On Hinduism, Single identity, Nation etc.

          While speaking on Hinduism, there is a view that it is a religion with certain defined identity marks, philosophies and cultural practices.

         

          Some Indians feel that it has within itself many strands of philosophies and thoughts i.e. they speak of its plurality.  It is also said that more than a six concepts of gods and worship have amalgamated into Hinduism.  When they state this, they take into only written texts of religious thought and leave aside what is practiced by millions of people in actual life oral and customary traditions. 

          First flaw in stating that Hinduism has plurality is that it ignores the historical and cultural reality that there was no single thought system or there is no uniform cultural practice in the whole of the geographical area called India.  There could not be plurality.  The practices are very very different to be united in a single religion or practice with any name.

          In order to differentiate between single god religions and religious practices followed in India, the name Hindu was given.  This is not single identity.  A single identity has artificially created as the ‘other’ in comparison to single god religions.   There are so many different traditions in the so called Hindu religion that including them in one basket is itself untenable.  Hindu philosophies also do not have a single thread except worship and faith.  Even in single god religions like Christianity and Islam there are sects and sub-sects which hate each other sects fiercely than they hate other religions.  In fact except in name, even Christianity or Islam have no single identity except some myths of the beginning.  Faithful of the same religion located in different cultures and geographical areas follow different customs and belief. For example, European rites may be different, at least in some aspects, if not all, from Indian Christian rites.  Similarly people belonging to the same ethnic group or language may follow the same cultural traditions even it they are located in different Nation states.  For example people living in both sides of the border between India and Pakistan or India and Bangladesh or between Pakistan and Afghanistan might have same culture while following different religions while living in separate countries.  Most of the nations with colonial history have been created with the interests of the imperial nations in view, rather than the interests of people living in these nations.  People residing in these nations have fallen into the traps set by their colonial masters and believe that their nations existed for thousands of years.  The hard facts are different.  Most of the colonial nations have been created after 1900.  Even if they had existed before, they did not have the same area or languages or cultures combined.  In creating a nation with single religious identity, seeds of conflicts have been sown by colonial masters. and we are reaping its fruits bitter and sweet.   Arab speaking states were fragmented by the British Imperialism.  Indian subcontinent has been fragmented by them.  Other powers have created other countries.  Even Britain as a Nation was stated to have created by French approximately in 1094.

Creating a single religion has been the cultural and political necessity of empires.  Christianity for Western Empires, Islam for some others.  Chola empire propagated religion of Shiva.  Shiva worship spread with Chola empire.  Similar attempts are being made to create a authoritarian religion in India by those dreaming of making India a Superpower.  What is a superpower except an empire.  This dream empire needs a super powerful god and a single god will be easy for the emperor, whoever it may be. THe need is to unite people on a platform which they can relate to easily.  

          Recent history has demonstrated that nations conceived and built on the basis of single religion have not been liberal and these have been facing existential problems.  Most of them do not follow democratic principles in their polity except holding elections. This is because of a simple fact that human beings with such different approaches towards nature, life and other human beings defy easy classifications in real life. Even an individual’s identity cannot be defined by a single factor.  How can a nation’s identity can be defined by a single religion or any other factor such as single language or race?  This is an impossible dream that will result in unmitigated disasters. In this age of professionalism, people with exceptional qualifications shift their citizenship in accordance with the higher skill they posses and the higher rewards they get. This is very normal.

          It is the rulers, military etc who ensure continuity of the Nation States. They make people believe that their nations are the best.  It is like saying only our noses are the best in the world. Everyone needs a nose.  They have created some logic or reason for continuing with the Nation States. It is unavoidable and necessary to have such Nation States. But we should remember, however hard it may be and however hard vested interests hide the facts that Nations, Governments, rulers and military exist for People and it is not the other way.  People have to control governments rather than the other way. 

          It is not even necessary to define Hinduism. What is the need for defining it?  Let there be hundreds of religions and hundreds of traditions within the same Hindu or other religion? What is the problem?  We should live as free individuals with basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution.