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HIMAL South Asia, Special Issue on Hinduism
Special Issue on Hinduism
The following describes the contents of the May issue of HIMAL South Asia,
a monthly magazine of South Asian culture and politics published from
Kathmandu, Nepal. For more information,including selected articles from
previous issues, see the magazinešs web site at:
http://www.south-asia.com/himal.html
"Wanted: A Second Hindu Rennaisance"
Modern Hindus are left without spiritual guidance because their lives are
ruled by ritual, and this lack of philosophical anchor explains the rise
of politicised Hinduism in India, says HIMAL South Asia, the
Kathmandu-based regional magazine, in its latest issue.
In its lead article, the magazine likens Hindu fundamentalism to
driving a car looking only at the rear view mirror: "one may be mesmerised
by a glorious vista of the past, but the existing inequities could be
leading to a tragic accident up ahead."
The writers in the May issue of the magazine, entitled"Being Hindu in
Modern Times", juxtapose the magnificent philosophical content of a
religion which co-exists with "dilapidated social features which
pre-ordains sub-human third class status to a large portion of its
adherents".
HIMAL South Asia argues that Hinduism has not provided any
institutionalised spiritual support or a functional moral code to its "army of
confused". The magazine calls for a "Second Hindu Renaissance", one that
involves the cumulative expressions of outrage by tens of thousands of
individual modern Hindus.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher and second President of India,
had striven to provide the intellectual basis for such a renaissance, but
his writings are neglected today, says one writer. Another writer traces
the roots of political Hinduism to a nationalist reaction to colonial rule
in the nineteenth century. He writes, "The Hindutva assertiveness is thus
more about pride than about religion, which is why there is so little
reference to worship or devotion," says the writer.
In examining the national character of Nepal, popularly identified as
"the world's only Hindu Kingdom", the magazine comes to the conclusion
that the country is actually secular, going by its laws and political
structures. The prefix of 'Hindu' actually applies to the King (who is
required to be Hindu), and not to his kingdom.
Examining the origins of the Hindu-Muslim divide, the magazine has
published an extract from a 1927 book by Mohammad Habib of the Aligarh
Muslim University. According to Prof. Habib, the present-day antipathy has
its origins in the pillaging of the Indus-Ganga region by Mahmud of Ghazni
back in the 11th century. Seventy years ago, Prof. Habib wrote, "With the
proper history of our country Mahmud has nothing to do, but we have
inherited from him the most bitter drop in our cup."
Other articles in the May issue of HIMAL South Asia include:"A Bovine
Boondoggle in Bihar", on the corruption scandal in the Indian state; "Sri
Lanka's South Still Smoulders", which warns that the JVP militancy,
eclipsed by the LTTE problem, could yet revive itself; and an article on
how the HIV/AIDS virus has the potential to devastate the economies of
South Asia.
Contact Numbers: Colombo: Manik de Silva (320809), Delhi: Mitu
Varma (7779240), Dhaka: Afsan Chowdhury (9111033), Lahore:
Beena Sarwar (6304745)
HIMAL South Asia on-line:
http://www.south-asia.com/himal.html
