Barackface: Vishva Hindu Parishad

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Apparently this is not a new idea. It was suggested during the time of Rajiv Gandhi before the demolition of the Babri Mosque, but was not entertained. Maybe enough water has flown down the Ganga and emotions have quietened down.

This is about India's global aspirations. This is about India wanting to be a global superpower. Forget weapons. This is about soft power. This is about diversity and democracy and diplomacy, three Ds as Modi might say.

India needs to send a message that Muslims and Hindus can live side by side, can co-exist, can thrive together. If Hindus and Muslims can not live happily together, India can kiss its global aspirations good bye.

This is not about history. This is about today. What do you want today?

If India can resolve this, it can hope to play a decisive role in Mideast peace, a lot of which also seems to be about ridiculous real estate.

My only suggestion is, that 100 meter wall, how about making it out of glass? Like in the Apple stores?

Monday, January 19, 2015

The Psychological Underpinnings Of The Caste System

Caste AS (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hinduism is 10,000 years old. But the caste system is only 1,000 years old. Why did Hinduism after existing for 9,000 years suddenly feel the need for a caste system?

When Modi became Prime Minister he said India after a gap of 1,000 years had thrown the yoke and is now ruling itself. Well, I guess that is plus minus 50 years. Because India became independent over half a century ago. But what is plus minus 50 years when you are talking in terms of thousands of years.

When a Hindu India got invaded by Muslim rulers the religion developed this strangest thing called the caste system. Hindus broke themselves up into all sorts of castes and sub-castes. The unity was broken. I call it self hate. The colonization was internalized. And the caste system was born.

That is to say now creating a casteless Hinduism is essential to Hindu freedom. Hindus are not free unless the caste system is completely dismantled. This requires coming up with casteless last names. This requires Hindus marrying Hindus regardless of caste background. I think the RSS people have work cutout for them.