Hindus have dealt with brutality, intimidation, and segregation for more than a millennium, but their agony is still one of the miseries of history that is most often omitted. The hardship of this minority has travelled mostly concealed, from the mediaeval demolition of temples and forced conversions to the homicidal expulsion of Kashmiri Pandits and the unflinching wrath on Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Justice is still obscure, and international society continues to shun its quandary despite the many proofs of its torment.
This article assesses both the historical and contemporary persecution of Hindus, including noteworthy criminal acts such as the Moplah massacre, the barbarism of Partition, and Sikandar Butshikan’s reign of carnage. It also grabs light on the persistent alienation of Hindus in some regions of South Asia, where they have fallen victim to forced conversions, abductions, and temple vandalism with inadequate response or assistance from other sources; we are left with the following compelling and frightening constraints as we consider these centuries of incomprehensible suffering: When will justice be delivered to Hindus? When will it be recognised that they have the right to endure life in harmony and respect? Perhaps most importantly, what is the future of the Hindu societal next generation? Will they continue to struggle for their existence, or will someone finally see the agony they are?
Medieval Persecution: Sikandar Butshikan’s Reign of Destruction
There was a particularly cruel era of Hindu persecution in Kashmir throughout Sikandar Butshikan’s rule (1389–1413 CE). Sikandar, referred to as “Bhut Shikan” or the killer of idols, was a known zealot who launched destructive campaigns against Hindu customs and culture. Sacred statues were attacked, temples were reduced to sand, and forced conversions increased substantially. The Martand Sun Temple, a marvel of Hindu creation, was perhaps the most notable subject of this cultural harm, as it was deliberately destroyed. This period saw the nearly comprehensive annihilation of Hinduism from Kashmir, a place that had previously blossomed as a hub for Buddhist and Hindu study.
The 1990 Kashmiri Pandit Exodus: A Genocide Ignored
In 1990, the Pandits of Kashmir experienced another round of brutal attacks. Radical Islamist armed organisations forced approximately 300,000 Pandits to escape their homes in the valley with yells such as “Raliv, Galiv, ya Chaliv” (convert, run, or die). Alongside the migration came horrific acts of violence, such as the murder of scholar Sarwanand Koul Premi and the
Gang rape of teacher Girija Tickoo. Even with the severity of these crimes, justice is still far off, and the international media’s silence regarding this genocide serves as a continual reminder of how little importance is placed on the suffering of these people.
The Moplah Massacre of 1921: A Dark Chapter of Communal Violence
The Moplah rebellion of 1921 in Kerala soon turned into a horrifying religious assault on Hindus. Many Hindus were forced to migrate or, in some cases, were killed and converted against their choice. It is alleged by British accounts that over 100,000 Hindus were driven from their homes and that over 10,000 of them were wounded or killed. The terrible violence has always been minimised, and the killings seemed justified, so much so that Mahatma Gandhi’s inflammatory remarks praising the Moplahs as “brave” incited even greater outrage.
The Noakhali Massacre of 1946: Gandhi’s Contentious Stance
During the Noakhali Massacre in Bengal in 1946, about 5,000 Hindus were killed, and tens of thousands were forced to become Muslims. Places of religion were demolished, whole communities were destroyed, and women were sexually abused. When Mahatma Gandhi visited the impacted area and requested that the Hindus forgive their barbarians, things became tense. His statement that “Hindus must not harbour anger in their hearts against Muslims, even if the latter want to destroy them,” further delayed the implementation of justice and left many victims feeling abandoned.
Partition of India: The Catastrophe of 1947
The most lethal era in recorded history began with the Partition of India in 1947. Mass killings, forced conversions, rapes, and imprisonment of millions of Sikhs and Hindus occurred in what would later become Pakistan. Pakistan has Hindu temples demolished and the Hindu population dwindled to less than 2%, a stark decline from the 15 per cent it once was.
The Continued Persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan
Less than 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s population is Hindu, down from over 20% in 1947. Hindus are frequently attacked; in 2021, idols for Durga Puja and ISKCON temples were vandalised. Hindu women in Pakistan face abduction, forced conversion, and arranged marriages while Hindu temples like the Katas Raj temple are ignored.
Anti-Hindu Bias in India: Media and Legal Discrimination
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act in India gives the government authority over Hindu temples. However, money is frequently taken out for nonreligious uses. Churches and mosques are unaffected by this in the interim. Hindu holidays like Ram Navami and Holi are becoming more violent every year, yet the media still pays little attention to them or minimises them, which further alienates the majority population.
Modern-Day Persecution: Voice of America’s Report on Bangladesh
A Voice of America Air highlighted the mounting persecution that Hindus in Bangladesh encounter, particularly around the Durga Puja celebrations, when idols are destroyed and temples are struck. Hindus are now more susceptible than ever owing to the lack of international uproar and the continued apathy of those who perpetrate these barbaric acts.
When Will Justice Be Served?
Hindus were confronted with centuries of hardship and systematic oppression, from the reign of Sikandar Butshikan to the consumption of Kashmiri Pandits and the current torment in Bangladesh and Pakistan. But the world has mostly glossed over their suffering. It is still uncertain when the world community will recognise the magnitude of this historical amiss and take measures to ensure that Hindus attain justice and obtain the liberty to thrive in dignity and tranquillity.
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