Why am I a Hindu? (2018)
Most of us grew up following blindly the rituals and practices shown to us by our parents. By default, we became Hindus by birth. We questioned naively our elders of their seemingly animistic practices, to which we were given explanations that appeared too simplistic and like an after-thought. When we asked our parents why we should not taste the food that was to be offered to the Gods, the reply was that the Gods must savour it first. A more prosaic but practical answer would have been that it is to make sure that the offering does not finish before making its way to the altar.
Author: Shashi Tharoor
Most of us grew up following blindly the rituals and practices shown to us by our parents. By default, we became Hindus by birth. We questioned naively our elders of their seemingly animistic practices, to which we were given explanations that appeared too simplistic and like an after-thought. When we asked our parents why we should not taste the food that was to be offered to the Gods, the reply was that the Gods must savour it first. A more prosaic but practical answer would have been that it is to make sure that the offering does not finish before making its way to the altar.
Along the way in our childhood, we were exposed to other religions as well, specifically Christianity. Schooled in mission schools, the institutions ensured that its mission was openly displayed, if not immersed in the teachings of the Book. Evangelists around the housing estate also extended their ever-helpful hands to open our hearts to the Lord. Lured by the language, as English was spoken by the learned, we were attracted to Sunday schools.
We grew up in a parasitic world of feeding on the positivities offered by the various faiths but stayed faithful to the religion of our parents. We enjoyed the stories, the fellowship and the confidence that they imbibed during those few years. Epiphany of sorts came about during one of those confessional moments. It was a story of the Armageddon and the second coming of Christ when we were put in a spot to embrace Christ as our Saviour. We told ourselves that if such a day came, every known God would descend from the heavens and save their respective congregations. Everybody would be saved, so no issue. Guess, we missed the point altogether.
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A verse from the Upanishad often recited by clueless
devotees during aarthi. It would have made more
sense if only they knew the wealth of wisdom in it.
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Uncertainty lingered on but to prevent heartaches and scandals in the family, we kept our dilemmas about life, God and prayers to ourselves to discover in due time. With time, with the experiences proffered by the Life School of Hard Knocks, things make better sense. Uncertainties were made more evident though, but we blamed it on nothing but our ignorance. Slowly we saw the profound wisdom in the practices of our forefathers and be humbled by their foresight and knowledge.
The author, the flamboyant and ever so articulate Tharoor, puts before us his view of Hinduism that he has come to understand. Hinduism or Sanartha Dharma has been portraying itself as an all-encompassing and accommodating way of life throughout the ages. Its doors were open to monotheistic believers, atheists, agnostics or anything that suits an individual's flavour. Like streams from various places finally flowing to the sea, they believed that all roads lead to a single divinity. This brand of universalism had also been advocated by great Indian icons of yesteryears, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi.
For aeons, various practitioners of religions, barring the political Islam which masterminded the Partition, have been having cordial relationships with each other. Muslim painters painted Hindu drawings. Hindus have no qualms seeking blessings, and Quranic verses blessed holy water for ailments. Christians offer their premises to the needy.
Modern times have seen clashes of many types. There are tensions between religious and ethnic fundamentalists. They sometimes flock together against secular consumer capitalists whom they feel are not only taking away the country's wealth but the fear of God. Probably as a reactionary measure, Hindus have taken a combative stance in the name of Hindutva movement which the author classifies as a distortion of Hinduism.
This enjoyable book, written by the talented writer with a good flair for the language, is packed with itsy-bitsy details of the splendour of a country that never fails to amaze everyone.
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