Thread by @saket71

Your journey towards alien faith begins with making you disrespect your own faith. That is how #Thekeralastory begins. There are some favourite tropes which are used. I don’t care what your individual stand it, in larger cause, one must accept and work on it.

First one is - Caste. #Caste is a Portuguese concept. Hinduism has Varna. All Varna’s are said to have emerged from Brahma- the Divine. In Hinduism, intellectuals since eternity understood the divisive impact of Caste. So in earliest times, Manu marries daughter to Brahmin.

In Ramayan, Kshatriya Shriram has Nishadraj as his school mate and friend. In Mahabharat, the story is narrated by Sootputra. In Ajgar Kand of Van Parva, Dharmaraj Yudhishthir tells the Sarp, it is our action which decides your caste. #Casteism #Hinduism

The famous #Eklavya episode is common trope used to drive people out of #Hinduism . The pictures of a young poor boy wearing leaves offering thumb to Drona is painful sight. It is there in school books. This doesn’t tell us that Eklavya didn’t live in forest.

#Eklavya lived in as good palaces as Arjun could dream of. He was son of General of Magadha Army. How come Kshatriyas of Magadha accept a Dalit as their commander? Same way GB Pant, Patel, Mukherjee, Nehru and Dr Prasad accept #Ambedkar as head of drafting committee.

Next is no right of women to education and learning in #Hinduism. Tell then how many Rishikas contributed to #Rigveda, first verbal book of Hinduism and humanity. Lopamudra, Gargi, Devahuti.. Tell your daughters about them. In 19th century, Virginia Woolf wanted to enter library.

Devahuti is of particular interest. She was daughter of Fascist, Manuvadi… Manu. He allowed her learn Sanskrit, allowed her write and compose and allowed her writing to enter hallowed Rigveda. How? It wasn’t a printed book. Went from generation to generation. #Hinduism

If Manu Relaxed rules for his own daughter, later sages could have expunged it. Why they didn’t do it? Because that is how #Hinduism operates. #Women are appreciated to learn, to learn, to debate. Someone said #Hindu women aren’t supposed to talk back to husband?

Tell them about Maitreyi who debated with Yagyavalka. Were women not supposed to be appointed in intellectual work. Wasn’t Maitreyi’s mother official Vidushi in the court of Janaka? Which other faith or culture can tell such stories from such old days?

Women had no say in their marriage in Hinduism- they will tell you. Ask them who said this. They will tell you, well, who else but Manuvadi Manu. Ask them, Did Emperor Manu decide to marry his Daughter Devahuti to Sage Kardama? No. Tell them to read Bhagwat Purana.

It was Devahuti who was told about Sage Kardama by Narada and she fell in love. The parents, Manu and Shatrupa then went to seek the alliance. And once Manu agreed, he takes concurrence of Shatarupa to formalise. So Devahuti decides, mother agrees, father arranges.

Another trope is ‘Veda says women have the heart of a Hyena’. Vedas aren’t book of commandments. Vedas are books of learning. The quote comes in a story told in Rigveda. It is said by Urvashi, who after marriage goes back to pursue her dancing career.

This quote is said by a woman who is trying to persuade her lover not to abandon his duties in her love. This is a story and not a directive. The propaganda wins because we know little. Those who should tell us also do not have structured education on religion.

It is for us to learn and share with our daughters. Once they are uprooted, their brains are vacuum and nature hates vacuum. Do pass on 🙏🙏. Don’t believe those who tell you Hinduism survived centuries so don’t be alarmist. It did, but wasn’t confined to small geography. 🙏