A Catholic view of Hindus

Living in peace with one another

josé colaço

As a Roman Catholic, who spent his formative years in the Indian city of Poona, all I can say  is that I am thankful for the wonderful experiences I've  had.

Poona (now renamed Pune ) is a cosmopolitan city.  It is known for its delightful climate, the relatively clean air (compared to Bombay), for the world famous University (aka the Oxford of India),  the Parvati shrine, the proximity to the various Maratha forts, the excellent schools and colleges, the de Nobili College and Papal Seminary.

Poona City is also the heartland of the Right Wing Hindu Maha Sabha folks who killed Mahatma Gandhi .

Most of my schoolmates at St. Vincent's High School were Hindus.  We grew up as brothers.  Thanks to the Jesuits who ran St. Vincent's, we all treated religion as a private matter. We went to each other's houses and celebrated each other's festivals. On  special occasions, we even attended ceremonies at  St. Francis Xavier Church or at a nearby Hindu temple. We had a few Muslim and Sikh friends. They too came with us to Church or Temple, though I do not remember ever visiting a Muslim mosque or a Sikh gurdwara.

I write all this to explain my bewilderment at the renewed hatred I see spewed about in India,  in these modern times.

I personally believe that the majority of Indian Hindus, Sikhs and Catholics are straightforward,  decent, honest, hard working and peaceful people. They are not extreme in their views and are very kind & hospitable people.  My personal experience with Indian Muslims has NOT been as positive as that with Muslims from Pakistan.

Growing up in Poona along with my school and college colleagues, reinforced the teachings of our parents that  'we are ALL God's children".  That is why I grew up believing and still believe that Religion is a very private matter.

Sure, I am a Roman Catholic by choice ! but.....I see NO DIFFERENCE between a good Roman Catholic and good Hindu or Muslim or Sikh.  I ask you a question which I have often asked myself 'Would you prefer a dishonest and hence nominal Christian over an honest Hindu or Muslim or Sikh.... and vice-versa?'

I know that I would not!

So, despite the fact that the Hindu Fundamentalists are governing India and carrying on with the corrupt practices where the Congress Party left off, despite the fact that Hindu extremists are engaged in sporadic acts of violence against Roman Catholic & other Christian individuals and institutions, despite the fact that many of the US, UK and Caribbean Hindus have swung to the extreme Right,   and despite the vitriolic statements of Hindu extremists primarily against Roman Catholics, I'd like to say that the vast  majority of  Hindus from India are good people who absolutely abhor violence.

However, they expect (like I do too) that Christians and others do NOT denigrate them for their beliefs.

They are justifiably angered by these uncultured & uncouth actions by people who understand little about the true philosophy and way of life of the vast majority of Hindus.  Often, this anger drives moderate Hindus into the open arms of the right wingers. 

I am afraid that this point has not been very well understood by Rt. Wing Christians and Fundamentalist Muslims.  If they had, they would have corrected their errant ways.

Over the past 200 years, Catholics and Hindus have grown to understand each other better. This is particularly so in Goa where Catholicism and Hinduism are the two major religions. Despite all their drawbacks, the Portuguese should take a bow for having helped the Goan society to recover from several 100 years of Hindu-Muslim brutality, and the Horrible & very unHoly Inquisition. Goa today is a model of Hindu-Catholic amity; a model from which others could learn .

After all, religion is a private matter between an individual and God. As long as our practice of religion does NOT impinge on the safety and basic human rights of others, we should be allowed to practise what we believe, without being castigated, harassed and hounded by those who believe differently.

Is that too much to ask?

Miami Jan 26, 2002

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