Dr. Mandar Pattekar’s article in the last Community Word gave a good review of how indigenous and ancient traditions have been persecuted and all but wiped out around the world, especially under imperial regimes. The United States allowed slavery to persist for centuries, robbing Africans of their culture and language and carrying out a near genocide on Native Americans.

Then his article brings up his repetitive complaint about the victim status of Hindus in India. PM Modi’s party and government promotes the doctrine of Hindu nationalism, which is different from the Hindu religion, as far as I understand. I read Dr. Pattekar’s articles advancing some of the doctrines of Hindu nationalism. One of their policies is reconversion of non-Hindu Indians, for instance Christians and Muslims.

Christians and Muslims converted from lower castes to escape the oppression of the caste system. Dr. Ambedkar, architect of the Indian constitution, led a mass conversion of Dalits (Untouchables) to Buddhism.

I was in the Peace Corps in a South India village 50 years ago. I remember an upper caste man remarking, “Most of these Muslims used to be Untouchables.” I thought that was probably a rational decision on their part.

Most of India’s history for the past seven decades has been an effort to stay true to it’s stated mission to be a secular democracy with respect for all communities. They have been as true to that mission as can expected in a world where that kind of vision is not respected. The United States and other secular countries need partners in religious freedom against a descent into destructive communalism and theocracy.

I was in an Indian restaurant last year that I regularly go to. The owner is Muslim and one of the customers, a Hindu whom I know, was talking to him about recipes.

He would address the owner as “Khan Bhai”, meaning Brother Khan. That, I believe, is the true spirit of India.

Burt Raabe
Peoria Height