Maggot Of Sanatan Dharm Is Nibbling Away At India's Pluralistic Spirit
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
5 September
2023
Sabhi Ka Khoon Hai Shaamil Yahan Ki Mitti Mein/
Kisi Ke Baap Ka Hindustan Thodi Hai
-----
A dangerous
communal trend is on the rise in already vitiated India. Teachers are berating
young Muslim students in the class and telling them to go back to Pakistan; the
country they belong to. This has happened in Delhi and Karnataka. Why on earth
should they leave India and go back to Pakistan? Aren't they legal citizens of
this country?
Remember
the ever-relevant lines from the ghazal of Rahat Indori:
Lagegi
Aag Toh Aayenge Ghar Kai Zad Mein/ Yahan Pe Sirf Humara Makaan Thodi Hai/ Jo
Aaj Sahib-E-Masnad Hain Kal Nahin Honge/ Kiraydaar Hain, Zaati Makaan Thodi
Hai/ Sabhi Ka Khoon Hai Shaamil Yahan Ki Mitti Mein/ Kisi Ke Baap Ka Hindustaan
Thodi Hai (If fire
breaks out, many homes will be gutted/ There're other homes as well/ Those
who're ruling today, will fade away tomorrow/ We're all tenants, no one has a
fiefdom/ All have contributed equally/ India is not someone's private
property).
That
teachers are stooping to this level and openly discriminating against young and
impressionable students is a worrisome development. Hindus are becoming
religiously too assertive and pugnacious. A decade of rigorous religious
indoctrination by the current political dispensation has made Indians too
belligerent.
The maggot
of Sanatan Dharm is nibbling away at India's pluralistic spirit. Sense of
sanity and equality has disappeared. Even the so-called 'educated' Indians,
esp. Hindus, are calling themselves Sanatanis and abusing Muslims with
nonchalance.
In today's
time, literates are now new illiterates, to quote a witty and latitudinarian
friend of mine. Religion, in the hands of uncultured goons, becomes a cheap
jamboree. This is happening in Hindu India.
Uncouth
display of sickening religiosity is rampant. Situation will soon spiral out of
hand. Just like an average fanatic Muslim is in thrall to Islam, Hindus of
today are abject slaves to Sanatan Dharm. But ask them to define it, they'll be
all at sea because the very concept of Sanatan Dharm is flawed and it's a
recent political construct.
In short,
it's just a catchphrase with a limited time span. An analogy will simplify it.
Does any English-knowing person ever say, 'anyways'? It's out-and-out
incorrect. The correct word is 'anyway.' Despite being incorrect, 'anyways'
ruled for a decade and is now dying out. The same inevitable fate will befall
this ridiculous Sanatan Dharm.
----
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 the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/sanatan-dharm-india-pluralistic-spirit/d/130601
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