My Dear Gautier, How beautifully you play with words! You say: "I'm a born Christian", without mentioning the fact, that you are a Hindu fanatic now, a fact well known to regular readers of your column. I used to be one of those who was brainwashed by your articles a few years back and used to be a Christian-hater, just like many others who read your articles, till better sense prevailed. Shame on you for pointing out that the President is Muslim, Prime Minister is Sikh and Sonia is Christian and so on...Well, we tried saffronisation of politics by having the BJP at the helm, now it was time for a change. In fact, Abdul Kalam is the most honest and sincere President India ever had! And having another honest man at the top(Dr.Manmohan Singh) is a blessing. Sonia's act of giving up the prime Minister post speaks volumes about her. Please allow the country to move forward, and do not spread ill-will like a Rajeev Srinivasan, or BJP/Shiv Sena/RSS fundamentalists. If India is truly "secular" then why should the religion of these politicians matter? Mr.Gautier, on the same note, may I ask you why we need advice from a deranged Frenchman considering India's vast brain-resources?
wonderful.Francoise is known for candid and honest views.Yhis article should have been the eye-opener for Hindus in India but lo! they have been cursed by Brahma for their hypocracy and insensitivity.They are destined to be always slaves.
the shankaracharya was arrested... and nothing happened in the hindu majority india !! this is a positive sign.
People have become matured and they know not to involve religion too much into daily lives. They need to goto work and feed their children. Work is god.
Religion is not necessary for life. Work is. So you need to draw a line and decide when to become indifferent to religious happenings.
The tyranny of hindus and the garbage of hinduism needs to be cleaned out far more cleaner then catolic and kuranic garbages, no doubt about it. But to write with hidden political mind-sight on basis of religious thoughtlines is evil, especially if a reverant or a religious leader is writing it. No priest of temple in mordern times is given due importance for the very reasons of clean-up, unlike fatwas and aid-collections for religious transformation, where a person is given higher importance then God himself. It sure sounds bluff to me then a thought process Mr. Fracious whatever...
so indians are supposed to cry, moreso, the hindu populace! and why? because it's leaders are from other religions... however, one can easily ask, hey hang on.. is that really reason enough? to answer this, one can easily ponder who would make a good leader...
it certainly is debatable whether gandhi family deserves such respect all the time, but why doubt Manmohan's credentials? and for that matter APJ's? both have really brought in a lease of freshness to their jobs, and have gone beyond precedents to ensure better functioning... and most importantly, they dare to think, differently if need be... this creativity is what indians need to emulate, more than anything else, to build a strong independent nation... thus, i do not believe that india has to hang it's head in shame, simply because it has true democratic roots...
I was surprised to read the article. I am not sure of the motive behind the article, but couldn't imagine it is goodwill. Mockery may be, but not love. India is not going to fall apart with this kind of inciting religious conflicts. These multi religious groups may clash on occasion, but if from looks or behavior of an average Indian his or religion is not apparent. This is akin to Indian culture. Is the writer uncomfortable to see that people of India do not make huge deal about Pope of Hinduism being arraigned and questioned?
I have always wondered how my beloved India with all its ills and pains is still progressing and makes me so Proud. I always wonder.
But reading this article, it hits me why!
It is in this place, where in all the existing chaos, things usually fall in placeand no co-incidence that!
Thus, it is here we have:
a Pioneer in taking India forward, an evangelist for the young, seeding them with vision to ensure the reality of powerful country is President. You say he is a Muslim. I see him as an Indian.
a Man who led the economic reforms, one who laid groundwork for a decade of growth and recognition is Prime Minister. You say he is a Sikh. This Indians work has benefited / imparted growth for a generation of Indians.
a Lady who chose to renounce power to able hands. Who retained her Indian identity by choice / pledged self and son to the same public life that caused her husbands death is Leader of Coalition. You say she is a Foreign Christian. I see her as an Indian.
We would be better served by not having a Westerner to tell us to see a Hindu/Sikh/Muslim/Christian in an Indian. The British did that once and we have paid the price.
Obviously you have not read the report that the Godhra tragedy was not a massacre as you proclaim but in all probability an accident. What followed after that was even more shameful as that was undoubtedly an outright massacre.
However, that was dismissed as "public outcry". The very same public that you believe is not responding appropriately to the upheavals in the Hindu religion was the public that killed thousands in the Godhra aftermath How come that doesn't find any mention in your article. Is that not worthy of tears?
And how in the world do you relate Hinn with Sonia Gandhi. This comment is more ludicrous than Uma Bharti saying that she had nothing to do with Babri.
Reading your article makes me wonder how half-baked journalists like yourself land up getting their biased opinions on websites like Rediff. I completely stand by freedom of speech but was the editor sleeping on the job.
