The Young India

Ananth Venkatesh

I profess that there is immense admiration and fascination in me for Hinduism and for the many divinities that epitomize this faith.

The sacred books such as the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and many others provide this religion with its seductively cerebral foundations. The duration of the survival of these pious treatises illustrates their attachment to the psychology and mentality of the Indian State.

The gorgeousness of Hindu treatises is that their applicabilities is not confined to the Hindus alone. Sage standpoints are …

Kartikey Sehgal

I realise that I can’t be writing about ‘male ego and feminism’ and decoding human behaviour in the current political and social scenario. The recent Mumbai blasts have affected me; it’s proof that I am still sane as compared to other Indians who are essentially mannequins or puppets depending on the time of the day. That series is postponed.

I also realise that ‘sarva dharma sambhava’ is understood to mean ‘all religions are equal/possible’ and that the term stands for multiculturalism. It does …

Ananth Venkatesh

[ Other recent stories by the author: The Double Standards of ‘Freedom of Speech’, Hindus in the Netherlands, The Failure of Islam in Multicultural Europe]

Another related issue that comes to mind relates to the extent of artistic and creative autonomy that should be granted to writers and painters.

In a state like India, what has engendered considerable Hindu unhappiness is that the paintings of the Late MF Hussein, which depict unclothed Hindu Gods and Goddesses, are regarded as a …

Ananth Venkatesh

[Previously written by the author: Hindus in the Netherlands, The Failure of Islam in Multicultural Europe] 

I have to declare that Europe, especially after overseas decolonization, has been a society very ready to discuss the ills that plague modern Christianity. Certain facets of Christian history and the invidious Christian role in European imperialism abroad have been denounced firmly and, at times, with certain ruthlessness. Therefore, Wilders has the right to decry the bellicosity that exists in certain clauses of the …

Ananth Venkatesh

The news of the judicial exoneration of Geert Wilders, the far-right Dutch MP, has re-energized the debate on the degree of multiculturalism in the democratic and pluralistic Western half of the European continent.

Ananth writes that Muslims from the middle-east countries are interested in the better living conditions provided by European-Christian nations. However, if the Muslim intention is not to assimilate but to impose their way of life upon the host nation, then their immigration to Europe must be put to a stop.…

Kartikey Sehgal

Overview

Samvartha is an acquaintance and we have shared pleasant conversations. On the pretext of being unhappy about Indian fans’ behaviour during the India-Pakistan match in the on-going Cricket World Cup, he indulges in reproaching Hinduism, casteism and the Indian Army. (His story here or here)

He says that he is not happy with anti-Pakistan comments but it is clear that he is not happy with ‘Hindu celebrations’ as that defeats his idea of a ‘not-Hindu’ secular nation.

Introduction

I have written …

Kartikey Sehgal

The author writes that, “‘Indian culture’ is a cover-up for religious enforcements. Most colleges that enforce codes to ‘protect’ culture are protecting the religion. If Indian culture was so dear to them, then the study of Indian philosophy would be an important, if not a compulsory part of the curriculum.”

A popular college in South Bombay (Mumbai) had, some years ago, and much to the dismay of the students, banned the prom night. Nobody called it a fascist (oppressive, dictatorial) move. …

Kartikey Sehgal

I had predicted problems for Omar Abdullah in my earlier story on Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Chief Minister.
“Omar would be better because others would be worse. And that shall be the bane of being Omar Abdullah.”
[Read that story Here]

The Omar led government is now funding an organisation that aims to spread jihad; and cleanse non-Muslims from the state. Former J&K chief-minister and Omar’s grandfather Sheikh Abdullah had described the organisation as “the real source for spreading communal poison.” …

Kartikey Sehgal

I met the poet Gulzar some days before he was nominated for the Oscar award. We were at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) that was hosting a theatrical adaptation of his writings on Indo-Pak border issues titled ‘Lakeerein‘.

“Would Pakistan have allowed such a performance in its theatres?”
“Is the polity there as embracing as it is here?”

Kartikey Sehgal

About the personal and cultural disintegration of a tribal village

There is a small tribal village in India. Malathi belongs to this village. The women here are happier than women in Delhi.

After puberty, Malathi was inducted into the village dormitory where she learnt weaving, knitting and other arts from the elder women and men. She also learnt the art of love-making through practice. By the time she was out of the dormitory, she was sexually and socially confident. Unlike the city girls, Malathi and her friends did not face ‘growing-up problems’ or ‘attitudinal disorders’ that lead you to the psychologist.