"Why don't Hindus* who are against Hindutava come out in protest against it?"
Fair question, and bear with me, because it will be a long rambling answer.
Disclaimer- I was born Hindu, but haven't identified myself as one for 40 years.
* Upper Class Hindus only
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Fair question, and bear with me, because it will be a long rambling answer.
Disclaimer- I was born Hindu, but haven't identified myself as one for 40 years.
* Upper Class Hindus only
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Hindus can be plotted on a convenient 2*2 matrix.
-Hindus who reject Hindutva and are vocal about it
-Hindus who are uncomfortable with Hindutava, but remain silent
-Hindus who support Hindutva but quietly
-Hindus who vociferously support Hindutva
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-Hindus who reject Hindutva and are vocal about it
-Hindus who are uncomfortable with Hindutava, but remain silent
-Hindus who support Hindutva but quietly
-Hindus who vociferously support Hindutva
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The vast majority of Hindus fall into the 'silent' category. They keep their opinions to themselves. Some lean one way or the other, but are undecided. Most think it is distasteful to have political views.
Their silence provides legitimacy to RW propaganda.
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Their silence provides legitimacy to RW propaganda.
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On WhatsApp groups and social gatherings, the silence of the majority enables RW supporters to gang up against the lone crusader speaking against them. Voices of dissent are systematically weeded out, allowing fake news and misleading interpretations to flourish.
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Since people who are vocal against Hindutva have been eased out of most spaces, the rest become victims of misinformation. They believe what is fed to them, and even while rejecting Hindutva don't feel the need to come out actively against it. They do not see the threat
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To know why Hindus do not protest against Hindutava, you then have to examine why and how others do come out in protest.
While there are individuals who come on their own accord, the majority come because they are mobilized. It is a religious or social leader who asks them to.
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While there are individuals who come on their own accord, the majority come because they are mobilized. It is a religious or social leader who asks them to.
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There are no such leaders for the Hindus. Most Hindus practice their religion at home. There are no weekly gatherings where a religious leader preaches to them. They do not belong to defined groups that meet regularly. Mobilizing them is not an easy task.
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Equally important, there is no perceived urgency. Most Hindus do not recognize the immediate danger to the secular values of the nation. Fed on a diet of misinformation, they think we are overreacting. "Not so easy to form a Hindu Rashtra", they say in all sincerity.
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Is all lost? Maybe not.
Even if we cannot get them to protest, we can at least get Hindus to commit to speak up against it. We cannot win them over on all issues (most believe Kashmir is justified), and let us not even try.
Let us focus on why Hindutva should be rejected.
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Even if we cannot get them to protest, we can at least get Hindus to commit to speak up against it. We cannot win them over on all issues (most believe Kashmir is justified), and let us not even try.
Let us focus on why Hindutva should be rejected.
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Getting the people who are silent to start speaking up is the single biggest thing we can do right now. Once these people start asking questions, it becomes more difficult for RW propaganda to be spread.
Let us focus on that. Needs patience and empathy, but not impossible.
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Let us focus on that. Needs patience and empathy, but not impossible.
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Why are they silent? Because there is misinformation. Too much misinformation.
