A question that is asked by many, and generally, of a very specific political orientation is, “So what if Hindus become a minority in India?” Subsequently, suggestions are made that the demographic shift that Hindus are so concerned about is a figment of their own imagination despite significant evidence to the contrary. Suggestions are also made that every Hindu who is concerned about demography is a Hindutva bigot and is terribly Islamophobic. One remarkable allegation that has gained ground is that the only reason Hindus are concerned about themselves becoming a minority is because they are not treating their own minorities very well.

To even suggest that Hindus do not want to become minorities in their own land is because they do not treat other minorities in India very well is truly an ingenious ploy to guilt trip Hindus and divert attention from the many Islamic countries in the world where minorities are treated horribly. For instance, Hindu girls in Pakistan are regularly abducted and married off to Muslims and Hindus effectively live in the country as second-class citizens. In Bangladesh, Hindus frequently have to suffer mob attacks and there have been allegations that Muslims are forcibly occupying Hindu land with support from local politicians. And how could we ever forget the organized manner in which Hindus were killed in Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, by the Pakistani Army?

However, we need not look at other countries for a glimpse into a future where Hindus are a minority in India. In J&K, minority Hindus were forced out after a genocide in Kashmir. And till date, Hindus from other parts of the country cannot settle in a state that is a part of India. Persecution of Hindus is frequently reported in areas in our country where Hindus are in minority. In Bengal, riots ensued and Hindu property was pillaged and destroyed over a mere Facebook post. Very recently, members of the minority community took to rioting and looting stores in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala in protest against the Kathua Rape case. Therefore, concerns about changing demography are not motivated by the treatment of minorities by Hindus but how the minorities will treat us if they ever become the majority community in future years.

A regular feature of Hindu festivals is the attack on rallies and processions by members of the minority community. There have been reports from West Bengal where Hindus were not allowed to celebrate Durga Puja for years following objections by the Muslims in the area. West Bengal imposed restrictions on Vijaya Dashami as the date clashed with Muharram. Such is the state of affairs when Hindus are in an overwhelming majority, it does not take too much of brains to realize the fate of Hindus should they lose the demographic battle.

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One has to have his head buried under the sand to misrepresent the concern of Hindus regarding the rapidly changing demography or one merely has to be a journalist. Hindus remember the massive communal clashes during the partition of this country. Yes, very few people who witnessed the events firsthand are alive today but the riots, murder and rapes that were forced upon the Hindu community has been engraved forever in our collective consciousness. To say that the experience of the Hindu civilization with radical Islam has not been a pleasant one would be an understatement. Only people who have been forced to forget history would have qualms with the concern of Hindus over changing demography.

History is a testament to the fact that monotheistic faiths are often guided by a fanatic zeal that is altogether absent in polytheistic religions. Monotheistic faiths continued to exist and prosper under Pagan rule, however, as soon as the scales tipped in their favour, Pagan faiths were extinguished, Idols of their Gods were defiled and desecrated, their monuments were converted to religious structures of monotheistic faiths. It is a recurrent theme in History that monotheistic faiths are provided protection and treated with tolerance under polytheistic regimes. However, when monotheists manage to grab power, pagan faiths are extinguished forever.

The Hindu Civilization is the last great pagan civilization in History and the most ancient civilization alive. We have a duty to preserve our traditions and our culture. It may be hard for some followers of monotheistic faiths to grasp the concept but Bharatvarsha is not merely a piece of land for us, it is our Punyabhoomi. It is in this great land of ours that our ancestors prospered and perished, the entirety of their existence and their ambitions are confined to this minute spectacle in the universe. Thus, it falls on our shoulders to ensure that the flame that spurred their hearts to glory is not extinguished and their legacy is cherished and celebrated by our children and the children of their children in the years to come.

For the Hindu civilization to continue to exist, it is imperative that our people maintain a stronghold over demography in India. The concerns over demographic shift are not motivated by hatred but by love, love for our traditions, love for our culture, love for our Gods and love for our ancestors. Vested interests would have us believe that the Hindu faith could continue to exist and prosper even if its followers are relegated to being a minority in their own country. However, history tells us that it’s an impossibility and such fantasies could only ever be realized in the fairy tales we tell our children.