DelhiConferenceonRelevanceofHinduismToUnderstandingIndia Author:RajivMalik,HPICorrespondent Publication:HinduPressInternational Date:February18,2005 URL:http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2005/2/18.shtml#3 "ItisunfortunatethatduetosomeconstitutionalanomalyinIndiatheminoritiesthrough theireducationalinstitutionscanteachthechildrentheirconceptsofoneprophetandone textbutwearenotallowedtoimparttheliberalteachingsofHinduismorSanatana Dharmathroughtheschoolsandcollegesrunbyus."ThiswasstatedbySwami JitatmanandaJiMaharaj,HeadofRamakrishnaMissionAshram,Rajkot,Gujarat,while deliveringhiskeynoteaddressonthesubject"RelevanceofHinduismToUnderstanding India"atatwodayconferenceheldFebruary4and5inahotellocatedontheoutskirtsof Delhi.TheeventwasattendedbyalargenumberofHinduscholars,intellectuals, politiciansandformerbureaucratsfromalloverIndia.

ManyspeakersandHinduscholars presentedextremely informativeandinterestingpaperstouchingvariousdimensionsof Hinduism.TheconferencewasjointlyorganizedbyRashtriyaJagritiSansthan,South AsiaPoliticsMagazineandKonradAdenauerFoundation. Speakersattheconferencewereunanimousthatin theproperunderstandingofIndia,the influenceandrelevanceofHinduismcouldnotbeignored.Therewasalsoabroad consensusamongtheparticipantsthatthetermSanatanDharmaconveyedmost appropriatelywhatwasusuallymeantbyHinduismandwasidentifiedwithHinduism. Addressingthegathering,wellknownCongressleaderandformercentralminister,Shri VasantSathe,said,"Hinduism'scorrectnameisSanatanaDharmabutitisunfortunate thatsomepeopleunderstanditasPuratan[backward]Dharma."ShriSathewhoalso supportedSwamiJitatmanandaJi'sviewsonteachingofHinduismthroughthe educationalinstitutions,said,"Theestablishingofpermanentreligiousminoritiesneeds tobecondemned,andHinduismshouldalsobeallowedtobetaughtthroughthe educationalinstitutionsinthesamewayastheinstitutionsbelongingtominoritiescould teachtheirreligions." Inhisinauguraladdress,ShriH.R.Bhardwaj,UnionMinisterofLawandJusticesaid, "Hinduismisnotasect,itisafellowshipoffaiths.Itisallincludingandembracing. Hinduismhasneverbeencruel.Hinduismbelievesthatnoblethoughtsshouldbeallowed tocomefromallthedirections." Theinauguralsessionofthisconferencewaspresidedoverbyformerunionministerand awellknownscholarstatesmanDr.KaranSingh.InhisspeechDr.Singhpointedout, "WithoutsomeunderstandingofHinduism,Indiawouldnotmakesensetoanybody. Again,thisdoesnotmeanthatIndiaisorwouldeverbecomeaHindustate,butitis largelybasedonHinduphilosophyand,therefore,someunderstandingofHinduismis essentialtounderstandIndia."

Dr.Singhwentontosay,"Itisdifficulttofindsuchexamplesanywhereinworldhistory whereacountrypartitionedonthebasisofreligiondoesnotsetupacompletelysecular polity,but,ifanything,apolitywhichleanstowardsgivingspecialrightstothe minorities." FrancoisGautier,awellknownFrenchauthorandcolumnist,inhisspeechsaid,"The twomainculpritsforforgettingof IndiainEuropearetheBritishcolonizersandthe Christianmissionaries.HowcouldtheEnglish,theywhohadcometocivilizethe Barbarians,admitthattheirveryculturewasderivedfromtheseverysavages?Andhow couldthemissionaries,theywhohadcometobringtheTrueGodtothePagans,admit thattheirownreligionwasinfluencedbytheseveryheathens?" RanbirSingh,Director,NALSARUniversityofLaw,Hyderabad,stated,"Ignorance aboutthesubjectofHindujurisprudenceisprofoundeveninIndia.Ourscripturesarean extraordinarylegacyofthesageswhichinmattersdetailandvarietyhavehardlyany parallelinanylegalsystemoftheworld,ancientormodern.Studiesofjuridical conceptionsinHindujurisprudencemakestartlingrevelationsevenformodernthinkers." AccordingtoShriSingh,"TheHindujurisprudencerecognizedthedoctrineof'ruleof law.'Manuincleartermsdeclaresthatthekingwilladministerjusticeaccordingtolaw. ItisanevidenceofadevelopedcharacterofHindujurisprudence." S.R.Mohnot,executivechairman,CentreforIndustrialandEconomicResearch,New Delhi,hadthistosayinhisaddress,"Itistheironythatthosewhopracticerabid fundamentalism,reinforcedbycruelviolence,complainmostaboutthetolerant Hinduism.Templesareattacked,killingmen,womenandchildren,andresponsibilityis claimed,asamatterofprideandhonor,bygroupswhoclaimthattheyarejehadis." HariJaisingh,seniorjournalist,inhisexposition,stated,"Thequestfortruthcallsfor freedomofenquiryandtoleranceofdifferentviews.Thisislogicalanduniqueto Hinduism.ThatiswhytheHinducivilizationistherichestinthought.Noother civilizationhaspermittedthekindoffreedomandtolerancethattheHindushavegivento themselves." ShriAbhayaKashyap,HonoraryDirectorofRashtriyaJagritiSansthan,presentinghis viewsattheconferencesaid,"AllpartiesareusingHinduismforpoliticalpurposes, whethertheyclaimtorepresentHindutvaorclaimtobesecular.Itisourattempttode politicizetheissueanddevelopanonpartisanparadigmwherebyHinduismcanbe understoodasapotentforceimpactingIndia'sexternalpoliticalandeconomicimage."He furtheradded,"TheWestfindsitselfcaughtbetweenfightingtheonslaughtofIslamic terrorismononehandandChineseeconomicoffensiveontheother.IndiawithitsHindu majoritycanbepotentiallyapowerfulmoderatingforceinsuchcircumstances."