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The above article written by Yasmeen Serhan for the US paper The Atlantic. My response below sent to the editor
and to Yasmeen Serhan
Dear Editor
The article by Yasmeen Serhan, ‘ The Hinduisation of India is nearly complete’ (27 May 2022) draws a negative picture of India based on inaccurate claims. India has always been and remains a pluralistic society. Apart from the Muslims and Christians, India is home to many persecuted minorities. There has been a Jewish presence in India for 2000 years, the Zoroastrians escaping persecution have found a safe haven in India. They were welcomed by the Hindu king centuries ago. The persecuted Baha’is have a beautiful temple in the centre of Delhi. The Tibetan Buddhists fleeing the occupation of Tibet have got a sanctuary in India. The Dalai Lama has repeatedly praised the protection India has provided to his people. There are many other nationalities who have made India their home and integrated into the fabric of Indian society. You will never hear of any claims of persecution from these groups. The writer claims that the present government has passed a raft of new laws regarding the religious garments people wear, the food they eat, how they worship and how they marry. No such laws have been passed. Regarding the religious clothes, they are determined by educational establishments as well as other organisations such as the health service. Yasmeen mentions the revoking of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir but fails to mention the ehnic cleansing of Hindus from the region in the nineties. She mentions the fast tracking of Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This is because India is the only Hindu majority country they can go to for their safety. Regarding the Christians, the vast majority of them practice their faith without any fear. India is only concerned about the colossal amount of money coming from the West for conversion purposes. The writer admits that when asked about their fears of living in India, hardly any comments came from Muslims or Christians. And yet she goes on to claim that people are desperate to get out of India. According to her, people are deterred from living because only 5% of the population has passports. In a rapidly digitised India passports are available to all instantly. Regarding the demolition of houses by local administrations this applies to individuals who instigate riots, smash public property and create mayhem.
Yasmeen regrets that the US government and human rights groups as well as other international organisations do not speak up about the Human rights violations in India. The US has its own human rights issues and India points out these anomalies.
Christians and Muslims as well as many other minorities hold powerful positions in India and the last president of India was Dr. Abdul Kalam, a universally liked individual. The reason why Prime Minister Modi has won two landslide elections is because he has provided a corruption free government and transformed the country for the betterment of all and especially the poor.
India is a Hindu majority country and its ethos and values will be based on her heritage and it does not take anything away from the minorities. Almost all the countries of the world are governed by the ethos and values of the majority.
It is a pity that the term, ‘Majoritarianism’ is only used in the context of India.
Nitin Mehta
15 June 2022.
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