Why Hindus can never be intolerant

There are few groups who have been subject to as much intolerance, oppression and even genocide as the Hindus. Hindus have found themselves under criticism and attack for over a thousand years - and without ever attacking or invading any country or denigrating any outside group.

Hindus have been derided as heathens, kafirs, idolaters, superstitious, backward, and targeted for conversion, as if they had no religion or culture worthy of respect.

The anti-Hindu assault began at a military level but has many social ramifications. Hindus were inhibited from practising their religion and efforts were made to undermine their self-confidence and expropriate their wealth. Hindus survived by the strength of their numbers, and the sophistication of their culture and spiritual values, not because the efforts against them were not massive or sustained. The excesses of foreign invasions are well known. These included destruction of Hindu temples and institutions, enslavement of Hindus and abduction of Hindu women.

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British rule was not always overtly violent but sought to turn Hindus into British by culture, under Lord Macaulay's policies that undermined traditional Hindu education. Anti-Hindu attitudes were also part of the Marxist assault on Asia in the 20th century that tried to eliminate Buddhism as well.

While we can perhaps forgive the violence of the past, such anti-Hindu attitudes have not come to an end. Vested interests politically and religiously continue targeting Hindu individuals, institutions, and practises. These are not simply random efforts but well-organised and well-funded, with long term agendas.

Hindu tradition of tolerance

There are also few groups historically that have demonstrated as much tolerance, respect and consideration for other religions and cultures as have the Hindus.

Hindus have the most tolerant philosophy of all religious groups, with a pluralistic view of God or truth, accepting the validity of many paths and divergent points of view. Hindu thought promotes non-violence and directs us to spiritual practise through yoga and meditation, not to conflicting beliefs. It is not aimed at converting or conquering the external world, or upholding any materialistic ideology.

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Many religious groups over time fleeing oppression have sought refuge in India, including Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Sufis, which was only possible owing to this Hindu tradition of tolerance. There is more freedom and diversity of Muslim groups in India today than in perhaps any Islamic country.

The manufactured intolerance debate

Today there is a new debate on intolerance occurring in India, with opposition parties suggesting that intolerance derives mainly from Hindu groups trying to dominate the country.

That nearby Middle Eastern countries are enveloped in a much greater violence and intolerance is seldom highlighted. Hindu India is much more tolerant than nearby non-Hindu countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Middle East and even China, which is still oppressing the Tibetans. Overseas Hindus pose no law and order problems in their countries of residence.

This alleged Hindu intolerance is often derided as "majoritarianism", as India is primarily Hindu by religion. This charge also does not stand scrutiny.

None of the main media and journalistic outlets in India today follows a Hindu majoritarian point of view. Incidents of violence against Hindus are downplayed, while alleged Hindu acts of violence become dramatic front page news. Majority Hindu religious vote banks are condemned as communal, while minority religious vote banks are promoted as secular.

Hindu temples have been taken over by state governments and their revenues used for state projects, which can include for the benefit of other religious communities. No other religious group would tolerate such government expropriation of their funds.

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Clearly there is no dominant Hindu majoritarianism in India. Isolated instances of violence by Hindus may exist, as in any large population, but there is nothing that can be made into an agenda of Hindu religious violence. The threat of terrorism perpetrated in the name of God today is not coming from Hindus, either in India or in the rest of the world.

The ongoing assault against Hindu culture now ironically masks itself in calling Hindus intolerant - and not tolerating anyone who disagrees.