://www.bjbb.com/index-book/xptj.php?sslm=%CD%BC%CA%E9 Email: jackkanoi@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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