No God Is a Brahmin: Why We Must Heed the Bold Observations of JNU's VC
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 August
2022
Our Prehistoric Tribalism Gave Birth to a Host of
Gods
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Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is an Indian academic and the current
Vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University
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Kudos to
the VC of JNU, Santishree Pandit, who has the gumption to assert in these god
and religio-centric times that no god is a Brahmin. She recently explained the
anthropological origins of gods in Hindu pantheon and said that Shiva and
Jagannath were tribal gods, rather deities as deities are quasi-gods. She went
on to call Manusmriti, a blatantly gender-biased book.
That she's
a woman who talks of god's ( socio-religious) status is really commendable
because being genetically programmed to believe in god and religion, women
often prefer to keep mum on these hair-splitting theological issues.
Her example
must be emulated and Hindus as well as Muslims should reassess and re-interpret
their religious beliefs and biases.
I'm not
employing Intentional Fallacy in this regard but it seems that the VC has an
agnostic or questioning mind-set, which is a very good sign. To analyse gods
from anthropological perspective is a refreshing diversion in such religiously
volatile times.
Whether the
Allah of Muslims or the gods of Hindus or any other faith, it's our
anthropological perceptions that have been imposed upon our 'divine'
concoctions.
God is a
reminder of our tribal past. It's a sustained manifestation and protector of
early humans' survival instincts and fears. We created god after our own image,
not the other way round. Our prehistoric tribalism gave birth to a host of
gods.
The VC also
added that when Hinduism is a way of life, why should we fear criticism and not
condemn discrimination?
Muslims
also claim that their Islam is Mukammal Zaabita-e-Hayaat. If it's also a
way of life, why so much violence and bloodshed?
Will anyone from Muslim community dare say
that Islam's books are also gender-specified and discriminatory and Allah is a
human manifestation or imposition, if NOT an outright fabrication?
I'm not an
absolute person. Nor do I believe in absolutism. I'm open to accepting and refuting
my own beliefs if one can shut my mouth with his/her incontrovertible
arguments, but not with guns!
So, I may
believe with you that there could be some power that pervades and permeates the
whole universe.
But, why
should we kill anyone for the sake of that transcendental power and why should
anthropomorphise that spirit?
It's time
for all humans to browse through their scriptures and re-check their own
beliefs like this intrepid VC and create a new world order where even your god
is on an even keel with you. To quote Urdu poet Jameel Mazhari, known as
Shaan-e-Bihar, " Jhukaya Tu Ne,
Jhuke Hum Barabari Na Rahi/ Ye Bandagi Hui Ae Dost, Aashiqi Na Rahi "
(You forced us into submission and we succumbed/ This is worship, my friend,
not love).
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to world's premier publications in several languages
including Persian.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/god-brahmin-observations-jnu-vc/d/127782
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