An Open Letter to Manu Joseph,Editor, Open Magazine.
18/01/2013 11:31:42 Dr. Vijaya Rajiva Dear Manu, Interesting name ! Is it from the Hindu Manu as in Manusmriti or is it from the Christian Immanuel (name for Jesus) ? My own predilection is also based on Immanuel Kant the famous 18th century German philosopher who wrote the famed Critiques, which are compulsory reading for any philosopher, either eastern or western. My own name Vijaya is the name for Durga, as in Vijayadashami. Thus having cleared the decks let me proceed to the main points of this open letter. I read with interest your article in the New York Times ( 'US Hindus hear the call of India' Jan.17, 2013). Entertainingly written. You begin with a reference to the play 'Ganesha and the Third Reich' which was first staged in Australia in 2011 and presumably is now being staged in New York. After a few lines about the play itself you move on to the topic of the Hindus in the American diaspora. I am a Hindu (so you will forgive my partisanship) and I watch with some interest the activities of the US Hindus, although I do not live in the US. I first learned about the Hindu American Foundation when they reclaimed Yoga from those who would try to deny its Hindu origins. Ms. Shah of HAF was actively involved, and I read the fine articles by Dr. Aseem Shukla who took on world famous guru Dr. Deepak Chopra. I am an admirer of the latter but I threw in my two cents worth of support for Dr. Shukla's arguments which were both historically and content wise an accurate reading of the origins of Yoga. Dr. Chopra, in this instance, was mistaken. Dr. Chopra was, in his own way, trying to universalise the message of Yoga but omitted to emphasise the Hindu origins. That was primarily what the dispute was about. He seems to have learned from the experience and is a little more circumspect in disowning the Hindu origins of Yoga. At the time there were some strident voices that tried to sever the link between Yoga and Hinduism, not Chopra himself, but some others. It was important that a well known Hindu voice should have set the record straight. But let me comment on your use of the word 'Hindu'. This was refreshing since there has been a tendency among some Hindus to avoid using that word to describe themselves. This is because in the US especially, there was a great deal of Hindu bashing and young people found it difficult in schools to both integrate with the adopted country and yet retain their Hindu identity. The Christian component of the Indian immigrants did not find it as hard since they were promptly taken under the wing of the Christian Church and ofcourse, they also naturally distanced themselves from the Hindu religion. They wisely stayed aloof from the disputes and given the violence in US schools (which you must have read about) this was natural. So, it was left to the Hindus to carry the banner of their ancestral faith. Back to your article. It began with a nod to the play. I have not seen it but I read an account of it in the New York Times. It was difficult to decipher what was going on owing to the writer's roundabout interlocutions. One point came out clearly : it was about reclaiming the ancient sacred Hindu symbol of the SWASTIKA from the evil that had been perpetrated in its name. Ganesha goes to defeat the asuric forces because he is the destroyer of obstacles. Jai Ganesha ! So far so good. However, Hindu audiences in Australia objected to certain scenes that showed Ganesha, the beloved god of Hindus, in a purely comic light. I have not seen the play and cannot comment on it. Whatever the merits of this play, there is an attempt elsewhere, especially in India to ridicule the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. I want to draw your attention to an article in the Kerala publication Haindava Keralam , which as a Keralite you might want to look at. The article is 'In the name of comedy Asianet ridicules Hinduism' (Jan.17,2013). This is clearly open mockery of Hinduism(in the guise of the genre of comedy) and unfortunately both Hindus and non Hindus are involved. The Hindu component is surely composed of young Hindu actors who want to achieve name and fame, and possibly some Macaulayites. The others have Christian and Islamic names. The main point of the article is that it seems curious that comedy is employed about Hindu themes, not Christian or Islamic ! In your article you give a thumbnail sketch of two types of Hindus in the American diaspora : the older first generation immigrants (now naturalised citizens) and those who were born and raised in the US. These latter you seemingly accuse of being the wind under the right wing in India. Kudos to them, I say ! And you yourself wandered away from the topic of Ganesha to insert your own dislike of Shree Narendra Modi by a gratuitious reference to the Gujarat riots. The young lady whom you quote as being hostile to Narendra Modi, has obviously been influenced by the endless negative propaganda disseminated both in India and abroad. That seems to be coming to an end, mercifully. Shri Modi is being correctly assessed. These days the Macaulayite brigade is in retreat. That has happened not only because of the so called right wing in India, the various Sangh organisations and similar organisations, but also owing to the diligent efforts of the Hindus in the diaspora. Forgive my Open partisanship. You will appreciate why I am enthusiastic about the Hindus of the diaspora, defending not only their ancient faith, but also Bharat-India's ancient culture and civilisation. Best wishes, Dr. Vijaya Rajiva |
An Open Letter to Manu Joseph,Editor, Open Magazine.
18/01/2013 11:31:42 Dr. Vijaya Rajiva Dear Manu, Interesting name ! Is it from the Hindu Manu as in Manusmriti or is it from the Christian Immanuel (name for Jesus) ? My own predilection is also based on Immanuel Kant the famous 18th century German philosopher who wrote the famed Critiques, which are compulsory reading for any philosopher, either eastern or western. My own name Vijaya is the name for Durga, as in Vijayadashami. Thus having cleared the decks let me proceed to the main points of this open letter. I read with interest your article in the New York Times ( 'US Hindus hear the call of India' Jan.17, 2013). Entertainingly written. You begin with a reference to the play 'Ganesha and the Third Reich' which was first staged in Australia in 2011 and presumably is now being staged in New York. After a few lines about the play itself you move on to the topic of the Hindus in the American diaspora. I am a Hindu (so you will forgive my partisanship) and I watch with some interest the activities of the US Hindus, although I do not live in the US. I first learned about the Hindu American Foundation when they reclaimed Yoga from those who would try to deny its Hindu origins. Ms. Shah of HAF was actively involved, and I read the fine articles by Dr. Aseem Shukla who took on world famous guru Dr. Deepak Chopra. I am an admirer of the latter but I threw in my two cents worth of support for Dr. Shukla's arguments which were both historically and content wise an accurate reading of the origins of Yoga. Dr. Chopra, in this instance, was mistaken. Dr. Chopra was, in his own way, trying to universalise the message of Yoga but omitted to emphasise the Hindu origins. That was primarily what the dispute was about. He seems to have learned from the experience and is a little more circumspect in disowning the Hindu origins of Yoga. At the time there were some strident voices that tried to sever the link between Yoga and Hinduism, not Chopra himself, but some others. It was important that a well known Hindu voice should have set the record straight. But let me comment on your use of the word 'Hindu'. This was refreshing since there has been a tendency among some Hindus to avoid using that word to describe themselves. This is because in the US especially, there was a great deal of Hindu bashing and young people found it difficult in schools to both integrate with the adopted country and yet retain their Hindu identity. The Christian component of the Indian immigrants did not find it as hard since they were promptly taken under the wing of the Christian Church and ofcourse, they also naturally distanced themselves from the Hindu religion. They wisely stayed aloof from the disputes and given the violence in US schools (which you must have read about) this was natural. So, it was left to the Hindus to carry the banner of their ancestral faith. Back to your article. It began with a nod to the play. I have not seen it but I read an account of it in the New York Times. It was difficult to decipher what was going on owing to the writer's roundabout interlocutions. One point came out clearly : it was about reclaiming the ancient sacred Hindu symbol of the SWASTIKA from the evil that had been perpetrated in its name. Ganesha goes to defeat the asuric forces because he is the destroyer of obstacles. Jai Ganesha ! So far so good. However, Hindu audiences in Australia objected to certain scenes that showed Ganesha, the beloved god of Hindus, in a purely comic light. I have not seen the play and cannot comment on it. Whatever the merits of this play, there is an attempt elsewhere, especially in India to ridicule the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. I want to draw your attention to an article in the Kerala publication Haindava Keralam , which as a Keralite you might want to look at. The article is 'In the name of comedy Asianet ridicules Hinduism' (Jan.17,2013). This is clearly open mockery of Hinduism(in the guise of the genre of comedy) and unfortunately both Hindus and non Hindus are involved. The Hindu component is surely composed of young Hindu actors who want to achieve name and fame, and possibly some Macaulayites. The others have Christian and Islamic names. The main point of the article is that it seems curious that comedy is employed about Hindu themes, not Christian or Islamic ! In your article you give a thumbnail sketch of two types of Hindus in the American diaspora : the older first generation immigrants (now naturalised citizens) and those who were born and raised in the US. These latter you seemingly accuse of being the wind under the right wing in India. Kudos to them, I say ! And you yourself wandered away from the topic of Ganesha to insert your own dislike of Shree Narendra Modi by a gratuitious reference to the Gujarat riots. The young lady whom you quote as being hostile to Narendra Modi, has obviously been influenced by the endless negative propaganda disseminated both in India and abroad. That seems to be coming to an end, mercifully. Shri Modi is being correctly assessed. These days the Macaulayite brigade is in retreat. That has happened not only because of the so called right wing in India, the various Sangh organisations and similar organisations, but also owing to the diligent efforts of the Hindus in the diaspora. Forgive my Open partisanship. You will appreciate why I am enthusiastic about the Hindus of the diaspora, defending not only their ancient faith, but also Bharat-India's ancient culture and civilisation. Best wishes, Dr. Vijaya Rajiva |
An Open Letter to Manu Joseph,Editor, Open Magazine.
18/01/2013 11:31:42 Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
Dear Manu,
Interesting name ! Is it from the Hindu Manu as in Manusmriti or is it from the Christian Immanuel (name for Jesus) ? My own predilection is also based on Immanuel Kant the famous 18th century German philosopher who wrote the famed Critiques, which are compulsory reading for any philosopher, either eastern or western.
My own name Vijaya is the name for Durga, as in Vijayadashami. Thus having cleared the decks let me proceed to the main points of this open letter.
I read with interest your article in the New York Times ( 'US Hindus hear the call of India' Jan.17, 2013). Entertainingly written. You begin with a reference to the play 'Ganesha and the Third Reich' which was first staged in Australia in 2011 and presumably is now being staged in New York. After a few lines about the play itself you move on to the topic of the Hindus in the American diaspora.
I am a Hindu (so you will forgive my partisanship) and I watch with some interest the activities of the US Hindus, although I do not live in the US. I first learned about the Hindu American Foundation when they reclaimed Yoga from those who would try to deny its Hindu origins. Ms. Shah of HAF was actively involved, and I read the
fine articles by Dr. Aseem Shukla who took on world famous guru Dr. Deepak Chopra. I am an admirer of the latter but I threw in my two cents worth of support for Dr. Shukla's arguments which were both historically and content wise an accurate reading of the origins of Yoga. Dr. Chopra, in this instance, was mistaken.
Dr. Chopra was, in his own way, trying to universalise the message of Yoga but omitted to emphasise the Hindu origins. That was primarily what the dispute was about. He seems to have learned from the experience and is a little more circumspect in disowning the Hindu origins of Yoga. At the time there were some strident voices that tried to sever the link between Yoga and Hinduism, not Chopra himself, but some others. It was important that a well known Hindu voice should have set the record straight.
But let me comment on your use of the word 'Hindu'. This was refreshing since there has been a tendency among some Hindus to avoid using that word to describe themselves. This is because in the US especially, there was a great deal of Hindu bashing and young people found it difficult in schools to both integrate with the adopted country and yet retain their Hindu identity. The Christian component of the Indian immigrants did not find it as hard since they were promptly taken under the wing of the Christian Church and ofcourse, they also naturally distanced themselves from the Hindu religion. They wisely stayed aloof from the disputes and given the violence in US schools (which you must have read about) this was natural. So, it was left to the Hindus to carry the banner of their ancestral faith.
Back to your article. It began with a nod to the play. I have not seen it but I read an account of it in the New York Times. It was difficult to decipher what was going on owing to the writer's roundabout interlocutions. One point came out clearly : it was about reclaiming the ancient sacred Hindu symbol of the SWASTIKA from the evil that had been perpetrated in its name. Ganesha goes to defeat the asuric forces because he is the destroyer of obstacles. Jai Ganesha !
So far so good. However, Hindu audiences in Australia objected to certain scenes that showed Ganesha, the beloved god of Hindus, in a purely comic light. I have not seen the play and cannot comment on it.
Whatever the merits of this play, there is an attempt elsewhere, especially in India to ridicule the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. I want to draw your attention to an article in the Kerala publication Haindava Keralam , which as a Keralite you might want to look at. The article is 'In the name of comedy Asianet ridicules Hinduism' (Jan.17,2013).
This is clearly open mockery of Hinduism(in the guise of the genre of comedy) and unfortunately both Hindus and non Hindus are involved. The Hindu component is surely composed of young Hindu actors who want to achieve name and fame, and possibly some Macaulayites. The others have Christian and Islamic names. The main point of the article is that it seems curious that comedy is employed about Hindu themes, not Christian or Islamic !
In your article you give a thumbnail sketch of two types of Hindus in the American diaspora : the older first generation immigrants (now naturalised citizens) and those who were born and raised in the US. These latter you seemingly accuse of being the wind under the right wing in India. Kudos to them, I say !
And you yourself wandered away from the topic of Ganesha to insert your own dislike of Shree Narendra Modi by a gratuitious reference to the Gujarat riots. The young lady whom you quote as being hostile to Narendra Modi, has obviously been influenced by the endless negative propaganda disseminated both in India and abroad.
That seems to be coming to an end, mercifully. Shri Modi is being correctly assessed.
These days the Macaulayite brigade is in retreat. That has happened not only because of the so called right wing in India, the various Sangh organisations and similar organisations, but also owing to the diligent efforts of the Hindus in the diaspora.
Forgive my Open partisanship. You will appreciate why I am enthusiastic about the Hindus of the diaspora, defending not only their ancient faith, but also Bharat-India's ancient culture and civilisation.
Best wishes,
Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
18/01/2013 11:31:42 Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
Dear Manu,
Interesting name ! Is it from the Hindu Manu as in Manusmriti or is it from the Christian Immanuel (name for Jesus) ? My own predilection is also based on Immanuel Kant the famous 18th century German philosopher who wrote the famed Critiques, which are compulsory reading for any philosopher, either eastern or western.
My own name Vijaya is the name for Durga, as in Vijayadashami. Thus having cleared the decks let me proceed to the main points of this open letter.
I read with interest your article in the New York Times ( 'US Hindus hear the call of India' Jan.17, 2013). Entertainingly written. You begin with a reference to the play 'Ganesha and the Third Reich' which was first staged in Australia in 2011 and presumably is now being staged in New York. After a few lines about the play itself you move on to the topic of the Hindus in the American diaspora.
I am a Hindu (so you will forgive my partisanship) and I watch with some interest the activities of the US Hindus, although I do not live in the US. I first learned about the Hindu American Foundation when they reclaimed Yoga from those who would try to deny its Hindu origins. Ms. Shah of HAF was actively involved, and I read the
fine articles by Dr. Aseem Shukla who took on world famous guru Dr. Deepak Chopra. I am an admirer of the latter but I threw in my two cents worth of support for Dr. Shukla's arguments which were both historically and content wise an accurate reading of the origins of Yoga. Dr. Chopra, in this instance, was mistaken.
Dr. Chopra was, in his own way, trying to universalise the message of Yoga but omitted to emphasise the Hindu origins. That was primarily what the dispute was about. He seems to have learned from the experience and is a little more circumspect in disowning the Hindu origins of Yoga. At the time there were some strident voices that tried to sever the link between Yoga and Hinduism, not Chopra himself, but some others. It was important that a well known Hindu voice should have set the record straight.
But let me comment on your use of the word 'Hindu'. This was refreshing since there has been a tendency among some Hindus to avoid using that word to describe themselves. This is because in the US especially, there was a great deal of Hindu bashing and young people found it difficult in schools to both integrate with the adopted country and yet retain their Hindu identity. The Christian component of the Indian immigrants did not find it as hard since they were promptly taken under the wing of the Christian Church and ofcourse, they also naturally distanced themselves from the Hindu religion. They wisely stayed aloof from the disputes and given the violence in US schools (which you must have read about) this was natural. So, it was left to the Hindus to carry the banner of their ancestral faith.
Back to your article. It began with a nod to the play. I have not seen it but I read an account of it in the New York Times. It was difficult to decipher what was going on owing to the writer's roundabout interlocutions. One point came out clearly : it was about reclaiming the ancient sacred Hindu symbol of the SWASTIKA from the evil that had been perpetrated in its name. Ganesha goes to defeat the asuric forces because he is the destroyer of obstacles. Jai Ganesha !
So far so good. However, Hindu audiences in Australia objected to certain scenes that showed Ganesha, the beloved god of Hindus, in a purely comic light. I have not seen the play and cannot comment on it.
Whatever the merits of this play, there is an attempt elsewhere, especially in India to ridicule the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. I want to draw your attention to an article in the Kerala publication Haindava Keralam , which as a Keralite you might want to look at. The article is 'In the name of comedy Asianet ridicules Hinduism' (Jan.17,2013).
This is clearly open mockery of Hinduism(in the guise of the genre of comedy) and unfortunately both Hindus and non Hindus are involved. The Hindu component is surely composed of young Hindu actors who want to achieve name and fame, and possibly some Macaulayites. The others have Christian and Islamic names. The main point of the article is that it seems curious that comedy is employed about Hindu themes, not Christian or Islamic !
In your article you give a thumbnail sketch of two types of Hindus in the American diaspora : the older first generation immigrants (now naturalised citizens) and those who were born and raised in the US. These latter you seemingly accuse of being the wind under the right wing in India. Kudos to them, I say !
And you yourself wandered away from the topic of Ganesha to insert your own dislike of Shree Narendra Modi by a gratuitious reference to the Gujarat riots. The young lady whom you quote as being hostile to Narendra Modi, has obviously been influenced by the endless negative propaganda disseminated both in India and abroad.
That seems to be coming to an end, mercifully. Shri Modi is being correctly assessed.
These days the Macaulayite brigade is in retreat. That has happened not only because of the so called right wing in India, the various Sangh organisations and similar organisations, but also owing to the diligent efforts of the Hindus in the diaspora.
Forgive my Open partisanship. You will appreciate why I am enthusiastic about the Hindus of the diaspora, defending not only their ancient faith, but also Bharat-India's ancient culture and civilisation.
Best wishes,
Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
INDIA LETTER
U.S. Hindus Hear the Call of India
By MANU JOSEPH
Published: January 16, 2013
NEW YORK — In a play that opened in New York last week, a Hindu god who drinks wine and uses foul language goes to Nazi Germany to reclaim the swastika from Hitler. The swastika, which for many has become a reminder of chilling human evil, is also an ancient and sacred Hindu symbol that is commonly found on doors and walls in Indian homes, and that women in southern India draw every morning on their porches.
When the play, “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich, ” was staged in Australia in 2011, Hindus there protested, claiming to be wounded by the comic representation of the elephant-headed god, the length of whose trunk is used in one scene to allude to a vital male organ. Some Hindu groups in the United States, whose antennas often seem as if they are finely tuned to seek offense, are now contemplating how they should react to such a play in a land where complaints on religious grounds are largely subordinate to artistic freedom.
It is possible that there are many American Hindus who are not troubled enough by their cultural displacement to get too worked up about religion, India or myths of identity. But the most visible Hindus in the United States are the online fanatics who react instantly and with conviction to news developments and personalities in India. They are a part of the middle-class South Asian settlements in the United States that are growing disenchanted, whether discreetly or overtly, with the West and thus are becoming obsessed with their roots.
In a cafe in downtown New York, Sheetal Shah, a senior director at the Hindu American Foundation, told me that there was a distinction between American Hindus who were born and raised in India and those whose formative memories are in the United States. It is those in the former group who feel compelled to react to Indian politics, she said. The latter tend to be less interested in politics, but just as passionate about Hinduism and India.
Ms. Shah, who has a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, has been active in the foundation’s “Take Back Yoga” campaign, which seeks to remind everyone that yoga has Hindu origins and believes the world should acknowledge this. Among Ms. Shah’s many other activities is an attempt to nudge Americans beyond “caste, cow and karma” when viewing Hinduism, and to perceive it as a great antique philosophy rather than merely a pantheon of paranormal deities. She was aware of “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich” but had yet to see the play. “I am not clear about our course of action” in its regard, she said.
Not very long ago, the “Nonresident Indian” was revered in India through the venerated abbreviation NRI. As there is a hierarchy in everything that Indians consider important, the American NRI was the most revered of all NRIs. In the late 1980s, there was always a commotion when an NRI visited family in India. The visitor would appear to have a glow of the good life, with a fragrance of something affluent and distant. From large, top-quality suitcases would emerge extraordinary objects with famous Western names.
As India became richer and its economy opened up to consumption of the most famous global brands, and as Indians began to travel to the West, the NRI became somewhat diminished but still respectable. In the past decade, though, there has been a change in what NRIs represent in India. They have gone from being considered part of the academic elite to being seen as amusing conservatives. They are among the great swarms that fill slots on the Internet where comments are free.
One of the major focal points for these swarms is a man called Narendra Modi, who arrived in the Indian national consciousness at the turn of the millennium. He has been the chief minister of Gujarat State for more than a decade and is a possible candidate for prime minister for the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014.
In 2002, Gujarat witnessed two horrific acts of violence. A passenger train filled with Hindu pilgrims was burned by a Muslim mob, killing at least 58 people. In the days that followed, a retaliatory attack that Mr. Modi claimed was “a spontaneous reaction of Hindus” resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Muslims and an unknown number of rapes. Since then, various human rights groups, journalists and public servants have accused Mr. Modi of being complicit in the riots, an accusation that he denies.
The political leaning of the majority of Hindus in the United States is liberal and Democratic, Ms. Shah said, but many of these same Hindus favor Mr. Modi. So while they are Democrats in the United States, they are also the wind beneath the right wing in India.
But there are also those, especially among younger American Hindus, who are repulsed by Mr. Modi. One young woman, who lives in New York and who once met Mr. Modi with her father, said: “I have fights with my father over Modi. I tell my father, ‘How can you? How can you love that man who did all that?”’ (Innuendo : Say what did he do? If you have to defame at least stand on a solid grounds and make accusations based on facts. Is this the quality of Journalism the New York Times has stooped down to by encouraging a third rate journalist of third generation Indians who has no comprehension of issues? Is this yellow journalism at its heights in New York Times? If so, may be HAF needs to campaign for all Hindu Americans to stop subscribing to New York Times)
She is among the many daughters in this world who find it hard to understand the choices that some good men make.
Manu Joseph is editor of the Indian newsweekly Open and author of the novel “The Illicit Happiness of Other People.”
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