Four incidents took place recently with regard to the Hindu community- a press conference by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in Mathura, a statement made by Donald Trump, during the the US presidential election, a huge rally of Hindus in Dhaka and Chittagong in the aftermath of the recent ferocious violence and atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, and a statement of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) on the situation in Canada. One will be surprised to know that these four events, seemingly different and disconnected events, occuring in different parts of the world, are actually grim indicators of the predicament of the Hindu populace across the globe.
Ram Rajya or Ram-Ravan war
It is a coincidence that all these four disconcerting events have occured close to Diwali celebration. It is well known that Diwali festival is celebrated to commemorate the coronation of Shri Ram post defeating the demon king Ravana, giving rise to a disturbing thought whether the above four incidents have a connection with ‘Ram Rajya or Ram-Ravan war’. In his address in Mathura, Dattatreya Hosabale said, “It is true that if we (Hindu society) are divided on the basis of caste, language or province, then we definitely will fall, that is why unity in Hindu society is necessary.” Asserting that Hindu unity is for public welfare, Hosabale said, “Hindu unity is necessary to protect ourselves and to do good to others, that is why we want to maintain this unity.” He further expressed that “this will not happen just by sermons. Efforts have to be made for this, it has to be introduced into our daily life with conscious effort.”
In the far West as well, US President Donald Trump expressed concern over the human rights of Hindus in the world including America and Bangladesh. In the Eastern Hemisphere, on the other hand, Hindus are continuously facing violence and atrocities, in Bangladesh. They unitedly raised their voice against their continued victimisation by taking part in huge rallies in Dhaka and Chittagong. In the Western Hemisphere, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA) pronounced that Hindu-phobia is at its peak in Canada and there is a pressing need to take concrete steps against the atrocities being committed on Hindus. And, it must be reiterated that Hindus are facing grave situations not only in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also in some parts of India.
In view of such incidents, recently, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had made the now much discussed, Batenge Toh Katenge (If we remain divided, we will fall) comment. The Left-Liberal intellectuals as well as so-called secular political parties reacted violently on predicted lines to this. But one can’t deny the fact that, in the past or present too, whenever we were divided, we got subjugated and our progress was compromised. In this backdrop, RSS General Secretary Hosabale supported Yogi’s statement Batenge toh Katenge maintaining that in real terms this implied that ‘a need for unity’ is essential today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a few days back in Maharashtra, expressed the same affirmation that if we are divided then those who divide us will celebrate, as they would have attained their objective.
In his annual Vijayadashami’s address, last month, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat too gave a call for the unity of Hindus. He expressed concern regarding sinister efforts being made from within and outside the nation to create conflict on the basis of caste, language, region and others.
When the issue of unity of Hindus is being raised from such platforms, it’s needless to reiterate that it must be taken seriously. One could assume that it is a hoax that Hindus are in danger and they should unite, but this will be burying our heads in the sand like an ostrich. It is also a fact that such evil attempts were also made in the past by various invaders and infiltrators including the conspiracies hatched by the British which were seriously detrimental to the population. Certain sections of society, knowingly or unknowingly, as per their vested interests, look at the word ‘Hindu’ through the lens of communalism reacting very sharply whenever the matter of the interests of the Hindus or the issue of their protection is raised. Their aim is to create rifts.
Although many definitions of the word Hindu have been given, but if we look at it broadly, then those who follow the method(s) of worship, born in the vast land from the Himalayas to the ocean in the south are ‘Hindus’. It is important to understand, here, that not only the followers of Sanatan Dharma are called Hindus, but, along with them, the followers of Sikh, Jain, Buddhist faiths are also included in the broad category Hindus. Indian laws also are expansive regarding the same and are inclusive of the Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains Veerashaiva, Lingayat, Brahmo, Prarthana and Arya Samaj followers under the umbrella term ‘Hindus’. It is noteworthy that the Section-2 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and also Hindu Succession Act 1956 specify, “Any person who practices Hinduism or one of its variations, such as a Virashaiva, Lingayat, Brahmo, Prarthna or Arya Samaj, and also any person who practices Buddhism, Sikhism, or Jainism will be considered as Hindu”.
The above mentioned faiths have originated in this land- Bharat rooted in the Sanatan tradition and are branches of Hindu Dharma. It must be noted that despite the diversity among the followers of all these faiths, there has been an inherent unity among them since ancient times. Over time, attempts, however, were made to break this unity of Hindus by envious miscreants. It’s an oft repeated saying that one should learn from the past. This, in the current situation, seems more relevant. One can take the cue from the ancient Indian tradition, whereby such incidents of social Samrasta (harmony) is visible despite differences in caste, sect, region or method of worship. One can quote the example from scriptural history of lord Shri Ram, who defeated the all-powerful but evil force like Ravan and got support and appreciation from every section of society. Shri Ram’s friend Nishadraj Kewat belonged to the so called ‘lower’ caste but in the eyes of Shri Ram was an equal, including Mother Shabri, the Bhilni, a part of the tribal community in today’s time. The ‘monkeys’ etc. in Shri Ram’s army actually were the creatures living in the forests. Mentioning this saga, here, is necessary because the soul of India actually resides in the ‘Ramayana’, wherein Shri Ram’s whole life can be seen entwined with all sections of society, who ultimately came together to help Lord Ram to defeat Ravan. The important lesson in the current discussion is Unity.
In the later period, Adi Shankaracharya, in his own way, was doing the same, by uniting the Hindus culturally and spiritually. In the middle ages, arrival of Muslim invaders, in Bharat, led to atrocities on Hindus and large-scale conversion of the divided Hindu society. It’s not without reason that a prominent feature of the Bhakti movement that emerged during this period was the call for unity. Through couplets like Jaati Paati Puche Nahi Koi, Hari Ko Bhaje So Hari Ka Hoi (Don’t think/ask of caste, if one is a devotee of Hari (God), he is accepted as by God), these saints and devotees were giving the message of unity to the Hindus along with the great tenth Sikh Guru Govind Singh or Banda Singh Bahadur.
In the modern era, Swami Vivekananda observed in his writings that when Muslim invaders attacked India for the first time, the population of Hindus in the country, at that time, was about 60 crores. It is worth noting that after about 1200 years, when India got independence in 1947, the population of Hindus was reduced to almost half
In the modern era, Swami Vivekananda observed in his writings that when Muslim invaders attacked India for the first time, the population of Hindus in the country, at that time, was about 60 crores. It is worth noting that after about 1200 years, when India got independence in 1947, the population of Hindus was reduced to almost half. The reduction in the population of Hindus by half raises many questions. It’s not a secret that the number of Hindus, in current times, is declining dramatically in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. To avoid a similar situation as prevailing in these countries it is necessary that all Hindus, despite their diversity of caste, language, sects, region etc., should harbour a feeling of unity.
Today, along with Islamic terrorism in Bharat, conversions sponsored by the Church in the North-eastern region and other tribal areas, separatism is also at its peak. These elements augment the forces, inimical to the rise of Bharat, to weaken the nation from within. Bharat, which was synonymous with prosperity and was referred to as “the golden bird” by the world, today, once again, is marching towards its objective of becoming the Jagadguru (world leader). Our nation has resolved to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047, a goal which some powers in the world are not able to come to terms with; many global forces are thus trying to create fissures and fragment Bharat.
It must be understood that Hindu unity in the contemporary world is extremely significant. Dattatreya Hosabale highlighted the same in his press conference saying that this unity is for the good of the globe. The spirit of ancient Sanskrit verses Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayaah with the meaning- May all be happy, may all be free from illness, or Sarva Mangala Mangalye meaning may all be blessed is the crux of Hindu Dharma. The prayer encompasses all and is not narrowed to one’s sphere, ‘Mazahib’ or ‘religion’. However, as Hosabale emphasised, unity will not happen just by preaching but through conscious efforts and practice. All Hindus will have to rise above the narrow and limiting divisive factors prevailing on the basis of caste, sect, language and region and imbibe the idea of Samrasta (harmony); the path once shown by Shri Ram himself. This is the need of the hour.
