The word Hindu is not a religious word. It is secular in origin. It is derived from the word Sindhu, which is the name of a major river that flows in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. The ancient Greeks and Armenians used to refer the people living beyond the river Sindhu as Hindus and gradually the name struck. When the Muslims came to the sub continent they called the people living in the region as Hindustanis to distinguish them from the foreign Muslims. Subsequently when the British established their rule, they started calling the local religions collectively under the name of Hinduism.
It is interesting to note that the word is neither Sanskrit nor Dravidian and did not originate in India. It was not used by Indians in their descriptions or writings till the 17th century. If we go by the original definition of the word Hindu, any one who lives in the subcontinent is a Hindu and whatever religion he or she practices is Hinduism. The word Hindu is a secular word and literally translated it means Indian and the word Hinduism denotes any religion or religions that are practiced by the multitude of people living in the land beyond the river Indus.
RE:So What is the Fight for??
by on Dec 23, 2007 10:36 AM Permalink
Dear Mr. Contractor, True enough the word "Hinduism" is invented by British, But hinduism as a religion can be traced back upto Manu, and it is referred as "Sanatan" dharma. Coming back to your point what is the fight for? If you have seen prep-school children fight among themselves in the context of "My Dad is Greatest"; well as they grow older the context merely changes "My God is Greatest". Remember with time most of only grow older and not wiser.
RE:So What is the Fight for??
by dhananjaya sabat on Dec 23, 2007 10:52 AM Permalink
Dear contractor, you were given no contracts to define hinduism. It existed from the era before christ and mohammeds forefathers had taken birth. Think that Budha & jain Mahavir tried to remove inequalities in sanatan/hindu dharm. About sanskrit- its an sanskrut word by itself. Even more than 20% ofthe words of oxford english dictionary are derived from sanskrit. About aryans and dravids, neither you nor your favourite nehruvian and english historians ever could proove their aryan invasion theory. get your datas correct. and if u are a parsi, just remember who allowed parsis to settle in India? Jamorin- and hindu kind. Ha....ha... ha... Dont put mud at hindus, u stay in hindustan.
RE:So What is the Fight for??
by Khandu Patel on Dec 22, 2007 06:24 PM Permalink
Since "Hindus" have not been able to agree a word to identify with our religion which as Sanata Dharma is a mouthful, the word everyone else incorrectly use to describe the first religion of Bharat as Hindus will have to do. I think you will agree that Muslims, Christians and Jews will agree that they are not Hindus. This should settle it, whatever the Indian Government would have the people of Bharat believe in their textbooks or in their political dogma.
RE:So What is the Fight for??
by prakash on Dec 22, 2007 02:52 PM Permalink
Well, Miya contractor, if the word Hindu is a secular one & noncommunal one , why you dont accept yourself to be a Hindu? What BAKAVAS you & and Miya Javed Akhtar like people do is based on a FAKE history got written by Nehru & a squad of commerades under his command!! Pl get an AUTHENTIC BOOK OF HISTORY ( not a govt text book!!) & realise what you were or what you really (made up of) are!!
