I congratulate Cyprian Eka for bold intervention with candid statements. The problem with the saffron brigade is its erroneous understanding of history. Without any basis, it takes for granted that the Aryans are the original inhabitants of this so-called holy land, some of them went to the southern parts of this country and came to be called 'wrongly' called Dravidians and some others began living in forests and called themselves Adivasis or the original inhabitants of this country. The saffron brigade maintains that these adivasis are also Aryans and they should be called Vanvasis and to protect them from conversion by Christian Missionaries it has set up its outfit. The theoretical assumption underlying the origin of the Aryans is without any historical basis. In fact, as scientists, archaeologists, historians, philologists, etc. have proved, the first man was born in Africa and then as his number increased, human beings spread to the rest of the world. Nayan Chanda, at present with the Yale University and formerly editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, has come out with a book "Bound Together", which should be read by all whose minds are not sealed by the brigade. Even Lokmanya Tilak whom the brigade dare not criticise held that the Aryans were not the original inhabitants of this holy land and came from outside and when they came they found that there were human beings already living here. In fact, ignorance is the basis on which the saffron brigade thrives. It represents darkness and once there is light of literacy and scietific education, darkness flees and brigade vanishes into the thin air. About conversion, it is not posible from other religions to Hinduism because of the caste system and the fact that a person is born as a Hindu and there is no authority that can throw him out. He may or may not believe in God and rituals. Similarly nobody can be made a naturalised Hindu and nobody can grant entry to any higher caste. All attempts including that of Dayanand Sarswati at this have failed. The only gain aim of the saffron brigade is to gather votes by fomenting communal passions. There is a need for a detailed informed debate on the issues relating to Indian history but the saffron brigade with its ignorance and closed mind is not likely to make any sensible contribution. Girish Mishra
> Please stop the 'academic' discussion. I am a born Christian, as you > may guess from my name. And, hold your fanatic breath, I am a tribal too. > Who should know better if my ancestors were Hindus or not? They never > were. And I am proud they weren't (even if I weren't a Christian). I still > follow my ancestral religion, customs and traditions. I pray to the > 'tribal' God (sic) and Christian God too. Todate they have not quarelled > with one another. Neither has the Church told me not to pray to a 'tribal' > God. Why should anyone else have a problem with that? Incidently, I feel > doubly fortunate not to have fallen prey to the Vanwasi Kalyan Ashramites, > who seem to develp ulcer calling me an Adivasi. The Saffrons want me to > 'return' to Hinduism, right? Watch out! Return, you said? What return? > Where return? Who is the oldest dweller of the soil, the blood curdling > fanatics or Adivasis? Is that not why my 'Adivasiyat' has been recycled > into 'Vanvasiyat'? If I > wish, I may embrace Hinduism right now (online, if Vedas certify it as > valid). >  > May I ask the Saffron brigage if they will grant me a Brahmin's status and > make me the chief pujari at Puri temple or Akshardham temple or what > have you? If yes, I may start typing an application letter right away. But > don't tell me to hate other religions and their followers. That's not the > Hinduism I may love to convert to. I studied Hinduism and several other > Indian religions. None taught me to hate others. I can recite and comment > on some shlokas of Bhagwadgeeta off the bat. I even meditate on them. I > loved watching 'Ramayan' tele-serial and have already read the Hindu epics > with relish. I love to participate in spiritual discourses of some Hindu > sects (certainly not those sponsored by the Brigade). Which edition of > Hinduism are you talking about? Hello !!! >  > Cyprian Ekka >
