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News18
5 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Kerala's Guru Poojan Row: A Marxist Farce Unmasks Phony Secularism
Probes were launched, fingers pointed, and the ritual branded a sinister plot to 'instill a slave mentality." Irony, thy name is Kerala's Marxist clown show! This phony outrage isn't just a laugh—it's a glaring unmasking of a government that's anything but indigenous, dripping with hypocrisy while cloaked in a sham secular veil that the BJP is gleefully ripping apart. Let's shred the red-tape nonsense. Guru Poojan, where students express gratitude and veneration to their teachers, is as old as the Vedas—rooted in a culture that bows to animate and inanimate alike, from living souls to nature's splendor. For millennia, Sanatanis have lived this ethos, thanking the cosmos daily, a practice now parroted by the West as some trendy 'gratitude movement." Yet, these Kerala Marxists, with their imported ideologies, dare to deride it as regressive. Their gall is staggering in name-calling the spiritual and the Dharmic practices of the land. They howl it is modernity's enemy, peddling a deracinating delusion to divest Bharat of its soul. This isn't governance; it's the Chinese echo in red robes, hell-bent on uprooting our heritage while posing as progress. Now, let's zoom in on the Marxist hypocrisy—it's a goldmine of double-dealing. Consider their own stalwart, VS Achuthanandan, who previously voiced concerns about Love Jihad, a topic closely linked to safeguarding cultural integrity. However, this self-proclaimed liberal commune proudly refers to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a 'communal party"—a clear example of selective amnesia! And let's debunk the lie that 'Love Jihad" is a BJP or RSS invention; it was coined by K.T. Shankaran, then justice of Kerala High Court, in 2009, based on early concerns over forced conversions. The contradiction is profound! Then there's the temple endowment heist: the government rakes in crores from Hindu temples, feasting on sacred funds, while its atheistic core spits on religion. No deity graces their pantheon, yet they dine on the faithful's offerings with a straight face. This fake secularism isn't a Kerala quirk—it's a plague in Indian politics, and the BJP's bold exposé is rattling these fraudsters to their bones. Dig deeper, and the stench thickens. The Adhikari Thesis, a communist relic, once brazenly pushed for Bharat's balkanization, dreaming of splintering this ancient land into petty fiefdoms. These same ideologues are now using 'unity" as a shield to attack a school ritual, displaying a level of hypocrisy so thick that it could be cut with a sickle. Beyond Kerala, the Marxist playbook reeks of the same duplicity. In West Bengal, the 2007 Nandigram massacre saw farmers gunned down for resisting land grabs—equality with a body count, Marxist-style. In Tripura, communist cadres torched homes to enforce their writ, proving their 'people's rule" is thuggery with a manifesto. Kerala's hartal-happy enforcers mirror this, forcing a 'Bharat Bandh' that Bharat largely ignored, exposing their muscle over merit. Even their own leader, Achuthanandan, later distanced himself from the party line on Love Jihad, yet the government clings to denial, a classic case of ideological flip-flopping. The Guru Poojan row is a symptom of this deeper rot. When the Kerala Governor defended the ritual as cultural heritage, the communist chorus cried foul, pinning RSS agendas on him. But let's flip it: why is respecting a guru 'feudal" when Marxist leaders demand blind loyalty from their cadres? The contradiction is a comedy of errors—Marxism, with its Western lens, has long peddled the myth that spirituality and modernity can't mix. Bunkum! Bharat's rishis built Nalanda while Europe stumbled in the Dark Ages. This deracination agenda, a Marxist mirage, aims to erase our dharmic vanity, swapping it for a hollow materialism that alienates us from our essence. Their hypocrisy peaks when they mock Guru Poojan while pocketing temple gold—sacred funds funding their secular sermonising. Globally, their cousins amplify this farce. China's atheist regime bans religion, Cuba's communist utopia crumbles with no faith to lean on, yet Kerala's Left plays a softer game—co-opting Hindu symbols for votes, then trashing them when convenient. Le Monde once dubbed Kerala's communism 'tropical," a quirky mashup of Marx and Krishna, but it's a sham alliance—embraced for ballots, ditched for dogma. The Guru Poojan row is their latest betrayal, a slap to a culture that weathered invasions, only to be judged by ideologues who'd rather genuflect to foreign theorists than honor local traditions. advetisement The BJP's rise in the public psyche is shaking this farcical show. PM Narendra Modi's blend of development (Vikas) and dharmic pride (Virasat) exposes the Left's hollow secularism. The Kerala government's knee-jerk reaction—ordering probes into a school ritual—smacks of desperation, if not vexation. From hounding Asianet reporters exposing college scams to muzzling temple boards, this regime thrives on control, not conscience. Their Marxist hypocrisy isn't just a Kerala flaw—it's a national embarrassment, and the BJP's unapologetic stance is the mirror they dread.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Who are Arvind Sharma and Ramesh Rao? Indian-origin scholars to be honoured with prestigious INDICA award on Guru Purnima
Arvind Sharma and Ramesh Rao, two prominent Indian-origin scholars, will be recognised by INDICA on the sacred occasion of Guru Purnima, which falls on July 10, 2025. They will be honoured under the prestigious Grateful2Gurus initiative, an annual program that celebrates scholars who have significantly contributed to preserving and promoting Dharmic knowledge systems. By recognising these thought leaders, INDICA upholds the spirit of Guru Purnima, a day dedicated to showing reverence toward spiritual and academic mentors. This recognition highlights not only the scholars' individual achievements but also the continuing relevance of the Guru-Shishya Parampara in today's global intellectual landscape. Arvind Sharma: From IAS officer to Padma Shri-winning scholar of religious studies Arvind Sharma, currently the Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, is internationally acclaimed for his contributions to religious scholarship and interfaith dialogue. Born in Varanasi, Sharma began his academic journey with a B.A. in History, Economics, and Sanskrit from Allahabad University, followed by an M.A. in Economics from Syracuse University. He later transitioned into religious studies, earning an M.T.S. and Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University. Before his academic career, Sharma served in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), eventually moving into teaching roles across India, Australia, and the US, before joining McGill in 1987. He has authored over fifty books and five hundred academic articles, with notable works like The Hindu Gita and The Experiential Dimension of Advaita Vedanta. Sharma is also known for his role in organizing three global conferences on 'World's Religions After September 11,' which culminated in the creation of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World's Religions. In recognition of his profound impact on the field, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2025 by the Government of India. Ramesh Rao: Scholar, author, and cultural Commentator bridging dharmic thought with modern media Ramesh Rao is a communication scholar and cultural commentator whose work brings Dharmic perspectives into contemporary discourse on media, politics, and society. Since 1987, he has taught in the US, currently serving as a professor at Columbus State University. Prior to his academic career, Rao worked in India as a banker, teacher, and copy editor. He holds a B.A. from Bangalore University, a Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, an M.S. in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Communication from Michigan State University. Rao is the author of several books including Communicating Across Boundaries: The Indian Way and Coalition Conundrum, and has contributed over fifty scholarly articles and more than a hundred op-eds in outlets such as The Washington Post and The Guardian. His work critically examines the portrayal of Hinduism in global media and defends nuanced understandings of Indian society. As editor of India Facts, Rao has been instrumental in promoting Dharmic culture and challenging misrepresentations of Hindu traditions. He will be honoured by INDICA on September 6, 2025, at the Abhyudaya Retreat Center in Willowbrook, Illinois. Grateful2Gurus: Honouring the eternal bond of knowledge Launched in 2016, INDICA's Grateful2Gurus program has so far recognized over 130 scholars worldwide, including leading thinkers like David Frawley and Subhash Kak. The initiative serves as a contemporary expression of Guru Dakshina, a way for the community to acknowledge the wisdom and dedication of those who preserve the teachings of Dharma for future generations. 'INDICA felicitates Dharmic scholars to recognize and publicize their works within the Dharmic communities,' said Nishant Limbachia, INDICA's national coordinator. 'It is a sort of Guru Dakshina from the community as appreciation of their scholarly work in support of Dharma.' 'At INDICA, honouring Gurus is not merely tradition; it is a heartfelt offering to the Parampara itself,' added Ramsundar Lakshaminarayanan, co-national coordinator. As INDICA prepares to honour Arvind Sharma and Ramesh Rao this Guru Purnima, the occasion stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring role of teachers, scholars, and cultural stewards in shaping the spiritual and intellectual legacy of Indian civilization.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Not same as Swastika': Virgina enacts law to criminalize display of Nazi symbols; to prioritize ‘Hakenkreuz' instead
ANI file photo The state of Virginia in the US has enacted a new law criminalizing the display of Nazi symbols, marking a win for accuracy and religious freedom and equitable treatment for 'Dharmic communities' as per the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA). Virginia has officially enacted the House Bill 2783 which distinguished between 'Hakenkreuz' the German word for 'Hooked Cross' and the sacred symbol of Swastika revered by many religions. 'The nuance in this law was the result of a united grassroots campaign from community leaders and Viriginia residents, alarmed at the terms of the original bill which had threatened prison terms for displaying a symbol that is almost ubiquitous in our temples and houses. This is the power of advocacy,' said ConHNA through a post on X. 'We are pleased to see how Virginia is tackling growing hate while being sensitive to minority groups that revere the Swastika', said the president of CoHNA. 'Now the need of the hour is for the media, law enforcement, and educational institutions in Virginia to update their language to reflect this critical nuance and ensure fair treatment for all,' he added. Initially, the bill had incorrectly equated the Nazi symbol to the Swastika, as per CoHNA. Despite concerns, the bill passed unanimously in the Virginia House of Delegates with a 97-0 vote. The billll also explicitly defines 'Nazi Swastika' is not the 'same as symbol of peace and prosperity used by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, or Native American religions.' 'By explicitly delineating the legal status of the Swastika, the statute not only condemns and prohibits its misuse as a symbol of hatred, but also affirms and honors its sacred meaning within Hinduism and other Dharmic traditions. In doing so, the Commonwealth of Virginia sets a precedent for a more informed, respectful, and inclusive civic discourse', said Srilekha Palle a member of the Board of Directors at the American Hindu Coalition.
India Today
01-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Virginia enacts law to ban Nazi symbols, protects sacred Swastika
Virginia has officially enacted House Bill 2783 as of July 1, making it a Class 6 felony to display Nazi symbols, such as Hitler's emblem, on private property or in public places with the intent to sets this legislation apart is a historic and culturally sensitive amendment: it clearly distinguishes the Nazi 'Hakenkreuz' (Hooked Cross): a symbol of hatred and violence, from the sacred Swastika, an ancient symbol of peace and prosperity revered by nearly two billion Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and other communities July 1, a new law in the state of Virginia distinguishes between Hitler's Hakenkreuz and the Sacred Swastika- a win for accuracy, religious freedom and equitable treatment for Dharmic communities that revere the sacred we ask other institutions including CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) July 1, 2025advertisementA CRUCIAL DISTINCTIONWhile the Nazi symbol is often mistakenly referred to as the 'Swastika,' Adolf Hitler himself called it the Hakenkreuz—a stylised hooked cross. The Swastika, by contrast, is an ancient symbol of peace, prosperity, and divinity that appears in Dharmic and Indigenous traditions. Unlike the Hakenkreuz, which is a symbol of hatred and violence used by the Nazis, the Swastika is an ancient symbol of peace, prosperity, and divinity revered in Dharmic and Indigenous drafts of HB2783 dangerously blurred this distinction, referring to the Nazi emblem as 'commonly known as the Swastika.' This language, though unintentional, risked harming religious communities by reinforcing decades of ADVOCACY SPURS MAJOR CHANGEOver a single weekend, more than 1,000 concerned citizens contacted lawmakers. Community leaders, legal experts, and interfaith allies united to urge changes in how the bill described Nazi advocacy worked. Governor Glenn Youngkin even sent the bill back for revision, asking that lawmakers adopt the critical updates requested by the community. As a result, the new law now prioritizes the historically correct term 'Hakenkreuz'.- Avoids implying there is a 'good' vs. 'bad' Swastika.- Clarifies that the 'Nazi Swastika' is not the sacred Swastika used in religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, or Native American traditions.- Replaces 'commonly known as' with the more accurate 'sometimes referred to as'.This Virginia legislation follows similar progress in California and even in Canada, where the Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith has adopted the term Hakenkreuz and acknowledged the sacred role of the Swastika in Dharmic traditions. Influential figures like design historian Steven Heller have also publicly corrected their language on this issue in recent years.- EndsMust Watch
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"We're returning with positive feeling that Greece stands with us': DMK MP Kanimozhi
Athens [Greece], May 29 (ANI): DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation, said they highlighted India's suffering from cross-border terrorism by Pakistan during their visit to Greece. Kanimozhi emphasised the need for the European Union and the United Nations Security Council to recognise and hold accountable state-sponsored terrorism. She added that India's strong historical ties with Greece helped convey their message, and they left with a positive sense of support from Greece. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Kanimozhi said, 'We have been able to convey that India has been hurt by cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, and now we can no longer distinguish between terror and state-sponsored terrorism. We've also emphasised that the European Union and the United Nations Security Council must take cognisance and ensure accountability... Historically, we have a trade and deep-rooted relationship with Greece, so they have understood where we come from and what we're trying to say. We're returning with a positive feeling that Greece stands with us...' AAP MP Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal, part of the same delegation, said the team received strong support during their visit to Greece. Mittal added that the Indian diaspora in Greece voiced their support for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, affirming India's image as a peace-loving nation. '...We have received a good response. All have said with an open heart that they will support India on all the national and international forums and will also condemn the Pakistan-sponsored terrorsim... The Indian diaspora here said that we support India, PM Modi and will tell the world that we are a peace-loving country,' Mittal said. While Capt Brijesh Chowta (Retd) said India and Greece, as ancient civilizational nations, naturally share common values. Speaking about India's outreach under Operation Sindoor, Chowta explained that the mission is not only focused on countering Pakistan but also aims to dismantle the broader terror infrastructure. '...Greece and India are two civilizational naturally, we would expect a country like Greece to support India's endeavour. What we're trying to do through Operations Sindoor is not just about dealing with a state like Pakistan, which is, of course, our primary target. But Operation Sindoor is also about uprooting the entire terror infrastructure. It's about leading the battle against terrorism, which India is doing in a very Dharmic way,' Chowta said. Former Indian Ambassador to the European Union, Manjeev Singh Puri, emphasised that all civilisational nations must unite against terrorism and bring perpetrators to justice. Puri stated that Greece has a deep understanding of terrorism and is fully aware of the role Pakistan has played in spreading it globally. '...All civilizational nations must be against terrorism, must bring terrorists to justice and must ensure that terrorism has no plan. Greece has its own understanding of terrorism, and a very strong understanding. They also know the country from which terrorism has spread all over the world, and I mean strictly. I should say Pakistan. They are well aware of it. They've been strong in telling us that they stand with us,' Puri said. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI)
