Which Hindu Nation ?

By: Bikal Dhungel 

Nepalese politicians are busy these days chanting to declare Nepal a Hindu Nation. They feel proud that the Hindu Religion within 'Sanatan Dharma' has been the way of life for centuries. Sanatan Dharma also includes people from so called 'other castes'. Ironically, in the case of inter-cast marriages, the traditional hindus are the first ones to denounce this by socially punishing the person who has done an intercast marriage.

I denounce the idea of a Hindu Nation. Not only because the Hindu religion has a big need of reforms but also because it is not the political agenda that is important now. First we will talk about the status of Hindu Religion now. The caste system is a product of Hindu Religion. The impact of caste system is that large number of people in Hindu society are discriminated in many aspects of life. So called lower castes have many constraints in daily life concerning education, employment and other services. They are also not allowed to touch the Hindu temples and even go inside the house of any 'higher caste' ( hate to write this term). Marriage between the castes are socially forbidden, especially the traditional Hindus oppose this. As long as this tradition exist, the Hindu religion will eat itself one day. If a christian missionary comes to Nepal and helps the people who are discriminated, treats them equal, pay for their education, this is not only good for poverty reduction, but also a signal for traditional Hindus that there is something terribly wrong with their religion and way of life. So, please, come and convert people to Christianity. By the way, If foreigners can convert to Buddhists, Krishna Pranamis, why cant Nepalese convert to Christianity ?

On the other hand, 2000 tons of rice are wasted every year in the temples in the name of god and this in a country where mal-nutrition is as high as 45%.

More festivals in a year than normal days, which Hindus take pride of is actually a tragedy than a matter to celebrate. It is only good for the rich. For the poor, festivals are financial burdens. To keep the prestige, poor around the country borrow lots of money to celebrate festivals or for the marriage of their daughters and involve in Dowry system. As a result, they are heavily indebted, a reason why thousands of them commit suicide every year. Many parents in the country spend more money for their daughters dowry than for her education because they feel forced to do this in the name of prestige in the society. I am not preaching against Hindu religion, what I am saying is: Hindu religion should be reformed if it is to exist further. It should go hand in hand with modern human values like freedom, non discrimination, gender equality, respect to other religion and culture etc. It should stop justifying the good deeds through war. The Mahabharat war is such a story where the 'good' won against the 'bad' though the goods used false tactics, sometime lying and cheating. But still, 'there is no good war'. The book by B.P Koirala, called Modiaayin ( Grocer's Wife) is an extra-ordinarily written piece denouncing the Mahabharat war by explaining it from the eyes of a woman. Any goods of war may not be a good form to teach to children. May be Buddhist principles based on love, peace of mind and non-violence can be a good for the society.

What I am saying is, yes one should preserve the culture but if the culture is prohibiting us to live with modern values, such culture will do more harm than good. See the inter-ethnic conflict arising in Nepal these days, it has a root in Hindu traditions. In a place where lots of people are discriminated, there will be violence, sooner or later. There will be war sooner or later. In the past, traditions, religions or even civilizations have dissolved when they failed to move with time. The Maya Civilization in South America is one such thing which included practices like human sacrifices and one day disappeared. The Fall of Roman Empire has its root, partly in tradition but also in economical way of life which we will discuss now.

The second question is, if the agenda of religion is necessary now. Is this the problem of Nepal? No, the problem of Nepal is poverty. As long as poverty exists, you cant solve any of the other problems. Nepal should raise the issue of ending poverty, it should practice pressure on government to build infra-structures like bridges, schools, hospitals and libraries. 75% of Nepalese should walk half day or more to reach any health centers. Crop failures due to climate change has put millions of people in risk of not having anything to eat. Pollution in Kathmandu valley kills thousands of people with respiratory diseases. Lack of clear water supply kills thousands of children with easily preventable diseases. These people are not able to afford a simple chlorine bleaches that could save their lives. The failure of energy production has halted industries and increased unemployment massively, as a result of which over 1500 people go to gulf countries to work every day under precarious conditions and some of the unlucky ones return in a coffin. Pregnant women are stranded on the bay of big rivers throughout Nepal because the bridge was wiped away by the flood. People carry their loved ones for 3 days to bring them to the hospital in order to get normal treatment. Children as young as 5 years old are carrying mineral water bottles in their hands and sell it on the streets of kathmandu to earn some rupees to buy breads. Millions of other children have to work to earn a bread what we call 'Child Labour', yet others arrive in the hands of human traffickers who sell these children in sex industries in Nepal and India. Same for young poor women. Elderly people who have nobody to care them are being treated in social homes in Kathmandu and this number is to rise at alarming rate in the coming days. The cold winter in killing thousands if homeless people and the poor in Terai. People living in slums have increased and will further increase with growing urbanization. The quality of education is lowest, with the failure rate of students of government schools reaching over 85% in SLC exams. Lack of medical supplies in hospitals based in rural areas has forced many to die simply because there is no antibiotics, forget about complicated health treatments. Such lines can go on for next ten pages but what I want to say here is, What are our priorities ? A religion or the things mentioned here ? Is religion important or to survive first ? Having enough foods first, having a roof above the head, having education, infra-structures, health services ?

The agenda of today's politics is rich man's wishes which fully neglects the needy, poor and sufferer. This is a shame. And finally I would like to put some words told by BP Koirala:

' जब तपाई कुनै योजना बनाउनु हुन्छ, ' यी गरिब किसन हरुलाई मन मा राखनुस '

' जब म नेपाल को कल्पना गर्छु, तेस बेला तिनै गरिब दाजु भाई हरुको तस्बिर मेरो अगाडी आउछ. महिला लुगा लगाएको, खान नपाएको र रोगि अनुहार को तस्बिर हो हाम्रो नेपाल . अनि मलाई लाग्छ, यी रोगि, खान नपाएको अनुहार को हो हाम्रो देश. तेसो हुनाले तेही खान नपाएको पेट मा अन्न जाओस, हास्न नपाएको ओठ मा हासो आओस , रोगि ले औसधि मुलो पाउन , केटा केटि ले पढ्न पाउन भनेर नै हामी राजनीति मा लागेका हौ, मन्त्रि हौला, ठुला ठुला कुर्सि मा जाउला भनेर लागेका हैनौ. ( जननायक बि पी कोइराला )