HINDU DHARM – GLOBAL RELIGION OF THE MODERN WORLD

All over India and in almost every part of the world, there are millions of
people who call themselves Hindu. Yet, the question “Who is a Hindu?” is
often raised. Some people define Hinduism on geographical basis, while
some others do so on the basis of system of worship and belief; there are
others who link Hinduism to ancient Indian culture. This controversy
about definition is unique to Hinduism. Other religions like Islam,
Christianity etc. are devoid of any such dispute since they are based on
one book. The belief in a sacred book is fundamental to such religions.
Anyone believing in the book is a follower while anyone not believing in
the book is an outsider to the religion. A Hindu is under no compulsion to
believe in any book or any prophet or even a single system of worship or
hall of worship. The freedom that a Hindu has makes it difficult to define
Hinduism.



Before proceeding any further, one must understand the historical
background that has led to this controversy. Hindus have been subjected
to nearly a thousand years of slavery. The struggle for existence that
Hindus faced during this long period is unique in human history. To
understand this glorious struggle, one must compare Indian history with
American history. It was approximately the same time when a group of
persons reached America and another group of persons reached India.
Both the groups were from the same part of the world and were of the
same white race. At that time, population of America and India was nearly
equal. Today, the original inhabitants of America have become almost
extinct. Their civilization, culture and religion is almost dead; there are of
course some remnants which are objects of wonder and are kept as curios
displayed in a museum. The atrocities in India were identical to those in
America, but the original inhabitants of India survived. A magnificent
building that was an inspiration to many has been demolished completely
and what has been left behind is only a mass of rubble

laws can also be seen as an attempt to attain the oneness with cosmos
which is most fundamental to Hinduism.
The move of the world to a more rational and humane existence is in fact
a move towards Hinduism. It is time that Hindus realized this and took up
the leadership in this ongoing historical movement which has transformed
the world in the past four/five centuries. As men and women across the
world (from all races and communities) understand and adopt the “Global
Religion of the Modern World” – Hindu Dharm based on Satyam, Shivam,
Sundaram – they will not only transform their own lives but will also make
the world a better place to live in.