E-mail from readers the world over
`Mr Gautier's views contain the truth in parts, but are
also extreme'
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 13:35:17EST +0530
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
An excellently written piece. Sincere, well-meaning Hindus should hopefully realise that they should never blindly swallow what the proponents of organised religions like Christianity and Islam have to say. Courage and pride in oneself have to be carefully nurtured qualities. Self-flagellation only proves one's capacity for cowardice. Hinduism-bashing is politically correct and a fashionable literary style in most publications today. Do not fall for it. Discover Hinduism for yourself -- read Swami Vivekananda. See how the shrill cry in the media and by Christian groups against "Hindu thugs" who were supposedly blowing up churches and "persecuting Christians" has died down. Christians will say very little against "Islamic thugs", it needs too much courage and guts to do so. Hindus must sensitise themselves to the false secular-mindedness that pervades the media today.
Hindus should also realise that they should not be naive about peaceful relations with our neighbours -- China and Pakistan. These countries share a history of medieval instincts and capabilities for subjugation and domination over weak people. We should learn from the lessons of
the past, build strength in our people and learn to look people in
the eye and vigorously live our way of life -- a Sanatana Dharma!
A self-aware and self-confident Hindu is the need of the hour in our
country today!
Ram Kumar
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 09:07:05EST
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
A great article. I am going to forward it to all the major newspapers in India. And since this is written by a white man, it will force them to do some re-thinking.
Rabindra Pandey
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 08:55:11EST
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
I am a proud Indian and am slightly taken aback by such openness on the part of a non-Indian. I would like to get in touch with Mr Francois Gautier. Could you please mail me his contact address or telephone number?
Janani Ramamoorthy
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 10:29:17EST +0300
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
I agree with the writer. Hindus are courageous no doubt, but they are not murderers. They live the life that has been taught to them in the Bhagvad Gita and the Ramayana. Hindus are innocent people.
Muslims read the Koran which tells them to kill. So their basic education needs to change.
Raghavendra
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 03:07:01EST -0400
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
There is a very thin line between cowardice and tolerance which is open to interpretation or misinterpretation. Gautier has quoted the example of the Israelis. But Israelis still live in insecurity. They are still unrecognised and internally too, Israel faces a bigger dilemna than India does.
Mr Gautier's views contain the truth in parts, but are also extreme.
Debjit
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 08:07:10EST -0000
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
This is an excellent article. I wish it could reach a wider audience though.
Anand Tiptur Nanjundaswamy
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 08:42:04EST -0000
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
The author's inference is wrong as he is does not know the complete Islamic principles. Even the Prophet used to address any message to the "people of Madina" generally, as during those days non-Muslims, Muslims, Jews and others used to live in Madina. At that time
only Madina was his land, thus your motherland becomes important.
Also, it is foolish on the part of historians to use the term "Muslim invasions." Why can't these invasions be referred to as Afghani invasion, Persian invasion etc? When the British, French or the Portugese invade some country, they are clearly referred to as British invasion, French
invasion, Portugal invasion and so on and not as "Christain invasion."
It is only after the British invasion that India lost all its resources and wealth and not during the Mughal rule. Already the fanatics among us are creating separatism and trouble in our country, Why can't people like
Mr Francois Gautier and the media (including rediff.com) show a positive attitude and help our country prosper instead of harping on its failings?
C S Roshan Zameer
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 13:43:28EST +0530
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
This is a superb article. Such writings arouse the 'Indian' in us. The author is right when he expresses the view of the new Indian youth in
ties and reading the New York Times. I feel the same way when I look at the youth here in Bangalore. This article is a lesson for all Indian Hindus.
Amit Bhattacharya
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 13:46:09EST +0530
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
A good article with a lot of truth in it. One hopes people come to terms with reality at least after reading this piece.
Haridass
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 03:36:26EST -0500
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
I feel sorry for the Frenchman. I am a Hindu and I fail to see what good Mr Bal Thackeray has done to India. I think rediff should think twice before publishing such articles. There are far too many people in this world ready to incite Hindus and Muslims against each other.
Aniruddha Raje
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 15:36:29EST +0800
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
An excellent article, one which I hope will be published in all the Indian newspapers.
Narayan
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 15:54:08EST +0800
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
A shame. A real shame. The pity is not so much what was presented. But
the fact that so much could have been presented and was not. Being of
foreign origin, yet having spent 30 years in India, Gautier could have given us a truly interesting perspective on how two major religions have managed to co-exist side-by-side inspite of all odds. Instead, we have this ridiculously lopsided, rabble-rousing rambling.
And if wars and physical aggression are all that made a nation, why is
India making such waves in the IT industry, in the financial sector, in the beauty business.... and Pakistan tottering on the brink of extinction? Where has all the aggression of the middle-eastern countries got them?
I don't say Gandhi was all right or all wrong, but there must be
something right about him if we got our independence 50 years back, while the Irish, the Palestinians and the Kurds struggle on even today.
Rajiv Chaturvedi
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 07:31:40EST
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
Francois Gautier should not be allowed to write such articles which incite communal passions.
Sajid Hussain
Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2000, 09:43:33EST +0100
Subject: Are Hindus cowards?
A fantastic article. Hope Hindus have taken note of it.
Anuj Kumar Jaiswal
Earlier Mail
|
