.::Reforming Religion::.

		August2006

REFORMING RELIGION

By Salik Shah

Email Address: salik.shah@gmail.com

RECENTLY, I?ve come across these two write-ups published in TKP. Dr Khagendr N Sharma?s ?A miracle called Nagen Sunuwar? (July 16) was followed by a critical letter from Dr Ramesh Khatry on July 17. According to Dr Khatry the essay was ?a breath of fresh air.?

?A breath of fresh air??-I couldn?t understand why. Dr Khatry?s remarks such as ?I disagree with Sharma when he seeks reformation of religions? really compelled me to write this article.

First, such miracles like Nagen Sunuwars happen quite often these days. The proof is the Population Censuses of 1981, 1991 and 2001. The ever-dwindling Hindu population from 89.50 per cent in 1981 to 86.51 per cent and 80.62 per cent in 1991 and 2001 respectively speaks a lot more than just for the need of the reformation of our religion.

Second, Dr Sharma is right ??the concept of a secular state has opened a large vista of reviewing the religious doctrines and place all religions at par.? So, the need for the reformation of our religion and ?making our faith more accommodative? is more urgent. But we must seek answers to ?why so many poor turn towards Christianity now and again.?

Hindus are converting mainly into Buddhists and Christians. However, since the Buddhism is regarded as another aspect of Hinduism, we don?t regret so much for someone converting into Buddhism. For many people- these two separate religions are the same. It is also because Buddhism arose from our native soil and from the cradle of Hinduism itself. People often convert to Buddhism for ?tranquility of mind?, for a more non-violent, simple and forgiving way of life. But for Christianity, the reasons are ?miracles? like Nagen Sunuwar.

TODAY?S YOUTH

Hindus, particularly the youths of the twenty-and-first century Nepal, are living more of a kind of non-religious lives. We are so much religiously free that we can even go and pray at a church without feeling anything at all or celebrate Christmas in such a manner and with so much earnestly that we can put even the Christians to shame without feeling any shame at all. Their New Year celebration or Valentine?s Day is celebrated with more energy and curiosity than our Naya Barsa or Saraswati Puja. Other religious festivals, for example Holi too has become ?infamous? due to hooligans hunting only the weaker sex and thus, it is now regarded as unholy.

However, we should not forget that after the Iraq Massacre of the twelve Nepalese workers by the terrorists- they, especially those ?boastful vagabonds like Nagen Sunuwar?, actually took part in the vandalism of several manpower agencies, other buildings and shops along with the totally uncivilized and barbarian act of pelting stones and vandalizing the most revered mosques of our fellow Muslim brothers. So it was Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who vandalized the properties of our own Nepalese citizenry- many people would think that way. Dr Sharma rightly writes-?It (VHP) has no agenda for reforming the character of a vagabond and making him a good Hindu follower. It has no program of youth mobilization in programs of social reform. In fact, it has no reform agenda.?

SAD BUT TRUE

Have you ever seen a Hindu Guru coming to your door to preach and offer any kind of help? Have you ever received any pamphlets-and-books about the Hindu philosophy and doctrines like the Bhagwad Gita et al as mere gifts or ?prasad?? Even Bhagwad Gita, which is the most widely read and revered Hindu book in the world, costs two or three hundred rupees or even more. It means that it is not available for everyone i.e. every Hindu let alone poor or lower middle-class populace.

However, I?ve met with two Christians who tried to convert me repeatedly. I wonder how they found my flat. Their devotion, their earnestly and hospitality had won my heart. They provided me with good books on Christianity and Christ himself and also asked me to visit their church and I agreed. Once when I was very sick, my mother took me to the mosque at Ghantaghar to get blessing and ?cure? from the local prophet. So, I felt nothing so special or remorseful for accepting their invitation. Later, I received a free copy of the holy Bible. All this religious things didn?t cost me a penny but impressed me quite a lot.

Similarly, we can get several books by Buddhist religious teachers for nothing at all but a sheer interest and respect at heart for them. So, why VHP isn?t doing that? Does it lack fund or it considers that these holy books should be read by only ?holy people like them? and not by the ordinary people? How can they safeguard our faith if it lingers on playing politics all the time and calling itself a social-and-religious organization but acting very much like any political party? These books could have stopped many a miracles like Nagen Sunuwar. Do they think like the Ranas that if we become educated then their exploitative and undemocratic rule of ?religion? would come to an end? If not so, then why is it not trying to aware and educate the people or ?stop creating outcastes?? Like the old church which barred ordinary people from entering church-library and kept the holy books such as Bible in chains so that they could rule them irreligiously in the name of God; our VHP and its leaders and others like Shiva Sena and the Indian organization of the same nature- Rastriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) et al, are actually garbing support from the illiterate, often misled and brainwashed Hindus belonging to the poor and lower middle-class population for their personal and political enterprises. These organizations play a role like that of a vote-bank. Is it so? The question has been asked several a times and it is VHP and its sister organizations? moral duty to answer this question and denounce it. It should bring reform and social-welfare agendas for the public and conduct all its activities in a transparent manner. Then, it could make a real difference and ensure that Hinduism could become a world religion.

LEARN TO LEARN

Our religion is much older than Buddhism or Christianity. However, the followers of these newer religions are increasing at a significant rate. So, what is wrong with us and our religion? It would be wrong to regard these religions as better than ours. In fact, our religion i.e. Hinduism is more like a universe of all religions. Our books are like mirrors i.e. you can get what you look for into them. Then why it has failed to become a world religion. The answer lies in the very systems of our faith existing form the ancient times. We should reform our religious systems so that they could become useful to a modern Hindu social lifestyle. We, Hindus, never try to learn. We must stop calling other people to our doors but try to reach their doors and then to their hearts in stead.

Another way to build strong bridges among ourselves is by following the example of our both Muslim and Christian counterparts i.e. the weekly-praying. Such social or religious gatherings provide opportunities to know and establish healthy relationships with other people from the same community or religion. But it is sad to see that our temples are only for our Gods and they can?t accommodate us. Like Allah?s mosque or Christ?s church, we must create something for this admirable tradition. We should begin to appreciate the very fact that we are not alone in this universe but we are being weakened by our own circumstances.

We need to reform our faith and its systems to continue to exist. Our religion is so vast and full of good thoughts and philosophies of life that we can also teach them to others. We must bring them back to the front. Particularly, the Hindu organizations like VHP and its sister organizations et cetra should focus all its resources and attention into these activities for the betterment of the people at large.

To speak more frankly, I do not want to see any more ?miracles? like Nagen Sunuwar. I love to be a Hindu and I?d be. If an Indian helps me and saves my life at almost the same circumstances as Nagen Sunuwar was, then of course I?d be indebted towards him for my whole life but I?d never give up my citizenship and become a ?true? Indian thereafter. That is what the converting did- and so it would be lest we act timely and wisely. Now, it depends upon VHP and its leaders and others like Shiva Sena, Nepal and all of us to preserve our ancient faith and how we do it for the coming generations and generations.