Skip to main content

Lamenting over religious conversion? Slogans like Jai Sri Ram have 'little impact'

By Sudhansu R Das 
Widespread apprehensions about the decline of Hinduism do not appear to be far from the truth. The disappearance of Sanskrit scholars, absence of reformers, lack of research on Hindus scriptures, poor maintenance and mismanagement of a large number of Hindu temples, theft of idols and priceless artefacts from temples, sale of temple lands, encroachment of temple premises for non-religious activities, lack of cleanliness and aggressive commercialization of pilgrim places etc are the reasons why Hinduism is at the receiving end.
In order to build a society based on the principle “the world is one family”, the Hindu community should have more scholars who can counter any misinformation campaign against the religion and protect the core Hindu philosophy. The Hindu religious leaders should develop intellectual prowess to protect Hinduism from the negative impact of the western civilization and encourage the Hindus to emulate the discipline, scientific temper, honesty and sincerity of the developed nations.
The survival of the ancient Hindu philosophy depends on the state’s ability to establish the principle of “appeasement to none and one justice system for all.” The state should adopt zero tolerance to religious nuisance, which is being done under the cover of religious freedom.
No new religious structure should be allowed anywhere in India as the country has more than sufficient number of religious places but significantly low healthy religious feelings among the people. Particularly any religious structure obstructing the roads should be relocated without any controversy. The state should send a stern message to all the religious communities that the practice of religion is a private matter only.
Second, if the Hindu leaders really love and respect cows as mothers, they should create awareness among people about the economic importance of cows based on scientific studies; they should build more goshalas and maintain those goshalas in an honest and transparent manner so that it would inspire others to set up Goshalas. If people from other communities learn the economic potential and the health benefits of hundreds of cow products they will start worshipping cows. Before that the Hindu leaders should resolve to make the cow products adulteration free across the country. Hardly a minuscule percentage of agro processors in the country sell pure cow ghee. Pure cow ghee has a huge domestic market and it has immense export potential which India should tap with honesty and integrity.
Third, the decline of Hinduism in India attributes to the extreme lethargy of the majority of the Hindus who do not even go to the nearby temple for a darshan once in a month. The dedication and commitment to build a spiritual atmosphere in and around the temple is missing in many places.
Slogans like Jai Sri Ram have little impact unless the followers of Hinduism do karseva in the temple to improve cleanliness and spiritual environment. The Hindus have many things to learn from the Sikhs. The clean and spiritual environment of Sikh gurdwaras and Buddhist monasteries should inspire the followers of Hinduism.
When Hindus do not maintain the temple premises well, it does not attract devotees. As a result the temple does not earn any income and the temple priests suffer a lot. The majority of the temple priests in Odisha earn less than Rs 2,000 per month.  Unlike Telangana State, no minimum salary is paid to the temple priests in Odisha. The temples in Telangana are clean and well maintained which attract devotees. The flow of devotees ultimately increases the temple’s income. Nobody in the temple insists the devotees for money in Telangana. The temple priests across the country should be trained how to maintain the temple premises for their own good.
No Hindu leader today can match Mahatma Gandhi in practising Hinduism sincerely in day to day life
Fourth, the Hindu leaders should promote Sanskrit scholars who can understand the Vedas and the Upanishads and explain it to people in common man’s language. Lack of proper understanding of Hindu scriptures is leading to blind beliefs and controversies.
Indians do not have a mother tongue in true sense; the majority of the people in the South do not want to communicate in Hindi. So the leaders can think of popularising a simpler version of Sanskrit, which will bring north and south India together for growth and prosperity. A common link language is very vital for economic growth and national integration. It will limit the influence of the middlemen in domestic trade.
Many Hindu leaders lament over the religious conversion through lure and fear, an international conspiracy to convert all Hindus in India, adverse impact of the western culture and the fanatic preachers who plant the seeds of hatred in tender minds etc.
Instead of lamenting over the situation, the Hindu leaders should practice Hinduism in their day to day life for brotherhood and economic prosperity. No Hindu leader today can match Mahatma Gandhi in practising Hinduism so sincerely in his day to day life. Reading the Bhagwat Geeta, doing yoga and meditation, maintaining cleanliness and doing social service were part of his daily routine. Talking Hinduism is easy but practising it in daily life is difficult.
Sound economic policies and inclusive opportunities in education and employment can save Hinduism. Price rise, inflation, unemployment, disappearance of water bodies, pollution, poor education, food adulteration and poor health facilities hit the Hindu community hard, because they constitute the majority of the population.
Lack of inclusive opportunities due to caste factors, income disparity and corruption has an adverse impact on the Hindu community. The Hindu leaders should wake up to restore crop diversity, job diversity in different sectors, water bodies and protect the fertile agricultural land etc. Poverty, caste divide and unemployment also lead to conversion of faith. This is high time for the Hindu leaders to wake up to the urgent needs of the Hindu community.

Comments

TRENDING

Reducing emission? India among top nations whose coal as energy source going up

By NS Venkataraman*  The State of the Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that the year 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global temperature of 1.4 degree celsius above pre-industrial 1850-1900 base line.

Lockdown 'total failure' of science more than of politics: Open letter on 4th anniversary

Counterview Desk  In an open letter to fellow academicians, scientists and medical practitioners in India, marking the fourth anniversary of India's lockdown (25 March 2024), the Managing Committee* of the Universal Health Organisation (UHO) has insisted on the need to "repair two years of immense damage to science".

Insider plot to kill Deendayal Upadhyay? What RSS pracharak Balraj Madhok said

By Shamsul Islam*  Balraj Madhok's died on May 2, 2016 ending an era of old guards of Hindutva politics. A senior RSS pracharak till his death was paid handsome tributes by the RSS leaders including PM Modi, himself a senior pracharak, for being a "stalwart leader of Jan Sangh. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. I had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions". The RSS also issued a formal condolence message signed by the Supremo Mohan Bhagwat on behalf of all swayamsevaks, referring to his contribution of commitment to nation and society. He was a leading RSS pracharak on whom his organization relied for initiating prominent Hindutva projects. But today nobody in the RSS-BJP top hierarchy remembers/talks about Madhok as he was an insider chronicler of the immense degeneration which was spreading as an epidemic in the high echelons of th

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor*  Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence

Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview  story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded  reaction  in the form of a  link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

'Wrong direction': Paris NGO regrets MNC ArcelorMittal still using coal-based steel

By Rajiv Shah  A new report by Paris-based non-governmental research and campaigning organization, Reclaim Finance, has blamed the MNC ArcelorMittal – formed in 2006 following the takeover and merger of the western European steel maker Arcelor (Spain, France, and Luxembourg) by Indian-owned Mittal Steel – for using use “climate destructive” metallurgical coal for its projects in India.

Attack on foreign students: Gujarat varsity's reputation, ranking at stake, say academics

Counterview Desk  Expressing anguish over the attack on international students in Gujarat University hostels, a letter claimed to have been signed by 122 current and former academics has asked the Gujarat Vice Chancellor, Dr Neerja Gupta, to provide emotional support to the attacked students and to ensure their physical safety.  

Poor private sector engagement 'impacting' carbon pricing policy in Global South

Counterview Desk  The joint report by Environmental Defense Fund and Observer Research Fund, "Navigating Carbon Pricing: The G20 Experience and Global South Prospects", delves into the complex landscape of carbon pricing, examining its application within the G20 nations and the potential implications for emerging economies in the Global South.  The report claims to provide insights and recommendations for effective carbon pricing strategies in diverse economies.  A note: The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) have launched the Navigating Carbon Pricing: The G20 Experience and Global South Prospects” report. The report delves into the complex landscape of carbon pricing, examining its application within the G20 nations and the potential implications for emerging economies in the Global South. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of various carbon pricing instruments currently in existence, providing valuable i