Thread by @SuhagAShukla

This article exemplifies how colonial mentality -- the internalization of attitudes of cultural inferiority by previously colonized people -- is multigenerational. Their descendants' may never have been colonized physically, but their minds remain shackled.1/9

https://twitter.com/harpersbazaarus/status/1354425478992551937

And in spite of a father's, a "hairy-chested" uncle's, or respected organizations like @ChinmayaMission's best efforts, racist, colonial tropes about Hindus and Hinduism rooted in European ideas of white and Christian supremacy persist, and in this case, prove insurmountable.2/9

What's fascinating (and frustrating) is how @mathangiwrites and many like her freely borrow the language of decolonizing used by other post-colonized peoples yet remain completely unaware of the colonial paradigms through which they view and demonize their own tribe. 3/9

And they want to fight against the conflation of Hindu and Indian identities, but have no problem conflating Hinduism with casteism, colorism, patriarchy, religious bigotry, and whatever other social ills?!? 4/9

She ridicules her “hairy chested” uncle who was probably a well-meaning community elder wearing his traditional unstitched, unstitched dhoti, taking time on weekends to pass on Sanskrit chanting and ancient ceremonies to kids like her in the community. 5/9

The Brits sought to make us hate ourselves so that they could rule us. Oh, how McCauley must be smiling from his grave. 6/9

Billions globally, including those not born into it, are inspired by Hinduism's perennial wisdom of Oneness, by yoga, the Gita, the Upanishads...But the writer's experience of social evils, some that were created or worsened by colonialism, make Hinduism irredeemable for her. 7/9

She's missed the transformative teachings that I along with the billions are inspired by and imbibe - of truth, non-harming, self-control, selfless service, compassion, contentment, balance, discernment, forgiveness, harmony, equanimity, equality, mutual respect, justice... 8/9

@mathangiwrites, sit with the learned sages of our time.

Listen again & ask difficult questions. Maybe you'll get it this time.

And if not, don't worry. You can come back again and again and again...

hinduamerican.org/hindu-leaders-… 9/9.