Comments on: Are Minorities in India Descendants of Hindus? http://indiafirsthand.com/2009/12/06/are-minorities-in-india-descendants-of-hindus/ Discussion is an exchange of knowledge Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Hari http://indiafirsthand.com/2009/12/06/are-minorities-in-india-descendants-of-hindus/comment-page-1/#comment-787 Hari Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:09:25 +0000 http://indiafirsthand.com/?p=948#comment-787 Thank you for your feedback Azad. The issue I have is the word Hindu in the current context is clearly associated with a religion (although as you mentioned it does not have to be). In addition we should also consider the fact that Bhagwat speaks for the RSS which many Hindus and most of the minorities consider as a right wing organization. Thank you for your feedback Azad. The issue I have is the word Hindu in the current context is clearly associated with a religion (although as you mentioned it does not have to be). In addition we should also consider the fact that Bhagwat speaks for the RSS which many Hindus and most of the minorities consider as a right wing organization.

]]> By: Azad http://indiafirsthand.com/2009/12/06/are-minorities-in-india-descendants-of-hindus/comment-page-1/#comment-785 Azad Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:52:21 +0000 http://indiafirsthand.com/?p=948#comment-785 Dear Hari, A nice article. I totally agree with the fact tht Hinduism is a very new concept, majorly peddled by the brits in India. Now, we should also know, before that, India was not divided on the basis of religion. We called ourselves the followers of 'Sanatan Dharma' which has many references in BhagwadGeeta and many other vedic scriptures. Our society was not divided in religious fragments but into caste lines. Secondly, if you check out any good dictionary, you will find out that 'Dharma' and 'religion' have entirely different meanings! Dharma does not restrict you from exploring new spritual paths. Which led to discoveries of many newfound paths of enlightenment like shaivism, jainism or buddhism. But ultimately they all came from India! I believe thats what Mr. Bhagwat wants to point out, we all are Indians and we all have our roots here. When Islam or chritianity came, many Indians were forcefully made to accept or wishfully accepted these religions. By hindus, he means people who live in India, not a sect of people worshipping deities. This space is neither appropriate nor enough to on this discussion. But wish to discuss this at length with you someday! Enjoyed reading the article. Made me think..! Regards Dear Hari,
A nice article. I totally agree with the fact tht Hinduism is a very new concept, majorly peddled by the brits in India.

Now, we should also know, before that, India was not divided on the basis of religion. We called ourselves the followers of ‘Sanatan Dharma’ which has many references in BhagwadGeeta and many other vedic scriptures. Our society was not divided in religious fragments but into caste lines.

Secondly, if you check out any good dictionary, you will find out that ‘Dharma’ and ‘religion’ have entirely different meanings!
Dharma does not restrict you from exploring new spritual paths.
Which led to discoveries of many newfound paths of enlightenment like shaivism, jainism or buddhism. But ultimately they all came from India!

I believe thats what Mr. Bhagwat wants to point out, we all are Indians and we all have our roots here. When Islam or chritianity came, many Indians were forcefully made to accept or wishfully accepted these religions. By hindus, he means people who live in India, not a sect of people worshipping deities.

This space is neither appropriate nor enough to on this discussion. But wish to discuss this at length with you someday!
Enjoyed reading the article. Made me think..!

Regards

]]> By: Hari http://indiafirsthand.com/2009/12/06/are-minorities-in-india-descendants-of-hindus/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Hari Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:49:05 +0000 http://indiafirsthand.com/?p=948#comment-142 Thank you for visiting my site Nisha. Your comment is on the money. Thank you for visiting my site Nisha. Your comment is on the money.

]]> By: nisha http://indiafirsthand.com/2009/12/06/are-minorities-in-india-descendants-of-hindus/comment-page-1/#comment-141 nisha Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:28:13 +0000 http://indiafirsthand.com/?p=948#comment-141 Hari, religion is in the mind, it exists not in the text but we think of those texts (often of what we have heard of those texts). Since mind is a layered gray matter, it links ideas coming from one end to different fields. Since religion appears to be something despite its narrow definitions has been given scope so broad that it seems to relate to all aspects and fields of life. So what comes out of mind is of interest to all. Religion is a make believe idea but one that is lived day to day. So for it to have validity and contiue to be practiced it needs to show that it has existed, that it passed the tests of different times, that it has following and so on. And in my view, this is why there is such a rush to claim history and historical affiliation of the people. Hari, religion is in the mind, it exists not in the text but we think of those texts (often of what we have heard of those texts). Since mind is a layered gray matter, it links ideas coming from one end to different fields. Since religion appears to be something despite its narrow definitions has been given scope so broad that it seems to relate to all aspects and fields of life. So what comes out of mind is of interest to all. Religion is a make believe idea but one that is lived day to day. So for it to have validity and contiue to be practiced it needs to show that it has existed, that it passed the tests of different times, that it has following and so on. And in my view, this is why there is such a rush to claim history and historical affiliation of the people.

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