HINDU is a word derived from Sindhus and then Indus meaning people living in the banks of "Sindhu" river. The Persians and the Europeans coined this word since they could not pronounce the Sanskrit word "sindhu" properly. And for them all lived in the mainland of sindhu river became Hindus, and the land Bharath, India. In Bharath religion was a way of life. Though the learned sages preached and showed righteous ways or dharmapada, every individual was free to chose his own deity and worship in his own style. The only rule was the worship should be within the social frame and should not disturb others. That is why the spirit of co-existence came to exist though it has a dark side of degeneration with the treacherous casteism and un-touchability. It follows that every Indian whether Christian or Muslim or Sikh or Budhist or Jain, all are HINDUS. It's not religion. It's a way of life, a life with mutual respect and peaceful co-existence, popularly known in Sanskrit as Vasudeva Kudumpakam (universal family). Let us all Indians try to be that true HINDUS of India and fight together "adharmas" imposed on us by foreigners.
