By T.J.S. George
What’s happening to our country? A huge and diverse land of 135 million people, 29 states and 22 scheduled languages, yet we are caught in a single obsession — religion. All discussions, all decisions, all policies are shaped by religion. Sabarimala is on the edge of civil war. “Hindus are losing their patience,” a Union Minister tells the Supreme Court after it postponed the Ayodhya case hearing. Uttar Pradesh changes Allahabad into Prayagraj. Soon Azamgarh will be Aryamgarh, Aligarh will be Harigarh, Muzaffarnagar will be Laxminagar and Ahmedabad will be Karnavati. Will they become model cities as a result, all civic problems solved?
It’s not that we don’t have real issues bothering us. In fact we are immersed in issues that threaten us from multiple sides. The Reserve Bank is fighting the Finance Ministry. CBI, of all things, is sabotaging CBI. Breathing in the National capital has become more injurious to health than smoking. More and more youngsters are ending up jobless. Education has become a scandal. Not one Indian University is among the world’s top 100. Indians are committing unbelievable crimes, like raping a 100-year -old woman. Our food has largely become unfit for human consumption. No party talks about these subjects. Religion alone counts.
Food, the everyday food we eat, has become a threat. Chemical farming is so widespread that hardly any vegetable escapes residual dangers. Pesticides that are banned globally are used in India. Even endosulfan was supported by Ministers like Sharad Pawar despite the horrible deformations it caused in a generation of people. The “American way of farming” was introduced in Punjab in 1960s to usher in the Green Revolution. The result was the Cancer Train that left the farmers’ town of Bathinda every night for Bikaner where treatment was more affordable. Overuse of pesticides turned the Green Revolution into a nightmare.
Did politicians do anything? Did people learn anything? Today farmers in several parts of Tamil Nadu use excessive pesticides on crops meant to go to neighbouring states and less on portions meant for local consumption — a version of parochial patriotism. Fish is preserved in chemicals used to keep human corpses from decaying too fast. According to UN reports, India ranks among the top countries whose agri-food products are rejected in the US and European Union. Indian exports are sent back because of the presence of microtoxins, microbial contamination, veterinary drug residue, heavy metals, unauthorised food additives, pesticides remnants and wrong product composition.
If our best is so often rejected by advanced countries, what would be the state of the food we keep for our own consumption? No wonder advanced countries export their worst to India. In 2008 as many as 35 large containers of hazardous American waste were found rotting in Tuticorin port for three years. Who allowed it to come there? Who kept it unattended for so long? How many made how much?
In 2003 Parliament went to the extent of banning Coca Cola and Pepsi from its canteens because of too much toxic pesticides. But there was no ban outside Parliament. That means, what was bad for MPs was okay for ordinary folks. MPs themselves lifted the ban after a while. The Coca Cola factory in Plachimada was closed because the waste fluids from it made neighbouring areas unfit for agriculture. But other factories in other cities continued. Before the power of lobbies, our policy makers bend their knees.
Colouring agents, among the most dangerous chemicals that go into food, are allowed free play. A look at Diwali halwas will show how colouring can even look unhealthy. Everybody knows that adulterants are used widely — saw dust (in chilli powder), coal tar (in tea), dyes (in turmeric, green chillies, apples). Most colour enhancing dyes are highly carcinogenic. In responsibly governed countries these problems are contained. In Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, the authorities ensure that street food is not only clean but good enough to be a tourist attraction.
If others can do these things, why can’t we? Because we are obsessed with religion and its politics. Nothing else matters. In Madhya Pradesh five sadhus were appointed ministers of state. Union Minister Giriraj Singh warned Muslims of “consequences” if they did not support Ram Mandir. As the distinguished novelist Mukundan said: There are no humans in India any longer, only Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Dalits. We have turned religion, meant to be a positive force, into a destructive idea. We spread hatred, attack others, lynch people in the name of God. No God will forgive us.
The caption should be more like Hinduism survives In spite of attacks by enemies
India faced foreign attack for nearly 1000 years since the 11th century who nearly destroyed our culture, tradition and the core values of Hinduism. Thousands of temples which were built with historic importance were destroyed, vandalized and ultimately the history was lost as time passed. Generations were misled with fake stories and misinformation which made people believe that India had nothing of its own. The religious place in India were not just a place of worship, but a symbol of knowledge, wealth and culture of our religion.
But in the hands of British and Mughals, most of the temples were looted and destroyed to an extent that they no longer retained the sanctity and importance they once possessed. But unfortunately, even after independence, our leaders failed to restore back the glory of these temples. Even today the Kashi Vishwanath temple is located in a different place than it was originally located, the Ram temple in Ayodhya remains destroyed even today. But most of the governments which came to power were mostly interested in the looting the wealth of the temples.
Since past 20 years, there has been a sinister plan by many governments to take over temples under their control which is like Golden eggs to the politicians. Most of the state governments made it a rule that all Hindu temples should be under the ambit of Government. Then started the dark days for temples where the developmental activity came to a halt and crores of money donated to temples were diverted into undisclosed sources
In 1947 there were 44000 gurukuls and gaushalas and 44 Madarasas. Today there are 34 gurukuls and 47000 Madarasas, still George thinks Hinduism is not tolerant and destroying India!
4 million Kashmir pandit s were exterminated or kicked out of their ancestors him without a peep from media, Georges, mullahs, but everyday there is a fake story about gourakshaks and lynching! But routinely in k erala Hindus are murdered without any trace! No questions asked! We all saw the intolerance brigade raising hue and cry about this government because this government under BJP is pro Hinduism
Hindus losing patience is a reality how far George’s and Mullahs can push us! Every turn Hindus are descrimiminated against by the appeasement Gang!
Just an example, 37 BJP workers were murdered by Bangalore alone! Not much news about it! Imagine if a few of them were Muslims or Christians ! George would be writing about Hinduism Turin g intolerant!
There are 2.4 million temples 1.3 million mosques and half a mi,lion churches! Out of 2,4 million temples 1 mi,lion have female dirtiest yet, these scrums claim Hinduism discriminating women ! Out of them 6 temples don’t allow men and 1 temple Shabarimala does not allow women! George’s and Mullahs call it dedriminationg and badmouthing Hinduism! But none of 1.3 mosques don’t allow any women! But that is no big deal! Right?
It looks like Star of Mysore is being run by Leftist Communists or Missionary.
Nothing new from this writer! Weekly vitriolic piece of hate filled garbage from the pseudo secular communist Chritian who has a mission from the Benny Hinn and gang to abuse Hindus and Hinduism!
Majority of Hindus, Muslims and Christians in India are moderate, have mutual respect to each other without insulting the others religious values! But the garbage authors like George don’t consider them, instead look at the rare exceptions from similar scumbags like him, use their rants to paint Hinduism in bad light!
Let me ask a question, if Hindus or BJP or RSS is so bad that he has been writing without any evidence, he would continue to this unharmed!? He is calling them intolerant all the time, even invokes God and says he won’t forgive them! Probably his God has a monopoly of forgiving bases on recommendations from George!
According to him, india under Modi is nor a Democracy, he thinks Modi has to learn from China!
As per him, Muslims and Christians are under terrible conditions under BJP and hate modi! On the contrary terrorist supporters of Muslim and Christians only hate Modi, that includes George
As per him, our international image was destroyed by Modi, George may need an asylum to correct this issue!
According to him, India is going through dark days! Not sure about India, but the author is certainly going through dark days unable to be more successful in the mission assigned to him by the evangelical gang. Modi putting a cap on illegal finances to clergy has really broken his bone!
George wants to make Sabarimala secular!
”List of Women who attempted to enter Sabarimala temple:
1. Libi – christian, Atheist
2. Suhasini Raj – Atheist, Hindu hater, NYT journalist
3. Kavitha Jakkal – christian
4. Rehana Fatima – Muslim who carried stained Sanitary Napkin along with coconut to offer “Ayyappa”
5. Mary Sweety – christian
Direct questions to some of my intellectual friends:
1) Should we let 5 non-Hindu activists decide the future of 10,000 year old Hindu dharma? Come… on my friends!
2) Are they devotees? Are they well-wishers?
3) Are they asking equalities for our moms, sisters, or daughters? Do they really care?
4) Why are they not fighting to reform their own religions? Why don’t they fight for cruel girl genital mutilations?
5) What is their motive?
Most of us are educated and believe in reforms/equality. But, at the same time, we do not want to be trapped by someone’s evil motives behind the name of equality. We do not want to be among those educated gullible who need only one logical reason to be persuaded! We want to go beyond one logical reason. We should be looking every action through different perspectives and different angles (see above questions). We should put more focus on the intentions and motives
Mr. George it is time for you to “Quit India” – Adios amigo!!!