The “Liberals” are the “atheists” of the political world. Most atheists I have come across can show their superiority as someone who chooses to not believe in God only by mocking those who do. “Liberals” too, like to show how they are willing to respect or accept behaviour and opinions different from their own only by mocking views of others.

Like “atheists”, condescending behaviour comes naturally to “Liberals”. You are truly a “Liberal” if you have asked a “Bhakt” to go drink chilled gaumutra (cow urine) because one, Ayurved says cow urine has healing properties and two, Hindus hold cows holy and hence cow pee is a Hindu’s holy grail. This is the “Liberal”’s version of a “Bhakt”’s ‘Go to Pakistan’ retort. So essentially, a “Liberal” is the one who denounces all religious faiths himself only to ridicule yours. If you are offended, please go drink chilled gaumutra.

What is interesting is how when it comes to interactions on social media, anything Right Wing is only “Hindutva” and all about “Hinduism” while the economics part of the political belief is completely sidelined by “Liberals” who like to ridicule everything Hindu.

I tend to advocate capitalism, privatisation, minimal government interference, free market, and economy. I believe in nationalism. I feel extreme pride whenever I see the Tricolour flying high. But I do not drink cow urine. I do not know of any Right Wing person who makes fun of non-Hindu religious beliefs. I say this because in India, I have not seen the “Liberals” ridicule a non-Hindu religious custom for fear of offending religious beliefs. Caricature of non-Hindu religious beliefs should be apologised for because you are <insert religion>-phobic, but if someone takes an offence to a bunch of students and professors and “intellectuals” in a central university in India (which is subsidised by the Indian taxpayers - over 70 percent of which are Hindus) refer to a Hindu Goddess as a prostitute, you are asked to introspect: is your faith so weak that a bunch of ‘intellectuals” can threaten it?

What is also interesting is the liberal use of the word “Sanghi” to refer to anyone who is Right Wing over the social media. “Sanghi” is used to describe anyone with affiliation to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Right Wing nationalist voluntary organisation. I have no affiliations to the Sangh. But I often get called a Sanghi, mostly in a condescending tone. And this is all done by the “Liberals”.

I am also called a “Bhakt” when I correct people when they are criticising the Prime Minister. Criticise all you want — India, as a democracy, offers you the platform to question the government. But at least have your facts and figures right. When someone corrects you, it does not make them a “Bhakt” - it only makes them better informed than you.

So, base your argument on logic, facts and figures and not on your hatred for the democratically elected leader. Yes, the 31 percent who voted for them — and no, please do not apologise on our behalf whenever the Right Wing loonies (because loonies exist equally on either side of the spectrum) go batshit crazy.

Love,

A non-Bhakt, non-Sanghi Right Wing Nationalist Hindu woman (from Gujarat).

This was first published on Medium here.