Recently, writer Thayil Jacob Sony George better known as TJS George (TJSG), writing for the New Indian Express (NIE), equated Rajiv Malhotra to the poison-spewing self-hating sepoy of the West, Christian-convert evangelist Lazarus Mohan. These assertions are not only disingenuous but can be construed as criminally defamatory.
While Rajiv Malhotra has proven several times that he can scientifically and logically, in an evidence-based manner, substantiate his position with data and arguments, the Christian-convert evangelist Lazarus Mohan relies entirely on religious arguments that draw from the bible or illogical superstition that has no basis in science.
Thus, from the beginning of the article, it is clear that TJSG is pen-pushing an agenda rather than trying to express an honest opinion or engage in a mutually respectful debate. This author has already explained why Rajiv Malhotra is morally and ethically justifiable with regards to the specific tweet that TJSG is quoting, particularly out-of-context.
To support his arguments TJSG quotes phrases from Swami Vivekananda’s speeches and works. For example, he quotes a phrase (not even a whole sentence) from Swami Vivekananda and wrote ‘A saint who said “we accept all religions as true” is being appropriated by a party that suppresses minorities for political gains.’
DID VIVEKANANDA AND AMBEDKAR SEE CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM AS ‘TRUE’?
Swamiji has been most scathing about Abrahamic religions. For example, Swami Vivekananda is recorded to have stated, “When the Mohammedans first came, we are said — I think on the authority of Ferishta, the oldest Mohammedan historian — to have been six hundred millions of Hindus. Now we are about two hundred million. And then every man going out of the Hindu pale is not only a man less but an enemy the more.” It is not only the use of the word “enemy” that is most striking but the converts were described as “Hindu perverts” (“Hindu perverts to Islam and Christianity are perverts by the sword, or the descendants of these.” ~ Vol 5 Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda)
The same sentiment is seen in Bharat Ratna Ambedkar’s words a few decades down the lane. He stated during the middle of his life that “Conversion to Islam or Christianity will denationalise the depressed classes,” and reiterated the same opinion just before dying, “Buddhism is part and parcel of Bhartiya Culture. I have taken care that conversion will not harm the traditions, the culture and history of this land. I confess I have many quarrels with caste Hindus over some points but, I take my vow that I shall lay down my life in defence of our land”.
While Swami Vivekananda called converts out of Hinduism as “perverts” and Bhimji called them “denationalised”, Rajiv Malhotra did not even repeat any of these. He tweeted that Hindus should donate to Hindu or truly secular charities that will not indulge in proselytisation. Is it not comparably insignificant compared to what Swamiji or Bhimji have said?
Will TJS George claim that Swamiji and Bhimji were “peddlers of religious hatred”? Appears so.
Now let us see another example of what Swamiji said in Chicago 115-years ago (on the 15th of September 1893) about the narrow-mindedness of the faiths that which TJGS is cunningly defending.
Swamiji described a frog that lived in a well on its own and which had assumed that the well is the whole world. When a sea-living frog got washed away on to the shores and jumped into the well, the well-trapped frog asked where did the sea-living frog come from. When the sea-living frog said it came from the sea, the well-trapped frog asked for the size of the sea in comparison to its tiny well. The sea-living frog laughed and explained the size of the sea was immeasurable, especially when compared to the tiny well. The well-trapped frog got furious with disbelief and unable to bear the truth threw the sea-living frog out of the well. The author need not explain (to the people with conscientious brains) which religions Swamiji must have had in mind, especially given his statements about the “Hindu perverts” to the “denationalising” religions.
CAN TJSG USE VIVEKANANDA TO SUPPORT HIS ANTI-GAU-RAKSHA RHETORIC?
Regarding cow’s meat, Swami Vivekananda insisted that not eating beef is the “one point of unity among all Hindus” across the entire subcontinent. Yet TJSG does not refrain from critically abusing the supporters of Gau Rakshas in the same article while appropriating and misquoting Swami Vivekananda to make his point appear valid. Is it surprising that TJS George, named after the mythical patron saint of England is playing this part so well?
Thus, quoting Swami Vivekananda out-of-context and calling the stance taken by the current ruling dispensation as against the visions and words of the Swamiji is a gross misrepresentation and possibly defamatory.
THE FAVOURITE WHIPPING BOY OF THE SECULARS – THE RSS AGAIN
TJGS not only misrepresents Swami Vivekananda he goes against the grain and words of Bhimji as well in the process, calling the organisation (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS) praised by Bhimji in 1939 as an exemplar of a caste-free association as “suppressing minorities” and as one which is calling for a “sectarian war”. TJGS was alluding to RSS without naming it explicitly as again he quoted a phrase, not a whole sentence, from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent speech in the US: ‘But Chicago heard this time a different voice that called for a sectarian war lest “the lone lion is destroyed by wild dogs”.’ Simply atrocious.
TJGS is able to do this because he is confident that none will call his bluff. The NIE newspaper publishes it because it sees no liability peddling such vile lies. This is an age-old technique of the missionaries and the Left cabal.
