““Malicious criticism of Hindutva, or Sanatan Dharma, actually targets the Hindu society” – WHC 2023 declaration”, Organiser, November 24, 2023:
“In the term “Hindu Dharma,” the first word, i. e. “Hindu” is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan, or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means “That, which sustains”. Thus, Hindu Dharma signifies all that which eternally upholds everything: an individual, a family, a community, a society, and even nature – both animate and inanimate.
In contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an “ism”. The term “ism” is defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief. In the mid-nineteenth century United States of America, the phrase “the isms” was used to collectively refer to radical social reform movements and various non-mainstream spiritual or religious movements in a derogatory manner.
The term “Hinduism” should be understood in such a context. One should also note that the term “Hinduism” was introduced in the popular lexicon by Sir Monier-Monier Willimas via his handbook Hinduism. This handbook was published in 1877 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. This intellectually dishonest terminology is the seed behind the vicious anti-Hindu narratives over the last 150 years……”
Read the full article at Organiser.org
