prasad1
Active member
Apart from the politics of Hindu assertion, surely there is a need to evolve a charter of the modern Hindu, for whom pride in his faith and traditions can co-exist with the needs of a modern multi-faith democratic society.
Today there are protests by Hindu outfits against western culture, against art exhibitions, against films, plays, books and authors. Given this culture of incessant protest and outrage, few of us Hindus stop to think whether the religion of our birth has been reduced to a banner of protest against Islam, against westernisation, and against so-called pseudo-secularism.
Why are many of those who declare they are Hindu perpetually offended?
Today, Hindus may carry out pujas and pilgrimages with a vengeance, but how many of us actually examine what our religious beliefs actually are? Do festivals centred exclusively on male relatives need to be questioned? Do hymns like the Purusa sukta embody social hierarchy?
Individual spiritual leaders may provide welfare, solace as well as knowledge of yoga. But on an intellectual level, on caste, meaning of rituals, what gods exemplify, what temples stand for, what mantras mean, there is so little intelligent examination, exploration or even curiosity. Should Sabarimala allow women? Do the teachings of Hinduism carry within them an imperative to interrogate caste? Does the dialogue of Gargi and Yajnavalkya show how we must question preconceived notions? How do we interpret the killing of Meghnad in the Ramayana from the viewpoint of morality?
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Caught between unthinking ritualism, western style exoticisation and the culture of often violent political protest, an exciting wealth of wisdom contained in Hinduism’s legends lies untouched, prohibited by political gatekeepers and the culture police from being enlivened and re-interpreted for a new generation.
How enriched our popular culture would be if Bollywood was free to mine the stories of Bhim or Sita for a modern young audience. Will the Hindu Right ever permit a Ramayana equivalent of Jesus Christ Superstar?
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The modern Hindu is denied the freedom to re-interpret and interrogate his religion because of fear.
As a journalist in Delhi, I report daily on Hindu nationalists and Hindutva politicians. But reporting from Sabarimala, Jagannath Yatra, Kumbh mela and Kalighat temple, I find that the avalanche of legends, practices, shrines, stories totally dwarf the politics played in their name.
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To give Hinduism new life, the modern Hindu should resist simply remaining a political Hindu.
Sagarika Ghose is Deputy Editor, CNN-IBN
Today there are protests by Hindu outfits against western culture, against art exhibitions, against films, plays, books and authors. Given this culture of incessant protest and outrage, few of us Hindus stop to think whether the religion of our birth has been reduced to a banner of protest against Islam, against westernisation, and against so-called pseudo-secularism.
Why are many of those who declare they are Hindu perpetually offended?
Today, Hindus may carry out pujas and pilgrimages with a vengeance, but how many of us actually examine what our religious beliefs actually are? Do festivals centred exclusively on male relatives need to be questioned? Do hymns like the Purusa sukta embody social hierarchy?
Individual spiritual leaders may provide welfare, solace as well as knowledge of yoga. But on an intellectual level, on caste, meaning of rituals, what gods exemplify, what temples stand for, what mantras mean, there is so little intelligent examination, exploration or even curiosity. Should Sabarimala allow women? Do the teachings of Hinduism carry within them an imperative to interrogate caste? Does the dialogue of Gargi and Yajnavalkya show how we must question preconceived notions? How do we interpret the killing of Meghnad in the Ramayana from the viewpoint of morality?
................
Caught between unthinking ritualism, western style exoticisation and the culture of often violent political protest, an exciting wealth of wisdom contained in Hinduism’s legends lies untouched, prohibited by political gatekeepers and the culture police from being enlivened and re-interpreted for a new generation.
How enriched our popular culture would be if Bollywood was free to mine the stories of Bhim or Sita for a modern young audience. Will the Hindu Right ever permit a Ramayana equivalent of Jesus Christ Superstar?
................
The modern Hindu is denied the freedom to re-interpret and interrogate his religion because of fear.
As a journalist in Delhi, I report daily on Hindu nationalists and Hindutva politicians. But reporting from Sabarimala, Jagannath Yatra, Kumbh mela and Kalighat temple, I find that the avalanche of legends, practices, shrines, stories totally dwarf the politics played in their name.
.................
To give Hinduism new life, the modern Hindu should resist simply remaining a political Hindu.
Sagarika Ghose is Deputy Editor, CNN-IBN
