A series of articles by Acharya Sri KR Manoj ji, Founder & Director of Aarsha Vidya Samajam.
Article 1: Distortions, misinterpretations, brainwashing, everywhere!!
This happened in 2017. Athira, a native of Udma, Kasaragod who had converted into Islam and become ‘Ayesha’, had returned to Sanathana Dharma as Athira, after attending classes at Aarsha Vidya Samajam. Before leaving home, she had left a letter to her parents trying to convince them into accepting Islam too. Even today that letter is being widely propagated by an organization with another person’s voice. That organization is “Niche of Truth”. A question was raised in a public forum to its founder MM Akbar. That question and MM Akbar’s answer to it is still available on MM Akbar’s YouTube channel under the title “Athira Manasilaakkiya Sanathana Dharmam” (which means Sanathana Dharma as understood by Athira). Mentioning the relevant parts of the question below.
Question: “Athira who believes that Islam is a religion of tolerance, writes a 22-page letter to her parents, and leaves home to learn Islam. Later, after a 22-day long stay at Aarsha Vidya Samajam, this sister who studied Islam in extreme depth, stated that Islam is a wrong religion. Can you explain what Athira said about Sanathana Dharma?”
MM Akbar’s reply: “So friend, you are asking me to comment about what Athira, a sister who learned so deeply about Islam, and proclaimed her Islamic knowledge and commitment to Islam to all of us through her 22-page letter, emphasizing the depth of her belief to her parents, is now saying after her return to Hindu religion.”
“We know about this Aarsha Vidya Samajam. If you ask me what is going on there, I would say it is torture and brainwashing which no common human can bear. They challenge the student by asking them questions and posing criticisms from all four directions using various translations of the Holy Quran. Her speech today is a product of that. That speech is only from her tongue. It remains to be seen if it is from her heart.” (MM Akbar tries to dodge the question about Sanathana Dharma by blaming Aarsha Vidya Samajam! But when the person who asked the doubt about Sanathana Dharma repeated his question, Akbar said this.)
MM Akbar: They are terming Sanathana Dharma which is nothing but Haindava Dharma. This religion is nothing but “Varnashrama system”. In reality, only those philosophies that conform with the “Varnashrama system” have prevailed in India. All the Paurohityas have destroyed anything that doesn’t. The reason for all this is because they questioned the “Varnashrama system”. Those who questioned this “Varnashrama system” that divided humans into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Chandalas, even those within the system have only been severely discredited and shunned. Meanwhile, Dwaitas and Adwaitas have had their place in India. Samkhyas and Vaisheshikas have existed in India. All of them had fundamentally accepted the “Varnashrama system”. The Dharma or Sanathana Dharma these people are referring to is in fact “Varnashrama system”. Nothing else! What other Dharma are they talking about? The Sanathana Dharma they are talking about has never existed in the history of India. What they mean is only “Varnashrama system”. What they want is a social order based on the “Varnashrama system”. We must understand that these are different forms of dividing humans and oppressing the Chandalas and Shudras while giving Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas the power to rule and exploit the country. (Note how “Varnashrama system” is used atleast 8 times in a short span of time while explaining Sanathana Dharma.)
Today, when I examined the controversies related to Sanathana Dharma are are widely rampant today, the old Straw Man Fallacy employed by MM Akbar crossed my mind today.
(What is Straw Man Fallacy?
The straw man fallacy is an argument that disturbs and twists the opposition’s stance to make it convenient to rebut. The person committing the straw man fallacy gives the impression of having dealt with an argument while actually not addressing its core aspects.
When one attacks a twisted version of the opponent’s stance, they can be said to have committed a straw man fallacy. The term is said to come from the idea of an imaginary man of straw or scarecrow who is seen as a weak adversary.)
Instead of learning a philosophy seriously on the basis of its authoritative principles, they distort, misinterpret, and criticize in ways that are easy for oneself by blindly disputing others and misleading them. They move the goalpost to a convenient place and shoot the goal. This logical fallacy is called Straw Man Fallacy. This old method of ‘misinterpretation’ can be seen everywhere today.
All the arguments relating to Sanathana Dharma and Varnashrama System will be answered in the next article onwards.
Before that, this narrative needs to be answered. Did you notice another comment by MM Akbar? “Sanathana Dharma has never existed in history!” This is his discovery! This is a constant argument raised by not only Akbar but many other critics of Hindu Dharma. But according to them, all the troubles in history have been because of Sanathana Dharma! They confidently claim! Weird justifications!
Haven’t you heard some famous people say this – “What is Hindu Dharma? There is no such religion. Why are you proud of a non-existent religion?” Although Hindu Dharma doesn’t exist according to them, they have endless criticisms and accusations against it! Let’s not forget that according to them, all the “problems” in the world from the beginning of time, especially that in India are because of a “non-existent Hindu Dharma”!
Some politicians often ask “Who are Hindus here? There is no such section called Hindus. In Kerala, there are castes such as Brahmin, Ambalavasi, Nair, Ezhava, Thiyya, Vishwakarmaja, Vellal, Nadar, Dheevar, Pulayar, Parayar etc. But where are Hindus?”
The question is relevant. Majority of Hindus are only Hindus because they mention ‘Hindu’ in the religion column. But then a question arises. The argument is that there is no such thing as Hindu! Ok, agreed. Then why do you constantly mock the “non-existent” Hindu Dharma and consider it as the root cause of all troubles? If Hindus don’t exist, then why portray them as an imaginary majority?! In any case, they will never claim that Christianity and Islam did not exist. But how can you justify these “established religions” – organized religions with enough money, influence, and manpower – need to be protected under minority status? Whom do they need protection from? From the “non-existent” Hindu? If there is no Hindu Dharma or nation, then why appease certain sections with anti-secular minority rights and the benefits of Sachar Committee and Paloli Committee?
Not sure if these questions will get answers!
Let us find out!
(To be continued…)