|
Page1
The first point that needs to be emphasized in a meaningful discussion of Hindu nationalism is that it is something altogether different from other types of nationalisms, with the possible exception of the Chinese about which it is premature to say anything definite since the Chinese people have yet to recover their capacity to shape their future in accordance with their civilization and genius. The reason is simple.
The Hindu civilization, which is the basis of Hindu nationalism, is different from any other living civilization, again with the partial exception of the Chinese. Even when the uniqueness of our civilization is accepted, it is sought to be annulled for all practical purposes, by giving it the label Hinduism and equating it with other religions. The tragedy is that most educated Hindus have themselves fallen prey to this semantic confusion. Thus they describe themselves as one community among others. It follows that we should shun the term Hinduism; but that is not a practical proposition.
Author : Shri Girilal Jain
|
