And yet again, the controversial and provocative Armchair Pundit of Hinduism, Audrey Truschke comes up with another absurdity. And unironically, this comes exactly at the same time a report published by the University where she works for her bread and butter called out the rising Hindu hatred.

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The report in question makes the following observations.

Hinduphobic tropes — such as the portrayal of Hindus as fundamentally heretical evil, dirty, tyrannical, genocidal, irredeemable or disloyal — are prominent across the ideological spectrum and are being deployed by fringe web communities and state actors alike. Despite violent and genocidal implications of Hinduphobia, it has largely been understudied, dismissed, or even denied in
the public sphere. This report applies large scale quantitative methods to examine the spread of anti-Hindu disinformation within a wide variety of social media platforms and showcases an explosion of anti-Hindu tropes. Though confined largely to street-level groups and enthusiasts in the recent past, Hinduphobia is now exploding across entire Web communities across millions of comments, interactions and impressions in both mainstream and extremist platforms.
Bottom Line Up Front and Key Findings
• NCRI detected recent surges in derogatory posts toward Hindus present in subcultural social media platforms including 4Chan, Telegram, and Gab. We found anti-Hindu memes, hashtags, and slogans growing prolifically across these fringe online platforms as well as Twitter.
• NCRI’s previous analysis shows that extremist content targeting specific vulnerable communities on social media are upstream predictors of real world violence against those communities.
• State actors use Hinduphobic tropes as part of large scale information operations. Using Twitter’s information operations dataset, NCRI examined more than 1 million tweets and found evidence that Iranian trolls disseminated anti-Hindu stereotypes in an effort to inflame division and accuse Hindus of perpetrating a genocide against minorities in India.

In fact, Hindu hatred is not a new theme. There were always attempts to crush the religion either by might or though deceit but as of now, the Hindu civilization faced some serious losses, but still stands proud and tall.

Generally, people compare Hindus with Jews. That’s not a right comparison – the primary reason for that is, Jewish persecution happened in areas where they never ruled – in Germany, in Russia, in Britain. The persecution in Israel happened millennia ago and yes, it can be a justification for their nature but it’s not the reason for the troubles they faced in Europe. And more importantly, Jews didn’t have the wherewithal to impose a sovereign writ.

Now, coming to Hindus. Unlike the Jews, Hindus were and are the rulers of India – always. Now, answer me, how can you compare a refugee who tried to get better terms from the world is identical to someone who is trying to hold his ground and is slowly retreating?

Rather than comparing India with Jews, may be, we should compare Hindus with two sets of people – Romans and say, Mizo who saw their civilization disappear before their own eyes amidst much brutality and they weren’t able to do anything; and on the other side, Aztecs and Incas who were massacred and an alien culture imposed on them. Zulus were also the same, but slightly different. They were defeated and an alien culture wasn’t imposed upon them – but they weren’t slaughtered as like Aztecs.

So, coming to India, we are looking at a paradigm of three subjugation models – internal corruption(Rome), external aggression(Aztecs) and external imposition(Zulus). Looking back from these days, can you name a handful of people who remember the Roman way of life or Aztec way of life? In fact, you will hear people say Spaniards released us from the barbaric Aztecs.

Not a tear is shed on the destroyed civilizations. Now, let’s look at each aspect separately.

Ejection of Hindus from Pakistan and Afghanistan – and the advance of the spearhead into Antarvedi. This is similar to what happened to Aztecs. Either you convert or be slaughtered.

Let me quote two poems here. Tell me how are they different, except for the fact that the first account depicts dejection and the second, hope.

Our cries of grief rise up
and our tears rain down,
for Tlatelolco is lost
The Aztecs are fleeing across the lake;
they are running away like women.

How can we save our homes, my people?
The Aztecs are deserting the city:
the city is in flames, and all
is darkness and destruction.

Motelchiuhtzin the Huiznahuacatl,
Tlacotzin the Tlailotlacatl,
Oquitzin the Tlacatecuhtli
are greeted with tears.

Weep, my people:
know that with these disasters
we have lost the Mexican nation.
The water has turned bitter,
our food is bitter!
These are the acts of the Giver of Life

Namo Devyaih In the honour of the images of Candika, Durga and Siva (in the city) installed by the wise Maharaja Ajayasiniha who performed, the sacrifice after his father’s brother Jayacandra of Kannauj. Today, I, his acharya as well as priest, performed the Mahayoga of Candika. The statue of Durga was previously installed on the boundary, or outer wall of the fort.
My rationality has been destroyed because of my fear of the Mlecchas. With great sorrow, touching her with my head to honour her, I place this Durga, the dweller of the fort and destroyer of bad luck, into this pit, till the god Skanda turns their glory to dust. When ill fate meets the Yavana, she might reappear, or manifest herself again amidst uproar.
Until that time I am a fool like a drunkard. (However) let not fear enter you; the gods will quickly return (with victory) along with you.

Let’s look at the second aspect. Read through both the narratives.

The temple of Serapis in Alexandria all have heard of, I think, and many even know it. The sanctuary is raised a hundred or even more feet, not by nature but by a manmade structure, and extends on every side over a huge rectangular space. The whole edifice is built of arches with enormous windows above each arch. The hidden inner chambers are separate from one another and provide for the enactment of various ritual acts and secret observances. Sitting courts and small chapels with images of the gods occupy the edge of the highest level. Lofty houses rise up there in which the priests, or those which they call agneuontas, that is, those who purify themselves, are accustomed to live. Behind these buildings is a freestanding portico raised on columns and facing inward runs around the periphery. In the middle stands the temple, built on a large and magnificent scale with an exterior of marble and precious columns. Inside there was a statue of Serapis so vast that the right hand touched one wall and the left the other. They say this monstrosity was built of every kind of metal and wood. The interior walls of the chapels are covered in gold laminate at the lower level, in silver above the first, and finally in bronze, which was to provide protection for the more precious metals. Some parts of the temple were even designed by art and deception to evoke the astonishment and admiration of visitors. A very narrow window had been laid out on the side towards the rising sun in such a way that at dawn the Sun was brought in to salute Serapis — for the moment had been rigorously calculated — a captive sun’s ray lights up through this opening, as though approaching the statue, the mouth and the lips of Serapis, so that to the eyes of the crowd, Serapis appears to be saluted by a kiss from the Sun. There was yet another illusion of the same kind. As is commonly known, it is the nature of a magnetic stone to have the property of attracting and repelling iron. A craftsman had fashioned a likeness of the Sun out of very pure iron for the following purpose: a stone which had, as we have already said, the property of attracting iron, was fixed above in the ceiling plaster, and when the statue was put into its place below it, the stone attracted the iron to it by a natural force. The worshipper believed that the statue had been raised up and rested suspended in the air. But after this fake had been exposed by an unexpected fall, the ministers of the lie said, “The Sun has bid farewell to Serapis and has gone up to be with him.” Many other such deceptions were constructed long ago in that place, but there is no need to go on and enumerate each one.
Thus, as we have begun to relate, after the reading of the rescript, our people were ready to overthrow the Author of Error. However, a belief had been spread abroad by the Gentiles themselves, that, if a human hand was laid violently on this statue, the earth would immediately open up, dissolving into chaos, and suddenly the heavens would collapse into the abyss. This story gave the people a senseless pause, when behold — one of the soldiers, better protected by his faith than by his weapons, seizing a double-edged axe, stood up and with all his strength struck the jaw of the Old Man. A shout was raised by both groups of people, but neither the sky fell nor the earth sunk. Repeating his action several times, he cut off the worm-eaten genius of wood, blackened by smoke once it was cast down and thrown into the fire, and it burned as easily as dry wood. After which, the head was taken, having been torn away at the neck, with its modius broken. Then the feet and the other limbs were cut up in pieces by blows of the axe, quartered and dragged off with the aid of ropes. Then in each locale, member by member, the decrepit Old Man was burned under the eyes of his adoring Alexandria. Finally, the trunk which still remained was burned in the amphitheatre. Such was the end of the vain superstition and ancient error of Serapis.
When these things were brought into the light and exposed in broad daylight, although the Gentiles had been dispersed either due to their confusion or to their shame; if one of them, however, had been able to remain there, he was astonished at having been snared for so many centuries by such sacrileges and shameful frauds. Consequently, a very great number of them, condemning the lies and discovering the crimes, embraced the faith of Christ and the cult of true religion ….
But while these things took care of some Chaldaeans, in our day, when Theophilus the bishop of God came, no sweat could succor at all, nor could any deceptive trick with wax come to the aid (of the Canopic deities).
Everything was destroyed and razed to ground-level. But that was nothing compared with how he transformed the place of squalor. The dens of vices and tombs of dissipation were pulled down and lofty churches of the true God were constructed. And indeed, even in the sepulchre of Serapis, when the profane buildings had been levelled, on one side a martyrium was erected, and on the other a church. It seems to me worthy of interest to recall how the occasion presented itself for the construction of this martyrium.

He marched under divine inspiration,
For the destruction of temples at Saiyidpur,
Which was a home of the infidels,
And the native place of accursed fire-worshippers.
There they dwelt, day and night,
The thread-wearing idolaters.
It had always remained a place for idols and idol-worshippers,
It had received no injury whatsoever from any quarter.
It was a populous place, well-known in the world,
This native place of the accursed infidels.
Its foundations were laid firmly in stone,
It was decorated with designs as if drawn from high heaven.
It had doors made of sandal and ud.
It was studded with rings of gold,
Its floors were laid with marble,
Which shone like mirrors.
Ud was burnt in it like fuel,
Candles of camphor in large numbers were lighted in it.
It had arches in every corner,
And every arch had golden chandeliers hanging in it.
There were idols of silver set up inside,
Which put to shame the idols of China and Khotan.
Such was this famous ancient temple,
It was famous all over the world.
By the effort of Ahmad, it was freed from the idols,
The hearts of idol-worshippers were shattered with grief.
He got mosques constructed, and mimbars placed in them,
From where the Law of Muhammad came into force.
In place of idols, idol-makers and idol-worshippers,
Imams and callers to prayers and khatibs were appointed.
Ahmad’s good grace rendered such help,
That an idol-house became an abode of Allah.

Again, no difference.

Note: Cover Picture is of the once glorious Rudra Mahalaya Temple

Look at the Zulus. Except the “benevolent subjugation” post conquest, you won’t see much in the name of atrocities against them. But, is it that simple? Almost all of them are Christians – and that’s the third mode of cultural genocide which happened.

Not just that. There is one more aspect common to all these things. Not one tear is shed while they are facing a cultural genocide and not one tear is shed after their civilization became extinct.

Look around you. What do you see? How many speak about the destruction of Hindu temples and their restoration to their past glory?

How many speak about the undoing historic wrongs – forget historic wrongs. What sort of institutional support has Hinduism got? In some areas, Hindus are violently converted, in some cases, they were pressured to convert when they became a minority and in other cases where Hindus are in a majority, there is not one calling out the acts of atrocity perpetrated against Hindus. And we have the Audrey Truschkes of the world with their visceral hatred for anything Hindu ready to muddle the waters at every opportunity.

Let’s take two three happenings – some from the large lot of provocative actions taken against Hindus in the recent past. Desecration of Ramateertham Temple, Forced Conversion Bill in Karnataka and the case with Missionaries of Charity. It’s been months and not one arrest is made in the first case. Or the desperation to remove lockdowns just one day before Ramzan. Or the need to regulate the height of Dahi Handi or the quantity of milk which should be used in Abhishekam in a temple. Was even a single voice raised? Look at the Forced Conversion Bill or Missionaries of Charity. The word used is Forced. If you have got the theological strength to convince someone to convert, who is stopping you? But, this is contused as an affront to right to religion. Or the case of Missionaries of Charity. A private entity is not able to maintain it’s account books properly and asked the government to block it’s accounts till it’s books become clean. How did this become persecution?

The question here is not more about the acts perpetrated but the message sent through the institutions and the propaganda machine. Not a tear was shed for Hindus and not one will be. That’s the ground reality we will be facing. If there is a communal riot, it’s the Hindus who will be blamed. People don’t remember that Gujarat Riots started when a bogie full of Hindus were burned. People question Dara Singh but don’t question what exactly a foreign missionary is doing in an area which had near to zero Christian population 20 years before the incident.

This is the problem Hindus are staring at – even though they are the victims, they will be projected as aggressors. Every slight from their side will be magnified, every retaliation will be projected as their crime and every time they are victimized, the news will be censored. As an average Hindu, all I ask is justness and right to equality. And nothing more.

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