Left right and center - Hindu perspective

Redefining the right center and left from a Hindu point of view.

To begin with usage of these words in politics began in 18th century British America. The terms "left" and "right" appeared during the French Revolution of 1789 when members of the National Assembly divided into supporters of the king to the president's right and supporters of the revolution to sit towards his left. More recently in the United States, left-wing and right-wing have often been used as synonyms for Democratic and Republican, or in contemporary world as synonyms for liberalism and conservatism respectively. Religion especially Christianity has played a Major role in conceptualizing these ideologies of liberalism, secularism, capitalism, conservatism including post modern ideology of communism , Marxists and Leninist (sometimes called the ultra left ). The fundamental religious old school ideologies verses the equality of law, state vs Church, proletariat and bourgeoisie, minority vs majority, tolerance vs Intolerance, priests verses republic , king vs law makers, exclusiveness verses inclusiveness have always been an ideological struggle which later shifted towards separating Christianity from being a authoritative governance to a inclusive governance known as "secularism" as part of the great Christian Reformation. Inclusiveness of laws for all non Christian adherents and Christians became a revolution in the West which gave equal rights of opportunity and living to both the majority Christians and the minorities non-Christians. Now to view this from a eastern philosophies, the term secularism, liberalism and inclusiveness have been part of religious message for very long time in history be it various schools Vedanta, Buddha, Jainism, folk cultures or even the far eastern belief systems. In an Indian (Hindu as a geographical meaning) context, majority with an inclusive thought creates separate laws for minorities with exclusive religious ideologies, this sometimes posts a huge challenge with this western template of liberalism and secularism. Separating religion from the law of the land takes away the basic traits of inclusiveness from an Indian perspective which is quite opposite of what secularism was initially intended to achieve. Most of Indian/Eastern originate belief systems were decentralized which is another important aspect where the authority of majority religious narrative doesn't stay with one hand which is completely opposite of Abhramic majority which is more centralized governance model and exclusive by nature. The moment we apply liberalism vs secularism or Tolerance vs intolerance to Indian context it takes a different narrative called as minority appeasement or exclusiveness to minorities, where the majority sometimes thinks the minorities get more rights or different laws creating an unequal opportunity, at the same time a Hindu right conservatives believe in inclusiveness. It's a quite contrasting, contradicting and conflicting statement when compared to the origin of these ideologies from imperial west. We can very well say the left is right and right is left from an Indian context, but what about ultra left? Center? Left center?

Probably the best option is to stop applying western templates on an India context as most of the time we will be leaving out many crucial Indian parameters and variables which never existed in the West for centuries. The moment when an Indian (Hindu) realizes that one may be "left" of certain subject but same time also "right" on something else, we will come out of these outdated ideologies and not boxed within a imperialistic narrative.

Isn't it the right time to De-colonize a Hindu mind ? !!! Think normal and use common sense, Go beyond religion and ideologies?. Live and Let live, mutual respect is way forward not irrational tolerance. Can we (a Hindu) even say (Inclusive right) should tolerate their own family member (exclusive left or ultra left) rather than having mutual respect? isn't it so absurd and inhuman to be both tolerant and intolerant at the same time?

Finally would like to quote Karl Popper who once said "Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them" . As long as the inclusive ideology can counter the intolerant exclusive ideology by rational argument and keep in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be wise, but what if they are not ready for an ration argument ? and denounce all arguments;

We Indians should therefore claim, Left is right and right is left ?...or in the name of tolerance, claim the right not to tolerate the intolerant and the right to suppress the intolerant?, eventually we have to spread message of inclusiveness and go beyond rigid narratives of a outdated ideologies. Jain Hind!!