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West's 'Unjustified Hatred' for Hindutva is Concerning: French Indologist
West's 'Unjustified Hatred' for Hindutva is Concerning: French Indologist
Sputnik India
Francois Gautier is one of the few western Indologists who has been a firm supporter of Hindutva-a political philosophy espoused by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
2023-04-18T16:55+0530
2023-04-18T16:55+0530
2023-04-18T16:55+0530
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Francois Gautier is one of the few western indologists who has been a firm supporter of Hindutva — a political philosophy espoused by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).The French author has written extensively on Hinduism and Indian civilization since he first visited India 30 years ago. One of his prominent books is titled a A New History of India.Gautier is also currently building a museum in Pune to showcase India’s “real history” to the world, Gautier believes that India’s civilizational ethos and achievements have so far been depicted through a western perspective, which he says needs to change.Sputnik: What makes you believe that Indian civilization is one of the best to have existed in history?Francois Gautier: I have experienced India and its culture for a very long time. I have come to a conclusion that many questions about karma, dharma (religion) and the real purpose of existence are best answered by Hinduism. These answers are found in ancient Hindu scriptures such as Bhagawad Gita and Upanishads. There is an overarching sense of spirituality to Hinduism.There were many other civilizations that had some of this knowledge, such as ancient Greece and Mesopotamia to name a few. But these questions are best answered in Hinduism.Sputnik: How do you view the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting the Hindu civilizational ethos on the global stage? What was different under the previous Congress-led governments?Gautier: We need to look at the history of Congress [Party], which was founded by a Britisher named Allan Hume. Although the Congress has had political qualities and played a commendable role in the freedom movement and in its post-independence history, I believe that it has always viewed India through a colonial spectrum."At the same time, I have been an admirer of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even when it was in opposition. I respect the commitment to the Hindu civilization exhibited by BJP stalwarts such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee (former prime minister), Lal Krishna Advani (former BJP president and India’s deputy prime minister) and Murli Manohar Joshi (a BJP ideologue)," he continued.The BJP leaders have long been defender of Hindu values that I cherish.Sputnik: How have Indian cultural practices and arts, such as yoga, influenced western society?Gautier: There are many aspects to it. Yoga was introduced in the West by Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century and then it started getting popular. Then, there is the concept of meditation which has also been introduced to the west by Hindu saints.Studies in the west have demonstrated that meditation and yoga benefit an individual psychologically and physically, which is a reason for their widespread acceptance.Similarly, the Indian medicine system of Ayurveda is now also becoming popular in the west.In spite of these positives, the west has been increasingly critical of BJP and Prime Minister Modi’s politics.While this has been a problem in the western societies for some time, it has grown since Modi came to power. I believe that Hindus are the most tolerant people in the world. Hinduism doesn’t have any history of invading other countries or spreading the religion through forced conversions.I have been fighting this problem in the West for the last 30 years, but I must confess that I haven’t been really successful.(The RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, describes Hindutva as one that takes everyone along, brings everyone together, unites everyone within itself, and makes everyone prosper. Hindutva comprises two words- Hindu and tatva (meaning essence)).Sputnik: Do you think that Hindutva, or Hindu assertiveness, under Prime Minister Modi makes western countries uncomfortable?Gautier: The question is if there is a growing Hindu assertiveness. I don’t think so. You may find Hindus venting out their ire on social media when their gods or religious beliefs are insulted. But they have almost never taken to the streets and created havoc at these insults.I would say that in India, Hindus have the numbers, the wealth and the brain. But still they can’t be called as assertive.Sputnik: And how does India respond to western criticism of Hindutva?Gautier: I would say that as India grows economically, this criticism would start to wither away. The Hindu way of life will be accepted, and Mr Modi’s domestic policy will be accepted.We have seen how recently French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders paid visits to China, in spite of geopolitical tensions and the West’s criticism of Beijing’s human rights records.That’s because they understand that expanding business ties with China is in their economic interest.The same would be the case with India in coming years.
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West's 'Unjustified Hatred' for Hindutva is Concerning: French Indologist
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Despite growing strategic partnership with India, western countries have been critical of Delhi's human rights record under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many western scholars have accused the BJP-led government of advancing a majoritarian agenda through the political concept of Hindutva.
Francois Gautier is one of the few western indologists who has been a firm supporter of Hindutva — a political philosophy espoused by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The French author has written extensively on Hinduism and Indian civilization since he first visited India 30 years ago. One of his prominent books is titled a A New History of India.
Gautier is also currently building a museum in Pune to showcase India’s “real history” to the world, Gautier believes that India’s civilizational ethos and achievements have so far been depicted through a western perspective, which he says needs to change.
Sputnik: What makes you believe that Indian civilization is one of the best to have existed in history?
Francois Gautier: I have experienced India and its culture for a very long time. I have come to a conclusion that many questions about karma, dharma (religion) and the real purpose of existence are best answered by Hinduism. These answers are found in ancient Hindu scriptures such as Bhagawad Gita and Upanishads. There is an overarching sense of spirituality to Hinduism.
There were many other civilizations that had some of this knowledge, such as ancient Greece and Mesopotamia to name a few. But these questions are best answered in Hinduism.
I believe that Hinduism has very great ideas promoting world peace, as it advocates universal acceptance of all religious beliefs. That’s why I have sought to defend and promote Hindu religious beliefs in the society.
Sputnik: How do you view the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting the Hindu civilizational ethos on the global stage? What was different under the previous Congress-led governments?
Gautier: We need to look at the history of Congress [Party], which was founded by a Britisher named Allan Hume. Although the Congress has had political qualities and played a commendable role in the freedom movement and in its post-independence history, I believe that it has always viewed India through a colonial spectrum.
I believe that the Congress has always looked at India from a western point of view, simply because of its origins and the philosophy on which it was conceived. I greatly admire [former] Congress President Sonia Gandhi but I was a critic of her when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power from 2004 to 2014. She has a political acumen; she loves India very much and she speaks Hindi better than me. But she doesn’t view India from an Indian perspective.
Francois Gautier
French author and indologist
"At the same time, I have been an admirer of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even when it was in opposition. I respect the
commitment to the Hindu civilization exhibited by BJP stalwarts such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee (former prime minister), Lal Krishna Advani (former BJP president and India’s deputy prime minister) and Murli Manohar Joshi (a BJP ideologue)," he continued.
The BJP leaders have long been defender of Hindu values that I cherish.
It’s for the same reason that I support Prime Minister Modi. I have followed his politics since the days when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. I think he is India’s best bet as far as preserving and promoting the Hindu civilization is concerned.
Francois Gautier
French author and indologist
Sputnik: How have Indian cultural practices and arts, such as yoga, influenced western society?
Gautier: There are many aspects to it. Yoga was introduced in the West by Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century and then it started getting popular. Then, there is the concept of meditation which has also been introduced to the west by Hindu saints.
Studies in the west have demonstrated that meditation and yoga benefit an individual psychologically and physically, which is a reason for their widespread acceptance.
Similarly, the
Indian medicine system of Ayurveda is now also becoming popular in the west.
In spite of these positives, the west has been increasingly critical of BJP and Prime Minister Modi’s politics.
"In fact, some western indologists have used their criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s politics to demonize Hindus and perpetrate hatred against the entire Hindu community."
While this has been a problem in the western societies for some time, it has grown since Modi came to power.
"The most concerning is the West’s unjustified hatred for Hindutva - a political philosophy espoused by the BJP. The western countries are yet to accept Hindutva."
I believe that Hindus are the most tolerant people in the world. Hinduism doesn’t have any history of invading other countries or spreading the religion through forced conversions.
I have been fighting this problem in the West for the last 30 years, but I must confess that I haven’t been really successful.
(The RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, describes Hindutva as one that takes everyone along, brings everyone together, unites everyone within itself, and makes everyone prosper. Hindutva comprises two words- Hindu and tatva (meaning essence)).
Sputnik: Do you think that Hindutva, or Hindu assertiveness, under Prime Minister Modi makes western countries uncomfortable?
Gautier: The question is if there is a growing Hindu assertiveness. I don’t think so.
"Definitely, under Prime Minister Modi, the Indian government is firmer in its decision-making and more nationalistic in its outlook. But Hindus in general can’t be described as being assertive."
You may find Hindus venting out their ire on social media when their gods or religious beliefs are insulted. But they have almost never taken to the streets and created havoc at these insults.
I would say that in India, Hindus have the numbers, the wealth and the brain. But still they can’t be called as assertive.
Sputnik: And how does India respond to western criticism of Hindutva?
Gautier: I would say that as India grows economically, this criticism would start to wither away. The Hindu way of life will be accepted, and Mr Modi’s domestic policy will be accepted.
We have seen how recently French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders paid visits to China, in spite of geopolitical tensions and the West’s criticism of Beijing’s human rights records.
That’s because they understand that expanding business ties with China is in their economic interest.
The same would be the case with India in coming years.
