Hindu lambs now lions
Following the historic victory for the Hindu community of South Africa against Alexander Mac Gibbon as reported exclusively in POST (May 2327), there arises a resurgence of Hindu pride, dignity and assertiveness.
The whisper of Hinduness has grown into a roar. Hindu lambs have become Hindu lions. Hindus are no more weak and meek, docile and servile. Buoyant Hindus have become emboldened, empowered and energised to fight for their constitutional rights.
For far too long, Hindus have suffered in silence against racial and religious rants. It is time to break the silence. It is time to stand up, step up and speak up and fight back when attacked. Yes, we can! If you say nothing and do nothing, you become nothing. Hindus are born winners, not sinners.
The Dharma Sabha will not tolerate intolerance. The Dharma Sabha will not allow anyone to denigrate our glorious Hindu religion and culture, or trample upon Hindu sensitivities with impunity. Hindu bashers must stop or be stopped. Enough is enough.
The Dharma Sabha will act swiftly, efficiently and effectively to protect and promote Hindu rights, interests and aspirations. Religious bigots and zealots must recognise and respect the rights of others to be different, to have different religious beliefs, principles and practices. Respect and be respected.
In October 2016, when Hindus were rightfully using fireworks to celebrate Diwali, Dawie Kriel and MacGibbon posted religious and racist rants on Facebook. Both were appropriately punished by the Equality Court.
Kriel slandered Hindus as “idol worshippers and devil disciples” MacGibbon stated: “the f ****** charos sent here from India to cut cane were all low class rubbish with no morals, it shows!”
Morals, ethics and value systems evolved from the Hindu ethos of Dharma from the beginning of human creation.
Our great ancestors proved to be great. Through epic struggle, suffering, sacrifice, toil, tears and triumphs they turned scars into stars and contributed sterlingly to the development of a peaceful, progressive and prosperous South Africa.
During the colonial era, marriage certificates of our indentured ancestors listed their religion as “heathen”. When colonialists conquered countries, they brought along missionaries to colonise the minds of local “heathens”, “save” them and convert them to Christianity.
During the repressive colonial and apartheid regimes, only Christianity was recognised by the state. Thankfully, our new democratic Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act No. 108 of 1996 guarantees all religions equal rights, status, treatment and respect.
It is necessary to state some facts.
It was the Hindus who first introduced the concept of God to mankind. It is the Hindus who are the original believers in the One, True, Living, and Loving Lord. According to the sacred Vedas, the first books in the library of mankind (dating back more than 6000 BC), “God is One. People call Him by various names.” (Rig Veda: 1.164.46) In the Holy Gita, the Direct Spoken Word of God, Lord Krishna explains: “Howsoever do people worship Me, even so, do I welcome them, for the paths that people take from different sides – all lead unto Me.” All human beings pray to the same One God through different names and forms. God is not the exclusive property of any one religion.
Hindus cannot be called “idol worshippers” or “devil disciples”. There is no place for the devil or hell in Hinduism. God Almighty is everywhere, every time for everyone.
Hindus are not “idol worshippers”. Hindus do not pray “to” but “through” murthees which are tangible images, symbols and manifestations of the One God. The murthee, in a form and name of choice, is an aid to concentrate and connect with God in a personalised and meaningful manner. The murthee enhances God-consciousness, and the soul sings and soars to a higher level of spiritual evolution. Hindus do not perform idol worship but ideal worship.
Hindus have been subjected to religious, but also racial discrimination.
Hinduism rejects racism, a fundamental tenet of Hinduism is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the whole world is one family. The central ideal of Hinduism is Oneness. There is one world existence. There is essential unity of life despite its diversity. The differences are in degree not kind.
God is equally and identically present in every living being. In every being is enshrined a soul (Atma) which is part of God or the Universal soul (Paramatma). It is the One same life force that pulsates through all beings. All life is sacred.
In the Holy Gita, the Direct Spoken Word of God, Lord Krishna states: “He who sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self everywhere sees equally.” The recognition of this essential divinity and dignity in all beings can forge real unity among all human beings transcending relative differences of race, religion, culture, etc. This vision of the inherent worth, divinity and dignity of every human being forms the inspirational basis of the Hindu outlook of One God, One World, One Family.
Hinduism cannot sanction discrimination on the basis of race, not only because racism is inconsistent with Hindu understanding of the nature of the human being, but also because racism denies the Oneness and unity of all life.
Discrimination on the grounds of race or religion is the outcome of a broken and constricted view of life emphasising superficial differences. Its ethics, therefore, are not those of according to the others the rights and privileges which one would wish for oneself, but of seeking to advance one’s separate and selfish interests at the expense of all others. Its justification and practice are antithetical to the apex principles and philosophy of Hinduism.
Hindus and all South Africans should consciously and collectively fight against racial and religious discrimination and thereby advance inter-racial goodwill, inter-faith harmony, inter-cultural appreciation, unity in diversity, social cohesion and nation building. Together, we can and must build a new South Africa at peace with itself and at peace with the rest of the world.