Many Hindus Secretly Admire Islam

On the surface, it may seem that the Hindu right dislikes Islam to the core. They talk about how their great past was ruined by invasions, and how Muslims are taking over India etc etc. But the response to the removal of Wendy Doniger’s book suddenly revealed to me what I should have seen earlier. These guys are star struck in admiration for the way Islam conducts itself around the globe and are crying out to emulate its ways.

The most common reaction by hindutva types to the withdrawal of the book is that the author would never have dared to write a similar book about Islam. That instead of Hindu gods and goddesses, had she written about Mohammed instead, the government would have banned the book, she would have gotten death threats, and in general no liberal would have criticized the Islamic radicals (false of course but we’re talking delusions here, not facts). Furthermore, they say that she wouldn’t have been able to do this in Pakistan or Iran and it’s only because it’s India that she has the temerity to publish such stuff.

All this would have been ok if the follow up observation had been “See, this is why India is awesome. Islamic countries are fundies and this is proof that India is a free state”. But no, the general mood is one of wistful longing for the kind of censorship and violence exhibited by Mullahs and fatwa announcers. This points to a secret admiration of the way fundamental Islam works despite their claims of despising it. A very passive aggressive type of reaction. They don’t openly say “We want Hinduism to be like Islam” but they fervently wish it was.

This points to a secret admiration of the way fundamental Islam works despite their claims of despising it.

Mind you, the response could have been “Let her say what she wants about Hinduism. India is a free country. But we also demand that books offending Muslims like the Satanic verses etc be allowed too”. This would be the way you expect people to respond if they truly had a problem with how Islam deals with free speech. But no, I sense a grudging admiration. It’s as if there’s a race to determine which is the most savage and intolerant behavior, and Hindus are upset that fanatical Islam is winning and wish desperately to catch up.

Another delusion that frequently pops up is that when books derogatory to Islam are banned, no one protests. I have no idea how this idea gained traction. Who doesn’t remember the cry and furor when Salman Rushdie was deterred from attending the Jaipur literary fest? The papers were full of it for weeks. Opinion pieces, blog posts and articles flooded the Internet in outrage. I don’t remember even one person speaking up in favor of the restriction! The outrage was far greater in fact than the current opposition to Penguin’s move to take Wendy Doniger’s book off the shelves. In fact, I actually see some support from various sections for the move.

Many hardcore supporters of Hinduism are in a tight spot. On the one hand they hate Islam with their very being and are yet envious of its status in the world. They’re jealous of the fact that people tiptoe around it. They want Hinduism to also be similarly treated. To them, it’s a sign of strength in Islam that people are threatened with violence when they criticize it. They don’t see the cringing weakness and pathetic lack of self respect that generates the outrage. They don’t realize that a religion and a people who get upset over mere words are weak. Just a breath is enough to shake the institution to its foundations. If that’s not weak I don’t know what is.

Get a grip right wingers. Try and see through the fake strength of radical Islam. Don’t be jealous of the way it handles dissent. Instead, position India as a place that’s the antithesis of what you hate. Show India to be a place that people can point to with admiration and pride and say “Look – this is what India is like. A free place where the majority religion is not threatened by books and words and thoughts. This is precisely what global Islam is not“.

Isn’t that preferable to being offended all the time?

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60 thoughts on “Many Hindus Secretly Admire Islam”

  1. “On the one hand they hate Islam with their very being and are yet envious of its status in the world. They’re jealous of the fact that people tiptoe around it. ”

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha :) Islam’s status in the world? Tiptoe around it? Yes, ordinary people in their daily lives do tiptoe around it, the way people would tiptoe around a pool of vomit on the floor. When push comes to shove, Muslims are killed like cockroaches. America killed over a million in Iraq alone. Look at Muslims grovelling under the Israeli boot in Palestine. Look at Muslims under the Indian boot in Kashmir….

    Tiptoe? I think not…

    Reply

    • In reply to Abhishek

      I’m Muslim, living in the US. LIving just fine. Most Muslims in the US make above $80,000 annually anda are college educated. Iraq/Palestine comparisons are like apples and oranges. Look at Saudi and the UAE–pretty wealthy people. Look at Muslims in Indonesia–middle class etc.

      I genuinely think people fear Muslims. Good for me. Fear me, I love it ;)

      Reply

      • In reply to Western Point of View

        Some la-la land you live in. Here is the income distribution in the US by religion…

        http://www.pewforum.org/2009/01/30/income-distribution-within-us-religious-groups/

        Ya…there…at the very bottom, just above “historically black churches” and Jehovah’s witnesses (LOL), you have Muslims.

        Now take a look…who is at the TOP of the pile? The No. 1? You guessed it…Hindus, doing even better than Jews! What? Hindus and Jews took the top two positions? Ouch…that must hurt you, no? Look…the two religions that deserve to be wiped off the earth are at the TOP :)

        Ya…real jealous we all are. If only we could be the poorest, least educated immigrant group and be suspected of being terrorists, our lives would be so much better :-)

        Reply

      • In reply to Abhishek

        Abishek, my goodness, you are so right. That just proves everything and has officially shut my mouth.

        May I PLEASE kiss your glorious feet please? I am an underling to you. I am nothing. I need to kiss the awesome feet of Abishek. My life will be SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better if I do so.

        Please give me your home address so I may kiss the amazing, extraordinary feet of Abishek.

        I am wrong, you are right.

        This article should now be called, how “Western Point of View OPENLY Admires and Adores Abishek.”

        Please change the article to this :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

        Reply

    • In reply to Abhishek

      Ya did you forget that Muslims killed 6 millions spanish and conquered the spain and spain was the country who conquered America,Muslims have destroyed over 100,000 temples over 800 years they controlled you british had saved you otherwise it would become a Muslim country too Muslims had conquered 30% of earth what have Indian idiots done they have just clapped other people Hindu exists only in India and 2 other countries but Islam exists more than 50 countries you compare yourselves with Muslims HAHAHHAHAHA There is no status of Muslims in this world HHAHAHAH then why thoose Indian bitches come to UAE,Saudi Arabia,Quatar,Kuwait,Iran in order to beg 35 million Hindu family’s earning depends on Muslim countries.The world is Muslim vs Christian Hindus and jewish are just for joke over 1500 years Muslims vs Christians is happening and other two jewish and Hindus are always for joke and to clap for Christians We don’t destroy Israel for humanity only one neuclear weapon is enough to destroy a country like Israel have you forgotten how Hizbullah kicked Israel’s ass in 30 days war HHAAHAHAH.
      Hindus are talking o status let’s see the status of India/Hindu people
      100,000 Rape occurs
      50,000 murder occurs (more than pakistan,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,yemen,Turkey)
      76% teenage girls are molested
      world’s highest child molestation country
      one of the earth’s biggest porn industry
      48%girls are married before 18 years
      61% girls are physically assaulted by their husbands
      66% Indian male have affair with other women except their own wife
      world highest eveteasing rate
      This Idiots call Muslims terrorist the call Muslims terrorist cause they have 0 knowledge about world the literacy rate of INDIA is 72.1% out of them 53% are Hindus on the other Hand Muslims have 90% of literacy rate and Hindus have 54% literacy rate look who is talking about Islam a illiterate Hindu

      Reply

  2. You have no idea about what you are talking about. Hindus secretly admire Islam? You must be out of your mind. You don’t know Hinduism or Indian philosophies at all. Hindus believe in strength and courage that comes out of peace not out of violence and Islam is all about coercion and violence though it claims to be the “Religion of Peace.” Everybody knows better. If I respect someone out of fear then that is not respect it is hatred and that is what Hindus feel about Islam. Hindus have nothing against muslim people because they are human beings just like we are. The muslim people are misled by their religion and their mullahs.

    Reply

      • In reply to Mahian

        Mullah generated data. Completely bogus. Making yourself a laughing stock. Today even Muslims fear traveling across world. They’re screened with suspicion. One day they will be tracked with with belt or collar around their necks. Just wait for trump. No wonder whole America is supporting him.

        Reply

      • In reply to Mahian

        Mahian,
        8,00,000 converting / year is a number given by VHP . Among them the 65% converting to islam is your imagination . Most are converting to evangelical Christianity for money and better life. Not islam.

        Infact only ~960 Hindus officially convert to islam in kerala (2011-2016). Lets assume unofficially it is double (1920; an optimistic number for muslims). Kerala has 5% muslims of India. They are the most educated, well today and richest. So conversion in other places must be even less.

        Extrapolating the numbers , for 5% if it is 1920, for 100% (entire India) it would be a maximum of 38400.

        According to same VHP 7,50,000 converted back to Hinduism in 10 years. out of which 2,50,000 are from islam. So annually 25000 return to Hinduism from islam.

        So net conversion from Hinduism to islam in India on a year is just 13,400.

        Even internationally muslim imams agree that 75% of those who convert to islam , leave it in a couple of years

        Reply

    • In reply to Swadesh

      This may be fine if other religions left people alone. Unfortunately even as an atheist, I am affected by the stupidity of Islam, Christianity as well as Hinduism. So I have to talk about them.

      Reply

  3. I would suggest the governments or even hindu organisations should take a middle path to these “controversial books” like that of wendy dongier. For example this book need not be banned, but some advisory note of government can be printed in the first page of the book about the opinion of the government in the cases of “ban required works” or “unauthorised contents”. This will ensure common man reading those books will be aware of the alternative opinions about such controversial books.

    Reply

  4. Yes Hindus envy the unity of muslims which used to be. Hindus envy the religiosity and attitude (with respect) of muslims towards anything Islamic previously.
    In a world were might is right, Hindus are not feared (and respected) but Muslims are !!
    Hindus are upset when so called liberals are anti Hindu (Hinduism being soft target) but does not risk criticizing Islam.

    All the above are known things and nothing new. What is the author trying to bring here?

    *** People are changing , including Muslims.

    Reply

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