22 February 2009

Utthista Bharata, Jai Hindutva!!!

In this age we listen to various thoughts on how to lead life floating around us and we cannot figure out what we should follow. Some give us pleasure and the others give us peace. Some thoughts are modern, and some are traditional. What we should follow is something that follows supreme reason and wisdom of our forefathers coming down the ages. All this is enshrined in the gospel of Hindutva.

Below is what I read at http://hindutva.org/culture.html


What is Hindutva?

The term "Hindutva" is derived from the two terms 'Hindu Tattva", which literally mean "Hindu Principles". Now the question is, what are Hindu Principles and what comprises the "Hindutva" Outlook?

To answer this question we would have to begin with the history of the Hindus. The history of the Hindus is the history of a civilization which has developed in its natural state, without interruption, since antiquity. Its age is dated to be between five and nine thousand years. Hence Hindu History is a prototype of how human civilization would have looked, if civilization all across the globe had been allowed to develop in its natural state. This is the relevance for us to study Hindu Civilization, Hindu History and Hindu Culture.

The evolution of Hindu Civilization can be considered to be natural and continuing as there is no last messiah in the Hindu world view. In fact this is what distinguishes Hindu Civilization from the rest. And this is why Hinduism is called a Living Idea, guided by the sum total of human wisdom that is not considered to be embodied in one person, or one book, or one period of human history. Hence the term "Living". Hindutva is the articulation of this idea of continuity of freedom of thought from which emerge the multifarious Hindu Principles.

Two instances of Hindu Principles that symbolize the outcome of freedom of thought are the pronouncements made not today, but four thousand years back by unnamed rishis (Hindu ascetics) that, "This world is one family" (Vasudaiva Kutumbakam) and that "The Universal Reality is the same, but different people can call it by different names" (Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti). In these two proclamations made in ancient Hindu India, we see the seeds of globalism and freedom of thought, four thousand years before the world was to become the global village of today.

Thus in its true essence, Hindutva is a stridently assertive rational-humanist line of reasoning. And it is this essence of Hindutva that we have kept in mind, while developing this website. At the level of practice, the Hindutva outlook boils down to upholding righteousness (Sat-guna) and fighting ignoble attitudes (Dur-guna). Taking poetic license, we can describe the practitioners of this outlook as "Heenam Naashaayati iti Hinduhu" (Those who uphold righteousness and fight ignobleness are Hindus).

Thus, far from being a narrow nationalistic doctrine, Hindutva is in its true essence, 'a timeless and universal compilation of human wisdom'. Hence it is also called "Sanatana" which means, something that is "forever continuing."

At this site, you will read about different aspects of the history and culture of the Hindus in that part of our globe which is the birthplace of Hindutva. This land is known variously as Bharatvarsha, Hindustan or India. My approach of looking at history is that of a rationalist and humanist. In the context of India, these two values are a result of the freedom of thought which forms the core of the tradition of Hindutva.


Let us now read in continuation what our forefathers have told us as a story:

1. (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose)
Indian nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race, satyam (the true), shivam (the god), sundaram (the beautiful).

2. (Chanakya)
A nation is made prestigious by its heritage. If we cannot respect our forefathers, our future generations will never respect us. Thereafter we will be left with no heritage and hence no prestige. It is our religion that tells us to respect our elders, and that is how it tells us to maintain and perpetuate the dignity of the nation.


3. (Swami Vivekananda):
There I saw that inside the national hearts of both Europe and America resides the tremendous power of the men's faith in themselves. An English boy will tell you, 'I am an Englishman, and I can do anything". The American boy will tell you the same thing, and so will any European boy. Can our boys say the same thing here? No, nor even the boys' fathers. We have lost faith in ourselves... You will find degradation to have started on the day our people lost this faith in themselves... There is not one system in India, which does not hold the doctrine that God is within, that Divinity reside within all things. Every one our Vedantic systems admit that all purity and perfection and strength are in the soul already... Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves... Weakness is the one cause of suffering... I have never spoken of revenge, I have always spoken of strength.

4. (Chanakya)
A nation is not defeated till it can protect its culture and values. But will the nation that is split on lines of caste and religion be able to protect its culture from the aggressors? If the aggressors have to claim their right to rule this land, they will have to break this culture bonding man to man and they will do it if we not become cautious now. If we leave our culture, our demise is certain. Experience says a defeated mind, a defeated state, a defeated nation usually accepts the culture and rituals of the victorious. If the dormant consciousness is not awakened and if the country is not united, then it will be difficult to protect the nation from the misfortune of demise. Wisdom/Education shows the path to liberation, and if education lacks strength it is worthless.

If education does not teach that nation is supreme and its protection is supreme, that education is valueless... And if required the teacher should not hesitate in taking up arms. I accept that the skill and capability of a teacher is scriptures, but if arms are the roadblocks in the path, and the people creating hurdles to nationalism only understand the language of weapons, then the teacher must demonstrate his power. Otherwise, a powerless teacher would not be able to protect even his scriptures.

5. (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose)
'Blood is calling to blood. Arise! We have no time to loose. Take up your arms. There infront of you is the road our pioneers have built. We shall march along that road. - netaji

6. (Swami Vivekananda)
Arise! Awake! and stop not till the goal is reached!

7. (Lord Shri Krishna)
Utthista Bharata

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