Author: Prabhat Varun
Publication: IndiaCause.com
Date: April 25, 2006
URL: http://indiacause.com/columns/OL_060425.htm
In March 2006 Varanasi was attacked by the
Islamic terrorists, in which more than 30 people died. Further in the holy
city one of the most revered Hindu temples, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple was
attacked.
It is said in India with considerable pride
that Hindus are very peaceful and patient and they never attack anybody, and
even do not respond back to the assaults made on them. It is said that this
is their unique characteristic and their plus point. Whether it is unique
or not is a matter of debate, but history shows that it has not been their
plus point, and has been doing them considerable harm for centuries at end.
Current trends in the global as well as Indian politics are testing the legendry
Hindu Patience. Its time Hindus answer whether their patience is infinite
the ever expanding Universe, or it has some limits?
Here we analyse some of these points.
The very first thing Hindus hear from the
Secular politicians after an Islamic terrorist attack, is not to panic. They
are told to maintain communal harmony in the society. Strangely this advice
is given exclusively to Hindus. Muslims are never asked to keep their anger
in check, however small or non-existent may be the cause of their outrage.
And Muslims are not stingy when the venting of violent outrage is concerned!
You never have to go far in history to find a Muslim outrage. The issue of
the publication of Prophet's caricatures in Danish daily and the subsequent
mayhem made all over the world by Muslims is not a thing of the past. The
issue has not cooled down yet, and almost daily one hears that in this or
that part of the world Muslims hold protest, run violent, burn shops, houses
and cause damage to life and property. No politician dares to suggest them
peace and to maintain communal harmony. No media blames them for disrupting
peace and creating mayhem in the country. The tone of our Seculars, Politicians
and media persons even seems to justify the Muslim hooliganism and blames
it all on the favourite whipping boy, Uncle Sam, or in case the Western Europe.
These Seculars sometimes go so far in justifying the Muslim violence that
they even condone the offer of UP Haj minister Haji Yaqoob Khan to give an
award of 51 crore to any Muslim who beheads the Danish cartoonist. No Manmohan
Singh and no Sonia Gandhi reprimands Yaqoob Khan and his party, and no one
suggests him not to whip the communal sentiment.
So the all out appearance this exercise gives
is that the Muslims are entirely justified in indulging in any kind of violence
and that the fault always lies with the West and Hindus, both of them generally
the victims of Islamic terror.
On the other hand after every Islamic attack
on Hindus and Hinduism, politicians rush forward to suggest Hindus to maintain
communal harmony and not indulge in anything which may hurt the all too volatile
sentiments of their Muslim 'brothers'. (the burden of brotherhood seems to
lie entirely on the shoulders of Hindus, Muslims are never suggested to the
Hindus are brothers) the impatience and immediacy with which these politicians
and journalists rush forward to suggest peace to Hindus, gives an impression
that the temper of Hindus is too volatile and they are very prone to violence.
However in reality it rarely happens that Hindus retaliate any violence perpetrated
on them and any ignominy hailed on Hinduism. Post-Godhra riots are the only
case of Hindu retaliation in the entire modern era.
After the India Gandhi assassination Congress
workers ran amuck all over India butchering innocent Sikhs wherever to be
found. At that time nobody seemed to suggest to the Congress cadre not indulge
in violence and not to disturb the communal harmony. There are many such instances
I history when the 'doubletalk' and 'double standards' of our Seculars journalists
and politicians lie exposed.
The Babri Masjid demolition was followed by
severe retaliation by Muslims all over India. Mumbai was ripped apart with
the serial bombings in which several Hindus were massacred. But no one blamed
Muslims for what they did in Mumbai. Here the reaction of Muslims in Mumbai
was justified by the action of Hindus in Ayodhya. So the action was blamed
and reaction condoned.
In another incident the S-5 coach of Sabarmati
Express was set on fire and 59 Hindus were burnt alive in it, as they were
not allowed to emerge from the coach by the Muslim mob. After two days of
lull, retaliations began in Gujarat. Here the action was of Muslims and reaction
of Hindus. So, logically if the Mumbai serial blasts are pardoned by arguing
that the Muslims were encouraged by Hindus at first place, then post-Godhra
riots must also be pardoned because here the onus of action lay with Muslims.
But no! Our Seculars have their own strange logic. In this case the reaction
as blamed at and action condoned, just the vice-versa of the Babri Masjid
demolition case.
Hindus are damned if they act, damned if they
react!
Indian history is replete with many such instances
when the sentiments of Hindus have been hurt and their gods, temples and culture
attacked and desecrated. But Hindus never seem to retaliate. Their patience
seems to be infinite. They never take umbrage when their gods and temples
are desecrated and defiled. They never retaliate when some of their fellow
Hindus are massacred. They never retaliate when their festivals are attacked.
Hindus did not retaliate when for one thousand
years Islamic armies broke Hindu temples, desecrated the idols, butchered
the Brahmins, massacred Hindu civilians as well as soldiers, pillaged their
cities, villages and homes, raped their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters,
and destroyed which Hindus held dear and which was necessary for life.
Hindus did not retaliate when Christianity
heaped innumerous calumnies on Hinduism, slandered its gods, broke its temples,
and insulted Hindu civilization, dharma, history and culture.
Hindus did not retaliate when Moplah Muslims
went mad in 1921 after the abolition of Caliphate in Turkey and massacred
Hindus brutally, destroyed their homes, raped Hindu women, ripped apart their
bellies and took out their fetuses.
Hindus did not retaliate when some great Hindu
movements were silenced by the political assassinations of its main stalwarts
like Swami Dayananda, Swami Shraddhananda and Pandit Lekhram.
Hindus did not retaliate the Direct Action
of Jinnah, the Noakhli riots and numerous other atrocities committed to them
and their brothers in 1947.
Hindus did not the retaliate the Akshardham
attack, the Parliament attack, the Delhi carnage at last Diwali, and numerous
other terrorists attacks.
Hindus tend to forget every insult heaped
over them, their culture, their dharma, their nation and their history. It
seems that they have neither will power, nor the strength to retaliate and
respond back to their enemy. Some Western scholars say that Hindus have no
sense of history. The forgetful behaviour of Hindus makes one believe in this
Western dictum. But it is said that the nation which forgets its history rarely
succeeds in future.
Hindus' indifference to any insult and violence
committed to their religion and society makes one wonder whether Hindu tolerance
is infinite? Are there no bounds to it? Hindus were given a historic chance
to regain their lost glory in 1947 when they got freedom from the British
and the country was to be partitioned in the nation of Hindus and Muslims.
But they squandered that golden chance. Almost all of the Hindus were made
to flee from Western Pakistan but not even 10% of the Indian Muslims leave.
Western Pakistan had around 8% of Hindu population at the time of Partition.
Now it has less than 1%. Eastern Pakistan and now Bangladesh had 28% of Hindus
at the time of Partition and now it has only 8% of them. While in India they
have decreased from about 87% to 84%. They were 80% in Indian sub-continent
in 1947, and now they are only 66%.
After that yet another chance were given to
them in 1990s with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. But yet again Hindus were
'tolerant' and 'patient' and yet again they failed. Until 1990s Islamists
were more vigilant in their attacks but after the failure of Ram Janmabhoomi
movement they have been emboldened in their resolve as they have become convinced
that Hindus cannot retaliate not matter how much violently they are harassed.
Islamic terrorists have stepped up their attacks after 1990 and now seldom
does a major event and occasion goes when there is not an Islamic attack on
Hindu society.
If Hindus go on to practice tolerance and
do not respond to teach a lesson to their enemies then the Islamists will
keep on stepping up their attacks and the day is not far when Hindu society
will be overwhelmed by Islam.
The attack on Varanasi seems to ask Hindus
a question. Is Hindu tolerance infinite? If it is so then they are doomed
and if it is not so then they will have to show soon that they can defend
themselves from their enemies and they can also respond and retaliate.