INDIA IS MY COUNTRY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ATTACHMENT TOWARDS RELIGION AND POLITICS

Every Indian must be proud of our country. We have a long and powerful heritage which many countries in the world cannot boast. According to the census report of 2001 we have 122 major languages and 1599 other languages. There are about 10,000 distinct religions in the world. The prime religions among them are Christianity (31%), Islam (24%), Hinduism (15%) and Buddism (7%). In India we have about 20 nos active religions. As per the members in each the following can be called as the major religions. Hindus (79.8%), Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%),

Sikhism (1.7%), Buddism (0.7%), Animism/Adivasi (0.5%) and Jainism (0.4%)

Of late, religion has been tied into politics. Everyone has the right to say that his religion is good. However, no one has the right to say any other religion is bad. In spite of that, may be certain wings of Hinduism, may be because of some political persuasion, have damaged many Christian churches and physically assaulted priests and nuns of Christian convents at various parts of the country.  Since no any sustainable reasons can be found for these but enmity that is politically created, it has really comes out of sheer ignorance. In fact there is no reason for Hindus to maintain any enmity with Christianity. While one say "Tha twam asi ", the other say "Love thy neighbour as thyself."

Christians have made tremendous contributions for various developmental activities in our country. In the field of education, large number of schools and colleges of international standards were established all over the country. Again in the health sector, commendable advanced medical facilities have been provided in the country including building up many hospitals throughout the country. There are thousands of  orphanages and old age homes built and managed by various Christian Institutions across the country. Christianity has contributed all these with their own money and most of them are managed by themselves. When natural calamities terrorised the nation, Christian institutions rose to the occassion countless number of times in building new houses, repairing damaged school and hospital buildings etc.

Certain accustomed Hindu wings even say that Christians are converting people from other religions to Christianity in good numbers. Christian churches now only welcome those who come by their own. Here is the clear evidence for this. As per census statistics of India, Christian population in 1951 was 2.3% and in 2011 it was 2.3%. The growth in 60 years may be zero or a negligible numbers.  While these are facts and figures, as far a Hinduism is concerned, it has deep rooted cultural heritage. When we say that Hinduism did exist thousands of years before the formation of Christianity, we may have to accede the fact that it is through the fundamental books of Hinduism, the Vedas, Jesus Christ was first introduced to the world; but that is in a different name, Prajapati. The Rigveda in which the episode of Prajapati is narrated is believed to have originally scripted between 1500 - 1000 BCE. As per historical and Biblical records Jesus Christ was born between 6 BCE and 4 BCE. The records further reveal that the Old Testament was written over a period of thousand years spanning between 1200 BCE and 165 BCE.

We may come back to Rigveda. As per this Holy Book, the following things are found coincide with the Bible. The sacrifice of Prajapati was made on a cross as in the Bible. On the cross Jesus asked for water to drink and He was offered wine mixed with myra. This can be found in both the books. While crucifying Jesus, they divided His garments, by casting lots. This too can be found in the Bible as well as the Rigveda. Though crucifixion was uncommon in India region Prajapati preferred to get sacrificed on a cross made of wood using three iron nails as in the Bible. And the resurrection of Prajapati on the third day is also mentioned in the Rigveda. Since there is no other God can be found in the Hindu religion to coincide with, the said Prajapati is none other than Jesus Christ. And the meaning of Prajapati as per the Veda is Brahma Himself.

According to dominant theory the Aryans migrated to India from Central Asia. This migration was around 2000 - 1500 BCE..The Aryans brought their language, culture and religion to the new region. The Aryans arrival in India had a significant impact on the subcontinent. And that is believed to have caused the introduction of Indo - European languages including Sanskrit which had tremendous influence in the Vedic period..All these have brought new religious practices and cultural influences.

And now for petty political gains, some political divisions consisting of some Hindus create unwanted human enmity. 

K V George