Is India a Hindu Nation?

Maria Wirth is a person of German origin who has embraced Hindu religion has articulated this question. She has argued that if Germany with 59% of population calls itself Christian nation why India is apologetic to call itself Hindu nation with 80% or more of population practicing Hindu Religion in one way or the other. Her full article is here.

Her question is appropriate but she could not find answers. Infact there are many reasons, why it has not happened.

A simple reason offered by a Nehru baiter would be that since he was a Muslim converted to non practicing Hindu, he did not do it. His grandfather is stated to be last Kotwal (Police Commissioner) of Delhi with the name Ghiazudeen Gazi and after 1857 freedom war they changed the surname. I couldn’t find the factual foundation of this fact either way. How ever let’s consider serious reasons.

If we look at historical monuments it will be apparent that symbols of Hinduism are found even today in the central Asia, Persia, Yezdis (Sun and fire worshipers), Uzbekistan (who count numbers in Hindi) Afghanistan in the west and right upto Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and other the Asean countries. Asean countries may have different methods of worshiping today, they continue with traditional Ramleela, in one form or other. Numerous temples and images of Hindu Gods cover this entire landscape. Some say that Saudi Arabia too has statues similar to Hindu Gods.

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