Of late, I have been hearing too many Sangh Parivar followers, BJP-sympathizers and self-appointed-Hindu-rakshaks talk about how Muslim invaders and Islam have destroyed our country and Hindu culture. How they systematically killed millions of Hindus and ensured that Hinduism crumbled under their tyranny.
There is no denying that Mahmud Ghazni, Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, Balban, Alauddin-Khilji, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, Feroze Shah, Babar, and God-only-knows-who-else, were tyrants of the worst order. That part is recorded in history, which is being quoted by the safe-keepers of Hinduism. But they forget that such wars and plunders are the history of not just India, but of the entire world. And they are not just of Muslim warriors... historically even Indian Hindu kings were forever fighting wars and killing one-another and annexing lands, men and very shamefully 'women of the palaces'.
Even Emperor Ashoka (who's better known as Ashoka the Great) is guilty of spreading his kingdom through mass-slaughter of many Hindu Kings and their Hindu warriors. He conquered Kalinga, which none of his ancestors (starting from Chandragupta Maurya) had done. The battle of Kalinga resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and 150,000 deportations, and it was only when he was walking through the grounds of Kalinga after his conquest, rejoicing in his victory, he was moved by the number of bodies strewn there and the wails of the kith and kin of the dead. Sorrowed, he embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the Kalinga War, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. So, just saying that Muslims killed Hindus is showing a very selective part of the history, in my opinion.
Let us talk about the Hindu India that so many are dreaming about, and what is the contribution of current day Muslims to the glory of India.
- India's foremost scientist (and an ex-President) - APJ Abdul Kalam
- India's foremost actor - take your pick from SRK, Aamir, Salman or Yusuf Khan
- India's foremost dialogue and song-writer - Javed Akhtar
- India's foremost music composer - A.R. Rehman
- India's foremost female tennis player - Sania Mirza
- India's foremost film director, actor, singer, et al - Farhan Akhtar
- India's foremost tabla maestro - Ustad Zakir Hussain
- India's foremost sarod maestro - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
- India's foremost shahnai vadak - Ustad Bismillah Khan
- India's foremost painter - M.F. Hussein
- India's foremost author - Salman Rushdie
- India's foremost fashion designer and first to display at Harrod's - Abu Jani
- India's 3rd richest business tycoon, twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by TIME Magazine, and the donor of $2 billion of personal funds for improving school education in India - Azim Premji. Azim Premji has become the first Indian to sign up for 'Giving Pledge', a campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, to encourage the wealthiest people to make a commitment to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. He is just the third non-American after Richard Branson and David Sainsbury to join this philanthropy club. As of April 2013, he had already given more than 25% of his personal wealth to charity. Now, show me a Hindu who has done so much for Indians?
Without a doubt, there are many fields where Hindus are at the forefront, and this is not a debate about whose contribution is greater - of the Hindus or of the Muslims? This is just an attempt to show the complete truth. Given that what I have stated above are indisputable facts, I have a very small question of those seeking a Hindu India... "Is it truly a Hindu India? And is such a Hindu India the one that we must crave for?"
4 comments:
While the luminaries you have listed are stalwarts in their fields, anointing them as "Foremost" is debatable and belittling those who do not belong to the so called minority. While wars have been fought by almost all races and religious communities in majority countries and continues to be fought, the definition of "Secularism" does not change to that of being Anti majority religion. Acceptance is the essence of Hinduism, and the change required is the practice. Your strive to appear Secular is defeated by the unbiased views. We are a majority Hindu Country, and no one is making an effort to impose the religion on any other Religious Minority. We have been independent for 66 years, and in that period have been ruled majorly by the Congress, primarily by one family. The question is; not whether we are secular; Are we still Feudal? And what efforts did that political entity make to integrate the minority groups into Mainstream India.
Dear Shailesh,
Talent has no color, no religion, no race. Talent born only in human form and human paint the color of religion into it. Your article is an un-intentional attempt of coloring the talent with religion, which is a modern day communilism.
If you have written this article 20 or 30 years ago, you would have attracted the mass appeal. But today, this debate is over. Modern India does'nt want to discuss religion based issues which only divide people. I respect you a lot and expect you to write on "Development". Even if you dont agree with 'Man-of-the-moment' for development, thats fine but lets be constructive and give right issues to people to discuss. But when I read this, I get disturbed. I am so sorry.
...man, you can get this blog funded by Congress! They will pay you handsomely for talking about their brand of secularism ! :-D
On a serious note, buddy, agree with Vineet Vinoy, Nishith.
My two (or four..!) bits…. First of all why do you have to prove your 'Secular-ity' by being partial to a particular religion? By definition, secular means irreligious. Why should it be not that Merit is the only benchmark?
The first allegiance has to be the country and what it stands for. Then comes one’s religion which is totally personal (or family or a group faith) and never bigger than the country. Ever.
Which brings us to the related issue of Reservation. Why reservation because of religion or sect or a caste? It should be basis of ‘socially imposed disabilities’ like Scheduled castes and tribes SC & ST and basis appeasement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyhDqyB9e6Y). And no subsidies, no nothing.
If you think religion is bigger than the nation, then get the hell out - Australia and Russian heads of states have stated as much. I was reading this, when I saw your post pop-up - http://www.indianexpress.com/news/delhi-court-cites-mahomedan-law-to-absolve-man-of-raping-minor/1151405/. This is happening right now.
In any country with multiple religions, there will be a minority. The question is should you bifurcate on the basis of religion. NO! But what can be done is to have stringent laws to ensure equality. And ensure execution – which will be the toughest considering a typical Indian’s mind-frame. But on the other hand, a vast majority of us (INDIANS) are ready for this.
HINDU NATION , MUSLIM NATION IS NOT A DEBATE FOR SURE!
THE NEED IS TO TAKE GLOBALIZATION TO LAST CORNER OF COUNTRY..NEED TO MAKE A GLOBAL INDIA..NEED TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT INFRA..BETTER GEO-SYSTEM
BETTER CHOICES...
BEEN TO MANY EASTERN COUNTRIES IN LAST FEW WEEKS...AND TRUST ME THINGS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HERE..THEY WERE BEHIND 30 YEARS OF US AND NOW THEY ARE AHEAD OF 20 YEAR..
THE INFRA..THE EDUCATION..FEDERAL SYSTEM..THE POLICIES FOR PEOPLE.. THE REGULATIONS EVERY... THINGS SHAPING UP VERY FAST ..AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AND ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT TALKING ABOUT.....JAI HO
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