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India'sSelfDenialByFrancoisGautierCopyright1999FrancoisGautier(Auroville,24.11.99)
Introduction
WhyisitthatIndians,particularlyitselitetheintelligentsia,thejournalists,thewriters,thetopbureaucrats,thediplomatsholdanimageofthemselveswhichisoftennegative,andhaveatendencytorundowntheirowncountry?TheselfperceptionthatIndianshaveofthemselves,isfrequentlydetrimentaltotheirselfconfidence.ThisisparticularlystrikingamongstIndianjournalists,whoalwaysseemtolookatIndiathroughawesternprismandconstantlyappeartoworryhowtheforeignpressviewsIndia,howtheforeigncountriesparticularlytheUnitedStatesofAmericaperceiveIndia,whattheHumanRightagenciessayaboutIndia...Thus,whenonereadscertainIndianmagazines,onehastheimpressionthattheycouldbewrittenbyforeignjournalists,becausenotonlydotheytendtolookatIndiainaverycriticalmanner,butoften,thereisnothinggenuinelyIndianintheircontents,noreferencestoIndia'spastgreatness,noattemptstoputthingsinperspectivethroughtheprismofIndia'sancientwisdom.Therefore,mostofthetime,theireditorialcontentsendeavourtoexplainthepresenteventsaffectingIndia,suchasAyodhya,ortheproblemofKashmir,ortheChristianmissionaries'attemptsatconversionoftribalHindus,bytakingaverysmallportionofthesubcontinent'shistoryusuallythemostrecentonewithouttryingtoputtheseeventsinabroaderfocus,orattemptingtorevertbacktoIndia'slongandancienthistory.Inagist,onecouldsayalthoughthingshavebeenchanginginthelateninetiesthatthereishardlyanyselfprideamongstIndia'sintellectualelite,becausetheyareusuallytoobusyrunningdowntheirowncountry.Itisdoneinaverybrilliantlymanner,itistruebecauseIndianjournalists,writers,artists,highbureaucrats,areoftenintelligent,wittyandtalentedpeoplebutalwayswiththatwesternslant,asifIndiawasafflictedbyapermanentinferioritycomplex.OnethenhastotrytoanalysetheunderlyingreasonsofthisnegativeselfperceptionthatIndiahasofherself,probetheunconsciousimpulseswhichgivemanyIndiansHindus,weshouldsay,asthemajorityofIndia'sintelligentsiaarebornHindusthehabitofalwaysdepreciatingtheirowncultureandtraditions.
1.TheTheoryoftheAryanInvasion
ThefirstandforemostexplanationforthisinferioritycomplexcouldbethetheoremoftheAryaninvasion,whichisstilltakenasthefoundationstoneoftheHistoryofIndia.Accordingtothistheory,whichwasactuallydevisedinthe18thand19thcenturybyBritishlinguistsandarchaeologists,whohadavestedinteresttoprovethesupremacyoftheircultureovertheoneofthesubcontinent,thefirstinhabitantsofIndiaweregoodnatured,peaceful,darkskinnedshepherds,calledtheDravidians.Theyweresupposedlyremarkablebuilders,witnessthecityofMohenjoDaroinPakistaniSind,buthadnoculturetospeakoff,nowrittentexts,noproperscripteven.Then,around1500B.C.,IndiaissaidtohavebeeninvadedbytribescalledtheAryans:whiteskinned,nomadicpeople,whooriginatedsomewhereinUral,ortheCaucasus.To
http://archaeologyonline.net/
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theAryans,areattributedSanskrit,theVedicorHindureligion,India'sgreatestspiritualtexts,theVedas,aswellasahostofsubsequentwritings,theUpanishads,theMahabharata,theRamanaya,etc...
ThiswasindeedamasterlystrokeonthepartoftheBritish:thankstotheAryantheory,theyshowedontheonehandthatIndiancivilisationwasnotthatancientandthatitwasposteriortothecultureswhichinfluencedthewesternworldMesopotamia,Sumeria,orBabylonandontheotherhand,thatwhatevergoodthingsIndiahaddevelopedSanskrit,literature,orevenitsarchitecture,hadbeeninfluencedbytheWest.Thus,Sanskrit,insteadofbeingthemotherofallIndoEuropeanlanguages,becamejustabranchoftheirhugefamilythus,thereligionofZarathustraissaidtohaveinfluencedHinduismastheseAryantribeswerebelievedtohavetransitedthroughnumerouscountries,Persiabeingone,beforereachingIndiaandnotviceversa.Inthesamemanner,manyachievementswerelaterattributedtotheGreekinvasionofAlexandertheGreat:scientificdiscoveries,mathematics,architectureetc.Soultimately,itwascleverlyprovedthatnothingisIndian,nothingreallygreatwascreatedinIndia,itwasalwaysbornoutofdifferentinfluencesonthesubcontinent.
Tomakethistheoryevenmorecomplicated,theBritish,wholikeotherinvadersbeforethemhadatoughtimewiththeBrahminsandtheKshatriyas,impliedthattheAryansdrovetheDravidianssouthwards,wheretheyarestilltodayandthattomarkforevertheirsocialboundaries,theseAryanshaddevisedthedespicablecastesystem,whereby,theythepriestsandprinces,ruledoverthemerchantsandlabourers...AndthusEnglishmissionariesandlater,Americanpreachers,wereabletoconverttribesandlowcasteHindusbytellingthem:"you,theaborigines,thetribals,theHarijans,werethereinIndiabeforetheAryansyouaretheoriginalinhabitantsofIndia,andyoushoulddiscardHinduism,thereligionofthesearrogantAryansandembrace,Christianity,thetruereligion".
ThuswasbornthegreatAryaninvasiontheory,oftwocivilisations,thatofthelowcasteDravidiansandthehighcasteAryans,alwayspittedagainsteachotherwhichhasendured,asitisstilltodaybeingusedbysomeIndianpoliticiansandhasbeenenshrinedinallhistorybooksWestern,andunfortunatelyalsoIndian.Thuswerebornwrong"nationalistic"movements,suchastheDravidianmovementagainstHindiandthemuchmalignedBrahmins,whoactuallyrepresenttodayaminority,whichisoftenunderprivileged....ThisAryaninvasiontheoryhasalsomadeIndialookwestwards,insteadoftakingprideinitspastandpresentachievements.ItmayalsounconsciouslybeoneofthereasonswhytherewasatonetimesuchgreatfascinationforSoniaGandhi,aWhiteSkinnedWesterner,whomayhavebeenunconsciouslyperceivedasatrueAryanbythedowntroddenDravidiansandacertainfringeofthatIndianintelligentsiawhichispermanentlyaffectedbyaninferioritycomplextowardstheWest.Itmayevenhavegivenacolourfixationtothiscountry,wherewomenwillgotoextremestolook"fair".
Buttoday,thistheoryisbeingchallengedmoreandmorebynewdiscoveries,botharchaeologicalandlinguistic.Therearemanysuchproofs,buttwostandout:thediscoveryoftheSaraswatiriverandthedecipheringoftheIndusseals.IntheRigVeda,theGanges,India'ssacredriver,isonlymentionedonce,butthemythicSaraswatiispraisedonmorethanfiftyoccasions.Yetforalongtime,theSaraswatiriverwasconsideredamyth,untiltheAmericansatelliteLandstatwasabletophotographandmapthebedofthismagnificentriver,whichwasnearlyfourteenkilometreswide,tookitssourceintheHimalayas,flowedthroughthestatesofHaryana,PunjabandRajasthan,beforethrowingitselfintheseanearBhrigukuccha,todaycalledBroach.AmericanarchaeologistMarkKenoyerwasabletoprovein1991thatthemajorityofarchaeologicalsitesofthesocalledHarappan(orDravidian)civilisationwerenotsituatedontheancientbedoftheIndusriver,asfirstthought,butontheSaraswati.Anotherarchaeologist,PaulHenriFrancfort,Chiefofafrancoamericanmission(Weiss,Courty,Weterstromm,Guichard,Senior,Meadow,Curnow),whichstudiedtheSaraswatiregionatthebeginningofthenineties,foundoutwhytheSaraswatihad'disappeared':"around2200B.C.,hewrites,animmensedroughtreducedthewholeregiontoaridityandfamine"(EvidenceforHarappanirrigationsysteminHaryanaandRajasthanEasternAnthropologist1992).Thusaroundthisdate,mostinhabitantsmovedawayfromtheSaraswatitosettleonthebanksoftheIndusandSutlejrivers.
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Accordingtoofficialhistory,theVedaswerecomposedaround1500BC,someevensay1200BC.Yet,aswehaveseen,theRigVeda,describesIndiaasitwasbeforethegreatdroughtwhichdrieduptheSaraswatiwhichmeansineffectthatthesocalledIndus,orHarappancivilisationwasacontinuationoftheVedicepoch,whichendedapproximatelywhentheSaraswatidriedup.Recently,thefamousIndusseals,discoveredonthesiteofMohenjaDaroandHarappa,mayhavebeendecipheredbyDrRajaram,amathematicianwhoworkedatonetimefortheNASAandDrJha,adistinguishedlinguist.InthebiasedlightoftheAryaninvasiontheory,thesesealswerepresumedtobewritteninaHarappan(readDravidian)script,althoughtheyhadneverbeenconvincinglydecoded.ButRajaramandJha,usinganancientVedicglossary,theNighantu,foundoutthatthescriptisofSanskritlineage,isreadfromlefttorightanddoesnotusevowels(whichlikeinArabic,are'guessed'accordingtothemeaningofthewholesentence).Inthisway,theyhavebeenabletodeciphersofar1500and2000seals,orabouthalftheknowncorpus.AsthediscoveryoftheSaraswatiriver,thedeciphermentoftheIndusscriptsalsogoestoprovethatthattheHarappanCivilization,ofwhichthesealsareaproduct,belongedtothelatterpartoftheVedicAgeandhadcloseconnectionswithVedanticworksliketheSutrasandtheUpanishads.Inthislight,itbecomesevidentthatnotonlythereneverwasanAryaninvasionofIndia,but,ashistorianKonraadElstwrites,itcouldverywellbethatitwasanIndianracewhichwentwestwards:"ratherthanIndoIraniansontheirwayfromSouthRussiatoIranandpartlytoIndia,thesemayaswellbetheHitites,KassitesorMitanni,ontheirwayfromIndia,viatheAralLakearea,toAnatolia,orMesopotamia,wheretheyshowupinsubsequentcenturies"(IndigenousIndians).
2.AnImageofPoverty
AnotherreasonwhyIndiansoftenexhibitanegativeideaofthemselves,maybebecauseIndiaisalwaysassociatedintheworldwithpoverty:MotherTeresa,Unicef,orCalcutta.ThisimagehasbeenreinforcedbybookssuchastheCityofJoy,aninternationalbestseller,whichtakesalittlepartofIndiatheCalcuttaslumsandgivestheimpressiontothenaiveandignorantwesternreaders,thatitconstitutesthewholeofIndia.AnotherfactorwhichreinforcestheimageofpovertyisthetremendousfamewhichMotherTheresaenjoyedinherlifetimeandevenafterherdeath,assheisintheprocessofbeingmadeasaint.WhileitistruethatMotherTheresadidatremendousjobinCalcutta,shenevertriedtocounterbalancetheverynegativeimageofIndiathathernamewascarrying,withsomepraiseforthecountrywhichhadadoptedherforfiftyyears.ShecouldhavespokenforinstanceaboutthegreathospitalityofIndians,ortheopenmindednessofHindureligion,whichhadallowedhertopractiseChristianitynearoneofthemostsacredtemplesofthecountry,orevenaboutthenearworshipwhichmostHindusshowedforher.
ItistruethatthereisatremendousamountofpovertyinIndia,andthatmanypeoplecanonlyaffordonemealaday.Butfourthingsshouldbeknown.Firstly,thatuntilthe18thcentury,inspiteoftherepeatedMusliminvasions,Indiawasknownasoneoftherichestcountriesoftheworld,theland"ofmilkandhoney".Youonlyhavetoreadthenumerousaccountsoftravellersfromdifferentcountries,whoallmarvelledatIndia'sprosperity.Thesecondthing,isthatallthegreatfaminesofIndiahappenedduringtheBritishtime.Manyhistorians,suchasFrenchmanGuyDeleury,havedocumentedtheeconomicrapeofIndiabytheBritish:"IndustriallytheBritishsuffocatedIndia,graduallystranglingIndianindustrieswhosefinishedproducts,textilesinparticular,wereofaqualityuniqueintheworldwhichhasmadethemfamousoverthecenturies.InsteadtheyorientedIndianindustriestowardsjute,cotton,tea,oilseeds,whichtheyneededasrawmaterialsfortheirhomeindustries.Theyemployedcheaplabourfortheenterpriseswhiletraditionalartisanswereperishing.India,whichusedtobealandofplenty,wheremilkandhoneyflowedstarteddrying"(ModeleIndou)...AccordingtoBritishrecords,onemillionIndiansdiedoffaminebetween1800and1825,4millionbetween18251850,5millionbetween18501875and15millionbetween18751900.Thus25millionIndiansdiedin100years!TheBritishmustbeproudoftheirbloodyrecord.ItisprobablymorehonourableandstraightforwardtokillinthenameofAllah,thanintheguiseofpettycommercialinterestsandtotaldisregardforthewaysofa5000yearcivilisation.Thus,bythebeginningofthe20thcentury,Indiawasbleddryandtherewerenoresourcesleft.
Thethirdfact,isthatafterIndependence,whateverpovertytherestillwasinthiscountry,therewerenomore
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famines,asIndiamanagedtobecomeselfsufficientinfoodthroughtheGreenRevolution(whatevernegativesideeffectsithadonIndia'secologybutthatisanotherstory).Thisisagreatachievement,atremendoustaskofwhichIndiacanbeproudoff.ForifyoulookatChina,India'slargestneighbour,whichalwaysinvitesnaturalcomparisonwithIndiaastheysharemanyofthesameproblemsandcharacteristics,itwentthroughtremendoustraumasafterindependence.Millionsdiedofhunger,forinstance,whenMaodivertedpeasantsfromcultivatingtheland,inhismisguidedandmegalomaniacefforttoincreasesteelproduction.ItshouldalsobesaidthatlateritdidlookasifChinafaredbetterthanIndiainitsefforttofeedadequatelyitspeople.Butthatisbecausetheyemployedcoerciontocontroltheirownpopulation,whereasIndia,ademocracy,nevertriedtoforceitscitizenstohavelesschildrenexceptforashortwhileunderIndiraGandhi(wholosttheelectionsshortlyafter).
ThefourththingisthatthereisatremendousamountofblackmoneyinIndiaasmuchas40to50%ofthetotaleconomy.IfthatmoneycouldbetappedandchannelledtotheWhiteeconomy,itwouldgiveatremendousboosttothenation.Butyouneedagovernmentwiseenoughtoenactlawswhichmakepeoplecheatless.Peoplehavebeencheatingsince1947,becauseNehruhaddecidedthatSocialism,partlymodelledaftertheSovietUnion,wasthebesttooltobridgetheyawninggapbetweentheveryrichandtheverypoorofIndia.Atthattime,itseemedagoodidea,butasyearspassed,itprovedadisaster,spawningahugebureaucraticsystem,breedingcorruption,stiflingfreeenterpriseandoverallmakingpeoplecheat,becauseithadintroducedoneoftheheaviesttaxingsystemintheworld.AndthesadthingisthatIndiansfromthemiddleclasstoeventhepoorerpeoplearesomeofthegreatestsaversintheworld.Notforthemthecreditcardsystem,whichisruiningtheWest,byartificiallyenhancingtheeconomyno,theysaveinland,gold,jewellery,orincash,oftenstashedathome.AndthatisatremendousassetforIndia,ifitcouldbebroughtintheopen.ThereisnowadaysaneconomiccrisisinthesocalledTigercountriesofAsiaevenHongKongisaffectedbyit.Butsofar,India'seconomyhasremainedsound.Ofcoursetherearedrawbacks:theRupeeisnotyetfullyconvertible,subsidiesdraintheExchequer,importdutiesarestillleviedonmanygoods...HoweverthispartiallyinsulatedeconomyhashelpedIndiatoprotectherownindustries,whileswitchinggraduallytoafullyliberalisedfinancialsystem.Thus,ifthattremendousamountofblackmoneycouldbetapped,itwouldalsocontributetowardschangingthis"poor"imagestickingtoIndia,whichisharmingherinherquestforforeigninvestmentsandinternationalrecognition.
Chinatoohadaverynegativeimageuntilthelatesixties:theRedmenace,thecommunistDragon,thegreatBackwardleap...ButafterNixon'svisitin1971,everythingchangedthatistheWesternPress,whichwasresponsibleinthefirstplaceforChina'snegativeimage,startedprojectingamorepositivepictureofChina.Italsohelped,thatcontrarytoIndians,theChineseareproudofthemselvesandpossessastrongnationalisticbendmaybebecausetheyhaveneverbeencolonised,exceptforshortperiods.Andtoday,thereisnotonlyafascinationforChinaintheWest,buttheIndustrialisedWorldhasalsoplacedmanyofitseconomicchipsthere.France,forinstance,invests10timesmoreinChinathaninIndia.Yet,Indiaisamuchmoreinterestingcountryfromtheinvestmentpointofview:itisdemocratic,whichChinaisnotpeopletherespeakmoreEnglishthaninChinaithaslawstoprotectcontracts,whichisnotthecaseinChinaitisastablecountry,inspiteofthepoliticalproblemsandallkindsofseparatistmovements...Butstill,theworldhardlytakesnoticeofIndiaalthoughthingsarebeginningtochange.AndthatisbecauseofIndia'snegativeimage,ofcourse!AndnobodyismoreresponsibleaboutthisnegativeimagethanIndiansthemselves.Indiahastostopgoingaroundwithabeggingbowlinherhands.ForIndiadoesnothavetobeg:ithasthematerialandintellectualwealthithaseventhemonetaryresources.
3.TheCasteSystem
Thecastesystemhasbeenthemostmisunderstood,themostvilifiedaspectofHindusocietyatthehandsofWesternscholarsandeventodayby"secular"Indians.AndthishasgreatlycontributedtoIndia'sselfdepreciation,asyouhardlyfindanyIndianwhoisnotashamedofcaste,especiallyifhetalkstoaWesterner.Butultimately,onemustunderstandtheoriginalpurposebehindthecastesystem,asspeltoutbyIndia'sGreatSageandAvataroftheModernAge,SriAurobindo:"Castewasoriginallyanarrangementforthe
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distributionoffunctionsinsociety,justasmuchasclassinEurope,buttheprincipleonwhichthisdistributionwasbasedwaspeculiartoIndia.Abrahminwasabrahminnotbymerebirth,butbecausehedischargedthedutyofpreservingthespiritualandintellectualelevationoftherace,andhehadtocultivatethespiritualtemperamentandacquirethespiritualtrainingwhichalonewouldqualifyhimforthetask.Thekshatriyawaskshatriyanotmerelybecausehewasthesonofwarriorsandprinces,butbecausehedischargedthedutyofprotectingthecountryandpreservingthehighcourageandmanhoodofaction,andhehadtocultivatetheprincelytemperamentandacquirethestrongandloftySamuraitrainingwhichalonefittedhimforhisduties.Soitwasforthevaishyawhosefunctionwastoamasswealthfortheraceandtheshudrawhodischargedthehumblerdutiesofservicewithoutwhichtheothercastescouldnotperformtheirshareoflabourforthecommon,good".(India'sRebirth,p26).
Itistruethatintimethecastesystemhasbecomeperverted,asSriAurobindoalsonoted:"itisthenatureofhumaninstitutionstodegeneratethereisnodoubtthattheinstitutionofcastedegenerated.Itceasedtobedeterminedbyspiritualqualificationswhich,onceessential,havenowcometobesubordinateandevenimmaterialandisdeterminedbythepurelymaterialtestsofoccupationandbirth...BythischangeithassetitselfagainstthefundamentaltendencyofHinduismwhichistoinsistonthespiritualandsubordinatethematerialandthuslostmostofitsmeaning.thespiritofcastearrogance,exclusivenessandsuperioritycametodominateitinsteadofthespiritofduty,andthechangeweakenedthenationandhelpedtoreduceustoourpresentcondition...(India'sRebirth,p27)Today,theabusesbeingdoneinthenameofcasteareoftenhorrifying,speciallytoaWesternerbroughtuponmoreegalitarianvalues.SomeofthebackwardvillagesofTamilNadu,orBiharforinstance,stillsegregateHarijansandthelowercastes,whodonothavethesameaccesstoeducationalfacilitiesthantheuppercastes,inspiteofNehru'sheavyhandedquotasystem,whichhasbeenbadlytakenadvantageoff.
ModerndayIndianpoliticianshaveexploitedlikenobodyelsethecastedividefortheirownselfishpurposes.ThepoliticiansofancientIndiawereprincesandkingsbelongingtothekshatriyacastetheirdutywastoservethenationandhighidealswereheldinfrontofthembythebrahminsandrishiswhoadvisedthem.TheBuddha'sfatherforinstance,wasakingelectedbyitsownpeople.Buttodayweseecorrupt,inefficientmen,whohaveforgottenthattheyaresupposedtoservethenationfirst,whoareonlyinterestedinmintingthemaximummoneyintheminimumtime.Indianpoliticianshaveoftenbecomeacaricature,whichismadefunofbythewholecountry,addingtoIndia'sselfnegatingimage.Theyarefrequentlyuneducated,grosspeople,electedonthestrengthofdemagogicpledges,suchaspromisingricefor2Rsakilo,afollywhichatonetimewasdrainingmanystate'scoffers,orbyplayingMuslimsagainstHindus,HarijansagainstBrahmins,asinthestatesofUttarPradeshandBihar.MinistersinIndiaaremostofthetimeignorant,unqualified,oftenhavingnoideaaboutthedepartmenttheyareoverseeingitisthecivilservantswhocontrolmatters,whoknowtheirsubjectthoroughly.Youhavetoworkhardtobecomeacivilservant,study,passexams,thenslowlyclimbupthehierarchy,herebygainingexperience.Thepoliticianjustjumpsfrombeingalowlyclerk,orsomeuneducatedzamindartobecomeapowerfulMinister,lordingovermuchmoreeducatedmen.Thereshouldbealsoexamstobecomeaminister,aminimumofknowledgeandskillsshouldberequiredofthemanwhosayshewantstoservethenation.Itmattersnotifhecomesfromalowcaste,butheshouldhaveinhisheartalittlebitoftheselflessnessofthekshatriyaandafewdropsofthewisdomofthebrahmin.
Nobodyissayingthatthecastesystemshouldbepraised,forithasindeeddegeneratedbutitwouldalsohelpinenhancingIndia'sselfprideifIndiansrealisedthatonceitconstitutedauniqueandharmonioussystem.Andfinally,havethepeoplewhodismisscasteasanAryanimpositionontheDravidians,orasaninhumanandnazisystem,ponderedthefactthatitisnoworsethanthehugeclassdifferencesyoucanseenowadaysinSouthAmerica,orevenintheUnitedStates,wheremanyNegroeslivebelowthepovertylevel?Andcanyoureallyexcludeitoffhand,whenitstillsurvivessomuchinthevillagesandeveninmoreeducatedcircles,whereonestillmarriesinmatchingcastes,withthehelpofanastrologer?Doesthecastesystemneedtobetransformed,torecaptureitsoldmeaningandoncemoreincarnateaspiritualhierarchyofbeings?Orhasittoberecastinadifferentmould,takingintoaccounttheparametersofmodernIndiansociety?Orelse,willitfinallydisappearaltogetherfromIndia,becauseithasbecometotallyirrelevanttoday?Atanyrate,Hindus
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shouldnotallowthisfactortobeexploitedshamelesslyagainstthem,asithasbeeninthelasttwocenturies,bymissionaries,"secular"historians,Muslims,andbypreandpostindependenceIndianpoliticianseachfortheirownpurpose.
4.MuslimInvasion
AnotherveryimportantreasonforthenegativeselfimagethatIndianshavegotofthemselves,aretheMusliminvasions.Thisisstilltodayaverycontroversialsubject,sinceIndianhistorybookshavechosentokeepquietaboutthishugechunkofIndianhistorynearly10centuriesofhorrors.AtIndependence,Nehrutoo,putitaside,perhapsbecausehethoughtthatthiswasatopicwhichcoulddivideIndia,astherewasastrongMuslimminoritywhichchosetostayandnotemigratetoPakistan.Yet,nothinghasmarkedIndia'spsycheortheHindusilentmajority,ifyouwishastheMusliminvasions.AndwhateverhappensincontemporaryIndia,isaconsequenceoftheseinvasions,whetheritisthecreationofPakistan,whetheritisKashmir,whetheritisAyodhya,orKargil.Thereisnopointinpassingamoraljudgmentontheseinvasions,astheyareathingofthepast.Islamisoneoftheworld'syoungestreligions,whosedynamismisnotinquestionunfortunatelyitisamilitantreligion,asitbelievesthatthereisonlyoneGodandalltheotherGodsarefalse.AndsoaslongasthisconceptisingrainedinthemindsofMuslims,therewillbeaproblemoftolerance,oftoleratingothercreeds.AndthisiswhathappenedinIndiafromthe7thcenturyonwards:invaders,whobelievedinoneGod,cameuponthiscountrywhichhadamilliongods...Andforthemitwasthesymbolofallwhattheythoughtwaswrong.Sothegenocideandthewordgenocidehastobeusedwhichwasperpetratedwastremendous,becauseofthestaunchresistanceofthe4000yearoldHindufaith.Indeed,theMuslimpolicyvisavisIndiaseemstohavebeenaconsciousandsystematicdestructionofeverythingthatwasbeautiful,holy,refined.Entirecitieswereburntdownandtheirpopulationsmassacred.Eachsuccessivecampaignbroughthundredsofthousandsofvictimsandsimilarnumbersweredeportedasslaves.EverynewinvaderoftenmadeliterallyhishillofHinduskulls.ThustheconquestofAfghanistanintheyear1000,wasfollowedbytheannihilationoftheentireHindupopulationthereindeed,theregionisstillcalledHinduKush,'Hinduslaughter'.TheBahmanisultansincentralIndia,madeitaruletokill100.000Hindusayear.In1399,Teimurkilled100.000Hindusinasingleday,andmanymoreonotheroccasions.HistorianKonraadElst,inhisbook"NegationisminIndia",quotesProfessorK.S.Lal,whocalculatedthattheHindupopulationdecreasedbyeightymillionbetweentheyear1000and1525,indeed,probablythebiggestholocaustintheworld'shistory,fargreaterthanthegenocideoftheIncasinSouthAmericabytheSpanishandthePortuguese.
Regrettably,therewasaconspiracybytheBritish,andlaterbyIndia'sMarxistintelligentsiatonegatethisholocaust.Thus,Indianstudentssincetheearlytwenties,weretaughtthatthatthereneverwasaMuslimgenocideonthepersonofHindus,butratherthattheMogholsbroughtgreatrefinementtoIndianculture.In"CommunalismandthewritingofIndianhistory",forinstance,RomilaThapar,HarbansMukhiaandBipanChandra,professorsattheJNUinNewDelhi,theMeccaofsecularismandnegationisminIndia,deniedtheMuslimgenocidebyreplacingitinsteadwithaconflictofclasses:"MuslimsbroughtthenotionofegalitarianisminIndia",theyargue.TheredoubtableRomilaThaparinher"PenguinHistoryofIndia",coauthoredwithPercivalSpear,writesagain:"Aurangzeb'ssupposedintolerance,islittlemorethanahostilelegendbasedonisolatedactssuchastheerectionofamosqueonatemplesiteinBenares".
Whatarethefacts,accordingtoMuslimrecords?Aurangzeb(16581707)didnotjustbuildanisolatedmosqueonadestroyedtemple,heorderedalltemplesdestroyedanmosquestobebuiltontheirsite.AmongthemtheKashiVishvanath,oneofthemostsacredplacesHinduworship,Krishna'sbirthtempleinMathura,therebuiltSomnathtempleonthecoastofGujurat,theVishnutemplereplacedwiththeAlamgirmosquenowoverlookingBenaresandtheTretakaThakurtempleinAyodhya.ThenumberoftemplesdestroyedbyAurangzebiscountedin5,ifnot6figures,accordingtohisownofficialcourtchronicles:"AurangzeborderedallprovincialgovernorstodestroyallschoolsandtemplesofthePagansandtomakeacompleteendtoallpaganteachingsandpractices"..."HasanAliKhancameandsaidthat172templesintheareahadbeendestroyed"..."HismajestywenttoChittorand63templesweredestroyed"..."AbuTarab,appointedtodestroy
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theidoltemplesofAmber,reportedthat66templeshadbeenrazedtotheground".Aurangzebdidnotstopatdestroyingtemples,theiruserswerealsowipedoutevenhisownbrother,DaraShikoh,wasexecutedfortakinganinterestinHindureligionandtheSikhGuruTeghBahadurwasbeheadedbecauseheobjectedtoAurangzeb'sforcedconversions.
Thisgenocideisstillarealitywhichshouldnotbewishedaway.BecausewhattheMuslimsinvasionshavedonetoIndiaistoinstilterrorintheHinducollectivepsyche,whichstilllingersmanycenturieslaterandtriggersunconsciousreactions.TheparanoiadisplayedtodaybyIndians,theirindiscipline,theirlackofcharityfortheirownbrethrens,theabjectdisregardoftheirenvironment,areadirectconsequenceoftheseinvasions.WhatIndiahastodotoday,istolooksquarelyatthefactspertainingtotheseinvasionsandcometotermwiththem,withoutanyspiritofvengeance,soastoregainalittlebitofselfpride.ItwouldalsohelptheMuslimcommunityofIndiatoacknowledgethesehorrors,whichparadoxically,werecommittedagainstthem,astheyaretheHinduswhowerethenconvertedbyforce,theirwomenraped,theirchildrentakenintoslaveryeventhoughtodaytheyhavemadetheirsthereligionwhichtheirancestorsoncehated.
5.EuropeanColonialism
Obviously,oneofthemajorcausesforIndia'sselfdepreciatingimagearetheEuropeaninvasions.TheparadoxisthatnocountryintheworldasIndiahasshownasmuchtolerancetowardsacceptinginitsfoldpersecutedreligiousminoritiesfromallovertheplanet.TaketheJews,forinstance,whohavebeenpersecutedandtreatedassecondclasscitizenseverywhereafterfleeingthedestructionofthetempleofJerusalem.InIndia,notonlyweretheywelcomed,butalsotheywereallowedtoliveandpractisetheirreligionpeacefully,tillmostofthemwentbacktoIsraelafterIndependence...ButitisnotonlytheJews,butalsotheParsis,whofledpersecutionbytheMuslimsinIran,ortheChristianSyrians,wholandedinIndiainthe3rdcentury,ortheArabmerchantswhofromtimeimmemorialwereallowedtoestablishtradingpostsinKerala...OreventheJesuits,whowerewelcomedwhentheylandedwithVascodeGamainCalicutin1495.But,astheSyrianChristians,astheArabmerchants,theyquicklyturnedagainsttheirbenefactorsandsetnotonlytoexploitIndiacommercially,butalsoattemptedtoimposetheirownreligionsonthe"Heathens",thePagans,theInfidels.
ItisthusabitofaparadoxwhenonehearstodayIndianintellectualsclaimthatHindusareintolerant,fanatic,or"fundamentalists".BecauseinthewholehistoryofIndia,Hindushavenotonlyshownthattheyareextremelytolerant,butHinduismisprobablytheonlyreligionintheworldwhonevertriedtoconvertothersforgetaboutconqueringothercountriestopropagatetheirownreligion.ThisisnottruewithChristianity,itisnottruewithIslamitisnoteventruewithBuddhism,asBuddhistshadmissionarieswhowentalloverAsiaandconvertedpeople.ThishistoricaltoleranceofHinduismisnevertakenintoaccountbyforeigncorrespondentscoveringIndiaandevenbyIndianjournalists.Ifitwas,Indiansmightatleasttakesomeprideintheircountry'sboundlessgenerositytowardsothers...Indianshaveaveryshortmemoryofthemselves,maybebecausetheynevercaredtowritedowntheirownhistory.
Thus,thisbeautifultolerancewastakenadvantageoffbynumerousinvadersparticularlyEuropeanscolonisers.ThePortugueseforinstance,wereallowedtoestablishtradingpostsinthe15thcenturybytheZamorinofCochin.Andwhatdidtheydo?AlfonsodeAlbuquerquestartedareignofterrorinGoa,razingtemplestoerectchurchesintheirstead,burning"heretics",crucifyingBrahmins,usingfalsetheoriestoforciblyconvertthelowercastesandencouraginghissoldierstotakeIndianmistresses.Later,theBritishmissionariesinIndiawerealwayssupportersofcolonialismtheyencourageditandtheirwholestructurewasbasedon"thegoodWesterncivilisedworldbeingbroughttothePagans".InthewordsofClaudiusBuccchanan,achaplainattachedtotheEastIndiaCompany:"...Neithertruth,norhonesty,honour,gratitude,norcharity,istobefoundinthebreastofaHindoo"...WhatacommentaboutanationthatgavetheworldtheVedasandtheUpanishads!Afterthefailedmutinyof1857,themissionariesbecameevenmoremilitant,usingtheseculararmoftheBritishRaj,whofeltthattheuseoftheswordattheserviceoftheGospel,wasnowentirelyjustified,sothatatIndependence,entireregionsofthenortheastwereconvertedto
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Christianity.RememberhowSwamiVivekanandacriedinanguishattheParliamentofReligionsinChicago:"ifweHindusdigoutallthedirtfromthebottomofthePacificOceanandthrowitinyoufaces,itwillbebutaspeckcomparedtowhatthemissionarieshavedonetoourreligionandculture"".
Inthelatenineties,IndianChristianscomplainedaboutpersecutionsbyHindus"zealots".Itistruethattherehappenedtwoorthreecrimes,particularlyaghastlymurderagainstanAustralianmissionaryandhistwoyoungsons.ButthemassiveoutcryitevokedintheIndianPressshowedclearlyhowIndiansareconstantlydenyingthemselvesandconsiderthelifeofaWhiteManinfinitelymoreimportantanddearthanthelivesofahundredIndians.Ortoputitdifferently:thelifeofaChristianseemstothemmoresacredthanthelivesofmanyHindus,whichshowshowtheWhiteMan'spresenceinIndiastillhassuchanimpact.BecausewhenHinduswereslaughtered,whetherinPendjabintheeighties,orinKashmirinthenineties,whenmilitantswouldstopbusesandkillalltheHindusmen,womenandchildren,whenthefewlastcourageousHindustodareremaininKashmir,weresavagelyslaughteredinavillage,veryfewvoiceswereraisedintheIndianPressatleastthereneverwassuchanoutrageasprovokedbythemurderoftheAustralianmissionary.
Atlonglast,Hindusarebeginningtorealizetheharmdonebymissionariestotheirsocialandculturalfabric.Yeteventoday,onestillhearsofcovertattemptsatconversionbyChristianmissionaries.InthepoordistrictsofKeralaforexample,missionariesstillusethe"miracle"ploytoconvertpeople:thenaivedropsa"wish"inaboxplacedattheentranceofchurch.Andlo,thiswishaloan,somecloths,aboatismiraculouslygrantedafewdayslater.Needlesstosaythatthehappyinnocentconvertsquickly,bringingalonghiswholefamily.ItisalsothismeeknessoftheHindustowardstheChristians,asiftheBritishmissionarieshadpermanentlyleftanimprintofinferiorityinthecollectivepsycheofIndians,whichcontributestowardsIndia'sselfdenial.AndletusnotforgetthatPopeJohnPaulIIproclaimedthatAsiawillbethetargetofEvangelisationintheThirdMillennium.
6.Macaulay'sChildren
WhentheytookoverIndia,theBritishsetuponestablishinganintermediaryraceofIndians,whomtheycouldentrustwiththeirworkatthemiddlelevelechelonsandwhocouldonedaybeconvenientinstrumentstorulebyproxy,orsemiproxy.Thetooltoshapethese"Britishclones"waseducation.InthewordsofMacaulay,the"pope"ofBritishschoolinginIndia:"Wemustatpresentdoourbesttoformaclass,whomaybeinterpretersbetweenusandthemillionswegovernaclassofpersons,Indiansinbloodandcolour,butEnglishintaste,inopinions,inmoralsandinintellects".MacaulayhadverylittleregardforHinducultureandeducation:"allthehistoricalinformationwhichcanbecollectedfromallthebookswhichhavebeenwrittenintheSanskritlanguage,islessvaluablethanwhatmaybefoundinthemostpaltryabridgementusedatpreparatoryschoolsinEngland".Or:"Hindushavealiteratureofsmallintrinsicvalue,hardlyreconcilablewithmorality,fullofmonstroussuperstitions"...
ItseemstodaythatIndia'sMarxistandMuslimintelligentsiacouldnotagreemorewithMacaulay,forhisdreamhascometrue:nowadays,thegreatestadversariesofan"indianisedandspiritualisededucation"arethedescendantsofthese"BrownShahibs":the"secular"politicians,thejournalists,thetopbureaucrats,infactthewholewesternisedcreamofIndia.Andwhatisevenmoreparadoxical,isthatmostofthemareHindus!Itisthey,whoupongettingindependence,havedeniedIndiaitstrueidentityandborrowedblindlyfromtheBritisheducationsystem,withouttryingtoadaptittotheuniqueIndianmentalityandpsychologyanditistheywhoarerefusingtoacceptachangeofIndia'seducationsystem,whichistotallywesternorientedandischurningoutmachineslearningbyheartboringstatisticswhichareoflittleusefulnessinlife.AndwhatIndiaisgettingfromthiseducationisayouthwhichapestheWest:theygotoMacDonald's,thriveonMTVculture,wearthelatestKleinjeansandLacosteTShirts,andingeneralareuseless,richparasites,inacountrywhichhassomanytalentedyoungsterswholiveinpoverty.Theywillgrowuplikemillionsofotherwesternclonesinthedevelopingworld,whowearatie,readtheNewYorkTimesandswearbyliberalismandsecularismtosavetheircountriesfromdoom.Intime,theywillreachelevatedpositionsandwritebooksandarticleswhichmakefunofIndia,theywillpresidehumanrightcommittees,be"secular"highbureaucrats
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whotakethewrongdecisionsandgenerallydotremendousharmtoIndia,becauseithasbeenprogrammedintheirgenestoalwaysrundowntheirowncountry.Inagist,theywillbetheoneswhoarealwayslookingattheWestforapprovalandforeverperceiveIndiathroughthewesternprism.Itissaidthatanationhastobeproudofitselftomoveforwardandunlessthereisabigchangeinthisintellectualelite,unlessitismoreconsciousofitsheritageandofIndia'sgreatness,whichhasbeguntohappeninasmallway,itisgoingtobeverydifficultforIndiatoenterthe21stcenturyasarealsuperpower.
Thustheeducationcurriculumhastobetotallyrevised.Forinstance,IndianhistoryisstilltaughtasitwasdevisedbywesternscholarsanditpromotesblindlytheoriessuchastheAryanInvasion,whichprobablyneverhappened.Ontheotherhand,studentslearnpracticallynothingabouttheextraordinarygeniusoftheirculture.StudiesoftheVedas,forexample,shouldbemadecompulsoryfromtheseventhgradeupwards,because,asSriAurobindoremarked:"theVedawasthebeginningofourspiritualknowledge,theVedawillremainitsend.TherecoveryoftheperfecttruthoftheVedaisthereforenotmerelyadesideratumforourmodernintellectualcuriosity,butapracticalnecessityforthefutureofthehumanrace.ForIfirmlybelievethatthesecretconcealedintheVeda,whenentirelydiscovered,willbefoundtoformulateperfectlythatknowledgeandpracticeofdivinelifetowhichthemarchofhumanity,afterlongwanderingsinthesatisfactionoftheintellectandsenses,mustinevitablyreturn."(India'sRebirth,p.94).Indianchildrenshouldbetoldabouttheimmensehumanandspiritualvaluesoftheirownliterature,likeweinEuropearebroughtuponthevaluesoftheIliadandtheOdyssey,orthegreatGreektragedies.Therefore,educationinIndiahastobemoreindianiseditisnotaquestionofbeing"nationalistic",or"saffronoriented",asIndianMarxistsarefondofsaying,butofknowingone'sownculture:theVedas,theBhagavadGita,theRamayana,whichaccordingtomanywesternscholarsstandamongthegreatestliteraryworkseverwritten.
Ofcourse,Indianstudentshavetobegearedupforthecompetitiveworld,becauseunlessyoucandealonparwiththeWest,unlessyoucanspeakfluentlyEnglish,inordertodobusinessandinteract,youcannotcompete,youcannotbecomeagreatnation.Therefore,thebestofwesterneducationhastobeimparted,asSriAurobindohadclearlyindicated:"Nationaleducation...maybedescribedastheeducationwhichstartingwiththepastandmakingfulluseofthepresent,buildsupagreatnation.Whoeverwishestocutofthenationfromitspast,isnofriendofournationalgrowth.Whoeverfailstotakeadvantageofthepresent,islosingusthebattleoflife.WemustthereforesaveforIndiaallthatshehasstoredupofknowledge,characterandnoblethoughtsinherimmemorialpast.WemustacquireforherthebestknowledgethatEuropecangiveherandassimilateittoherownpeculiartypeofnationaltemperament.Wemustintroducethebestmethodsofteachinghumanityhasdeveloped,whethermodernorancient.Andallthesewemustharmoniseintoasystemwhichwillbeimpregnatedwiththespiritofselfreliance,soastobuildupmenandnotmachines".(India'sReb36).ThenIndiawillproducegenerationaftergenerationofchildrenwhoareproudoftheirowncountriesanddonotgoaboutnegatingthemselves.
7.ThePartitionoftheSubcontinent
ThefirstleadersofpreindependentIndiatooksomedisastrousdecisions,andtheworstofthemwastoallowthedivisionoftheirowncountryonreligiouslines.Andtoday,theconsequencesofthispartitionarestillfelt:KashmiristhemostvisibleofthembutyoualsohaveAyodhya,Kargil,thenuclearbomb,theBombayorCoimbatoreblastsandaboveall,theselfnegationofanationwhichisnotwhole,whichhaslostsomeofitsmostpreciouslimbsin1947.Yes,itistrue,theBritishusedtothehilttheexistingdividebetweenHindusandMuslimsyes,theCongresswasweak:itacceptedwhatwasforceddownitsthroatbyJinnahandMountbatten,eventhoughmanyofitsleaders,andafewmoderateMuslims,disagreedwiththeprincipleofpartitionitwasalsoGandhi'spolicyofnonviolenceandgratifyingthefanaticalMuslimminority,inthehopethatitwouldseethelight,whichdidtremendousharmtoIndiaandencouragedJinnahtohardenhisdemands.Butultimately,onehastogobacktotheroots,tothebeginningofitall,inordertounderstandPartition.Onehastotravelbackinhistorytogetaclearoverallpicture.Thisiswhymemoryisessential,thisiswhyHolocaustsshouldneverbeforgotten.
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ForJinnahwasonlythevehicle,theinstrument,theavatar,thelatestreincarnationofthemedievalMuslimscomingdowntorapeandlootandplunderthelandofBharat.HewasthetruesonofMahmudGhaznavi,ofMuhammedGhasi,ofAurangzeb.HetookupagaintheworkleftunfinishedbythelastMughaltwocenturiesearlier:'DarulIslam',theHouseofIslam.TheHinduMuslimquestionisanoldonebutisitreallyaMuslimHinduquestion,orjustplainlyaMuslimobsession,theirhatredoftheHindupagans,theircontemptforthispolytheistreligion?Thisobsession,thishate,isasoldasthefirstinvasionofIndiabytheArabsin650.Afterindependence,nothinghaschanged:theswordofAllahisstillasmuchreadytostriketheKafirs,theidolatersofmanyGods.TheMuslimsinvadedthiscountry,conqueredit,lootedit,razeditstemples,humiliateditsHinduleaders,killeditsBrahmins,converteditsweakersections.True,itwasalldoneinthenameofAllahandmanyofitschiefsweresincereinthinkingtheyweredoingtheirdutybyhuntingdowntheInfidel.Sohowcouldtheyaccepton15thAugust1947tosharepoweronanequalbasiswiththosewhoweretheirsubjectsforthirteencenturies?"Eitherthesolepowerforourselves,andourruleovertheHindusasitisoursovereignright,wetheadorersoftheoneandonlytrueGodOrwequitIndiaandestablishourownnation,aMuslimnation,ofthetruefaith,wherewewillliveamongstourselves".
Thusthereisnoplaceforidolatersinthiscountry,thisgreatnationofPakistantheycanatbestbe'tolerated'assecondclasscitizens.HencetheneartotalexodusofHindusfromPakistan,whereasmorethanhalftheMuslimpopulationinIndia,chosetostay,knowingfullwellthattheywouldgetthefreedomtobeandtopracticetheirownreligion.Inpassing,theMuslimstooktheirpoundoffleshfromtheHindusoncemorebyindulginginterriblemassacres,whichwerefollowedbyretaliationsfromSikhsandhardcoreHindus,theultimatehorror.Partitiontriggeredoneofthemostterribleexodusinthehistoryofhumanity.Andthisexodushasnotended:theystillcomebyhundredsofthousandeveryyearfromBangladesh,fleeingpoverty,floodingIndiawithproblems,whenthecountryhasalreadysomanyofherown.
ForFrenchhistorianAlainDanielou,thedivisionofIndiawasonthehumanlevelaswellasonthepoliticalone,agreatmistake:"ItaddedtotheMiddleEastanunstablestate,Pakistan,andburdenedIndiawhichalreadyhadseriousproblems".Andheadds:"IndiawhoseancientbordersstretcheduntilAfghanistan,lostwiththecountryofsevenrivers(theIndusValley),thehistoricalcentreofhercivilisation.AtatimewhentheMusliminvadersseemedtohavelostsomeoftheirextremismandwerereadytoassimilatethemselvestootherpopulationsofIndia,theEuropeanconquerors,beforereturninghome,surrenderedoncemorethecradleofHinducivilisationtoMuslimfanaticism."(Histoiredel'Inde,p.355)
PakistaniswillarguethatthevalleyofKashmir,whichhasaMuslimmajority,shouldhavegonetoPakistanandinthemadlogicofpartitiontheyarenottotallywrong.ItisbecauseNehruandGandhiacceptedthislogic,whichwastremendouslystupid,thatIndiaissufferingsomuchtoday.Ofcourse,wecannotgoback,Historyhasbeenmade:Pakistanhasbecomeanindependentcountryanditisa"faitaccompli".ButifyougotoPakistantoday,youwillnoticethatitsPunjabislookexactlythesameasIndianPunjabis:theyhavethesamemannerisms,eatthesamefood,dresssimilarly,speakthesamelanguage...Everythingunitesthem,exceptreligion.AndthisiswhatSriAurobindokeptsayingin1947:"Indiaisfree,butshehasnotachievedunity,onlyafissuredandbrokenfreedom...ThewholecommunaldivisionintoHinduandMuslimseemstohavehardenedintothefigureofapermanentpoliticaldivisionofthecountry.ItistobehopedthattheCongressandtheNationwillnotacceptthesettledfactasforeversettled,orasanythingmorethanatemporaryexpedient.Forifitlasts,Indiamaybeseriouslyweakened,evencrippledcivilstrifemayremainalwayspossible,possibleevenanewinvasionandforeignconquest.Thepartitionofthecountrymustgo...ForwithoutitthedestinyofIndiamightbeseriouslyimpairedandfrustrated.Thatmustnotbe."(MessageofSriAurobindoonthe15thofAugust1947).Itisonlywhenthesubcontinentwillbewholeagainandthescarsonbothsideshavebeenhealed,thataGreaterIndiawillregainsomeoftheselfpridegonewithPartition.
8.TheHumiliationof1962
ThesocalledKargilwarofKashmirinJune99hastriggeredtwoverypositivephenomenonsforIndia.Forthefirsttimeinalongstretch,itgavethecountryabitofnationalism,itmademanyIndiansproudofthe
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heroismandselflessnessoftheirsoldiers.Whateverjingoism,orchauvinismtherealsowas,onecouldfeel,fromTamilNadutoPunjab,thatforatimetheregrewafeelingoftogethernessinthenation,theknowledgeofone'ssoldiersfightingitoutthere,intheharshestandmostdangerousconditionsanddefendingMotherIndia'ssacredland.Andthatwasverypositive,forunlessanationpossessesabitofnationalism,itcannotkeepongrowing.AndthesecondverypositiveaspectisthatithasrevivedinIndiaanotionwhichhasbeenextinctforalongtime:thatofthekshatriyaspirit.Anationneedswarriors,itneedssoldierstodefenditselfandprotectitswomen,children,anditsbordersfromhostileandasuricelements,whichthroughouthistoryhavenegatedtheGoodandtheHoly.ItisfinetobeGandhianandnonviolent,butinthetoughandroughworldoftoday,onecannotbetoonaive:youneedastrongandwellequippedarmytobeabletodefendone'sdharma.ButawellequippedarmyisnotenoughwehaveseenhowtodaytheUnitedStates'army,themostmodernandhightechoftheworld,isonlycapableoffightingfromadistance,eitherbombardingfromthesky,orshootingfromboatsoffshore,acoward'swar,asitssoldiershavelostthesenseofkshatriya,ofhonour,ofdyingforone'scountry.InKargil,Indiasawtheselflessnessofitssoldiers,withalltheofficersinfront,climbinginthecoldunderenemyfireandwrestlingpeaksinimpossibleconditions,withlittlemorethanbloodandtears.
ButnotonlyIndianslackselfconfidenceintheirdealingswiththeWest,buttheyseemtohaveapermanentfearoftheChinese.Isitbecausein1962,theChinesetookadvantageofIndia'snaivete,andattackedtreacherouslyintheHimalayas,humiliatingtheIndianarmyandtakingaway20.000squarekilometresofherterritory,whichtheyhavenotyetvacated?India'sfirstPrimeMinister,JawarlahalNehru,haddecidedthatIndiaandChinawerethenatural'socialist'brothersofAsia.ShortlybeforeChina'sattack,theIndianArmyChiefofStaffhaddraftedapaperonthethreatstoIndia'ssecuritybyChina,alongwithrecommendationsforacleardefencepolicy.ButwhenNehrureadthepaper,hesaid:"Rubbish.TotalRubbish.Wedon'tneedadefenceplan.Ourpolicyisnonviolence.Weforeseenomilitarythreats..ScraptheArmy.Thepolicearegoodenoughtomeetoursecurityneeds."Weknowtheresultsofthisveryfoolishassessment.
ButthebiggestmistakethatNehrudidwastobetrayTibet,apeacefulspiritualisednation.ForTibethadalwaysbeenanaturalbufferbetweenthetwoGiantsofAsiainfact,theDalaiLama'srepeatedofferthatTibetbecomesadenuclearised,demilitarisedzonebetweenIndiaandChina,makestotalsensetodayandIndianleadersshouldhaveimmediatelyadoptedit.Butunfortunately,ifthereisonethingwhichallpoliticalpartiesinIndiashare,itisthepolicyofappeasingChinainexchangeforanoninterferenceoftheChineseinKashmir.Butwhatnoninterference?NotonlydidChinagivePakistantheknowhowtodevelopnuclearweapons,butitalsoprovidedmissilestodeliverthem!Ontopofthat,accordingtotheCIA,ChinahastransferredonethirdofitsnucleararsenaltoNagchuka,250kmsawayfromLhassa,aregionfullofhugecaves,whichtheChinesehavelinkedtogetherbyanintricateundergroundnetworkandwheretheyhaveinstallednearlyonehundredIntercontinentalBallisticMissiles,manyofthempointedatIndiancities.ThereasonforthisisthattheChinese,whoareprobablyamongthemostintelligentpeopleintheworld,havealwaysunderstoodthatIndiaistheirnumberonepotentialenemyinAsiainmilitary,nuclearandeconomicterms.
ItshouldbeclearthataslongasIndiadoesnotstandupuptoitsresponsibilitytowardsTibetandcontinuestorecogniseChina'sunjustsuzeraintyofit,therewillbenopeaceinAsia.IndianleadersareperfectlyawarethattheChinese,aspanoffiftyyears,havekilled1,2millionTibetans,razedtotheground6254monasteries,destroyed60%ofreligious,historicalandculturalarchivesandthatoneTibetanoutoftenisstillinjail.AsweentertheThirdMillennium,aquartermillionChinesetroopsareoccupyingTibetandthereare7.5millionChinesesettlersforsixmillionTibetansinfact,inmanyplacessuchasthecapital,Lhassa,Tibetansareoutnumberedtwotoone...IndiahasalsotowakeuptotheplainfactthatChinaneedsspaceandhashegemonicaspirations:itgotTibet,itgotHongKong,itgotpartofLadhaknowitwantsTaiwan,ArunachalPradesh,theSpratlyislandsandwhatnot!Fiftyyearsago,duringtheKoreanwar,SriAurobindo,hadseenclearlyintheChinesegame:"thefirstmoveintheChineseCommunistplanofcampaignistodominateandtakepossessionfirstofthesenorthernpartsandthenofSouthEastAsiaasapreliminarytotheirmanoeuvreswithregardtotherestofthecontinentinpassingTibetasagateopeningtoIndia".Indiashouldovercomeits
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aweofChinaandbereadytoeventuallyfaceoncemoretheChinesearmy.ThenucleartestsofIndia,whichhavebeenverycriticised,becauseideallyyouhavetogetridofnuclearweaponsifyouwantasafeworld,shouldbeseeninthatlight.
9.AWesternisedFramework
ItisnotonlytheBritisheducationsystem,whichwasblindlyadoptedatIndependencebyNehru,butalsothewholejudicial,constitutional,andlegalsetup.TheConstitution,forinstance,hasrepeatedlyshownitsflaws,asthePresidents,whohasnorealpowers,areplayingmoreandmoregamesandtryingtoimpingeuponthePrimeMinister'sprerogatives.DemocracyinIndiahasalsobeenperverted:wehaveseenhowtheCongress,whointhelastthreeelectionsofthecenturymadedisastrousshowings,hasusedthesubtletiesofthesystemtobringdownfoursuccessivegovernments,thusprovokinguselessandexpensiveelections,whichinturnthrewnostablegovernmentsuntiltheNationalDemocraticAlliancewonbyalandslidein1999.Therefore,itisthewholedemocraticsystemofIndiathathastobereshapedtosuitanew,truernation,whichwillmanifestagainitsancientwisdom.
AndwhatistruedemocracyforIndia,butthelawofDharma?Itisthislawthathastoberevived,itisthislawthatmustbethefoundationofatruedemocraticIndia:"IthasbeensaidthatdemocracyisbasedontherightsofmanithasbeenrepliedthatitshouldrathertakeitsstandonthedutiesofmanbutbothrightsanddutiesareEuropeanideas.DharmaistheIndianconceptioninwhichrightsanddutieslosetheartificialantagonismcreatedbyaviewoftheworldwhichmakesselfishnesstherootofactionandregaintheirdeepandeternalunity.DharmaisthebasisofdemocracywhichAsiamustrecognise,forinthisliesthedistinctionbetweenthesoulofAsiaandthesoulofEurope."(India'sRebp.37March16th1908)
Andthemostwonderfulthingisthat,practically,IndiahasathandthemodelofanewformofdemocracyintheoldPanchayatsystemofIndianvillages,whichhastoberevivedandworkeduptothetop.TheseancientPanchayatsystemandtheirguildswereveryrepresentativeandtheyhadalivingcontactwiththepeople.Ontheotherhand,theparliamentarysystemhaslostcontactwiththemasses:theMPelectedfromTamilNaduorAndhraPradesh,sitsmostofhistimeinDelhi,anartificial,arrogantandfarawaycity.Thepalatialbungalow,thecar,theservants,thesycophancy,thetemptationtogetcorruptheencountersthere,makehimforgethisoriginalaspirationtoservethepeopleifheeverhadone...WhathastobedoneisnotonlytodecentralizetheGovernment,bygivingagreaterautonomytothestateswhichshouldtakecareofmostseparatistmovementsbutalsotosendbacktheelectedpoliticianstotheirfieldsofwork,sothattheyhavealivingcontactwiththeirpeople,astheydidtwothousandyearsago:"Wehadaspontaneousandafreegrowthofcommunitiesdevelopingontheirownlines...Eachsuchcommunalformoflifethevillage,thetown,etc.whichformedtheunitofnationallife,wasleftfreeinitsowninternalmanagement.Thecentralauthorityneverinterferedwithit...becauseitsfunctionwasnotsomuchtolegislateastoharmoniseandseethateverythingwasgoingallright"...(India'sRebirth172)
TheJudiciary,withitsmillionsofbacklogcases,whichsometimestakedecadestobedecidedupon,withitslawyerslookinglikecrowsintheseridiculousblackdresses,wouldhavetobereviewedtoo.ItwouldbeabsurdtoputbacktheManulawintopracticebutcertainlythelawofDharma,ofTruth,shouldbetranslatedintoanewJudicialsystem.NottojudgeaccordingtoWesternstandards,withitssocalledsecularvalues,whichhavenorelevancetoIndia:"Theworkofthelegislatorsattemptedtotakeuptheordinarylifeofmanandofthecommunityandthelifeofhumandesireandaimandinterestandorderedruleandcustomandtointerpretandformulateitinthesamecompleteanddecisivemannerandatthesametimetothrowthewholeintoanorderedrelationtotherulingideasofthenationalcultureandframeandperpetuateasocialsystemintelligentlyfashionedsoastoprovideabasis,astructure,agradationbywhichtherecouldbeasecureevolutionofthelifefromthevitalandmental,tothespiritualmotive.."(FoundofIndianCulturep.283).
Indiahasnonationallanguage,asNehruthoughtthatEnglishcouldbetheunifyinglanguage.Butbarely10%ofIndiaknowsEnglishfluentlyandHindiisspokenonlyintheNorth.Yet,veryfewseemstorealisethatIndiapossessesinSanskrittheMotherofalllanguages,sointricate,sosubtle,sorich,thatnootherspeech
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canequalittoday.ItcouldeasilybecometheunifyinglanguageofIndia:"SanskritoughtstilltohaveafutureasthelanguageofthelearnedanditwillnotbeagooddayforIndiawhentheancienttonguesceaseentirelytobewrittenorspoken",admonished50yearsagoSriAurobindo,Adeadlanguage,yousay!Impossibletorevive?Butthat'swhattheyarguedaboutHebrew.AnddidnottheJewishpeople,whentheygotbacktheirlandin1948,revivetheir'dead'language,sothatitisspokentodaybyallJewishpeopleandhasbecomealiveagain?ThesamethingoughttobedonewithSanskrit,butasSriAurobindopointsout:"itmustgetridofthecurseoftheheavypedanticstylecontractedbyitinitsdecline,withthelumberingimpossiblecompoundsandtheoverweightofhairsplittingerudition".LetthescholarsbeginnowtoreviveandmodernisetheSanskritlanguage,itwouldbeasuresignofthedawningoftheRenaissanceofIndia.Inafewyearsitshouldbetaughtasthesecondlanguageinschoolsthroughoutthecountry,withtheregionallanguageasthefirstandEnglishasthethird.Ontopofthat,Sanskritwouldbeagifttotheworld,becauseitwillboostthestudiesoftheVedas,whosegreatsecretswillbeunravelled.Andagain,thiswillgoinenhancingIndia'sselfimage.
10.AriseAgainOAncientIndia
"AriseOIndia,beproudoncemoreofThyself",onewouldbetemptedtosayinconclusion.ThisshouldbeIndia'smottofortheThirdMillennium,afterfivecenturiesofselfdenial.For,inspiteofitspoverty,inspiteofthefalseAryaninvasion,inspiteoftheMuslimholocaust,inspiteofEuropeancolonialism,inspiteofMacaulay'schildren,inspiteofthePartition,inspiteoftheChinesethreat,inspiteofthewesternisedframework,Indiastillhasgottremendouspotential.Everythingisthere,readytobemanifestedagain,readytomouldIndiainanewmodernnation,asuperpowerofthe21stcentury.Ofcourse,Indiahastosucceeditsindustrialisation,ithastoliberalise,becauseunlessyoucancompeteeconomicallywiththeWest,nonationcanbecomeasuperpower.Indiahasalsotosolveitspoliticalproblems,settleitsseparatisttroubles,getridofcorruptionandbureaucracy.Andlastly,ithastoapplyquicklyitsmindandgeniustoitsecologicalproblems,becausetheenvironmentinIndiaisinaverybadway,nearthepointofnoreturn.Thus,ifIndiacansucceedintoitsindustrialisationandliberalisation,becomeaforcetobereckonedmilitarily,economicallyandsocially,thenthewonderthatISIndiacouldagainmanifestitself.
AndwhatisthisWonder?Beyondtheimageofpoverty,ofbackwardness,beyondeventhewonderthatisHinduism,thereisaKnowledgespiritual,occult,esoteric,medicalevenstillalivetodayinIndia.ThisKnowledgewasonceroamingupontheshoresofthisworldinEgypt,Mesopotamia,Greece...butithasnowvanishedtobereplacedbyreligions,withtheirdogmasandrituals,do'sanddon't,hellsandheavens.Forwehavelostthetruth.wehavelosttheGreatSense,themeaningofourevolution,themeaningofwhysomuchsuffering,whydying,whygettingborn,whythisearth,whoarewe,whatisthesoul,whatisreincarnation,whereistheultimatetruthabouttheworld,theuniverse...ButIndiahaskeptthistruth,Indiahasmanagedtopreserveitthroughsevenmillenniumsofpitfalls,ofgenocidesandattemptsatkillinghersantanamdharma.AndthiswillbeIndia'sgifttothisplanetduringthenextcentury:torestoretotheworlditstruesense.torechargehumanitywiththerealmeaningandspiritoflife,togifttothisdolorousPlanetThatwhichisbeyondmind:theSupraMental.Indiawillbecomethespiritualleaderoftheworld:"ItisthisreligionthatIamraisingupbeforetheworld,itisthisthatIhaveperfectedanddevelopedthroughtheRishis,Saints,andAvatars,andnowitisgoingforthtodomyworkamongthenations.Iamraisingforththisnationtosendforthmyword...WhenthereforeitissaidthatIndiashallrise,itistheSantanaDharmathatshallrise,itistheSantanaDharmathatshallbegreat.WhenitissaidthatIndiashallexpandandextendherself,itistheSantanaDharmathatshallexpandandextenditselfovertheworld.ItisfortheDharmaandbytheDharmathatIndiaexists".(India'sReb.p.46Uttaraspeech)
Thisknowledgedoesnotnecessarilyresideinmysticalrealms,asitcanbeverypractical.Ayurvedaforinstance,theoldestmedicalsciencestillinpractise,butwhichisunfortunatelynowbeingneglected.Asaresult,Americancompaniesarepatentingmedicinesusingthepropertiesofneemorhaldi,whichwereknown4000yearsagobyIndia'sforefathers.AsinthecaseofSanskrit,theIndianGovernmentshouldputitsenergiesandresourcestowardstherevivingofAyurveda,sothatIndiaisnottotallyswampedbyallopathic
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medicine,whichiscontrolledbymultinationals.Orpranayama,thescienceofbreathing.Itisaverypractical,downtoearthknowledgeanditseffectshavebeenstudiedforthousandsofyears.Indianteachersknowexactlywhatresultswillthistypeorthattypeofexercisehaveonyouandwhatkindofroutineyoushoulddotoimprovethatparticularproblem,ordevelopthiscertainfacultyinyou.PranayamaisprobablythebestsuitedIndianyogicdisciplinefortheWest,becauseitissodowntoearth,soscientifictherearenomiracles,nolevitation,nosmokymysticismandeverythingcanbeexplainedinarationalway.Andagain,theU.S.A.,alwaysprompttoexperiencenewtechniques,isusingthisknowledge:quiteafewAmericancompanieshaveincludedexercisesofpranayamainthepepssessionsoftheirexecutivessportsmentooareexperimentingwithittoimprovetheirperformances,asthefilm"theGreatBlue",hasshownwhentheherodoesaseriesofbreathingexercisesknowninIndiaas"Viloma",tostoreasmuchairaspossibleinhislungs,beforebreakingaworldrecordinunderwaterdivingwithoutoxygen.Thenyouhavemeditation,thequeenallofyogicdisciplines,whichisbeingpractisedmoreandmoreintheWest,astherehavebeennumerousscientificstudies,whichhaveshownthepositiveeffectofmeditationonheartproblems,psychologicalstressorbloodcirculation.
TheironyofitallisthatnotonlymostoftheIndianupperclassandintellectualelitedoesnotpractisemeditationandpranayama,orgetstreatedforitsproblemswithAyurveda,butthatnoneofthesethingsareincludedintheschoolsanduniversitiescurriculum.Soyouhavethiswonderfulknowledge,whichhasdisappearedfromtherestoftheworld,butifyougotocitieslikeDelhi,orBombay,yourealisethatmostoftheyouththerehavenoideaaboutmeditation,orhaveneverheardofpranayama.Theyaretotallycutofffromtheirancientculture,fromthegreatnessoftheirtradition,andevenlookdownonit.SounlessIndiansstarttakingprideintheirownculture,Indiawillneverbeabletogiftittotheworld.
FamousFrenchwriterAndreMalrauxhadsaidthatunlessthe21centuryisspiritual,thenitwillnotbe.Whathemeantwasthattheworldhasnowcometosuchastageofunhappiness,ofmaterialdryness,ofconflictswithinitself,thatitseemsdoomedandthereappearsnowaythatitcanredeemItself:itisjustgoingtowardsselfdestruction,ecologically,socially,spiritually.Sounlessthe21stcenturyallowsanewspiritualordertotakeovernotareligiousorder,becausereligionhasbeenafailure,allovertheworldthentheworldisgoingtowardspralaya.AndIndiaholdsthekeytotheworld'sfuture,forIndiaistheonlynationwhichstillpreservesinthedarknessofHerHimalayancaves,ontheluminousghatsofBenares,intheheartsofhercountlessyogis,oreveninthemindsofherordinaryfolk,thekeytotheplanetaryevolution,itsfutureanditshope.
The21stcenturythen,willbetheeraoftheEastthisiswherethesunisgoingtoriseagain,aftercenturiesofdecadenceandsubmissiontoWesterncolonialismthisiswherethefocusoftheworldisgoingtoshift.AndaswhenIndiausedtoshineandsendforthHerDharmaallovertheOrient:toJapan,Thailand,China,Burma,orCambodiaandinfluencetheircivilisationsandreligionsforcenturiestocome,oncemoreShewillemitHerlightandradiate,Queenamongnations:"IndiaoftheagesisnotdeadnorhasShespokenHerlastcreativewordShelivesandhasstillsomethingtodoforHerselfandthehumanpeoples.AndthatwhichShemustseeknowtoawake,isnotananglicisedorientalpeople,docilepupiloftheWestanddoomedtorepeatthecycleoftheOccident'ssuccessandfailure,butstilltheancientimmemorialShaktirecoveringHerdeepestself,liftingHerheadhighertowardsthesupremesourceoflightandstrengthandturningtodiscoverthecompletemeaningandvasterformofHerDharma".
Then,India'sSelfDenialwillbedonewithforever...
AbouttheAuthor
FrancoisGautier(mailto:[email protected]),borninParisin1950,isaFrenchjournalistandwriter,whoisthepoliticalcorrespondentinIndiaandSouthAsiafor"LeFigaro",France'slargestcirculationnewspaper.HeismarriedtoanIndianandhaslivedinIndiaforthepast29years,whichhashelpedhimtoseethroughtheusualclichesandprejudicesonIndia,(towhichhesubscribedforalongtime),asmostforeign(andsometimes,unfortunately,Indian)journalists,writersandhistoriansdo.Heshuttlesbetween
mailto:[email protected]
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DelhiandtheinternationalcityofAurovillenearPondichery.
Bibliography
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