Eminent Vedic scholar and author Dr David Frawley has asseverated that Hindus sounded apologetic about their identity until 20 years ago but it’s no longer the case as the community has finally started asserting itself both inside as well as outside India.
In an exclusive interview to India First Live, Dr Frawley referred to a number of factors that played a momentous role in inculcating a sense of pride among Hindus about their identity.
“It has been a combination of factors but I still think that the main factor is this- when the Hindus are kind of pushed against the wall and have always been apologetic, they finally said enough is enough, we also have our values. In fact, we are not just simply another tradition but we have our own identity and our own sophistication,” Dr Frawley said.
Dr David Frawley concurred with the viewpoint that the ascendance of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India further boosted the new-found self-belief of Hindus as the country finally had a prime minister who was publically willing to go to temples, unabashedly displaying his Hindu identity.
“People had the idea that you couldn’t be a Hindu and be a political leader at the same time. On the other hand, Muslims will stay Muslims, Sikhs would stay Sikhs. So Modi had very great influence but he was part of the same movement. PM Modi has never been apologetic about his Hindu identity and that has been an important factor in the Hindu movement. There are many other groups also that played important roles,” Dr Frawley added.
Responding to a question on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement about minorities having first claim over nation’s resources, Dr David Frawley affirmed that it was contrary to democratic values. He further contended that if minorities are given the first rights over the resources then everybody would like to become a minority. He also recalled how even Americans don’t have the rule that minorities have the first rights.
“Democracy means majority rule. If there is minority rule, what’s the point of having an election? Obviously, there should be equal rights for all citizens. That is the fact. But if you say minorities have first rights then everybody would become a minority. Even in America, they don’t have the rule that minorities have the first rights. And if you give first rights to minorities then everybody would want to become a minority,” Dr Frawley said.
Read Also | US media, political leaders fomenting ‘Hinduphobia’: Tulsi Gabbard
Referring to the recent anti-CAA protests and the subsequent violence in North-East Delhi, Dr David Frawley made it unambiguously clear that it had nothing to do with CAA.
“It’s a delayed reaction to Ram Janmabhoomi and the Kashmir issues. The CAA is actually a very minor thing. It’s about the protection of refugees and it deals only with a very small group of people,” Dr Frawley said.
“Muslims have special rights and Hindus have no special rights in Pakistan. In fact, they have been wiped out. So, I think, it’s a big distortion there. It’s a fair bill to have. And America also gives special rights to Christian refugees, by the way, so do the Europeans. Islamic countries always give special rights to Islamic refugees,” he added.
Read Also | PM Modi announces trust for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya
Dr Frawley also disputed the notion that all religions are equal. He pointed out that freedom of religion is important but it should not be overlooked that different religions have different hierarchies, beliefs and laws.
“It’s important to have freedom of religion but theology does matter. If you say all religions are the same, why Muslims are only going to mosques and not to churches. Why Christians are only going to churches and not to mosques or temples? There are obviously differences. They have different hierarchies, different beliefs, different finances, and different laws. So, that’s a fact,” Dr David Frawley said.
