Breaking Hinduism in the Caribbean, de-linking and conversion

Caribbean Hindu and political writer Vassan Ramracha warns Hindus living in the Caribbean about the threats posed by conversion and de-linking to the community. 

“I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”- Lord Thomas Macaulay, Speech at British Parliament 1835

     That spiritual heritage and tradition he referred to was Hinduism; which today remains the last great ancient native religion that has not only survived but, flourishes. It is a constant reminder to Christian missionaries and colonizers that they had not conquered everything, a mistake they are still trying to correct. The colonization process no longer includes a Bible in one hand and a whip in the other, now they have changed the game. The missionaries come bearing gifts, smiles and other trinkets because they need to show that they are peaceful and democratic to the world but, any opposition to their tactics is heralded as intolerance and they will cry over their constitutional rights to convert and call it freedom of religion. So Hindus are forced to open their doors to destruction in the name of democracy.

However, Hinduism did not come out unscathed and the Indian society is still scarred by such exploitation. Colonizers created deep divides in India and took diverse sections of Indian society and created hostile divisions. One such example is the caste system which had its roots in the Hindu tradition known as Varna, a social concept, where everyone is respected for their contribution to society no matter what task they perform. As a structured academic system Hinduism gave names to the different classes of people in society for organization purposes just like how we must class our citizens to better understand Economics such as the middle class etc.    British colonizers then transposed the Varna into an oppressive, discriminatory system based on more heinous divisions and called it caste which more resembled their very own peasant-serf system hierarchy back in Europe. Ironically, now they point fingers at Hinduism and call us uncivilized for the version of the caste system they created. Is the caste system really a part of Hinduism? Do we see it in Guyana and Trinidad, where our Hindu ancestors travelled and began a new Hindu society or did we abolish it and forget it since it doesn’t matter to us? That’s how colonization worked back then but, now they cannot openly force Hindus to convert as they did in the Goa inquisition and put them to hot racks and other torture, now they come bearing good tidings.

The British colonizers no longer have to do this to Indians themselves because their Christian Indian creations are doing it for them. People like Lord Macaulay created such processes to control conquered peoples across the globe and today legions of Christian Indians who have no sense of what happened to them and how they came to be this way continue the practice blindly. They are victims of the colonization process themselves and continue to parrot what they have been taught. The Christian Indian missionaries are continuing the destruction of their ancient religion as the colonizers planned long ago. Out of that forced conversion in the past Hindus became Christians in large numbers and now follow the teachings of the Church. Even when it is against their own ethnic interest they continue to see their own native religion with contempt. The Christian converts now go knocking on the doors of their own people to finish the job. The Catholic Church and other evangelical organizations have better records than even the United Nations and World health Organization of every region, caste and religion in India, even which tribe is against which tribe and how to exploit that divide. They have handed down methods to their minions how to best convert the remaining Hindus. They even have maps of exactly what parts of the world still need to be converted and red hot target areas such as India. Some of their current methods include meeting with Hindus and using the newly formed friendships to understand how Hindus think and what they can succumb to, dressing like swamis in traditional clothes in saffron and going among the “pagans” to preach, using Hindu culture such as music and dance to spread their dogma. However, unlike the unsuspecting Hindus they do not get lost in the unity, fusion and brotherly love. They understand the tenets of their belief that there can be only one God, one way and one path. They continued this process on the Hindus when they got to Guyana and Trinidad and used the Presbyterian and Catholic schools to do it, making Hindus feel their education was superior and more civilized and Hinduism was just idolatrous and superstitious.

The idea of using dance and other arts as a proselytization tool to infiltrate and convert Hindus came up recently. A pastor stopped a young girl from participating in a Divali ceremony in Guyana and made it clear the difference between Christians and the enemy as she rightly stated it. The pastor was exhibiting the underlying tenets of the Christian faith and the old way of doing things. The real danger was in the reply by a Christian convert of Indian Guyanese descent currently proselytizing in India. If he believes that we should all respect each other why is he converting in India? Conversion is an act of hostility, it says without saying, I do not believe in your way and do not respect you so I am going to convert your people and as your numbers diminish so will your civilization.

Careful analysis of his words show his true intentions. He wrote that we should show respect to Hindus and writes in the Guyanese newspaper about his efforts, in so doing they will see our work and Glorify the father, meaning come to Christ and forget their native religion. This is the systematic destruction of Hinduism we are looking at. He then ended by saying invite me to your mandir and we will sing about Yeshua together. He did not say we will sing about Ganesh together but, only mentions Yeshua, the Hindi word for Christ, another trick to tie up Hindus. He continues to use his Hindu name Devanand Bhagwan as explained before to infiltrate the Hindu ranks. Like any other conquered person he may not agree with colonization but is facilitating the process since he has rejected his native beliefs and is propagating the colonial religion. This is the game. The game is so good. World class organizations are used as an excuse to infiltrate Hindus and Harvard University will soon begin to “study” the Kumbh Mela festival, where over a 100 million Hindus descend to celebrate their diversity of beliefs; now this is pure Hinduism. Soon enough they will demonize Hinduism by reports of “pollution” and “crime” and as usual will have almost nothing good to say except how Hinduism is just a menace. This topic was recently brought to attention by author Rajiv Malhotra who voices the Hindu opinion. If you’re not really familiar with him it’s because our corrupt media makes it so but, off course many have heard of Wendy Doniger who wrote “The Hindus,” and it was heralded as a great seller and a magnificent read and yet it practically denigrates Hinduism to mere sexual imagery, fantasy and myth. Her books are available in every shelf in the big airports in India but, if it were to be pulled they would call India and HER Prime Minister Modi intolerant. They find crafty ways to label the victims as intolerant in the eyes of the world in order to force them to accept destruction disguised as democracy.

They now exploit the Hindu beliefs in peace, non-violence, democracy and use words from the Vedas as Vasudevam Kutumbakam meaning the world is one family, to lure Hindus everywhere and in Guyana, Trinidad and other diaspora countries as well to accept their ways. Their intentions are plain as seen in the Nepal Earthquake and Chennai Floods where instead of food the Pope sent Bibles. A new Mother Theresa movie will come out soon demonizing Hindus who speak against this systematic destruction of their religion as an extremist group. However, Hindus are not only speaking out against the conversion but the environment conversion creates. Conversion not only causes political dissention among nations and groups but it hits at the very root of society, the family, causing disruption and disrepair of bonds.

The last group contributing to this are the remaining naïve Hindus who blindly repeat we are one world and all religions are the same without understanding the facts. Off course we are one, it’s the ideal and we should all try and get along. Nothing is wrong in participating and learning about each other’s beliefs in fact, I encourage everyone to find out more about Hinduism as it’s extremely misunderstood but, Hindus need to recognize the signs of those who have genuine intentions and those who have none. By all means, dance, sing, join us for food and light deeyas too. We will welcome you as long as you respect our right to exist. Hindus need to educate themselves about the games afoot to destroy this religion because now it is coming gift-wrapped and harder to defend against, who can say no to smiles and peaceful proposals? Keep Macaulay’s words in mind, “if they lose their ancient tradition [Hinduism] they will become…a truly dominated nation.”

So far we have seen how British colonials openly spoke about their plans to control nations and destroy native cultures by breaking their native religions through conversion and other exploitation games. This continued interference into the lives of different ethnic groups has led to mass genocides all over the world when groups began to see themselves as different. In the Indian race this has taken form in the destruction of Hinduism; the glue that holds Indian culture together and the primordial soup from which it sprung. The British no longer have to do it themselves since they have missionaries especially Indian Christian missionaries doing it for them. These people are trained how to play the democracy game and use the ideals of brotherly love, one world and even Hindu beliefs in peace and love against Hinduism.

No one can truly be disconnected to their culture. These have been developed over millennia and practiced for even longer. It is part of our blood, DNA and rooted into our genealogical memories.  Even in Europe they are feelings the pangs of their native calling and have been celebrating Viking festivals with more fervor in Scotland and Iceland. In Africa strong female singers are challenging Christianity and colonization through music to open the way for the revival of native African religion. So too Indians who converted long ago and even yesterday feel a pull to their native roots. They feel it every time a tabla plays or a sitar begins to stir. They feel it every time they hear chutney music and tassa drums begin to tune up. They feel it every time they see a classical dance and see Hindu women dressed in saris and they want to light the Deeyas too. I sure don’t need to explain what happens when we smell curry and doubles? This delicious food surely could not have come from the culture they left behind? This thing they enjoy daily could not have come from the same Hinduism they are told is evil and idolatrous? What they have been taught begins to fight what they are feeling.

The Christian missionaries, western academia, the Church and the converted Indians then try to legitimize their conversion by killing two birds with one stone; they disconnect Indian culture from Hinduism. There are three main claims they make that Hinduism is not really a religion, Indian culture has nothing to do with Hinduism and they distort history to show how parts of Hinduism like Sanskrit and Yoga never came from Hinduism. These are the missionary games we must learn about fast because they are hitting the global market. The Church and western academia are now using the slogan, “Hinduism is not a religion, it’s a way of life,” to get Hindus to forget the contributions of their religion to the world and to stop the world from giving Hinduism the respect and recognition it deserves. The academic powers and colonizers cannot have Hinduism turning any heads when they tried so hard to destroy it. They are now claiming that karma, avatars and all the things the world has come to enjoy especially Yoga and Sanskrit are not Hindu. They claim that yoga was founded before Hinduism and Sanskrit may have origins outside India. Sanskrit is a hit in the scientific world with NASA and computer programming and they are claiming Sanskrit is not Hindu, it’s not even Indian. Yoga needs no introduction, everybody loves it. How can they let Hinduism seep into the minds of their flock? The best way to stop it is by disconnecting Hinduism from all its branches, the language, dance, music, food, scriptures. They even claim the Vedas and Upanishads, our oldest texts came from elsewhere and not India or Hinduism, and they are practically saying it is not an Indian invention because that’s how colonization works. If Sanskrit and Yoga are not Indian or Hindu where were these people when Hindu blood was being shed to save it? Where were their voices when Hindus were tortured and enslaved to protect it? Where were they when Yoga and Sanskrit were mocked as witchcraft and barbarian while Hindus were being put to shame for calling it their own? Where were they when it was called Hindu and therefore illegitimate as study, now the world wants it and conveniently it’s not Hindu anymore? Where were they for at least ten millennia when India had “stolen” it?

The converted Indians want to legitimize how they feel and their actions of being involved in any kind of Indian culture like music and also begin to chant this slogan too. After all, if Indian music is Hindu how can you destroy what you love? If dance is Hindu how can you destroy the thing that created it? If Indian food came from Hindu traditions how can we legitimize destroying our native culture? Let’s analyze what they are saying? Hinduism is not a religion, it’s way of life. Yes, it’s true Hinduism is a way of life but, any religion is a way of life, if you want to truly follow Hinduism you should be vegetarian, you should practice yoga, you should practice respect for animals and the environment and you have certain main festivals you might be expected to celebrate which includes Divali, ritual fasting, pilgrimage to holy places in India if you can afford it, among many things. Are Islam and Christianity not the same? Being Muslim is a way of life too, women should ideally wear hijab, one must pray five times a day, go on Hajj and for lent Christians fast, exchange gifts for Christmas. All these are lifestyle choices and any religion is going to be a way of life so calling Hinduism a way of life and not a religion means either the other religions are not religions or missionaries are using something called a logical fallacy, an argument that appears to be logical but, is not very logical when you really think about it. How can it not be a religion, its real name is Sanatan Dharma, roughly translated it is “the eternal religion!”

Let’s look at the elements they try to disconnect. They say things like Indian dance, food and music is not Hindu, its Indian culture. However, the religion Hinduism is a complete holistic way of life and it penetrates every aspect of human activity. Hinduism believes God is everywhere and all aspects of life intertwine with Hindu philosophy, let’s see how. Indian classical dance or Bharatnatyam is made up of routines that tell the story of the gods like Rama and Krishna, that’s Hinduism! Stories used in dance coming from our sacred texts the Ramayana and Gita. Indian food comes from India the land from where Hinduism sprung. Hindus have a vegetarian diet and if you want people to eat their vegetables there’s only one way to do it, make it spicy! Curry, masala, geera, yes all of Hindu origin, because to maintain a Hindu vegetarian way of life food was developed that people could grow to like. Culture comes from traditions and many times they spring from beliefs of the people, like their religion. In this case the religion is Hinduism. Indian music could not exist without Hinduism. Indian music comes from thousands of major and minor scales intended to mimic the sounds of the gods, make it divine and copy the original sounds of the Universe when it was created. Music was so highly developed in Hinduism it was tailored to create meditative effects to worship the gods. Saraswati is the goddess of music, it could not get any clearer than that. So next time you want to enjoy Indian culture go ahead and do so, no one is stopping any person from practicing yoga or singing chutney but, do not disconnect it from the origins. Hindus only ask that you respect its origins.

Just like part one of this article, I repeat, the last group of people and the most important are the gullible Hindus who are facilitating the demise of their religion by just reciting what western academics write, thinking they are being hip, being accepted and studied by mainstream scholars. These are Hindus who blindly repeat yes its true yoga belongs to everyone. They say it out of wanting to share their practices with everyone and hope it brings joy to anyone ailing or in need of natural aid. However, as we Hindus open our doors to destruction, missionaries are giggling at our foolishness because mainstream academia is now recording unchecked, without any opposition that we no longer have a religion. This can be used against us. One day you may show up to get married at the county office and they will tell you sorry this is not a recognized religious practice. Hindus need to be careful, our freedoms can be taken away from us so easily, and it’s dangerous.

They are using these weapons to prove that nothing belongs to Hinduism; yoga, karma, dharma, Sanskrit and all the things that the world now loves. Colonization comes in many packages. These things for which Hinduism should finally be getting the applause for is being taken away and Hindus don’t even see it. We must stand up and say yes it does belong to us but, anyone may use it for their betterment. Hindus also know Hinduism is not a religion in the traditional sense of the Abrahamic word because it has no dogmatic rules, you can basically choose what you want to practice and you can question everything but, that doesn’t mean it’s not a religion. The media uses this idea Hindus have of Hinduism and get them to also repeat the phrase Hinduism is not a religion. Religion is not just the Abrahamic definition of religion it must become broader than that. Corrupted academia and missionaries will use any amount of words and games but, if the end of the argument leads to nothing belongs to Hinduism then Hindus need to wake up. Hindus can no longer afford to be afraid to speak up, what is the harm in practicing your democratic right to say, “You may take part and enjoy any part of Hinduism but, these practices came from Hindu origin please respect that.” No one can mute the voice of a billion people speaking in unison.

Vassan Ramracha