Gujarat and the victory of fundamental Hindutva

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My alarm at the fast growing popularity of Hindu fundamentalists and their political wing the BJP has turned into utter despair and frustration after the Gujarat elections. Narendra Modi has changed India into another fascist nation, or at least in the eyes of the western world, we are now bunched with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the rest of the intolerant club. It is a shame really, that today we have lost all sense of who we are and in doing so have lost the respect of the world.

In spite of this I feel that there is still hope. The Narendra Modi's and Tagodia's of the world can be defeated and for this we need to understand the differences in our society, we need to be able to overcome the constant hypnotic drone of propaganda thrown at us. As the majority (Yes Hindu's still are the majority in India and totally contrary to what the VHP claims, the 2001 India census shows that Muslims are only 12% of the population) we have the extra burden of responsibility. This responsibility comes based on the fact that in a democratic India, the majority rules. Hindus are in a position to either build a society of peace and harmony or to destroy it through hate, and we will be destroying our own home, our only home.

Let me state clearly that I equally condemn Islamists and the proponents of Hindutva. Its a vicious cycle where one cannot survive without the other and in their fight for supremacy our nation is being torn apart. We need to stop now before it is too late, we need to dream as a nation once more. Let us unite as a society, as a country and work towards making India one of the greatest nations in the world.

In this quest for peace and prosperity we Hindus must take charge, we must begin the healing process so that the divided social fabric of this nation can be joined again in harmony. We must rise against fundamentals and fascists wherever they might be, we must stop their propaganda and listen clearly, let not a Godhra cloud your mind, 2000 Muslims have been slaughtered since, and the killings continue.. The time to fight back is now, we must, not only to stop ourselves from becoming beasts but also so that our children and grand children can grow up in a prosperous India.

800 million Hindus have no need to feel threatened by the 150 million minority, they need to feel threatened by people who believe a dead cow is more valuable than five living Dalits. I honestly believe we can stop India from becoming a stomping ground for Hindu supremacist ideologues, and the time to act is now.

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS." - Mahatma Gandhi

Yours Truly
Siddarth C

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