Colonial Legacy Part 1

What the Colonial Regime Denied India!

The British, under their colonial regime, had perpetrated several things in India. The first thing they did was deprive India of its identity, bestowed on its people, by the fact of its geography and religion. Names associated with India such as its religion,  Hinduism or the identity of its citizens as Indians was not appealing to this colonial regime. Anything that provides India cultural identity and connection to its heritage is either squandered off or disputed. Imperialist government under the British worked hard to convince Indians that Hinduism is not religion, and that the people of India were not the only Indians, but that there were many other Indians across the world, because  of the colonial objective that disenfranchised from its identity and heritage, India will forever become bonded to Britain, and its people will be enslaved and forever remain loyal to Britain. 

Granted that Columbus made a mistake of calling the first people he met off the coast of America Indians, still I do not see any reason why Britain and other colonial regimes continued to refer to them as Indians, even after the mistake was clear right from the beginning itself. So now there are Indians (Canada refers to them as First Nations, but rest of North and South America still refer to the natives as Indians) in the United States. Hence there are several people in the world under the name Indian tribes across North and South America. These native tribes of North and South America have nothing to do with India, but still continue to be called Indians. With one stroke of genius the colonial regimes  (the British in particular) disenfranchised the Native Tribes of America from their identity and cultural heritage, while at the same time denied the Indians of India their own identity as they were forced to share their name with numerous tribes thousands of miles away from them.  Through the process of misnaming the native tribes of North and South America, the colonial regime had rendered them to be nameless, cultureless masses to be colonized. They tried a similar tactic in India with their efforts to deny Indians the name Indian as well as the name of their religion Hinduism.

In the case of India, the colonialist administrative technique is two pronged: On the one hand Indians are told that the names India and Hinduism are not their names and on the other hand they are told that their religion and culture are backward and stagnant. Both contradictory and confusing to Indians and still continues to cause problems to India. 

The first issue the name India (Hindustan in Hindi) as not being the original name of India did not have much currency as it is still referred to as India and as Hindustan in common usage, although the constitution names it as Bharath also. However the issue of the name of its religion, Hinduism attracted official attention, sponsorships, while it still continues to attract some attention from one section of scholars in the Western academia. Two issues should be addressed before we address the question of Hinduism in India. The first one is that ancient religions were not referred to as 'ism,' but as 'the path,' or 'the way'. Second issue is that the absence of the term Hinduism, does not mean the absence of a unified religious practice, but only that it was called by a different name. The Vedas, the path of the Vedas is followed as a religion since at least 2000 B.C.E. in India, and was known by the name of Hinduism since 300 B.C.E. The Greeks should be credited with calling indians Hindus and their religion Hinduism. Megasthenes's book the Indica provides early evidence of Hindu life in India. This was followed by Chinese pilgrims between 3-7 centuries C.E. Even if one does not want to trust the Vedas or the early classical sources of India, they must at least heed the advise of ancient Greeks and Chinese with regards to the religion of India.

 Religion of India is referred to as the way, in Sanskrit: the Dharma. It is called as the 'eternal path,' or 'ancient way,' under the Sanskrit term, Sanatana  Dharma. However, one encounters the name Hindu from the fifth century onwards. Rashtrakuta inscriptions followed by Chalukya inscriptions of Western India provide early records to the term between 534-1200 C.E. From 1200 C.E. onwards the term Hindu and Hinduism replaces the use of Sanatana Dharma. It is found used in the documents of Delhi Sutlanate as well as the Vijayanagara empire. The notion held by one section of colonial historians that Hinduism as a name of the religion was only coined and used by British administration is not true, but an invention intended to serve the interests of the colonial administration. 

Romila Thapar and the Politicization of Indian History

If there is anyone to be blamed for politicization and misuse of Indian history, it squarely rests with Romila Thapar. She is the last vestige of the colonial machine of history making disinheriting India from its own history. India is projected as something backward and caste dominated society, and Aryan-Dravidian divide is promoted through history texts. One would only need to look at other colonial regimes such as Rwanda where such racial divide is promoted through colonial history writing, not unlike the history of India. 

Today she comes out to accept that she is a Marxist and that her history is a result of it. All that the Marxists have ever done in the name of history was to mislead the people about their own history. They still support Aryan invasion theory and do everything to shut down the arguments from the other side through ad hominem attacks rather than offering any legitimate arguments. 

This is the last ditch effort by Marxist historians to reclaim their grip on Indian history, lest they may loose their grip on history making, which might eventually lead to their demise. Marxists never had popular support, never won popular elections to lead the government (except for outliers like Bengal and Kerala), all that they do is blame legitimately elected governments for doing their job. They do not just stop with maligning the government, their other full time job is to work as the bulwark of colonial regimes by continuing their legacy.

The Ramayana and the Mahabharatha are vilified by these Marxists, while praising Homer. All they have done is to be subservient to colonial historical lineage and sacrifice objectivity in Indian history. They accept Mahabhatha and Ramayana when it is convenient for them. Rama is pitted against Ravan (projected as Dalit). Why is it that Dalits always choose to identify with Demons in the epics and classical texts? Thanks to the Marxist historians, they were brain washed too long to believe in the two-race theory of colonial administration continued by historians like Romila Thapar. Aryanization and Aryan invasion theory are not just theories for them, they are realistic events. 

I am surprised Romila is still showing up in the media to offer her twisted historical views. She would make better use of her time, should she were to sit at home and revise her history books in the light of new evidence, instead of going on the media (TVs mainly- she likes to be in the limelight) to talk about useless political events.

Please also see my other related post on this issue of colonization and racialization of India's past:

http://manthratalk.blogspot.com/2015/01/hindutva-and-history.html

Hindu Temples are not Government Property

Hinduism Would be Better off if the Government of India Left it Alone

Hindu temples in India are run by the government through its Endowment Boards. The Endowment Boards are indirectly run by the government (both state and center) by nominating Chairman and members to the Endowment Boards. The temples are run akin to businesses selling all the services in the temple. I have not seen any religious institutions in the world run in this way. Devotees pay for entering the temple complex and continue to pay for every service in the temple. The donations and daily earnings (through fees charged for temple visits and other services) are used not to develop the temple, help Hinduism or at least provide services for the devotees, but diverted by the government according to its own needs.

If the government does not divert the temple funds, the temples would be able to establish Hindu educational institutions and serve the masses. Educational awareness of Hinduism among the masses  is dismal for lack of educational and theological institutions dedicated to the study of Hinduism. 

Another recurring problem for Hinduism is unique and uncommon to any other religion in the world. Since Government is managing Hindu temples, some people are always requesting government to manage Hindu life and practice one way or another. Somebody is always going to court to force temples to give up their traditions: Rallies at Sani temple in Sani Singanapur and Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala are but only a few examples. However no such demands are made on restrictions at places of worship belonging to other religions in India or any where else in the world. Enthusiasts are also going to courts to force temples in to surrendering their ancient practices. There is also demand for canceling traditional celebrations and festivals. Bull runs and Bull fights, are great cultural celebrations in Europe, but India is asked to ban them, as it is part of festival celebrations. And all Hindu festivals and celebrations always attract negative publicity and enthusiasts take to court. Why not leave the local tradition take its own course and let it evolve itself? Why must the government interfere and ban? Wasn't the state supposed to not interfere in the religious practices of any religious community in a democracy?

Hindu temples and sacred sites are spread across the world. There are especially numerous important temples in India's neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It is great that India announced roadway connecting India to East Asia with roadways going through Bangladesh, Mayanmar, Cambodia, Thailand to Vietnam. The land previously referred to as Indo-China is finally joining India through road and railway connectivity.

However, it is not useful in itself useful until government withdraws all involvement with Hindu temples and their management. If the government withdraws the Hindu temples would be able to manage themselves similar to the other religions in India (Christianity, Islam and others) and organize pilgrimages to their religious complexes. Any way what does a secular democratic government doing managing Hindu temples? Is not the state and religion separate in a democracy, especially, when it touts itself as secular as in the case of Indian government. 

Are Indian Leftists Anti-India Activists?

Leftists in India have always taken anti-India stand historically including supporting China during Indo-China war. They continue to perpetrate such anti-India activities in the guise of supporting secularism. A number of recent events indicate that the so called communists (leftists of a number of shades) of India continue these policies. Communism and left ideologies have died every where in the world, but they are still going strong in India by creating controversies based in anti-India rhetoric even in the twenty-first century. 

A recent example is from America. Left leaning intellectuals sent letter to CEOs of Silicon valley companies, who rightfully put it in their trash cans, and welcomed Prime Minister Modi with open arms. 

Another example is the award-vapasi groups, members of which returned or threatened to return awards such as those awarded by Sahitya Akademy. It dragged on for a couple of months finally a compromise was worked out as the awardees agreed to take their awards back. A double-award. May be the awardees did not deserve their awards, which they gave up very easily. 

Another favorite catch phrase these so called secularists of India regularly use is 'intolerance' in India. It looks like they don't know the meaning of the word 'intolerance'. The fact that they are saying this and happily living in India is itself evident that intolerance does not exist in India. The example of the death of a popular blogger of Bangladesh or several such examples from Pakistan help illustrate this point well. 

These leftist groups organized and staged dharnas (rallies) across India for hanging terrorists in India, such a Kasab and Memen. No other country has such anti-national activities constantly perpetrated in the guise of secularism. Secularist groups of India must wake up to the reality of twenty-first century  or move to the only communist country in the world, China. 

Equality, Opportunity and Independent India: How the Poor are Left Behind

Sixty-five years of reservation system is leaving the poor behind

Sixty-five years of reservation system implemented in the name of bringing equality and opportunity in independent India, has turned reservation system into a privilege system. Misuse of the system is rampant. Many non-lower caste people abuse the system by moving from their home towns and registering and obtaining a lower-caste certificates. It is particularly easy where birth registration is not very common. The local governments don't register births or issue birth certificates. This came to the frontlines, when Rohit Vemula committed suicide in the University of Hyderabad. Rohit belonged to Vaddera caste (a OBC category of caste), but was registered as a scheduled caste (SC category) student, which may have given him access to scholarships and other help for a number of years, which may have been allotted to a truly deserving SC student, but wrongfully claimed by him. Such misuse is not uncommon, which denies the true beneficiaries their share and left them behind. For every misused case like this, there is always a poor well-deserving family that is deprived of its benefits.  

Rohit Vemula's case is only one example. The swelling numbers of lower caste demographics with each census is an evidence of this disturbing trend. How can the government evaluate if one is making a false claim or not when it does not  maintain a birth registry of its citizens. In Rohit Vemula's case unfortunately his true caste came out due to his suicide, but in many other such cases, the true caste of the person never emerges. 

Such misuse is doubly dangerous. First level of danger is that it leaves the truly deserving person behind. Second level of danger is that it leaves his community behind, because, an SC person's   lost  opportunity left the SC community behind, since the community never had the chance to send one of their own to the university and learn how higher education can benefit their community. 

Unless caste-based reservations are paired with economic  status (limiting it to the poorest sections), while restricting it to the first time college- students, such misuse will continue to exist, and the poor will never have an opportunity to benefit from it. 

Delhi's Odd and Even Drive Policy

Delhi! Ditch the Numbers, Use the Colors

 

    Delhi's odd and even number drive policy permitting cars to drive on alternate days on the roads of Delhi is as arbitrary as picking random colors of cars to drive on certain days of the week. It would have at least been ingenious if Delhi government tried to use the color policy rather than the number policy. The number policy is a copy cat policy borrowed from the communist regime of China, which used it in 2008 during the Olympics. China used it to reduce air pollution during the Beijing Olympics, and adopted it only for the duration of a couple of months, that too only in the city of Beijing and nowhere else.

     Even the communist regime understood the arbitrary nature of the policy of odd and even numbers and used it only for a short-time, never to use it again in Beijing and any other city in China for that matter. Implimentation of odd and even number car drive policy, a failed policy of China, by the Delhi government only signals its totalitarian tendency and arbitrary nature. The city of Delhi has been praised historically as the heart of India, but it seems it is experiencing a heart-ache under the rule of the new Chief Miniter, Mr. Kejriwal. 

     If the Delhi government were to ditch the number policy and adopt the color policy it would at least make the roads look beautiful in traffic and make the children of Delhi happy. A better policy for the government of Delhi would be improving mass transit in the city for which the government does not seem to be committed.

India's Search for National Spirit

What is India? Is it an Idea, an Imagination or a Spirited Nation?

Debates are raging currently among the intelligentsia about the national identity of India. Opinion writers repeatedly refer to it as the idea of India. The question of equating India to an idea or somebody's idea is misplaced and completely misunderstands the nature of nationhood in India. It also completely misses the notion of spirit of India that pervades every national action known in the history of India. Western notions of idea or imagination of nationhood is not suitable to understand the spirit of India.

The spirit of India rests in its cultural and religious heritage, which the colonial regimes and post-colonial socialist governments tried to shatter by writing history suitable to their purpose of perpetrating their power and supremacy, while disenfranchising the masses from their traditional culture and history.

Constitutional Day

National government recently introduced a new national holiday, the Constitution Day. While constitution day and developing national understanding of constitution may help develop and affirm national unity among the citizens of India, it cannot foster national spirit. National spirit and common values of national affirmation could only be asserted by nurturing its cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage. 

Food, dance, music, language, religion and art are neglected at each stage of education. School education at various stages teaches language only superficially, while dance, music and religion are not part of school curriculum. Publicly funded Universities in India that teach religion, and arts (music, dance and painting) are less than ten across the country. Religious education in Christian and Islamic religions is offered in public universities and wide spread than Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. While numerous state universities host departments of Islamic studies in addition to numerous Madrasas run by Wakf boards across India, which enjoy generous grants of public money from the Government of India, Hinduism does not enjoy such support. Hinduism is the religion of almost 80% of Indians. China even though a communist state without religion teaches Confucianism in schools and supports Confucian studies at university level in China as well as abroad through creation of Confucian Institutes.

Indian Values of Nonviolence and Tolerance

Indian values of nonviolence and tolerance are projected as the responsibility and duty of only Hindus, but no such values are expected from other groups, especially Muslims. The opposition asserts and calls of ‘Hindu terrorism’ at its every public meeting and event, while staying mute in the face of acts of Islamic terrorism. While there is no evidence that any Hindu activist had ever landed in a foreign country akin to Mumbai attacks or Paris attacks to self-detonate a suicide bomb or shoot innocent citizens, opposition party continues to perpetrate blatant misinformation on Hindus in a majority Hindu nation with utter disregard for the sentiments of the majority Hindus of the nation. All citizens of India regardless of their caste must embrace nonviolence and tolerance. Acts of terrorism should be regarded as acts of war on the sovereignty of India and its perpetrators should be prosecuted in military courts not municipal or state courts.

Education Reform and Change in History Education

History of India had been treated as Lego building blocks set for far too long. Pieces of historical evidence were arranged and rearranged with utter disregard for understanding the true history and cultural heritage of India. Any one can obtain a Ph.D. in History without learning Sanskrit, or the language of the historical period they are studying, which compounds the problem of historical study in India and leads to misinterpretation of the historical evidence. India must revise its history education and include methods that require language training and historical methods.

India must begin rewriting its history incorporating new evidence and classical sources. Citizens of India have a right to learn their true history and cultural heritage.

Uniform Civil Code

Every citizen living in India must be subject to the same civil code.  It should not change based on religion, tribe and region. A uniform civil code is the requirement for any nation to foster the spirit of nationhood.

Religious Freedom

Religious freedom must mean the same for all religions in India: not something different for minority religions and majority religion. It should not change based on each religious group. Each minority religion has freedom to maintain its religious places worship and institutions. Hinduism and its practice is restricted by government and Hindu temples are maintained by government through endowment boards. Hindu temples are run as businesses charging for every service right from the time a Hindu devotee enters in to the temple. Resulting money is spent according to the plans of the government implemented by the endowment boards rather than serving the cause of Hinduism. Hindu temples must be freed from government supervision and run by Hindus themselves. State should not have any interest or interference with any religion. Each religion must be free to run its institutions and temples as it deems necessary. For a modern state to promote national spirit it is essential that the government is completely separated from all spheres of religious activity.

Equal Opportunity

Every citizen in India must have equal opportunity for jobs, housing, loans, and political positions. The current reservation system has failed to help lower castes and also the poor rural folks of India. Quota based reservation system in India benefits SC/STs (Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes) and creates wage discrimination against other castes of India. There are two issues with this reservation system. Firstly, it still uses and asks persons of lower castes to certify their caste at every stage reinforcing the use of caste instead of helping them proceed beyond the caste system. Secondly, the reservations are currently capped at 50% of all the educational seats in all the educational institutions, public sector jobs, and local bodies, central and state political positions. Certain OBCs (other backward castes) are still left out of the reservation system even though they are living in similar social and economic conditions. This results in periodical discontent and reservation agitations. India should lift its conventional reservation system and replace it with the more efficient affirmative action system that is based on economic status and be restricted only to first time college students.  

For India to move forward in the twenty-first century it is important to develop its national spirit and foster co-operation among its citizens.