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by Jayaram V
The propagators of both Christianity and Islam have been doing a great service to
Hinduism for the last several centuries, with their vehement criticism born out of their profound ignorance of Hinduism and their condescending sympathy for the natives. When they set foot on the Indian soil in the medieval period, they made every possible effort to declare Hinduism as a Satanic cult and a religion of the Brahmins in an attempt to draw converts from lower castes, ignoring its philosophical depths and its true character. Unknowingly, they helped Hinduism by forcing the Hindus of medieval and British India to become more
defensive, resolute and determined to safeguard their own religion. Few converts they did gain, but they also fortified Hinduism and made their own task much more difficult. Because of their vituperative attacks, Hindus were forced to shift their emphasis from the the outer aspects of Hinduism to the more serious knowledge of the Upanishads and the practice of Yoga.
In the last two hundred years or so, Hinduism underwent tremendous transformation. This became possible because of the selfless efforts of many great souls. Their efforts resulted in the ending of such abominable practices as child marriages, burning of widows, untouchability, female infanticide, casteism and so on. Hindus, Christians and Muslims all alike were benefited by these reforms as the reforms broke the walls of orthodoxy and narrow-minded chauvinism and helped in the creation of a multi religious, secular society.
A lot of reforms are still going on in Hinduism and a lot of new inputs are still coming into it from various sides. A good number of individual saints and sages and several new age thinkers are playing their dutiful role in keeping alive the ancient tree of Hinduism. Their contributions are shaping Hinduism to meet the aspirations of the coming generations of a new century.
Hinduism is perhaps the only religion in the world which survived about 700 years of Islamic rule and nearly 400 years of Christian propaganda and emerged in the end stronger and more vibrant than ever.
Suggested Further Reading
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