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Re: Response to conversion to hinduism
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Subject: Re: Response to conversion to hinduism
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From: Suyog.Mahadeo.Bhobe@att.com
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Date: 3 Oct 1995 06:18:55 GMT
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Approved: srh <srh@rbhatnagar>
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Article: 321 of soc.religion.hindu
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: AT&T
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References: <435999$mch@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <43eqeb$iin@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <43o0qt$hd5@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <44cd9h$sba@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
In article <44cd9h$sba@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
mohammed azharuddin <MA4003A@american.edu> wrote:
>
>Mr. Suyog I agree with all of your opinions, but one. U said that most of the conversions were done at the tip of the sword is not true. Many Hindus, who eventually became Muslims or Christians, believed that Hinduism is not the religion they want to practice. Moreover, they were impressed with the monotheisitc belief rather than polytheistic. Hence were compelled to convert by thier own will. I do agree that a few were forced to convert, but the majority chose to convert.
Sorry Mohammed, but I must disagree with you. First of all, Hinduism
*is* a monotheistic religion. If that comes as a surprise to you,
then I would invite you to study Hinduism.
The atrocities committed by the Muslim invaders and Moguls are very
well documented - often by the historians who accompanied the
invaders. During the Mogul rule, Hindus had a very strong
incentive to convert. They were subject to extra taxation, they
were discriminated against, they were excluded from running
their own country, their temples, art, libraries and Universities were
destroyed, it was difficult to practice Hinduism outside ones home,
and in general life was made very miserable
for Hindus. These things are very well documented in history
books.
At one time, the Hindu/Buddhist culture had spread all the way
from Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia to Indonesia and Cambodia.
Today, no trace of that culture is left in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
and Central Asia.
The Khyber Pass, through which invaders came to India, goes through
the "Hindu Kush" mountains - "Hindu Kush" means the place where
Hindus were butchered.
I am a Goan Hindu, and I am very much aware of the atrocities
and forced conversions committed by barbaric Portuguese missionaries
during 16th - 19th centuries.
None of the above statements imply that Indian Muslims are to be
blamed. Indian Mulims are descendents of Hindu converts, and not
descendents of Moguls or Muslims invaders. And one certainly cannot
blame people for any wrongs that their ancestors may have committed.
However, we must have the courage and integrity to tell things as they
happened.
Suyog
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