Author: M.S.N. Menon
Publication: Organiser
Date: November 20, 2005
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=105&page=16
Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth.
It will burst forth upon the world with a brilliance perhaps unknown before.
On examination, I have found Hinduism to be the most tolerant of all religions
known to me. Its freedom from dogmas makes a forcible appeal to me.
I call myself a Sanatani Hindu because I believe
in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas and all that goes by the name of
Hindu scriptures and therefore in avataras and rebirth. I believe in the varnashrama
dharma, in a sense strictly vedic but not in its present popular and crude
sense. I believe in the protection of the cow in its much larger sense than
the popular. I do not disbelieve in idol worship. I think idol worship is
part of human nature. I do not consider it a sin.
The scriptures are not divine. I decline to
be bound by any interpretation. I believe that our present knowledge of these
books is in a most chaotic state. Nothing elates me so much as the music of
the Gita or the Ramayan of Tulsidas, the two books in Hinduism I may be said
to know. (emphasis mine-Menon)
I am a reformer through and through. The spinning
wheel, the rosary and the Ramanama are all the same to me. For me, the road
to salvation lies through incessant toil in the service of my country and
humanity. My patriotism is for me a stage in my journey to the land of eternal
freedom and peace. Thus, it will be seen that for me there is no politics
devoid of religion.
All religions are more or less true. All proceed
from the same God. But all are imperfect. Real shudhi is each trying to attain
perfection in his own faith. Character is all.
Conversion has done more harm than good. What
is the use of crossing from one compartment to another if it does not mean
a moral rise?
If the Arya Samajists think that they have
a call from their conscience, they have a perfect right to conduct the Shudhi
movement. Only they must be genuine. If the Malkanas wanted to return to the
Hindu fold, they had a perfect right to do so.
Though the majority of Mussulmans of India
and the Hindus belong to the same stock, the religious environment has made
them different. The Mussulman, being generally in minority, has, as a class,
developed into a bully. Though, in my opinion, non-violence has a predominant
place in the Quran (here is where he had gone wrong-Menon), the 1,300 years
of imperialist expansion has made the Mussulmans fighters as a body. They
are, therefore, aggressive. Bullying is the natural excrescence of an aggressive
spirit. The Hindu has an age-old civilisation. He is essentially non-violent.
The Hindus as a body are thus not equipped for fighting. But not having retained
their spiritual training, they have forgotten the effective use of a substitute
for arms, and not having an aptitude for them, they have become docile to
the point of timidity or cowardice. If Hindus would but believe in themselves
and work in accordance with their traditions, they will have no reason to
fear bullying. (Young India 19.6.1924) (If this was his view in the early
part of last century, how could he have taken to the path of armed struggle
against the British? Or supported those who took to arms?-Menon)
Hinduism abhors stagnation. Knowledge is limitless.
Every day we add to our knowledge. The Vedas form only a millionth part of
this knowledge (Islam is the only exception, for it claims it contains all
the knowledge-Menon)
I exercise my judgement about every scripture
including the Gita. I cannot let a scriptural text supercede my reason (which
is why he refused to get converted either to Christianity or Islam-Menon)
What we see today is not pure Hinduism, but
often a parody of it. Identification with all living beings is unique to Hinduism.
Then, there is the contribution of the four ashramas again unique to Hinduism.
There is nothing like it in the whole world. Today our eyes are dirty, thoughts
dirtier and bodies dirtiest of all because we are denying Hinduism. I am an
advaitist, and yet I can support dvaitism.
The knowledge of my total ignorance of my
scriptures pained me. Krishna is the most perfect incarnation (not Rama?-Menon)
Hindus and Mussulmans prate about no compulsion in religion. What is it but
compulsion if Mussulmans seek to prevent by force Hindus from playing music
before mosques?
As far as one can understand, the present
effort (of missionaries) is to uproot Hinduism from the very foundation and
replace it by another faith.
There was a time when I was wavering between
Hinduism and Christianity. When I recovered my balance of mind, I felt that
to me salvation was possible only through the Hindu religion.
NB: These are taken from various speeches
and writing of Gandhi. After this, criticisms like "Gandhi is against
Hindus and Hinduism" must stop.
