I watched some of the interviews of Dr. Subramanian Swamy sometime back, and I didn't think that they were worthy of any serious attention. These interviews were largely ignored by mainstream media also and even all major political parties gave it a pass, no one really made any big deal out of it. But on second thought, I think these types of views should be questioned, especially when they come from some political figure who might play a key role in the major national party. I think Dr. Swamy gave these interviews as a part of a promotional campaign for a book he wrote recently. I can understand his desire to popularize his book to boost its sales, but any sane person with a rational mind would have thought twice before making any statements like the one he made during these interviews. Dr. Swamy is a well-known politician and educated person, nowadays he is also a prominent member of the major national party like BJP. There is a very high probability that if BJP comes into power he might hold some crucial ministerial position in the future government. It is really unfortunate to see that such a person is saying that all Indian Muslims (or all non-Hindus including Sikhs, Christians, etc.) should first acknowledge their Hindu ancestry to get their voting rights.
Only Dr. Swamy knows why he said these things and what he really meant, but his statements clearly display his intolerant attitude toward other religions and faiths. I wonder on what basis he links Hinduism with being Indian. I don't think there is any relation between these two things. Why does anyone have to accept or even acknowledge their ancestors if they don't want to? I personally don't care who were my ancestors, or what religion they followed. I am very happy with my present and willing to work hard for a better future. Does this make me any lesser Indian than others who prefer to acknowledge their ancestors? Being a law-abiding citizen who respects the law of the land is not enough to get a voting right? Why acknowledging my ancestry is important for my voting rights? Why government is interested to know my or my ancestors' religion? Can Dr. Swamy give any satisfactory answers to all these questions? Dr. Swamy's aim behind the insistence of this ancestry acknowledgment is clearly to create some unnecessary controversy. Imagine what will happen if a person with so much bias against a particular community or religion gets some cabinet portfolio that designs policies for the citizens of India. Will he be fair to all communities? I hope people who are going to vote in this election ask these questions to concerned people.
Only Dr. Swamy knows why he said these things and what he really meant, but his statements clearly display his intolerant attitude toward other religions and faiths. I wonder on what basis he links Hinduism with being Indian. I don't think there is any relation between these two things. Why does anyone have to accept or even acknowledge their ancestors if they don't want to? I personally don't care who were my ancestors, or what religion they followed. I am very happy with my present and willing to work hard for a better future. Does this make me any lesser Indian than others who prefer to acknowledge their ancestors? Being a law-abiding citizen who respects the law of the land is not enough to get a voting right? Why acknowledging my ancestry is important for my voting rights? Why government is interested to know my or my ancestors' religion? Can Dr. Swamy give any satisfactory answers to all these questions? Dr. Swamy's aim behind the insistence of this ancestry acknowledgment is clearly to create some unnecessary controversy. Imagine what will happen if a person with so much bias against a particular community or religion gets some cabinet portfolio that designs policies for the citizens of India. Will he be fair to all communities? I hope people who are going to vote in this election ask these questions to concerned people.
I believe this is an intentional move by Dr. Swamy to create polarization of votes during this election. He is a very clever and shrewd politician. I think he is playing this card to please the gallery, to make traditional BJP supporter happy, and to make them feel assured that their pro-Hindu ideology is not all lost in this development saga. I think Dr. Swamy himself knows that this policy is impossible to implement in India, but this is a political move to reap some short-term political benefits and some money by boosting his book sales by creating some controversy. But by doing this, he created a really pathetic image of himself. The government has no business to interfere in the private matters of law-abiding citizens. Citizens should be free to choose whatever religion they want to follow, they should be free to change it at any time, and any religious affiliation or acknowledgment of ancestry should not be a prerequisite for citizenship, voting rights, or any other fundamental rights of citizens. I hope Dr. Swamy understands this and will correct his mistake.
Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.
[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing]
Links:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVm-BhvKZw0#t=271
2. Swamy to head BJP’s action panel
I have no idea who this Dr. Swamy is or even read about his speeches or policy but here is some of my answers on what I think he might mean.
ReplyDelete[[clearly display his intolerant attitude towards other religions and faiths]]
This is a direct result of a reaction to an action that has been provoked by the other religions who have terrorised the Hindus in their own country.
[[I wonder on what basis he links Hinduism with being Indian]]
[[Why anyone has to accept or even acknowledge their ancestors if they don't want to?]]
The majority of Hindu are Indians. Many Muslims, Christians, Buddhist are converts who were once Hindus. These people must recognise that their ancestors were Hindus and reconvert back to being Hindus.
[[I am very happy with my present and willing to work hard for my better future, does that make me any lesser Indian than others who prefer to acknowledge their ancestors?]]
You might be but others are not!
[[If I am a law abiding citizen who respects law of land and if I have any disagreement I either discuss, debate or register my protest using ways allowed by law; is all this not enough to get a voting right? Why my ancestry is so important?]]
Your question starts with a big ‘IF’.
It appears many Muslims and even Sikhs and others want to separate themselves from being Indians and are causing problems like terrorism, demands for separate homeland etc.
[[the word Hindu was coined very recently.]]
This is a very naïve observation. It doesn’t take away the fact that many Indians are worshippers of God that is as ancient as the civilization of man itself.
As the saying goes --A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
[[supporter happy, to make them feel assured that their pro Hindu ideology is not all lost in this development saga.]]
Its about time someone empowered the Hindus instead of pampering and pleasing the Christians and Muslims all the time.
[[Government has no business to interfere in private matters of law abiding citizens.]]
It has every business to protect the people from evils of non-law abiding spiteful religious hating people like SOME Christians and Muslims.
[[Citizens should be free to choose whatever religion they want to follow,]]
The big word is FREE. The bigots of other religion are forcing, coercing and bribing the people. Its in the manifesto of their Bible and Koran to convert others to their religion by any means. Even by marriage to them and converting them.
[[ancestry should not be a criteria for citizenship]]
May be. May be not. It depends on what context it is used and so it becomes criteria.
wow..really deep analysis of my post...very interestingly there are some what more fanatic statements than what Dr. Swamy made during his interviews...I think after reading your comment people might feel that Dr. Swamy is very tolerant and secular guy. Your comment it self is self explanatory, I dont have to go in detail to answer anything, anyone reading it will understand what you mean and from where your thoughts are coming. There are people like you in every religion or group who try to spread hatred or fear among others, it's sad but true.
DeleteI hope better sense prevails with you and you realize your pathetic attempt to paint negative picture of all Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. There are law abiding and law breaking people in every religion, group or society and they should get punished. Only stupid or people blinded by their faith (in religion, cult, god, etc.) can paint complete negative picture of others. Search for positives you may find it and if at all you want to offer, offer some constructive criticism not my religion is all good and others are monsters. Anyway thanks for your comment.
You're riling the hate speech all by yourself. On top of that you're interpreting to boost some figures to your blog. You really need to read your own pathetic words before trying to deciphers others. Get a life.
ReplyDeleteany evidence in this direction will be highly appreciated, I don't need to do anything to boost figures of my blog as I don't bother about it. Please take some efforts to back up your statements with some reliable explanation or evidence otherwise they don't mean anything.
Delete[[There are people like you in every religion or group who try to spread hatred or fear among others, it's sad but true.]]
ReplyDeleteThis statement is incitement to hatred.
You welcome readers to post comments then you label them as some kind of fanatics without any evidence as to who they are. You use words like “people like you” ---exactly what are people like me?
You don’t even know me-- so how can you judge me?
Your pathetic attempt to get other readers to make a comment against me by using such language is quite clear.
The arguments I have presented are quite valid. There is no hatred for anyone in my statements yet you try to make it out so.
Such a cheap shot.
Any reader with a bit of intelligence will see what you are doing —by trying to label me as something bad.
An apology would go a long way towards your abuse at me.
Hold on...go slow my friend..don't be in a rush to conclude...read your comment first..I wrote that line "only" after reading these lines from your comment,
Delete[[The majority of Hindu are Indians. Many Muslims, Christians, Buddhist are converts who were once Hindus. These people must recognise that their ancestors were Hindus and reconvert back to being Hindus.]]
read above lines where you are bluntly recommending "they must...and reconvert..." Dr. Swamy just stopped at recognition of ancestry you went even one step further...this is what spreads hatred, divides people...and for that matter I personally don't know Dr. Swamy also but I wrote this entire blog post about his statement..and that line from my comment which you shared is entirely based on these lines from your comment...I don't have to know Hitler personally to comment on his statements, I can very well base my judgement based on his statements..and if this statement which I quoted from your comment is wrong then I am wrong, my judgement is wrong, just ignore that line and move on, very simple, isn't it?
Who should acknowledge their ancestry or convert to which religion is their private business, no other person or government has any right to force them to do accept or reject any religion. I hope you get this, if not then read the post again, may be it will help. You are right, definitely any reader with bit of common sense (or as you say intelligence) will understand what's going on here, don't worry. Thanks for your comment.
And you need to read carefully yourself mate. The first thing I wrote was [[here is some of my answers on what I think he might mean. ]].
ReplyDeleteSo stop making things up without reading it properly.
If you don’t think that my interpretation was wrong then that would be fair because we can debate that.
But to accuse me of holding some views is false.
So now apologise.
again go slow my friend...yes you wrote those lines and all you did was posted your comments on what I wrote not what Dr. Swamy said...so please read your comment properly first...you only quoted lines from my post not from Dr. Swamy's interview...if you wanted to explain what he meant then you should have used his quotes not from my post and you want me to believe that Dr. SS meant whatever you wrote?? Really?? You wrote your own opinion and you should stand by it if you really mean it...don't try to fire over someone's shoulder.
DeleteI quoted the line from your comment on which I based my comment. If you didn't write that line then just ignore my comment and move on, I wrote that for the person who wrote those lines, if you are not the that person then why it's bothering you? If you wrote that and mean that then ONLY read my comment and think over it or else as I said it's not for you and it's not even about you. I am not accusing you for anything, I just said that these type of statements spread hatred and fear, and thats my interpretation of your statement, if you don't agree then argue over it. I hope I am clear on this now.
and please read my post about not getting offended
Deletehttp://selfrealization-vinay.blogspot.com/2014/03/stop-being-offended.html
my intention was not to offend or hurt anyone including you. If you are feeling offended then I am sorry but I stand by my comment...read above post it might help you to deal with this problem of getting offended. All the very best, next time think before you write something and please stand by your statements, we all make mistakes, it's not a big deal...
Vinay,
DeleteIf you want other religions to stay peacefully with the Hindues in India, it is ok. But as long as it is "peacefully" my friend. We have freedom of religion. But at the same time if there are forcible conversions and the like going around how dare we fall prey to such unconstitutional hypocrisy !!!
If it is I follow my religion and you follow yours it is ok. But if it is you follow yours and meddle with me following mine is not freedom of religion.
Himanshu
I also don't agree with "acknowledgement of ancestry should not be a criteria for citizenship or voting rights"
DeleteThat is what has made Bangladeshi immigrants rule the roost in India. They are now citizens with rights though in a subtle and hidden form.
I believe your thinking is in line with the US. The US has no ancestry - all are immigrants from Britain and Spain and Africa and Asia and others. It is easier for them to say all are citizens irrespective of ancestry. It is because they have no roots. Or rather they have destroyed their roots - the Red Indians. Now the Red Indians are a minority. Do you want the Hindus - or whatever label you may apply to them - to follow the path the RI's ?
Many backward classes have embraced Buddhism. The Jains are now minority. Some of the other religions are already at crossroads with Hindus. Are you getting the slightest idea where we are heading to?
Himanshu
Himanshu thanks a lot for sharing you views. I agree that it will be great if all religions can learn to co-exist along with each other peacefully, but it doesn't seem to be happening that's why we have laws and rules which to some extend try to make this possible. There are fanatics and fundamentalists in every religion, these are the people who try to create trouble and disturbance and every religion suffers from this problem. According to me loyalty to country's constitution is more than enough to become good citizen of any country. Like many other countries (including US) Indian constitution is also secular and considers religion as private affair of its citizen. State and religion are totally separate.
DeleteI don't know from where you got impression that people in US don't have any ancestry, they all have some ancestry and the ones who care know it very well and they celebrate those things on various occasions. And the ones who don't care they don't bother about these things. But all these things are their personal matter, no community or government interferes with it. Even though Christianity is dominant religion here, loyalty or pledge to respect Christian values is not a requirement for US citizenship or to get voting rights. Culture is a culture, how old or new doesn't increase or decrease its value.
Who wants to convert which religion is their personal matter, I have no problem with people changing their religion every day if they want. I have no problem with people acknowledging or celebrating their ancestry in ways allowed by law, but I have a problem when some one is forced to do something against their will just because they belong to minority. Make strong laws to curb forceful religious conversions, spread awareness and educate people about these type of practices but whatever Dr. Swamy is recommending is pure hypocrisy nothing else.
You’re trying to be clever, instead of apologising.
DeleteYou interpreted what he thought he said and instead I gave my version. Its your interpretation of his interpretation which what the blog is about and hence I have given.
For example you said
[[[clearly display his intolerant attitude towards other religions and faiths]]]]
So here you are saying that his explanation is intolerance to wards other faiths.
This is not what I saw in his interpretation and gave you my explanations.
There are other sentences which you misinterpreted from his speech and started a\ campaign of hate against him I merely pointd out my explanation of you misunderstanding of his interpretation. Im not even sure if you’ll understand what Im writing here.
I don’t have all day to make you understand since you seem to lack understanding. You only know how to make false interpretation of everyone and everything in life.
Either be brave as to apologise properly or don’t bother making more nonsense replies.
I don’t want your apology on offending me or not but your apology on trying to make look bad!
If youre still not man enough to do that then don’t expect anymore replies from on this.
On what basis you say that I misinterpreted his speech?? any reliable evidence?? So your explanation is right and mine is wrong?? Why?? Because you say so?? My friend this world doesn't work on the basis of what you or I say. You don't have to spend all day on anything and don't have to make me understand anything, I already wrote what I understand. If you have any problem then put your views forward and leave it to others to decide whether to accept or reject.
DeleteYour language and tone of comment itself shows why type of person you are, I am not interested in making any personal comments here but my only aim is to discuss issues nothing else.
I said I would not respond to your response but you compel me to write this because of your silly remark.
ReplyDeleteYou say
[[On what basis you say that I misinterpreted his speech?? ]]
So when I interpret something you cry and howl 'fowl play' and tried demonise me by saying [[there are some what more fanatic statements than what Dr. Swamy]].
But as soon as someone says you misinterpreted something you become angry, want proof and blah blah blah.
and when you say
[[I already wrote what I understand. ]]
Have you ever thought that your understanding could be all wrong and rubbish.
You’re not so misguided in your thinking.
I could go mad trying to make you understand anything logical. So let this be my last word on it. Unless off course really do write something even more silly.
Please don't worry about what you say and what you actually do, I am quite used to that contradiction so no issues here from my side. Please let me know what is your real problem here, is it my interpretation of Dr. Swamy's statements he made during those interviews? or my remarks about your comments? or something else?? Did I cry or blamed you for the way you interpreted anything? It's your right to do that and I have no issues with that. I put my side and you can put yours, it's as simple as that. It's you who is crying that I misinterpreted something I am not saying that, so you have to prove it not me. I don't become angry, I wonder why you think that? Is it because you are angry?
DeleteI very much understand that my understanding can be wrong that's why I discuss and debate but I don't call others by names or question their intelligence or their right to express their opinion or force my views on them, anyone is free to accept or reject them.
My friend have you ever thought that your understanding also could be wrong? or you think only others should worry about this but not you? Whether I am guided or misguided leave it up to me to decide, don't worry about that.
[I could go mad]?? ohh so you mean you are not mad already..:).. Take care.
[[Did I cry or blamed you for the way you interpreted anything? ]]
ReplyDeleteYes you did and on top of that you tried to demonise me!!
Clearly youre not reading what you wrote about me!!
I think ou are right -- I am mad coming here trying to explain to a person who cannot comprehend what he has written.
l am glad that you realized this...and next time try to comment something related to post not about me. What you think about me is not at all important here, the subject of post is. And be assured that any attempt to spread hatred or paint any community in bad light without any evidence will be questioned and challenged no matter how many times I need to do that, I will do it. So if you don't like that be careful next time while commenting.
DeleteThanks