The beginning…
A friend asked me a few days ago why did I start this and what triggered the idea?
The first was rage and the feeling of deep frustration and helplessness that was triggered by the failed attempt on our Parliament in Dec 2001. The plan failed but the audacity was breathtaking. As expected, the government promptly condemned Pak-sponsored terrorism but did not feel potent enough to do anything about it - and this was the BJP government with Shri Advani (aka �the hardliner�) in power at the Centre. See e.g., �India � Pakistan tensions rise following Parliament Attack�.
In spite of having photographic evidence of terrorist camps across the border (which we rarely miss a chance to tell the world about, (e.g. �India gives ultimatum to Pakistan to dismantle “terrorist camps”, and �Terrorist camps thriving�), the government lacked the guts to tackle the problem head on.
Just three months before that, we had watched with awe and fascination, US forces bomb remote areas of Afghanistan within days of Sept 2001 and without waiting for any explicit �permission� from any higher authority.
This was something that I could not comprehend.3000 people die and a �superpower� declares war. We had many times over that number killed in J&K alone (more than 30,000 in a decade, according to a report in CNN) and yet we still did not have the political will to take action.
Three and a half years on, other than the terrorists who were shot, only two people have been indicted in the attack. Two others have been acquitted due to the absence of concrete and unimpeachable evidence.This was the deep frustration and helplessness.
Today there is also rage.
The second incident that really shocked me to the core was the Beslan massacre � It was, in a way, the last straw.
I became convinced that we were fighting an enemy so deadly and so ruthless that our whole value system and the fundamental principles of humanity were at stake.Beslan shook me to the core - and I decided we have to fight, each one of us, in our own little way � but fight we must.
For the enemy will not rest - and what is at stake is not Chechenya or Kashmir or Afghanistan or the West � it is the entire world, the entire humanity � the idea that life must be held sacred, the idea of tolerance, that people are different and diversity should not be tolerated but accepted, respected even�and celebrated � this was at stake�and unless we fight, it would be lost.
Everything that we had learnt over the last thousands of years, all the progress that had been made, all the expressions of beautiful ancient cultures, in India, China and elsewhere, the art and architecture that flowered during the Renaissance, our collective cultural heritage, the symbols of modern technological progress � all of this would become hostage to these mad zealots.This was the impulse that led me to strongly feel that something must be done. The time for transient expression of frustration and anger was past.
And what could be better than to begin by understanding � to learn and to comprehend � what kind of ideology breeds this madness? How does it spread and what nurtures it?How could this bigotry thrive in a society that has given birth to a Gandhi and how ironic that one of its most horrendous expression of hatred should be in the country of Martin Luther King?
Some of you may think I am a Hindu fascist or, if you are feeling charitable, a neo-conservative. I am neither. I would like to think of myself as a liberal who is prepared to fight to defend his ideals, his beliefs and his principles.
And these include the belief in some core principles e.g. country above self and patriotism before one�s own needs. And it includes pride in being a Hindu, pride in belonging to an ancient culture that has given the world not just numbers, language and a great religion, but that has produced some of the most profound philosophical thoughts known to mankind.
And about the culture and religion, I can hardly talk enough.�Hindu Dharma� � the oldest surviving major religion in the world today�and the only one that gives you the choice, the freedom and the luxury of beliefs that is un-afforded in any other extant set of beliefs�which has, as one of its core tenets, the one-ness of all life�which professes that in spite of diversity and external dissimilarity, all beings are one, all life is sacred and all creatures are part of one eternal truth - the �Brahman�.
A religion and culture that had articulated, defined the concepts of tolerance and mutual respect even as most of mankind was still deep in the hinterlands of cultural and spiritual enlightenment.
So I am proud, very proud to be a Hindu�and I felt it was time, also, to begin learning more about it, about examining how it can be made more relevant to the world today and how can we create a unifying ideology based in its fundamental tenets.
All these strands have come together in a blog that I have simply called �Hindu Dharma� � it includes my thoughts and essays on topics as wide ranging from al-Qaeda to the essence of �Hindu-ism�. It is dedicated to my country, �matrubhoomi� - Bharat, and to my religion, culture and way of life � �Hindu-ism�.
If this has set you thinking, I will feel very satisfied and proud. Proud that I have been able to at least stir someone�somewhere.I do not expect much of anyone reading this � but if we could all, in our own little ways, make the world aware of the dangers being posed by a violent and extremist ideology, it would be a big step forward.
And to my fellow countrymen � Indians - who may be reading this, I would beg you to think, to become aware of the challenge that we face and say to you (as Shri Krishna said to Arjun when he was hesitant going into battle with the Kauravas):
�Cast off this petty faint heartedness and wake up!�
Touch someone, somewhere � please try and make a difference.
This is the time when inaction is not an option and indifference will be suicidal.
Jai Hind…
*****
This site is inspired by the national motto of India: “Satyameva Jayate” (literally,�”Truth Alone Triumphs“).
The phrase occurs in a mantra in�the Mundaka Upanishad.�See this post for more: Source of �Satyameva�Jayate�
�
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*****
Please also read:�3 yrs, 300 posts, 900�comments�
I can relate to this.
I had felt similar frustration and helplessness in the aftermath of the parliament attack. As a proud Hindu and a even
more staunch believer of Sanatana Dharma, I congratulate you in your efforts and wish you great luck.
Comment by varahmihira | December 3, 2006
No more is it Bharat and I wish there was no Dharma
Comment by Pareen | June 4, 2007
Pareen: Not sure what you mean but Bharat is (still) the official name of India - especially for all the non-angrezi speaking people.
As for your comment on Dharma - you are probably confusing it with religion.
Please read this post to understand the true context of the word:
http://satyameva-jayate.org/2005/11/14/excerpts-from-word-as-a-weapon/
Comment by B Shantanu | June 4, 2007
thank you shantanu.
we hindus have to strike hard and and strike to win. no half way solution.
these christian evengilists should be treated as invaders and thrown out or shot. this should be a permanent solution.
sadly, this is the duty of the country to protect its security but with sonia gandhi, a chrisitian ruling us, no chance. she is in a hurry to make india christian
i am shocked that one billion hindus have come under her rule. now it isthe turn of italians to rule us.
this is our history. a few muslims could rule witht he help of hindus, a few british, could rule us with the help of hindus.
Comment by raksha aggarwal | July 22, 2007
Came across this excerpt from Atanu Dey’s recent article, “Exporting Islam“. It struck a chord:
“To oppose those who actively seek your destruction is an eminently reasonable position to me. Islam in India came as the ideology of conquerors and even now India is an unfinished business for the forces of Islam. I value my cultural heritage and I dont care how the pseudo-secular brigade wants to wipe it out but I will defend it with all that I have. I am willing to live and let live but I will oppose as a moral dutymy dharmaany attempt at the Islamization of my land…”
Pl. read in the context of what I have written above.
Comment by B Shantanu | August 15, 2007
Nice writeup. I think there are lots of people who feel angry about the raw treatment meted out to people who practice the Sanathana Dharma. And the kind of spineles and castrated political leadership that exists in the country. Good luck to your efforts. I think somewhere down the line soner rather than later the majority of people are going to stand up and say I too feel the same. BTW there is this nice site called esamskriti. If u can please visit it. even better if you can provide a link.
regards,
Comment by Anoop | October 2, 2007
Anoop: Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.
I will have a look at esamskriti.
Hope to see more of you here on this blog.
Comment by B Shantanu | October 3, 2007
Interesting Shantanu!
I like your drive and zeal,moreso the need to stick to the roots of the country.
Altho’ dont you feel that this identity that we are trying to hold onto ‘hindu-dharma’ is what is building walls not allowing us to exchange love and live in a global-eccumenical world?
Comment by Leena | October 10, 2007
Leena: Thanks for your comment.
I do believe that in its truest sense, the concept of “Dharma” in Hinduism is very inclusive, very open and respectful of other beliefs and values…
In that sense, it will help us in our quest for global peace and harmony - rather than building walls - which of course is counter-productive.
Do read this article whenever you have some time:
“India as A Role Model for Global Peace and Prosperity” http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/02/10/india-role-model-for-world/
Comment by B Shantanu | October 11, 2007
Dear Sir,
Great reading. You have put into action what other people wish to . Even I felt impotent rage at what has happened to my country and my countrymen and I did not know how and where to begin. Thanks for giving me an opening to express my thoughts.
A beginning has been made and we should put our shoulders to it to see that all that has happened over a thousand years shall never be repeated again.
The following of Sanatana Dharma will actually actualise our thinking and it will no way prevent us from being a global! Let me assure you, speaking for myself ,that living what our Dharma states will lead us to be more aware of what we have in this world and learn to live with it beautifully.
If not for the Dharma of this land the “Parsees” who ran away from their land fearing persecution will not have had a place to live in and we would not have the TATA’s, the Wadia’s and other great legendary Indians today.
If not for the “Dharma” of this land we would not have had Thomas being permitted to talk of a thought process that was totally alien to the way of thinking in this land.
How much “Global” an a country be?
I will try to continue on my thought process later.
Regards,
vck
Comment by v.c.krishnan | November 20, 2007
Thank you vck - for your encouragement and support.
Comment by B Shantanu | November 21, 2007
Dear Shantanu:
I noted your following comments under the heading Arunachal - Sleepwalking into a disaster
[One of my objectives when I started this blog was to make myself and others better informed and aware about matters of national importance and urgency
But when I see things like these being sidelined by mainstream media, it is hard to continue being an optimist.
As Nandan said in another comment: Optimism is a good thing. But straightening the dogs tail and ensuring that it remains so do not appear to me as goals which could be attained easily by mere optimism.
Sigh.]
It is really a bummer being exposed to the kind of news that we see everyday. It is even more exasperating to be forced to put up with the tripe and wisecracks of our leaders many of who would be of better service to the nation from behind bars than from inside the Assembly halls.
I would be the last person who wants you to turn away from your stated objective. The sentence which you have quoted above was not just an expression of my frustration at the woeful lack of loyalty and a sense of honour in the nations heritage among our leaders, but also an understated articulation of distress deep within my heart that more needs to be done, not individually but collectively. The power of franchise, if effectively used, is a powerful tool in the hands of the discerning public.
To be able to achieve this goal, we need more committed people of your kind to help the common man glean the grain from the chaff. Truth needs to be blazoned over the walls all over the town so as to give it a chance to be noticed. Have you not seen the missionaries and their undying spirit? We must vow to disseminate truth with similar evangelical fervour.
Please accept my best wishes for success in all your patriotic endeavours.
Comment by Nandan | November 25, 2007
Nandan: Don’t worry…I did not take your comment in a negative way…
You just expressed and articulated the frustration and despair that we all sometimes feel…
I am forever grateful for the support and encouragment that you and other readers of this blog have constantly given me…
At times, when the cause looks all but lost, this is what gives me strength to carry on …and in many ways, the journey has barely begun…I see this as the first phase of years of struggle…
As you said, we need more committed people - I am certain there are others who write a lot better than me and who are equally, if not more passionate about these issues…we need them to come forward, share their ideas and spread the word…
This is not a one-man job..It can never be. United we stand and divided we will fall…
Thank you, as always, for sharing your thoughts.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
Comment by B Shantanu | November 25, 2007
Dear Sir,
It is very apparent that the seculars are on the backkfoot and seeking a place to regroup to continue with their nefarious activities.
The number of blogspots willing to go deeper into the history of India, the weaknesses of the exisisting society, the non acceptance of certain dogmas prescribed by the western educated foot lickers, the willigness for the Indian educated masses to accept that talking in their native language, wearing ethnic dresses, celeberating festivals with gusto, acceptance that going to temples is a way of life and not a weakness, speaks well for your goals.
I am sure with the continous denting of the confidence levels of the Christian Educated Intellectual and his cohorts and his media there will be a breakthrough. It is an uphill task, but the ball has been set rolling and we should as Indians should not leave the agenda unfinished.
I would like to end my comment with the following words of Eric Allenbaugh ” If you don’t take charge of shaping your own destiny, others will apply their agenda to you”.
Regards, and wish you all the best once again,
vck
Comment by v.c.krishnan | November 26, 2007
*** COMMENT MOVED HERE by MODERATOR ***
Comment by Dnyanesh Sovani | February 11, 2008
Hi Shantanu,
I am really enthralled and feel extremely happy that people like you have started out on this mission to enlighten Hindus of India. I was a typical Secular stooge as conceived and designed by CONGRESS and COMMUNISTs controlled education system in India. Everything changed the day I visited Delhi in December 2004. My visit to Qutub-Minar and subsequently to Mathura made a completely different man in less than a year after the visit. I saw the destruction heaped on my Culture by Arabs/Mughals. However I was incited not merely by their act but the treachery and the deception heaped on me by Congress and Communists. They have systematically denied my pride and robbed me off my source of inspiration and encouragement.
November and December of 2007 leading up to Gujarat elections became the last nail in the coffin of Sickularism.
Since then I have started blogging and leaving my comments wherever I could find men/women like you. I think it is time we mobilise opinion and prepare something that could change our country. I have always been a lover of my country and its tradition. I am proud of its history and contribution to the world. I am more proud of its wonderful concept of Sanatana Dharama.
I wish you all the very best .I have discovered several people like in the last 3 months. Please keep up the good work. We have a long fight against Sickular media and folks in our country. First mission is to throw this Italian missionary out of power and ensure every self-respecting Indian takes a stand against this dynastic misrule dished out to Indians.
Shanth…
Comment by shanth | March 18, 2008
Brother Shantanu,
May Peace and blessing of Almighty creator be upon you.
First off all I would like to congratulate you for being active citizen.
Today people are not bothered about even if our neighbor is hungry and in need of food, which is a sign for dead person.
Do you know that our country is becoming slave of capitalist countries/individuals.? And sooner or later whether you and I support BJP or Congress, we all are going to loose our freedom.
Have you ever pondered on who am I ?
Who created me? What is the purpose behind my existence? What is life after death? What our religious scriptures teach us?
I will be happy to receive individual emails from you.
Brother, I would like you and me and many others to work together and try to bring just systems in the world.
With warm Regards,
Ahmed
Comment by Ahmed | June 3, 2008
It does sometime seem that India’s secularists are only a front for Islamists in India. Others have tried jumping on their bandwagon in the hope of getting some power but have found their questionable values self-defeating and opted out e.g. Dalits
That leaves the Indian citizen who is truly secular and just wants to go about his daily life with no other options than a BJP as shown in many of the State elections
Comment by Hrishi | June 4, 2008
Shanth, Ahmed and Hrishi: Thanks for your comments.
***
@ Shanth: I am glad that you liked the blog…Do spread the word and I hope to see you here more often…
***
@ Ahmed: Thank you for your kind words…
As for your questions re. “Have you ever pondered on who am I ? Who created me? What is the purpose behind my existence? What is life after death? What our religious scriptures teach us?”
the simple answer is “yes”, I do think about these things…and a great source of learning (I believe) on these matters are the Vedas and the Upanishads…
Re. your offer: “I will be happy to receive individual emails from you.”
I would strongly prefer you discuss your views here - so that others can benefit too - and it is only through discussion and debate that the “truth” can emerge..
***
@ Hrishi: “Secularism” in India is a joke…It has become, at best, a lazy label for the intellectually pretentious…at worst, it is a convenient tool to shut up others with whom you may not agree…
Anyways, welcome to this blog and I hope to see more of you here…
Comment by B Shantanu | June 5, 2008
Udoyer pawthe shuni kaar banee bhoy nai
orey bhoy nai,
Nihsheshey praan jey koribey daan khhoy nai
tar khhoy nai - Rabindranath.
“Whose voice do we hear coming from the sunrise,
Saying to us `Fear not! Fear not’!
There is no death for him who will lay down his life.”
we the indians,never bowed our head to anybody-we have great people power-the unversal love of humanity-the wide heart to absorb even our enemies.who came to conquer us-but become conquired.
DIBE AR NIBE MULABE MILIBE-JABENA PHIRE.
AEI BHARATER MAHAMANVER SGARA TIRE.
do not worry,we have atom bombs,we have defence.we have internal enemies as well as external.
All we have to be - VIGILLENT.
and we have to wake up to the call of our sarathi-UTTISHTHA PARANTAPA.
just lift your bow and fight-my dear arjuna.
we have our motto - “SATTYA MEVA JAYATE”
Comment by Tapas Bhattacharyya | June 25, 2008
Dear Shantanu,
You have a wonderful blog. Please keep up the good work.
If possible, please add the following two links to your website:
1) http://www.BengalGenocide.com
2) The new website of FACT USA’s online exhibits on Kashmir and Bengal (as the old one with .com does not work)
: http://www.factusa.info
3) Online Book: “My People Uprooted: A Saga of the Hindus of Eastern Bengal” by Tathagata Roy:
http://bengalvoice.blogspot.com
4) Faith Freedom International: http://www.faithfreedom.org
Thanks,
Tejas
Comment by Tejas | July 10, 2008
@ Tapas: Thanks for the couplet…
***
@ Dear Tejas, Thanks for the kind words and the links…I will have a look…(FactUSA is already on my blogroll links)
Comment by B Shantanu | July 13, 2008
I am reproducing below a brief exchange of comments which will help many of you to understand why I started this effort:
*** COMMENT by CONSCIENCE MATTERS ***
Shantanu,
I honestly think that you should do a lot of introspection as to what you really want to achieve through this blog site of yours (Satyameva Jayate). Be ruthlessly honest and sincere with yourself.
Is your objective really to improve things, relationships, atmosphere in a constructive way around the people in India (which for sure I fail to see how through any, yes any, of your blogposts)?
However one thing that VERY CLEARLY stands out in all your Posts as well as your Comments is that they mostly help only to create rift, disharmony and issues.
You deliberately create issues where there are none. You don’t encourage love and forgiveness, instead you justify revenge and hate. You only write things that kind of defends and justifies the wrongs of some.
Aren’t such posts only destructive in nature? Are they not fomenting hate and creating only ill feelings one against the other.
I don’t want to judge you, but can’t help being tempted very strongly to believe that this is exactly what you want through this Blog site.
*** MY RESPONSE ***
@ Conscience: You came late to the party (in a figurative sense) so let me share with you why I started this effort…
I started the blog to understand a bit about Hinduism, about Indian culture, religion, history and politics. All of these are contentious issues and have no easy answers…
So one has two choices: Not to ask the hard questions and pretend everything is hunky-dory…or ask the hard questions and try and find the answers through discussion and debate..
To some this activity might look an utter waste of time…to others, it may look like a deliberate attempt to “create rift, disharmony and issues.”
I dont think it is worthless and I certainly don’t do this to create trouble (unless you consider seeking truth as leading to trouble)
But we as a society cannot progress unless we understand each other…and to understand each other, one does - at least occassionally - have to ask hard questions…and a sign of maturity is to address those hard questions without descending to the level of gutter-politics. Would you disagree with that?
Trying to ask hard questions may not appear to be “constructive” but only to those who are afraid of what they might unearth…I am not afraid of the “truth” - however unsettling it might be….which is why for example, I do not hesitate for a moment to admit that the way Hinduism is interpreted and practiced leaves much to be desired…
But in any case why should the “truth” scare or upset people? Why should a discussion about Taj Mahal and its history sour things and create hatred?
Why should a discussion about Jamia Nagar anger make someone angry? and why should an attempt at understanding aggressive Christian evangelism in India create “rift”?
“Conscience”: The “rift”, “disharmony” and “issues” that you talk about are already there…I did not create them…and I don’t want to pretend that they don’t exist…
I dont have to write this blog…I have a family and a job and enough other occupations to keep me busy…but somewhere deep inside, it troubles me that people do not want to ask questions and/or discuss “issues” openly…
I strongly feel an open discussion and freedom to air discordant views is your best guarantee against deep social divisions, alienation and social unrest…
But you don’t have to agree with any of this…
I respect your right to disagree…Likewise, I expect you to respect my right to express my opinions freely…You of course have a choice of not reading this blog or the comments.
Finally, here is a list of my last 15 posts….Please help me understand how they have helped “create rift, disharmony and issues” or how they are “fomenting hate and creating…ill feelings one against the other”
*** Last 15 Posts ***
What is stopping you from joining active politics?
“Biharnomics” Examined
“Three Hundred Ramayanas” & “The Jewel of Medina”
The amazing story of pointReturn
The painless way to build a 125×125 banner ad
W’end Reading: Truth about Gujarat, Contacting Voters & an Unusual Call-Centre
Jamia Nagar: A dangerous cocktail…
Excerpts from “Art of War”
Are politicians irrelevant in the post-modern era?
Alaskonomics and Bihar - Part I
This is how China treats its religious minorities
A tribute to Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma
Why are Christian Missionaries targeting India - III
Comment moderation policy relaxed
The “right” and the “left” - Shaping the debate
Comment by B Shantanu | October 5, 2008