I wrote this overview as the script to a 24 minute video film I made following my return to India in 1991. The first visit in twenty five years.
Himalayas, the greatest mountain range on Earth, is India's 'Magino line' defence breached frequently in the past by the Aryans, Moghuls, Persians, Turks and Europeans. Indian history is a series of tragic and monotonous invasions of disorganised marauding nomads and commanders of huge trained armies after the rich alluvial plains of northern India and the wealth of its owners.
As if by clockwork the invaders crossed passes, like the Bolan, Khurran or the Kybher in Autumn before the snow. Punjab was invariably the site of the initial and bloodiest battles and the winter and spring was spent systematically sacking the cities of Lahore, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi and Agra. Before the onset of the searing heat of summer, they would retreat with the loot through the same pass from which they had come.
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Cities like Mohenjo Daro and Harrapa, with streets, brick built dwellings, shops, communal bathing areas and a bath in every house. The foundations date back to 4000 years BC, so perhaps for as long as a 1000 years the Indus valley cities scattered over 500,000 square miles of northern India enjoyed a quality of life and social harmony equalled for example, only by the Egyptians under the pharaohs a 1000 years later or Mayan Civilisation of central America 2000 years later.
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The second period between 600 BC and 200 AD is known as the Epic period during which the great Hindu epics, the Mahabarata and the Ramayana were composed. The Mahabarata is the larger of the two at 8 times the size of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the authorship is ascribed to a sage called Vyasa of Aryan descent, but in practice is took many generations to complete. Like the Ramayana, the Mahabarata has through the medium of Television, become as popular in modern Indian culture as Albert Square or Coronation St in the British. Mahabarata, the longest poem in the world contains religious speculation, mysticism, myth and fact. The accuracy further diluted by numerous verbal transmission over a 1000 years period.
Mahabarata describes the conflict and eventual victory of good peace loving family, the Pandavas, over their violent, evil cousins, the Kauravas both having equal rights to the Kingdom vacated by the death of king Pandu. In brief the story goes something like this.
After Pandu's death, the Pandavas were forcibly removed and the kingdom usurped by the Kauravas. At an archery contest to find suitor for an Aryan nobleman daughter. The Kauravas suffer a humiliating defeat and the Pandavas walked away with the prize, her name was Drapudi.
In an attempt to settle the score the Kauravas invited Pandavas to a gambling match to resolve their claim to half the kingdom. The winners get the kingdom and the loser consigned to a 13 year exile. The Pandavas accept but lost not only their claim to the kingdom but also by now common wife, Drapudi and themselves. To further humiliate the Pandavas, the Kauravas attempt to divest Drapudi of her sari, but with the help of lord Krishna, the sari became longer as it was removed, Drapudi remained fully dressed. As agreed the Pandavas went into a 13 year exile.
13 years later the Kauravas failed to yield, a battle ensued at Kurakshetra. With Lord Krishna, once again on their side, the Pandavas won and lived happily ever after. Before the final battle Krishna propounded a sermon of righteousness. This sermon was inserted as a chapter in the Mahabarata, is known as the Baghvad Gita, it is the most profound Hindu religious writing in history.
Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism share Hindu traits revealing their common origin. Hinduism is the oldest and dominant religion of India. It defines the goals of life in stark contrast to western values. There is no single god, no bible, Torah or Koran, and it has so many facets that it defies definition. Whereas the premise of Judo-Islamic/Christian religions lay with the relationship between Men,(clearly identified for example in the commandments e.g. thou shalt not kill) Hindu family of religions concentrate on man's relationship with himself.
Since religion plays a very important role in Indian life, under its guidance an Indian has become very inward-looking, narcissistic and obviously stuck in the cul-de-sac search for self. A follower of western religion is outward-looking, working towards an acknowledged communal goal, even if as a consequence that goal becomes the quest for power to control that community or achieve independence from it.
The cow plays a central role in all agricultural communities. For Indian Hindus (and religious off shoots e.g. Buddhist and Sikhs) it attracts unique symbolic reverence, forbidden to eat or kill cows they wonder aimlessly in the rural districts and through the rush hour traffic of developed cities. So strong are the historical links, that a special clause in the Indian constitution specifically prevents killing their killing. The constitution states..
The state shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall in particular take steps to preserve and improve the breeds, and prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other milk and drought cattle.
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This peaceful cosmopolitan spirit was replaced by a series of violent invasions over the next 700 years. First in 712AD when a youthful Arab commander Mohammed Bin Qasim overran the north western province of Sind. Then in 1000AD Mahamud of Gazzani systematically terrorised, murdered and conquered the inhabitants of Punjab and as far south as Delhi. In a series of 17 invasion which took him as far as Sommnath on the Gujrath coast distroying Hindu temples and looting Hindu cities.
In the early 16th century Babur established the famous of all Muslim dynasty, The great Moghuls were to rule India for over 200 years, Akhbar the great, the 3rd in a series of 6 Moghul emperors, attempted unsuccessfully to unit the numerous religions practiced in his empire by accepting that all religions were true.
The early violent incursions by the Turkish invaders did a great disservice to the prophet and the gospel he preached. The Hindus looked at Islam with great bitterness, resentment and hatred and is responsible for the low Muslim population in modern India.
One group of Muslims who did more than any other to re-establish the true and peaceful nature of Islam were the Sufis. The Sufis were (and still are even today a remarkable people), devout scholars, mystics and they attempted to advance Islam in India through argument, debate and understanding and accepting other religious views. Al Ghazali, a celebrated Sufi philosopher wrote in the 11th century "The way to faith is obscure, but the devil's ways are many and patent. He who has no Shaikh to guide him will be led by the devil into his ways"
Muslims in India, as elsewhere in the world have two major divisions, the Sunnis at 70% is the larger of the two groups. The Shias who believe that Ali was the first Caliph and the other 3 were not genuine are spread all over India but have a main centre at Lucknow. The hatred expressed between Sunnis and Shias exceeds at times that between Hindu and Muslim.
Hinduism is vague, hierarchical, mystical and has many Gods, Islam is precise, egalitarian and monotheist. These stark fundamental differences and bitter memories of the earlier militant and aggressive conflicts, prevented a compromised merging of the two faiths.
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The Catholics came to India in 1510 when the Portuguese commander Alberquerque invaded Goa, with him came with Franciscan and Dominican priests. Goa remains to this date the centre of a large and devout Catholic community in India.
Unsuccessful attempts by Jesuits to convert the Moghul emperor Akbar and later Jahengir failed principally because of the diminishing respect for Christianity caused by the internal squabbling between the Portuguese Catholics, Syrian Christians and through the Protestant English ambassador Sir Thomas Roe.
The Protestant missions from Holland, Denmark and England were interested more in profit than perpetuating religious dogma. With the waning of the Moghul empire, in the mid 18th century, the prize of India was there for the taking. Following many battles between the Europeans, India became the jewel in the English crown.
The first American missionaries came to India in 1912, Presbyterian and Baptists set-up Hospitals, community centres and introduced new farming techniques. Together with the Syrian Christians of the Malabar coast, the Goan Catholics and Protestant converts from English, Dutch, and Danish missionaries all over India, accounts for the nearly 20 million Christians in India today.
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He started his quest at the age of 29 which took him all over India, discussing the meaning of suffering with scholars, philosophers and ascetics. He even lived under extreme deprivation as an ascetic for six years hoping to achieve enlightenment. He failed and declared 'There must be a middle ground between living in luxury and ascetic austerity'.
Enlightenment came eventually whilst he was sat under sacred BO tree. 'darkness dispelled, ignorance distroyed and knowledge and has arisen'with these words he claimed NIRVANA.
The Buddha formalised and established the Buddhist community, the Sangha, and travelled extensively teaching the four noble truths
Buddhism also rejected the caste system and is agnostic about the creator. There are about 70 million Buddhists around the world with only 5 million in India Many Buddhists have sought refuge in India as a result of Chinese persecution in Tibet and Nepal. In 1956, a mass conversion of lowest caste Hindus further swelled the numbers.
The rise of Buddhism was never larger than that received under the Maurian emperor Ashoka. For over 800 years after Ashoka's death, Buddhism remained the dominant faith in India until the Hindu revival in 1000AD. With the Islamic onslaught through the next 500 years saw Buddhism all but vanished.
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Taking of life (Jiva) is a great sacrilege. An orthodox Jain would go through extreme precautions to prevent accidental and inadvertent killing of even small insects does not take place, by, for example, gently clearing the path with a broom of minute insects as he walked. He would own nothing do nothing and eat only what was given to him by others. The Jain heaven consists of a safe quite happy place, no ageing, no pain, no disease or death.
The principle of Ahimsa, non violence, although practiced by Hindus and Buddhist is epitomised by Jains. Mahatma Gandhi not only introduced it in his own personal life but implemented it as a tool to achieve national political goals in the years preceding independence.
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From Islam, he took monotheism, from Hinduism he rejected idol worship and the caste system but borrowed the metaphysics of the Baghvad Gita, Karma and the trans migration of souls. On his death he left behind a community of both Hindus and Muslims who described them selves as Nanak-Pathis (followers of Nanak's ways).
Succession, as with money, property and even Indian politics, follows the rules of inheritance. On his death Guru Nanak passed on the mantel of his teachings to Guru Angad. When the time came he also passed it on to another, the succeeding 8 Gurus were in turn selected by their predecessor. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan put down on paper the hymns, poems and writings of his predecessors into a holly book the Adi Granth, and formally established Sikism. He established many Gurdwara especially in Amritsar and developed it as an important trade centre. As thousands of Hindus turned to Sikism his power, in the eyes of the prevailing Moghul government, became a cause for concern. In 1606 he was arrested, tortured and became the first martyr of the Sikhs.
Under the shadow of repressive Moghul authorities, in the spring of 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind, formally established Sikhism as a progressive community he called the Khalsa. To obliterate the caste system the names of all men were to become Singh and women Kaur. He imbibed the egalitarian principles by declaring 'let no one deem himself superior to anotherr'. Before his death he declared the succession of the Gurus at an end and established the Adi Granth, compiled by the 5th guru as a symbolic representation of all the 10 gurus.
With only about 15 million of the Indian population being Sikhs, the contribution they make to India is beyond their number. Several factors make the Sikhs stand out from other religious minorities. Over 80% of them are located in one geographical area of east Punjab and unlike any other minority are united by one language, Punjabi. Their political awareness, strong representation in the armed forces (nearly 20% of the personnel are Sikh) and high standard of living, make the Sikhs an assertive, progressive and influential minority. They excel in business, agriculture, sports (about half the Indian contingent on any Olympic team is Sikh), next to the Parsees, the Sikhs are the most literate, progressive and prosperous community in India.
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Parsees are followers of Zarathustra who lived 600 BC at a time the historians call the axis age. At this time many of the great thinkers in the history of the world were alive at the same time. Not only Zarathustra and Mahivera (founder of Jainism) but also the Buddha here in India, Confucius and Lau Tzu in China and Pythagarus in Greece. This was a remarkable stage in history, a cross-roads of world conscience, spirituality and philosophy. A point unique in time which determined the fate of eastern and western Civilisation and our lives within it today.
Parsees are the smallest of the religious minorities in India. numbering around 100,000 their contribution in the running of Indian industry, commerce and government has been enormous. They are the riches community with 100% literacy. The best known are the TATAs, with interests in steel, automobiles, air conditioning, charities, schools, colleges and hospitals.
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A quite revolution in Indian technology is taking place in the areas of
In the field of pure science, universities all over India participate in genetic engineering, marine scientists are 'mining' the ocean beds at 6,000 meters for rare minerals, two permanent research stations in the Arctic, Astronomy (several well endowed observatories located all over India) and an active space research program. Alternate recyclable energy sources are being pursued with greater gusto than in some nations of the west .
The huge population of India has benefited from the practical applications of Argon/Krypton laser surgery, communication satellites have revolutionised national and international communication, scientific satellites through remote sensing has contributed to agriculture, flood warnings, and mineral deposits. Genetically engineered enzymes, anti leprosy vaccine, anti fertility vaccine, production of drugs using marine plants. Scientific developments and mechanisation has increased the production of over one hundred million tonnes of food grain ample scope for export to other nations.
India has 4 nuclear power stations with a total capacity of 2,100 MW electricity located in Mahrashtara, Rajastan, Tamil Nadu and Utter Pradesh. All using a mixture of the American and Canadian designs boiling water reactors, with a significant Indian innovation.
Alongside USA, Russia, ESA, China, Israel and Japan India is the only nation to design and built satellite and launch vehicle. The first Indian built scientific satellite (Aryabhata) was launched with the assistance of a soviet launcher in 1975. Five years later another indigenous satellite (35kg) Rohini was successfully placed in low earth orbit by an Indian built launcher, the satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV3) and in the middle of 1992 the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully placed the INSAT-2A, a sophisticated communication satellite into an intermediate orbit.
Over the past 45 years since independence, scientific and technological developments strides have taken India away from a status of a developing nation to one which is industrially, remarkable advanced. Thousands of millions of rupees have been set aside or spent on a national program to pick the nation up by its technological bootstraps, improve the quality of life millions on and below the poverty line and go forward with the western nations as equals in the 21st century.
The economical revolution in the closing years of this century have crystallized the aspirations and expectations of millions of people, rewritten the geographical as well as the political map of the world. The principles of Glasnost and Peristrokia have initiated irrevocable change well beyond what used to be the Soviet Union. The emphasis has shifted from political repression and the threat of nuclear world war to the quest for global political freedom, human rights and international collaboration in resolving the global environmental crisis.
With internal problems of Kashmir, Punjab, Siri Lanka and increase of Hindu fundamentalists openly confronting the Muslims in Ayodhya is perhaps indicative that India will share the painful violent experiences of people of Bosnia Herzogovinia, Chechnya and many countries of Africa.
Violent conflict has always been the characteristic of human advancement. Historically, India's size and religious mix prevented her from uniting and defending herself against the Aryans, Alexandra the great, Turkish Sultans and the British. Perhaps the current economic development, which will help bring unity and quality of life enjoyed by the Indians during the Indus Civilisation era, 4000 years ago.
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