The Problems of Hindu religion in the UK

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Can anyone of you can tell me a bit of their problems in UK because of their religions?

I'm not from the Uk, from Germany and have to talk about that at school and I think the best would be to ask a Hindu girl/boy what they think about it.

Thank you very much

[Guest guest]

 

I'm a young Hindu in the UK. What sort of info are you looking for. Problems with Hindus or other faiths against Hindus or how we are percieved by others?

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

 

On Television 'Hinduisum' is not even mentioned as a religion. Mostly Christianity, Islam etc. Seems the higher Science is left alone. But then is does say in Kali-yuga people are mosly of the Sudra mentality with nobody to guide them. So thats life!

[Guest guest]

I meant your problems in the UK. for example discremination or may be that you cannot really live your religion in the UK. I know there are cpuple of Hindu-temples there.But does the british popultaion accepet and respect your religion.or are there any Hindu-schools in the UK?do you think there ARE real problems for you, maybe noe place to pray etc.

thanks a lot :-)

[Guest guest]

OK here goes!

 

{for example discremination or may be that you cannot really live your religion in the UK.}

 

Discrimination is not blatent and maybe more openly religious Hindus may be dicriminated against. Hindus do sometimes get abused by muslims who like to insult Hindus and their practices.

 

The British media has always given a very wrong portrayal of Hindus as a superstitious backwards religion that is for the ignorants of India. The TV has rarely shown anything positive about Hinduism, especially the BBC which is guilty of this. It makes me think these anti-hindu programs are being funded by someone at the top who wants this to happen. They pick out the worst and most bizarre parts of Indian culture and promote it as Hinduism, such as caste system, sati, rat-temples, cow-urine drinking, etc. The teaching of the shruti scriptures never come across. Hindus are seen as polytheistic and weak, timid people who are money hungry, they would do anything to make some money. Some of this may be true (the money part -Indians are very materialistic in UK).

 

{I know there are cpuple of Hindu-temples there.}

 

There are a few, like the Swaminarayan temple is largest Hindu temple in Europe and the Hare Krishna temple, plus there are many smaller temples wherever a Hindu community is present.

 

{But does the british popultaion accepet and respect your religion.or are there any Hindu-schools in the UK?}

 

The British population is a slave to the media so they believe all the bad things the media says about Hinduism is true. Therefore they cannot respect Hinduism and take it seriouslt. But not all of them are that ignorant. The few westeners who do respect Hinduism are those who are open minded and well read. Westeners are attracted to groups like Hare Krishna as they are accepted in , whereas some hindu sects are to scared to let the British join them. Some westeners are also developing an interest in Vedanta even visiting the Ramakrishna centre and Divine life society.

 

There is one Hindu school I know about - the Swaminarayan school, but there should be more.

 

{do you think there ARE real problems for you, maybe noe place to pray etc.}

 

No we have temples and are open to celebrate our festivals. The British gov encourages diversity so we have it good with diwali festivals in any town where Indians live in a high number. But the biggest problem is the correct teaching of Hinduism which is lacking. And alot of the Hindu youth are clueless and confused about their religion (especially the girls) which makes them easy prey for comversion. Some Hindu youth in the UK don't even deserve to be called Hindus.

 

 

 

 

 

Please ask any more questions, so I can answer.

[maadhav]

one among others:

 

birts and westerners classify indians (most of whom are hindus) as asians. this categoray has no meaning for us.

 

pakis make trouble in uk, and tehysay asians do trouble, thus it shifts blame to the majority hindus, not the real trouble makers.

 

so, hindus need to oppose being classifeid as asians.

theyneed to assert and ssay, "we are indian and hindus."

 

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

 

Pakis is classified as a Rasist term. I suspect being from India you don't know this. Just as in USA you don't called Red Indians 'Red Indians' you called then Native Americans!

 

After they were there 1st lol

[Guest guest]

wow thank you so much for telling me this all.

we read a book at school in english about "second asian immigrantion in the UK" and there the british think that the Hindus are a bit "crazy" because of their yoga-stuff and clothes and they call them also Blackies and so on.I think it is really hard for us to understand all that with the yoga thing and I tried to find out a bit more about the Hindu religion and for me it doesn't seem to be so "crazy" like what the british think about it.I mean for example doesn't they know, that the Hindus are really open minded to other religions and respect and accept them?

I heared that in the morning you (the Hindus) purity yourself with a bath- usually in a temple pool or a river.are there any problems I mean, that you cannot go into a river, or that you pray at noon the mantra from the Vedas, offer something to the god(s)? Tell me when I understood something wrong about your religion- I really tried to understand and to find out about the Hinduism which is really interesting.

About the Muslims: are there so many muslims in the UK who insult the Hindus? How it seems to me now, I think the British must see how the Muslims treat the Hindus and the Hindus don't do anything wrong.

You wrote "Hindus are seen as polytheistic and weak, timid people who are money hungry, they would do anything to make some money. Some of this may be true (the money part -Indians are very materialistic in UK)." I didn't know that I just found out that the most Hindus are more living in the suburbs of London and are more poor and my live in some kind of ghettos?!

Thanks a lot for helping me :-)

 

 

[Guest guest]

From what I know Hindus living in the Uk get little or no hostility levelled against them directly.

 

Some people might mistakenly believe them to be Pakistani and Bangladeshi and this is not helped by an ignorant media casting Hindus and Muslims together as Asians.

It is only detrimental to Hindus to be associated with Muslims, especialy in the UK.

 

AS for the media making Hinduism look more of a 'joke' religion than the others i'd probably agree. I think there is a media assumption that Hinduism is somehow less serious and more primitive than islam and Christianity etc.

 

However the British media likes to think its the most enlightened thing on the planet. In truth its ignorant and not particularly clever. It simply doesnt understand Hinduism or much else because it has its head too firmly embedded up its own backside.

 

[Guest guest]

So, sou you think Hindus do not habe any real "religious problems" in the UK? I'm not quite sure, but I have read somewhere that Hindus do have some kind of "krishna" on the roads /streets, where they can stop, pray, offer sth. to their gods. (actually I have read it somewhere and I'm not sure if it is really true!) so they are allowed to do that at British streets/roads? or do the British then stop, treat them bad etc.?

Isn't it weired, that the Muslims insult the Hindus in the UK, though the Muslims are not THE religion in the UK, but also only some kind of minority religion?

Thanks again! *smile*

[Guest guest]

Hey! I'm a Hindu girl living in the UK. I was born and brought up here and I can say that the real problem associated with Hindus in the UK is that they are sometimes their own worst enemy. This is more often than not through ignorance about their beliefs. I have never directly experienced any form of racism for being a Hindu as such, for being an 'Asian' maybe. Also, the worst form of racism I have experienced is from fellow 'Asians' - mostly the Muslim community. They ask questions about Hinduism - always controversial ones and in turn go on about how 'wonderful' their own religion is (obviously drilled into their brains by their parents and religious leaders). The vast majority of Hindus I know follow blind faith and cannot fight their corner in such a situation. However, I have fought my corner on many occasions and I know of a small number of Hindus who can too.

[maadhav]

<< However, I have fought my corner on many occasions and I know of a small number of Hindus who can too. >>

 

dhanyawad!

we need more who can do it.

 

[Guest guest]

{and there the british think that the Hindus are a bit "crazy" because of their yoga-stuff and clothes and they call them also Blackies and so on.}

 

Well I myself have never come across this, that book you read must be old like in the 70's when more Indian immigrants came to UK, there was racism directed to them. Things have improved alot since then and Indians are probably the most respected 'ethnic minority' mainly due to their family values, hard working and success they have achieved. You can say they are admired in a way. Alot of Indian's have white British friends and can mix well with others of different cultural backgrounds, through it is clear to see that some Indians especially the youth are losing their morals and know little of religion and culture.

 

As for the 'yoga thing' the British love it and take it more seriously than the Indians. Some Indians used to be embarrassed about yoga until the British made it look 'cool'.

 

Generally speaking Indians are well-respected and have alot of freedom in UK, but the 'Hindu religion' is still very badly misrepresented by the Media and those with vested interests (e.g. Muslim and Christian groups).

 

{I heared that in the morning you (the Hindus) purity yourself with a bath- usually in a temple pool or a river.are there any problems I mean, that you cannot go into a river, or that you pray at noon the mantra from the Vedas, offer something to the god(s)?}

 

Not all Hindus do that in India anyway, it depends what they believe. I don't know about any Hindu in UK doing that, though some wake up for Surya Namaskar and early morning worship. Early morning services are held at some temples.

 

{About the Muslims: are there so many muslims in the UK who insult the Hindus? How it seems to me now, I think the British must see how the Muslims treat the Hindus and the Hindus don't do anything wrong.}

 

It's mainly muslim youth in school, colleges and unis. They do try to intimidate Hindus, and some Hindus are cowards and back down. Also they do try to date confused Hindu girls who know nothing about Hinduism as they are easy to convert to Islam. Some of them date the girls just to use them. They look down at Hindus girls as being cheap and easy. The truth is some of these girls are just that and you have to blame them as well as their useless parents who probably place more importance in being rich than in religion, morals or culture.

 

{I didn't know that I just found out that the most Hindus are more living in the suburbs of London and are more poor and my live in some kind of ghettos?!}

 

No, that's not true. Indians are the most successful ethnic minority in UK, most are achievers in life, though sometimes at the expense of losing culture, etc, though some still maintain their heritage. Hindus are always moving to better areas when they get the chance. There are a few Hindus in poor areas, but that is more of a minority than what is was when they first came. Alot of them will make their way out. By the way the suburbs of London are not bad as people may make out and mostly middle-class Indians would live there. The Ghetto-ised parts of the UK, with high asian population like Manchester-Oldham, Bradford, East London have more Pakistanis and Bangldeshis living there than Indians. And of course no Indian wants to live amongst them!