Two extraordinary memorable events made this Deepawali grand
We discuss two extraordinary events bringing awesome and well-deserved blessings for the Hindu majority Bharat (India) during the 5-days of the Deepawali festival. These events make every Hindu proud of their heritage, history, and culture. Unfortunately, the same events may be making the rival Pakistan uncomfortable and agonizing if not feeling threatened by India’s continued global standing.
When the British Raj ended, India was divided into two nations– a Hindu-majority India and an Islamic Pakistan. Needless to state the obvious today. A rising and shining Bharat, the thriving democracy, is the world’s 5th largest economy pushing Britain to the 6th place. On the contrary, Pakistan, an autocracy under military rule for most years since its birth, is unable to sustain the livelihood of its people with its economy in shambles.
Hindus globally are blissfully blessed at a time when immersed in celebrating Deepawali and Goddess Lakshmi asking them to light the lamps in larger numbers and hold extraordinary celebrations for the two major events below.
The cricket game
The first proud moment on the eve of Deepawali (October 23) was when Bharat had an awesome victory against Pakistan in the cricket game at its best. The game was not going in India’s favor until Virat Kohli went ballistic in a brilliant partnership with Hardik Pandya. Subsequently, a Deepawali greeting went viral[1]. It reads, “Diwali ki Virat and Hardik Shubh Kamnaye” (Very Big (Virat), Heartiest (Hardik), and Auspicious (Shubh) Wishes (Kamnaye) for Diwali).
The emotions are always high when a cricket game is played between the competent but rival teams of India and Pakistan. The match in Melbourne took a special significance when the tides turned in India’s favor toward the very end. Pakistan was cruising to what seemed a morale-boosting victory until Kohli jumped into the fray[1]. Kohli and Pandya played at their best to secure victory for the Hindu majority India against Pakistan. It is incredible that even Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted, “All credit to Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli.”
UK’s Devout Hindu (Rishi Sunak) Prime Minister
While India was celebrating its success in a cricket match against Pakistan, another historical, uncommon, and unprecedented event was mysteriously in the making. When Hindus were in the midst of celebrating Deepawali, little did they know that Goddess Lakshmi ordained Britain’s Conservative party to ask Rishi Sunak (RS) to take the rein of the party.
Thus, Sunak became Britain’s first Prime Minister of color, the first British Asian, the first Hindu of Indian descent, and the youngest ever to lead the government. In simple words, the tides turned from the colonial era of the British Raj in India to the Brown Raj in the UK led by a Brown colored Hindu.
Prime Minister’s first name Rishi itself is significant which translates to ‘Sage.’ Ordinarily, a Rishi is an inspired poet or seer with the highest level of spiritual attainment. However, a sage is also, “a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom; someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.” The latter describes who RS is.
Another Divine coincidence is that Lord Ram was welcomed and crowned as the King of Ayodhya and now a Hindu named Rishi is crowned as the Prime Minister of Britain[2]. What a destiny – the same Britishers who conspired against Hindus to divide glorious India on religious grounds in 1947 swore a Hindu as their Prime Minister in 2022.
What Churchill and Queen would say?
It is quite fitting to quote a tweet (below this paragraph) according to which the infamous Winston Churchill supposedly said, “…all Indian leaders will be of low caliber and men of straw.” Churchill also had the audacity to call Gandhi a “half-naked Fakir[3].” I wonder how he is feeling in his grave about a Brown person of Indian descent leading the UK from the same ‘10 Downing Street’ where Churchill once lived. Perhaps, he would have not dared call Indian leaders of low caliber had he lived to meet Modi and now Sunak. Both men are not only of high caliber and extraordinary wisdom but they have a vision, larger than Churchill, for their respective people.
In 1947 on the cusp of Indian Independence, Winston Churchill supposedly said “…all Indian leaders will be of low calibre & men of straw.” Today, during the 75th year of our Independence, we’re poised to see a man of Indian origin anointed as PM of the UK. Life is beautiful…
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 24, 2022
It is hard to imagine how coincidences happen. Queen Elizabeth lived long until the age of 96 but died a few weeks sooner not to see the tides turning in her empire. RS was running for PM’s post while her reign was about to end but he was not to be the British Prime Minister in her lifetime. I wonder how she would have reacted to a Brown Hindu running the White Christian-dominated UK.
What Hindus can learn?
Hindus must cherish that RS is proud of his Hindu heritage. Reportedly, he visits the temple regularly, holds Dharmic values close to his heart, and even wears a “red thread” around his wrist. The string wristband is linked to the Hindu faith which is tied on the right hand in most religious ceremonies. It is also a ceremonial Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, a “knot of protection” symbolizing the lifelong protection by a sister for her brother. Prime Minister Sunak is shown wearing the red thread when he met King Charles[4].
Those of us who are afraid and/ or feel ashamed calling ourselves Hindus can learn from RS. I know born Hindus in my community who distance themselves from anything which is Hindu-related and/ or promotes the principles of Hinduism. Tragically they have the blinders that being a Hindu may characterize them as anti-Muslim. Thus, they don’t stand together even to advocate against terrorism and radicalization against Hindus and India or what is good about Sanatan Dharma. These Hindus must hold their breath and cease the moment of RS being a devout Hindu and also the British Prime Minister.
The British Prime Minister and the subcontinent
Only time will tell what policy Britain would have toward India and Pakistan under RS as Prime Minister. What I hope is that RS would hold India in high esteem because the majority of Hindus have always embraced minority Muslims. On the contrary, Hindus in Pakistan have been persecuted ever since the British empire left India divided. The persecution of minority Hindus and the act of terrorism in Pakistan continue unabated to date.
Pakistan government, I hope, will feel the pressure of ‘double engine’ Hindu Prime Ministers, one in India and another in the UK. Pakistan should mend its policies and practices regarding radicalization and terrorism. Pakistan need not feel threatened but persuaded that Hindus can be its best allies if their religion/ faith is duly respected.
RS knows about the rising Muslim radicalization and anti-Hindu/ anti-India sentiments in the cities like Leicester and Birmingham. It was not too long ago that the radical elements attacked places of worship for Hindus. I hope, RS will put those kinds of attacks to rest.
I also hope that RS will recognize that Hindu majority India is distinct from the South Asian identity of those from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan. It is no secret that many people from those Islamic countries in the UK are a significant drain on the British economy, unlike Indians who earn a decent living through hard work.
I wonder if the radical Muslims, especially those of Pakistan origin, got emboldened after the win of the Muslim mayor of London. As a Hindu Prime Minister of the UK, I am confident and hopeful that Hindus in the UK will support RS in reducing religious tensions, promoting peace and harmony, and helping bring an end to radicalism.
I believe that the policies, practices, and politics of one nation toward another are not carved by their leaders in a vacuum. These are, in fact, dictated by the will of the people and what are the mutual benefits for both. For example, India and UK have the potential for increased trade and tourism, educational/ cultural exchanges, scientific/ technological collaborations, and partnerships in the defence, space, and pharmaceutical sectors. Pakistan has to identify similar areas of mutual interest and benefit.
While wishing for a long tenure and successful leadership of a Hindu Prime Minister in the UK, I hope his influence will encourage Pakistan to be respectful of Hindu majority secular India. While expressing my hopes from a Hindu PM of the UK, allow me to add a few wishes:
- Return the Kohinoor diamond to its rightful owner – the new and emerging Bharat.
- Offer sincere apologies for all the atrocities, such as Jallianwala Bagh, committed during the British Raj of undivided India.
- Encourage Pakistan to let go of PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) which always was an integral part of independent India.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] Kohli shines as Ashwin secures India victory in Pakistan cliffhanger – Oct 23, 2022, CNN
[2] Hindu’s Divine Diwali: Its Religious and Socio-political Significance – Oct 23, 2022, Patheos
[3] Half Naked Fakir – The Story of Gandhi’s Personal Search for Sartorial Integrity – M K Gandhi.org
[4] Rishi Sunak’s red bracelet when he met King Charles explained – Oct 25, 2022, Scottish Daily Express
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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