Hindu Bashing in American Institutions Beware Of Hindu-Bashing In American Inst

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Hindu-Bashing In American Inst >Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:34:49 -0500 > >-----

Original Message ----- >BHAILAL (AT) aol (DOT) com >Sunday, August 04, 2002

10:49 AM >Hindu Bashing in American Institutions Beware Of

Hindu-Bashing In >American Inst > > >Hindu Bashing in American Institutions

>Beware Of Hindu-Bashing In American Institutions > >By GRAYDON CHIAPPETTA > >

> > Politically aware Indians have made much recently of the >increas­ing

strain between the U.S. ad­ministration and India over >posi­tions and

statements on Kashmir. Those expressing this concern, >however, may be unaware

of a growing phenomenon currently taking place which >has more pro­found and

far-reaching implica­tions; legitimization of >Hindu­-bashing in U.S.

institutions. > > > > Influenced and supported by noisy self-appointed Indian

>'secularists,' many Western scholars and government officials are now >taking

a position on Hindu revivalism. With very few exceptions, this >position is

exceedingly negative. Though this phenomenon is now limited to >those

conversant with South Asia and has not yet influenced the general >public's

opinions, in time it will. Though there are many forums for >Hindu-bashing

currently being opened, I will reserve my comments here to two >recent

con­ferences, one sponsored by the U.S. State Department and one by >the

University of Wisconsin. > > > > On July 16 of this year, the State Department

held a >conference entitled, 'Hindu Revivalism in India: Position, Prospects

and >Implications for the U.S.' Many highly placed individuals were pre­sent

>including former Congressman Stephen Solarz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for

>South Asia John Malott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Analysis

>Phyllis Oakley and a wide range of U.S. government officials. Scholars were

>invited to make presentations on Hindu Revivalism. On the whole, the

>atmosphere was one of ridicule. There was a lot of finger pointing at Hindu

>revivalism as the source of India's current problems and of potential

>conflict with the U. S. > > > > On November 5 to 7, at the Annual Conference

on South Asia at >Madison, Wisconsin, two panels and many individuals

presentations were >devoted to Hindu Nationalism. Every single presen­tation

was negative >towards Hindu Nationalism with remarkable statements being made

that I never >though I would hear in an academic institution. > > > > I will

detail the presentation of Lisa McKean of the University of >Sydney because she

was a featured speaker at both the University of >Wisconsin and at the State

Depart­ment conference. I will give a sampling >of the statements made by other

scholars. Though I have documented their >statements as well, I will avoid

references to the names in this essay. > > > > Lisa McKean claims to have spent

a lot of time with Vishwa Hindu >Parishad, enough to make scholarly

presentations, anyway. The basic thrust >of her argument is that Vishwa Hindu

Parishad of America is a fascist >organization which remits funds to its

illegal sister organization in India. >Not mentioned, of course, is that the

corrupt, opportunistic Congress party >banned the VHP for its own political

gain. > > > > Lisa describes VHP-sponsored groups in America as "front

>organizations" for a larger fascist cause. She refers to VHP activities,

>including Diwali celebrations and Swami Chinmayananda's spiritual camps as

>"covert operations" and to active members as "militant activists." Lisa

>called the late Shri Chinmayananda a " master manipulator" and alleged that

>he initiated unwanted physical contact with women, including herself. Not

>content with merely bashing VHP, Lisa referred to the monthly magazine,

>Hinduism Today, as a front paper supporting militant activities. Global

>Vision 2000 was targeted as a fascist assembly. She described Hindus moving

>into professional positions as "infiltrators" working for the cause of >Hindu

fundamentalism. Hindu Digest, Samskar and the Hindu Students Council >did not

escape her censure. > > > > Perhaps, most appalling was the warm hand given to

her at the end of >her presentation in both con­ferences. Praised as a "bright,

young >progressive scholar," most of the audience accepted her statements as

fact, >particularly those progressive Indian 'secularists.' One even suggested

that >universities should ban Hindu Students Council of America. Lisa was

>certainly not alone and played to an appreciative audience. > > > > Scholars

making presentations at the State Department >conference were less concerned

with facts than with making points. Many >erroneous statements were made such

as "the Sangh Parivar plann­ed the >execution of Mahatma Gan­dhi and will stop

at nothing. " The misquoted >statement of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray about

Indian Muslims being like >the Jews of Europe was used in making the

authoritative statement that >"Sangh Parivar underpinnings are just like those

of Nazis." > > > > An example of how criticism of Sangha Parivar activities is

>extend­ed to Hindus in general is the state­ment of a John Hopkins scholar

>that "Hindus in the U.S. are very sympathetic and supportive of

>fundamentalism. "One scholar even justified discrimination against Hindus >in

India itself with the remarkable statement, "Equal rights for Hindus is >equal

to absolu­tion of minority rights. " The scholar made this statement >after

echoing the hollow line started by Indian 'secularist' Romila Thapar >that

"there is in reality no such thing as Hinduism." > > > > The University of

Wisconsin panels were truly pitiful and I will >give only a few quotes from

various presentations. One Indian >'secularist' suggested that India was an

artificial entity which "requires >fascism to maintain its existence. " A

scholar from Berkeley referred to >the "dirty com­munal imprint" that Hindus

leave on Indian society. > > > >Incredible as the assertions of these misguided

'intellectuals' are, there >is a danger of an appearance of legitimization of

these ideas thorough >repetition. These unprin­cipled 'scholars' would leave no

stone unturned to >denigrate Hindu culture and world view. > > > >The complexity

of Indian civilization simply overwhelms most Western >scholars and apparently,

Indian "secular" scholars as well. They do not, for >the most part, understand

that the rhythms of Hinduism beat in the heart of >most "oppressed

untouchables" and in the hearts of much of the minorities as >well. One

scholar, facing the complexity of increasing Harijan, Christian >and Muslim

sympathy for Hindutva, echoed the true feelings that most Western >scholars

have always exhibited towards India. Asked how he could analyze >such a complex

civilization, he replied: "When Hinduism dies, We'll do a >better job." > > > >

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