M.V.KAMATH'S ARTICLE: The On-going Loot of Hindu Temples
It is time that we raise our voice against such Government action to loot the temples, and fill their coffers. Will such a protest be termed communal? your guess is as good as mine. Is this important enough for Subramaniam Swamy to take up and file a PIL in the Supreme Court?
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From: RAMASWAMY SRINIVASAN nsramaswamy@hotmail.com
Hindu Friends
Dear Hindu Friends,
I totally agree that our Government is diverting temple funds to general revenues and using them not only for project unconnected with Hindu religion but also give to Madrasah and Christian Institutions. Not even Muslim kings, who ruled us for eight hundred years, dare to do such a dastardly act. Such is the Adharma of our Government in the name of secularism. I would not blame UPA. When the BJP were in power, they also did not do anything to stop such Adharmas. In fact, they are competing with UPA in creating a public image that they are more secular than UPA.
What we can do is to organize ourselves better. But we are not good in organization, as in the case of Christians and Muslims. It is equally true that there is misuse of power and position. But that does not justify the Government. In fact, I had occasionally represented the top most authority in India about our unhappiness that Hindu temples are being taken over by the Government. The cynical reply was that we have taken over the temples only at the request of Hindus connected to the temples who complained to us that there is misuse. It is noteworthy that there is a lot of misuse of funds, even in the Sai Trust. Whether it is true or not, Hindus have a tendency to criticize each other based on caste and personal prejudices. Shri Narayana Guru Ashram in Kerala had internal dissension and even violence which made the Government to intervene. Not a single Christian or Muslim openly criticizes their religion, but Hindus take a pride in ridiculing and criticizing Hindu practice, customs, and traditions. They do this to demonstrate their modernity and liberalization from orthodoxy. Eighty million go to temples and over thousand ashrams teach ethics, either through Upanishads or Ithihasas and Puranas. Twenty TV channels are telecasting Hindu themes and yet we are reported to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
I had occasions to address over two lakhs student and faculty during the last three years. Every week, I give one or two talks in colleges. I used to ask the students whether they have read one book on Hinduism, Indian culture, Indian civilization or Indian history. Not even one out of hundred has raised their hands. This is the pitiable situation.
But everything has not lost. Things will improve, may be in hundred years; thanks to the efforts by vested scholars like Knapp, David Corey and others. Indians will realize that they are doing a great injustice to their religion.
The only segment of society which can change this situation is the business and industrial community who have the financial and organizational resources to fund institutions, which will protect Hinduism. It is in their interest that India remains as one country and that too under democratic system. They have managerial resource to implement ethics and unity. But they have not taken interest so far, except giving some money or gold to temples, presumably hoping that God will return part of it for their own growth and happiness. I was the first to participate and give the keynote address for the Kerala Brahman Association, first in Palakkad and later on in Kozhikkode. This was 30 years ago, but they have not invited me once even when I asked them to give me a chance to speak in Trichur. The secretary refused that they have no time. I am one among Brahmins in Kerala to be awarded Padma Bhushan and National Professorship. They did not care even to report it in their magazine, which shows their inefficiency and indifference.
In spite of being a 10,000 year old civilization, we are not united. Now, we have managerial competence. Therefore, Hindus have to suffer for a long time for now until a leader comes to take us forward. Fortunately, Swami Vivekananda had predicted that the 21st century is India Century and that the whole world will come to India to pay tributes to our sages and saints. As I am too old, I will not be there when that beautiful day comes, when we will be open up from our lethargy to help our religion.
Prof. N.S. Ramaswamy, Padma Bhushan and National, Professor in Management, Director, CARTMAN/Indian, Heritage Academy, 17E Main, Koramangala 6th Block,Bangalore – 560 095: Ph: 2553 0121/2553 0304/ Mob: 93412 59392 EM: nsramaswamy@hotmail.com(from a widely circulated email)