India is Hindu

I was talking to somebody just the other day about the various mini-conflicts that the world is experiencing, particularly the ones where one country is pitted against one or more other countries. And how there might be a connection between a country's practices and the religion the majority of its population practices.

Some of the biggest players in the war zone at present are Israel, Palestine, U.S. and the Western European nations. These are countries that practice Judaism, Christianity or Islam, all monotheistic religions. These religions of course care deeply for the believers, their own flock. While at the same time, spreading the word of the true God amongst the heathen, the savages that do not believe. And this missionary work hasn't always been at the hands of pacifist priests.

Very often, the word of God has needed a stronger voice. Be it in the form of Christianity's crusades or Islam's 'holy war', monotheistic religions have taken up arms to spread their word.

On the other hand are polytheistic religions. Of all those that existed, to my knowledge, only Hinduism has survived. And though Nepal is officially a Hindu nation, India--a country which is constitutionally secular, may be more Hindu than it will ever profess to being. Because like Hinduism, the most pain that India inflicts, is upon itself.

Let me explain. Hinduism housed as well as stood upon the once-functional but increasingly despotic caste system. It stratified all Hindus into four major castes--Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. It also completely ignored the 'untouchables', the believers who were so low that they weren't even worth ranking. A system that crippled the lives of the masses that believed in it. Unique, right?

The caste system is hopefully on its last leg in most parts of Hindu society. But Indian politicians have proudly donned that mantle. Our leaders ensure that the 'aam aadmi' (common man) subsists in inhuman conditions, which they claim are above the infallible poverty line demarcated by their economic experts. Every election cycle, these thugs ensure that the 'aam admi' is brought to the polling booth with promises of a living wage in lieu of back breaking labour. And every time they get voted in, they retract the promise. Every time.

I don't know if I am right. I hope not but the coincidences seem too strong.