Is it correct to issue Ramayana themed stamps by PM Modi?

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PM Modi recently launched a postal stamp based on Ramayana. People started calling this as an anti secular move. But is this truly 'anti-secular'?

It is a common practice to issue stamps on themes of different people of different eras of our history:

• Distinguished Indians

• Freedom Fighters and PMs

• Kings of our modern Indian history

So what the hell is wrong with presenting our ancient history (Ramayana) ??

(Just because it was presented as a story does not mean that it is entirely fictional. Evidences have been found that support it.)

We Indians are consumed by this word secular which we have started using every now and then. If secularism means not acknowledging our own past, we must stop following such a system. Ramayana and Mahabharata are the stories of our Indian land. In the name of secularism do not forget our own history. Do not identify these books with Hinduism, identify them as national books. Let me present you an example.

In front of the Indonesian Embassy, one would have expected to see the statue of Sukarno, the founding father of Indonesia. But no; there is the Hindu Goddess of learning, Saraswati, glowing white and gold, with her four arms upraised. At her feet are three students -young Barack Obama and his classmates while he was in grade school in Indonesia.

The goddess’ statue, on top of a lotus, stands tall a block away from the Indian Embassy in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Why would Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, with Hindus accounting for a mere 1.7 per cent, choose a Hindu goddess as its embassy’s symbol?

This is because they have retained their culture and identify themselves as Indonesians rather than identifying themselves as Arab vassals.

Lord Ganesha is inscribed on the 20,000 rupiah currency note. The logo of Institut Teknologi Bandung - Indonesia's premier engineering institute - is also Ganesh. Do Indonesians question this?

Hanuman is the official mascot of Indonesia’s military intelligence. At the 1997 South-East Asian Games at Jakarta, the official mascot was Hanuman. Do Indonesians question this?

Statues of Ram, Krishan and Arjun - mammoth in size, beautifully designed, tastefully lit, adorn traffic roundabouts. Jakarta even boasts a statue of Ghatotkach, Bhim’s son. Save for a shrine close to Hidimba Devi Temple in Manali, Ghatotkach has no statuary presence in India. Do Indonesians question this?

Our epics are our identities. Rather than acting as Arab world’s vassals, Indonesian Muslims present an epic example of those people who value their actual identity. We must learn from them.

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Untouchability- Is this a problem present only in Hinduism?

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Whenever India's achievements are discussed on world stage, someone always pops up a question that maligns India's name- 'Untouchability'.
The caste system of India remains a dark spot in the otherwise vibrant history of India. But is it exclusive only for India?

Innocent uneducated folks have always suffered because of some educated groups who were able to climb the social ladders using the shoulders of the fellow masses as the steps of ladder. It is not just a matter of history. Even today, the less educated masses work as labourers and drain-cleaners while the more educated people continue to hold big lofty posts. The division of work is essential for the function of any society. This is called the 'varna system' in Hinduism. The original varna system was just like the present day division of work. It was a mobile system where the son of a potter could become the head of the Republic while the son of a chieftain could learn and teach others. The problem began with the increase in power of some particular groups who destroyed the mobility of varna system.
Still, there have been many instances in the history of India where people from the 'oppressed classes' became rulers though I won't state their names because this will start a new caste claiming debate. According to the Hindu mythologies, there are many instances where Gods took birth even in the 'oppressed class' families. One of the supreme Hindu dieties, Lord Krishna was born in a yadav family which is now considered as another backward community by the government of India. So, it was not always the case that some castes were always excluded from the mainstream society of Indians. This was the nature of the caste system or the varna system of India. Now, let's talk about the other societies of the world.

To begin with, let's talk about the western society which constantly ridicules India for its caste system:
Cagots- Cagots were the dalits( which means 'the oppressed') of France and Spain. They were made to live in outskirts of town. Cagots were excluded from all political and social rights. They were not allowed to marry non-Cagots, enter taverns, hold cabarets, use public fountains, sell food or wine, touch food in the market, work with livestock, or enter the mill. They were allowed to enter a church only by a special door, and during the service, a rail separated them from the other worshippers. Either they were altogether forbidden to partake of the sacrament, or the water stoup was reserved for their exclusive use. They were compelled to wear a distinctive dress.
Their cruel treatment lasted through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Industrial Revolution, with the prejudice fading only in the 19th and 20th centuries. These types of castes were present in almost all the societies that existed. Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Tibetans, Middle Eastern and Africans all had such kind of a caste system. However, only the Indian caste system seems to be highlighted every now and then. If you try to give an explanation for this prejudice by saying that it still exists in the Hindu society, then you need to need to know that even other religions have this kind of divisions. Islam has Ashrafs which are considered superior because of their aristocratic ancestry while the Ajlafs and Arzals are considered inferior. There are separate seats, separate communion cups, burial grounds, and churches for members of the lower castes, especially in the Latin Catholic Church.

I am not supporting caste system but I do wish to say that India is not the only place where caste system prevailed. So, do keep this in mind before you ridicule my nation!!

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How western media and Indian journalists see Hindu revivalism in India?

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19th March 2017: 

Newspapers like the New York Times started crying on the appointment of Yogi Adityanath as chief minister in Uttar Pradesh. Like in the run-up to the general elections in 2014, when a Modi victory loomed large, the media went berserk. The gist was: By appointing Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Modi has finally shown his true face of a Hindu fundamentalist who wants to make India a ‘Hindu nation’ where minorities have no place. The Swiss NZZ wrote that it is hardly possible for Prime Minister Modi’s government to call itself the representative of all Indians after appointing a figure like Yogi Adityanath.

Western media can't be blamed because these 'pseudo-liberals' include even Indian journalists. Yet, the same media don’t react when America or most other western countries are referred to as Christian nations. Nor do they get agitated about the numerous Muslim nations; not even about those which still have harsh blasphemy laws. 

A Hindu nation is projected as the worst possible scenario by the wrongly called ‘liberal’ media. If only they knew what Hindus actually are!! 

They are open towards other views, unlike ‘good’ Christians and Muslims who feel obligated to make everyone believe what they believe, if necessary by deceit or force.
Remember that the Hindus did not fight crusades or jihads. 

Hinduism is a peaceful religion where even animals are thought to contain a part of God. Majority of the vegetarians therefore comprise of Hindus. 

It has to be held in favour of Hindus that they held on to their tradition and did not succumb to the pressure and even violence brought on them to adopt blind belief that only one particular person has revealed the full truth. Instead, they continued trusting their sages who never asked for blind belief, but asked to verify their insights through experience.

Hindustan is the land where children chant “Loka samastha sukhino bhavantu” (let all be happy) instead of Humpty Dumpty, which happens in primary schools in the west?

So why do media worldwide get so worked up about ‘Hindu fundamentalists’ and a possible ‘Hindu nation’. What is wrong with the fundamentals? There is nothing wrong with the fundamentals. But there is one major difference: For Hindus, the Divinity is in all and all is in the Divinity, whereas for Christians and Muslims the Divinity is separate from his creation watching us from somewhere.

Hindus are the exemplary role model for ‘how not to exclude others’? Where else have religious minorities flourished and grown like in India? Is not the relative harmony in this amazing diversity in India generally admired abroad? Media persons need only to look around in the world to realize this fact. If they only imagined what a Hindu nation looks like, they might start propagating Hindu nations all over the globe for harmony and peace in the world.

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