Why is no one talking about the overcrowding in the San Fernando General Hospital when there is the Couva Children’s Hospital that is not fully operational? Or the failure of the Keith Rowley-led PNM government to open the newly constructed Reform Hindu and Ramai Trace Hindu Schools that were more than 99% completed? Why the silence on the failure of the government to complete the South Campus to ease the inconveniences and expenses associated with students having to commute to north Trinidad?
The reality in this society is that too many are careful not to rock the boat or create social discomforts. However, it is quite safe and comfortable to berate Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Roodal Moonilal but not to question the failure of the government to open those health and educational institutions. Can we say that the students of those areas are having fair access to health care and education in the country? Or are they victims of petty vindictive politicians?
When Mahatma Gandhi stood up to the authorities after he was kicked out of the train in South Africa, several Indians told him that he should put that bad experience behind him and move on. As history has shown Gandhiji did otherwise. Gandhiji did not wish to be politically correct – close his eyes and ears to discrimination and eat his chapatis.
When Gandhi returned to India after the First World War, the Indian National Congress was a sham. It was reduced to a forum to petition Her Majesty for minor concessions. The idea of liberating India from British rule was distant. The leadership of the Congress was in the hands of a British-educated elite that have come to accept the superiority of western civilization. Thankfully, Gandhiji was able to shake them out of their stupor and rouse them into action.
The Hindu community has lost a large percentage of its members to the Evangelical Church. Has anyone bothered to find out if their living conditions have improved? I know that they continue to live in communities that are ravaged by poor roads, floods, and irregular water supplies. Their religious status has shifted but, in most cases, these converts remain poor, illiterate, and miserable except for the pastors and their families.
In India Hindus like J Sai Deepak, Subramanyam Swami and an array of sons and daughters are at the forefront of fighting against this tide of conversion sponsored by the west and global jihadi outfits. Where are the warriors for social justice in our community? Why are they not engaging in debates on this dreaded issue that snatches the soul of a human being making him half of a man or woman? Is it Vijay Maharaj, the Secretary General of the Maha Sabha that is blocking their activism now that Sat Maharaj is no more? Or would they address this social problem after Vijay Maharaj is removed as Secretary General and they and their wives, daughters, sons-in-law, and sycophants take over the Maha Sabha?
The truth is too many want to be politically correct, not to be viewed by their friends as ‘divisive and not upholding the plural nature of the society.’ It is alright that their Christian colleagues support such evangelization but not for them to defend their communities from such social assaults. Their reaction is to fight down Moonilal, Kamla, and Vijay.
Arjuna was rebuked by Sri Krishna for wanting to be politically correct. Arjuna was more concerned about how society would look upon him for engaging in a war with his cousins and other elders. Had Krishna not rebuked Arjuna for his defeatist mindset, the Bhagavad Gita would not have been spoken and available to us today. It is time for Hindus to shun this intrusive culture of political correctness before it is too late.
Preserving the food chain is important but more critical is social justice or dharma. To ignore social evils and injustices to preserve that status quo is to murder one conscience. Is this the existence that we are ascribing to ourselves?