After a long time of reading depressing, anti-Hindu, anti-India and Hindu-perscution news I received information about the proposal of the state government of Karnataka to renovate and rejuvenate 20,000 temples. This is indeed heartening to note, Hindus, despite being the majority in the country, have been at the receiving end of humiliating neglect bordering on persecution since the past several hundred years. During pre-independence era it was at the hands of foreign rulers who were hell bent upon killing or converting the people and post-independence successive “Secular” governments at the state-level as well as at the center took upon the role to suppress Hindus and deny even basic rights. On the other hand minorities in the country were given special privileges, concessions and encouragement to persecute the majority. Now I hope a new resurgence of Hinduism will begin from Karnataka.
Coming back to the news report, the government has taken serious exception to the fact that several temples don’t have any priests and no worship/ prayers were taking place. Isn’t it a sad fact to note that out of 34,000 temples in the state only 185 are self sufficient. What was happening to all the money that was raised at temples? The money was being used by previous governments to fund Haj pilgrimage of Muslims, renovation of churches and funding other anti-Hindu activities.
The government hopes to invovle film stars, sportspersons and NRIs and launch a campaign to raise funds for renovation works of temples. The establishment is also planning to recover temple lands lost to encroachments and use the funds acquired thereof for improvement of religious spaces across the state.
This is perhaps the only state government in the country which is taking a slow and measured step towards helping restore Hinduism’s respect and give it the necessary dignity in the world. May their tribe increase and more state governments act in similar fashion.
