We all are probably aware of the controversy created by the above named BJP lawmaker. She said something in one of her election rally in Delhi which is not even fit to be repeated in this blog.
I have wondered that over the years so many instances of religious intolerance have come in light and that too by people who have 'supposedly' the intelligence and knowledge of the real Hindu Philosophy.So let's start by knowing what exactly is the Hindu Philosophy?
Hindu is not said to be a religion like others religions of the world. We say so because Hindu is not based on a figure, like Christ in Christianity and Buddha in Buddhism or a philosophy like Islam, which means submission to God. Hinduism is a way of life which is not particular to just people who are Hindus. It is set of value system and beliefs which can be followed by anyone who can be from any religion or even an atheist.
Hinduism unlike other religions says that the Truth is One but the way to achieve that truth can be different for people believing in different set of values or beliefs. I say this because the preachers of other religions like Islam and Christianity say that their religion is the only way to achieve salvation or to reach God / Truth ( which I think is the misinterpretation of the words written in their Holy Books because Quran says that Islam - Submission to God is the only way to achieve him, which now has been interpreted as following Islam 'religion' is the only way).
It is due to this philosophy that India which was a Hindu state is now home to so many religions and beliefs because it is in the DNA of Hinduism to respect other beliefs and give them the space and freedom to follow it.
So why do we have these instances where supposedly, so called the knowledgable saints resort to these kind of uncharacteristic words which do not match with the philosophy they preach?
I think the answer lies in a statement which was said by Swami Vivekanand.
To explain this we have to know that Hinduism believes in the theory of 4 paths of salvation - knowledge (gyaan), meditation (dhyaan), action (karma) and devotion (bhakti).
He said that though devotion was the easiest way to achieve salvation, but in its lower form i.e people who follow the path of devotion without proper knowledge and understanding of other paths, can lead to fanaticism.
If we put this sentence in perspective, we will realise that all the fanatics in all religions over the world would be recruited from this section of worshippers. The way for them to love their own religion is by hating the other religion. They are the kind of people who are so loving and caring about everything in their religion but become absolutely intolerant when it comes to other religions and beliefs.
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti probably belong to that class of people. It's a pity that the great work done by the present government in the short span of 6 months is being encroached by remarks of such people. Probably it's time for even the RSS to differentiate between the higher and the lower form of Hindu Nationalists and give them the front position so they don't embarrass the government and the party.
Religious Intolerance has been rapidly increasing in our country and such remarks just help them to fuel it further. We need religious tolerant people in the forefront to drowse the fire of intolerance.
