By Suresh Gundu Amonkar
Some commentators justifiably assert that some self-appointed defenders of the Hindu faith have voluntarily assigned to themselves the position of official spokespersons of Hindu religion. Swami Vivekananda says:

“The word Hindu, by which it is the fashion now-a-days to style ourselves, has lost all its meaning, for this word merely meant those who lived on the other side of the river Indus (Sindhu). The word was murdered into Hindu by ancient Persians, and all people living on the other side were called by them, Hindus. And during the Mohammedan rule we took up the word ourselves” (cf ‘Essentials of Hinduisim’ pp5).” In reality Hinduism is a system which comprises within its fold an infinite variety of thoughts. Vivekananda preferred to call Hindus the Vaidiks, followers of the Vedas, or better still, the Vendantists, followers of the Vedanta. Hinduism with its vide variety of sects is basically a view of life and a way of living which has evolved over four millennia, trying to successfully meet the various challenges it has faced from invaders, intolerant and fanatical adherents of  proselytising creeds, etc. The vitality of “Hinduism” lies in its ability to allow diverse interpretations of man’s relationship with his creator or Parameshwar or Almighty God or the Infinite or the Supreme Being. One can continue to be a good Hindu as an atheist or an agnostic or one who does not follow any ritualistic way of worship (Karmakand).
Lord Buddha was the first and the greatest reformer of Hindu way of life who stressed the need for ethical and moral living and emphasised “Panchsheel” – five principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (Truth), Astheya (non-stealing), Bramhacharya (celibacy for monks and nuns and non-adulterous way of life for married people) and Aparigraha (non possession of excess wealth). He has much to guide us in the present social trend of consumerist culture. The crafty priestly class manoeuvred to ex-communicate him from the Hindu fold and later common Hindus elevated him as the ninth avatar or ninth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. We are fortunate to have a series of great religious and social reformers since Buddha like Saints Tiruvalluvar, Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Ramdas, Narsi Mehta, Basaveshwar, and leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Gandhiji and many others, who have always given a new direction to Hindus through their personal life, actions and examples.
All Hindus accept the basic principle that there are many paths to reach the Supreme Being and achieve one’s Salvation or Nirvana or Moksha or Liberation or Redemption. In the whole System of Hindu Philosophical texts there is no expression which says that the Hindu alone will be saved and not others. Says Vyasa: “We find perfect men even beyond the pale of our caste and creed. One prayer I learnt as a child elucidates the thought simply and succinctly: “Just as the waters of the rain falling from the sky ultimately reaches the sea (through thousands of rivers) the namaskar (devotional prayer) to all Gods finally reaches the Supreme Being.” So Hindus have accepted willingly thousands of manifestations of the Divine Principle both Nirguna (Formless) and Saguna (with form). Hindus do not need any self-appointed directors to tell their co-religionists how they should pray or think and express themselves on every single issue that concerns them in life and in any artistic, literary and cultural activity. The guiding thought for Hindus has always been to let a thousand flowers bloom. Thank heavens Hindus do not have a “Supreme Religious High Command or a Politburo” to issue periodic diktats or orders to control their minds lest they be damned eternally. If it had the powers we would have seen expulsions or excommunication orders galore and books, films or works of art would have been proscribed by such a High Command.
During the Middle Ages Europe suffered a set back because great scientists, writers and translators of the Bible were burnt at the stake. Our neighbours in Pakistan are suffering as a result of “Talibanisation” of their politics. India too suffered after the Partition when Gandhiji was put to eternal rest by a misguided man’s bullets. But truth can never be muzzled and today Gandhiji’s thoughts continue to inspire people in all the countries of the world from Japan to Chile without any organisation or multi-national corporation to propagate his ideas of truth, non violence, simple living and eco-friendly programmes for reconstructing the world.
Dr Jose Pereira who is a great Indian, Indologist, Sanskrit Scholar, a linguist who speaks and/or reads fifteen classical and modern languages, is a savant par excellence. He is Professor Emeritus at Fordham University (New York) USA. He teaches Sanskrit and lectures on theology of religions - especially Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. He is a lover of Konkani and speaks with pride and authority in Konkani on Konkani literature and folk art. He has written numerous books on temple and church architecture. He is also an accomplished artist and Goa is fortunate to have his fresco paintings in a chapel in Margao.  In publishing ‘Hindu Theology: A Reader’, he has undertaken a task of major theological proportions - a single volume devoted to great schools and archetypes of Hindu theology (covering the six Darshanas – Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vaisesika, Nyaya, Vedanta, six Advaita Schools and Dvaita Vedanta, Sonic Absolutism, Puratana Vedanta, Visistadvaita (qualified Non Dualism), Suddhadvaita (Pure non dualism) to Saivadvaita, Vira Saivadarshana and finally Shakta Darshan). A reading of his book reveals his deep and extensive knowledge of Indian thinkers and theologians. He has rendered them from the original Sanskrit texts into lucid and readable English and it offers fresh insights into the impact of non-western thought and philosophy on the Western world. “Knowledge of Hindu Theology”, Dr Pereira thinks, “is particularly relevant to the theology of our times, for the Indic works contain so many of the ideas that modern Western theologians seem to believe are their discoveries.”
Dr Pereira, who is himself a devout Catholic, has in the Indian tradition continued his love of and tolerance for all theological thought. He is truly a “Renaissance” personality. Both as a Goan and an Indian I really feel proud of his scholarship and knowledge and his sustained work as India’s cultural ambassador abroad. I hope he will continue to inspire us and wish him a long and productive life.
The Hindu society is an evolving society, not a static and stagnant one and therefore despite numerous set backs and impediments, has survived onslaughts by invaders or encounters with diverse thoughts and cultures. The great Indian scholar and reformer Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, who wrote the Constitution of India with inputs from all his “Argumentative Indian Colleagues”, should now be adopted as a scripture by all Indian citizens to ultimately evolve themselves into a caste-free egalitarian society, with empowered women in a social structure sans vestiges of bigotry and intolerance, illiteracy,  female infanticide, child-marriages, untouchability, grinding poverty,  superstitious beliefs and corrupt politicians and their sycophantic henchmen as all these factors impede progress.
I recommend to all the champions and defenders of Hindu faith to launch a project of self-education - “Discovery of India” a la Nehru which should  include reading of great scriptures – Dhammapada, Geeta, Guru Granth Sahib, Kural, the Four Gospels, works of all Indian Saint Poets as also the reading of Kalidasa’s ‘Kumarsambhava’ (after which they will never be scandalised) and a visit to the Khajuraho temples, viewing of Rajasthani miniature paintings after which no “defender of Hindu faith” will ever think of threatening a Hussain or a Pereira.
A religion, to satisfy the largest proportion of mankind, must be able to supply food for all types of minds; and where this capability is lacking, the existing sects all become one sided.
I conclude this article with a message from Swami Vivekananda, who is adored and oft-quoted by Hindus holding diverse opinions. Talking of Yoga – Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga – which are different paths to achieve peace of mind and Liberation he says: “First we must hear about them (Yogas), and then we have to think about them. We have to reason the thoughts out, impress them on our minds and we have to meditate on them, realise them until at last, they become our whole life. No longer will religion remain a bundle of ideas or theories, nor an intellectual assent, it will enter into our very self. By means of intellectual assent, we may today subscribe to many foolish things, and change our minds altogether tomorrow. But true religion never changes. Religion is Realisation: not talk, not doctrine, nor theories, however beautiful they may be. It is being and becoming, not hearing and acknowledging; it is the whole soul becoming changed into what it believes. That is religion”. (cf ‘Essentials of Hinduism pp73’). 
(Suresh Amonkar is noted Goan educationist, translator of many religious scriptures and a Padmashree awardee)