The attitude of Indian Hindus towards British Hindus

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The attitude of Indian Hindus towards British Hindus

 

Posted by: " CC Democracy & Social Justice "

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Fri Nov 9, 2007 10:03 pm (PST)

 

 

The attitude of Indian Hindus towards British Hindus

 

Rudra Chatterjee

 

Hindu Voice UK, Diwali 2007

 

 

 

A few of my friends had started a new Hindu Society in their

university, as it hadn’t existed earlier. They wanted it to be a place

for Hindus and those interested in Hinduism to come together in

celebration of Hindu Dharma and be conversant about a wide range of

issues effecting Hindus and Hinduism. Freshers’ fairs offer the unique

opportunity to present yourself and your society to other students, and

are also a great time to meet both a diverse range of people and to get

involved in common causes and activities with like-minded people. So I

went to the fair to help my friends with their stall.

 

The day was going great. At times the stall would packed with people

wanting to sign up to the society, with loads of discussions going on,

while at others it would quiet with the occasional curious visitor who

isn’t quite sure what Hindus are or even what Hinduism is.

 

One Indian looking guy slowly approached the society. From the look in

his eyes I could tell he was a first year student. He had a rudraksha

(Lord Shiva’s bead) around his neck, and therefore my friend thought he

might be interested in joining the Hindu society. So she asked him

“Would you like to join the Hindu society?â€

 

He looked in a funny way at my friend, and flaunting his rudraksha replied,

“Are you kidding me or what?â€

 

The guy sounded like he was from India and being an Indian myself, I

knew exactly where this was headed. My friend asked him what he meant

and he replied smugly “I’m from India. I don’t need to join any Hindu

societyâ€. My friend seemed a little stunned by this seemingly

contradictory comment but before she could say anything he started

asking her if she knew the Hanuman Chalisa. On saying yes he demanded

“Can you say the whole of it. Let me hear itâ€.

 

I had had enough of the guy’s complacent and judgemental attitude and

was about to tell him to piss off when my friend narrated the whole

Hanuman Chalisa right there. On hearing it he gave a part surprised,

part embarrassed look and walked off. I stood there trying to hide my

own embarrassment at this display by my fellow countryman.

 

It is typical of Indian-born Hindus, to think that British Hindus don’t

know anything about their religion and culture (I thought this too

until I learnt otherwise). This is why the guy had asked smugly “Are

you kidding me or whatâ€. He obviously felt it was beneath him to be

part of a Hindu society organised by British Hindus. Or to put it

another way, that he knew everything about Hinduism and didn’t need to

be told anything about it, least of all by a British Hindu.

 

Irony of the story is, that such Indian Hindus are the ones most in

need of some Hindu teachings. Growing up in India, in a cultural

setting inspired from Hinduism, that’s all Hinduism remains for them –

a cultural phenomenon. Nothing more that can be said of any spiritual

or personal value to them. That’s why the guy was so quick to flash his

rudraksha. It had more to do with a fashion sense derived from

something culturally familiar than any attempt at dharmic development.

The general attitude is that we go to the temple on religious occasions

and maybe even know some of the mantras and prayers by heart and that’s

the end of Hinduism. But they have no idea what these mantras mean or

what relevance Hindu practices or their underlying spiritual

significance can have in our everyday lives. They never think to sit in

contemplation or self-enquiry about their religion, discuss the

glorious epochs of Hindu history, debate the significance of Hindu

teachings in modern day

 

society which are all in fact, such a key element to Hinduism itself.

And this is exactly what the Hindu society in that particular

university offers to all students.

 

So I just want to finish this piece with a plea from one Indian Hindu

to other Indian Hindus. Please don’t make such embarrassing displays of

complacency and self-satisfaction, least of all when its not justified.

Hinduism in Britain as I’ve come to learn, is more than flourishing and

Hindus here are more that aware of how the great philosophical and

moral teachings of Hinduism apply to their everyday lives. But most

importantly they have a spirit of self-enquiry and a desire to learn

and experience their great religion, which is often absent from young

Hindus in India.

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Venkatji, this is very true. Not just this, but when westerners goto

India, they arent sometimes allowed to enter temples, even though they

proably know more about Hinduism/Yoga then most Indians & even the

priests.

 

Hindus are alwys complaining how Christians/Muslims are converting in

India etc. With such a hostile attitude to others interested in our

culture, no wonder. Can you imagine a Christian not allowing someone

to enter their Church because they are brown or black skinned?