Literature today 2024: The stage of Sahitya Aaj Tak has been decorated once again. A literary fair is being organized at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chadha National Stadium for three days from November 22 to 24. Sahitya Aaj Tak 2024(Literature today 2024) On the second day of ‘Hindu Civilization: Question of Identity and Symbol’, writers Pawan Kumar Verma, Rahul Dev and Akshay Mukul participated in the session and held a meaningful discussion.
Why did the question of identity and symbol arise with respect to Hindu civilization?
On why the question of identity and symbol of Hindu civilization arose, Pawan Kumar Verma says that in our last 5 thousand years of history, no proper study was done on the original thought, achievements and traditions. Hindu civilization is a very ancient civilization, about which what should be taught has not been taught in our schools and universities. It is important for us to understand the understanding, the knowledge, the things that make us proud of the Hindu civilization. This is not happening, hence the question of Hindu symbol and identity arose.
Why not Indian civilization instead of Hindu civilization?
At the same time, writer Rahul Dev says that people do not call it Indian civilization instead of Hindu civilization. Bharat is a word before Hindu. The word Hindu came much later. What is the need to call India and Indian as Hindu names? This is a geographical noun. The word Hindu is not mentioned even in ancient religious texts. Definitely from India. At the same time, the name Sanatan is mentioned in the Vedas and Upanishads.
Rahul Dev further says that Sanatan Dharma means truth, non-violence, peace, kindness and compassion. But Sanatan Dharma is being abused a lot. We are moving away from these things. How can Sanatan be only from India? It belongs to everyone. What is the need to give it a name? Yes, it can definitely be given a Vedic name. Why everything that came from our religion also came from the Vedas.
About this Pawan Kumar Verma says that it can be called Vedic civilization or religion, there is nothing wrong in it. But more than what name we should give it, it is more important that we understand what is the basic principle of what you want to call Indian civilization or Sanatan Dharma. It is important to understand this. This is not mentioned in our books, in common life or in schools. When we do not understand our vast heritage, then what will we understand about Sanatan Dharma? Homosexual. In such a situation, the new contractors of the Hindu religion are taking it in the wrong direction. Restrictions and injustice towards the weak and women are not Hindu civilization. We don’t want that narrow-mindedness again.
The contribution of Geeta Press and its criticisms
At the same time, Akshay Mukul, author of Geeta Press and Making of Hindu India, while talking about Geeta Press, says that Geeta Press is making many religious books including Ramcharitmanas and Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta available to the common Hindu people, which is a good thing and also necessary. But a section of society is against entering the temple. Due to this, Geeta Press’s relationship with Gandhiji deteriorated and never improved again. He had a different opinion about the practice of Sati and the Sharda Law, in which the age limit of girls was increased, which would not be acceptable to the public today. Geeta Press worked to spread religious traditions and culture among the people, but there is also a need to speak out and criticize their narrow thinking.
Moving on to this point, writer Rahul Dev says that I don’t know how much information I would have had about the scriptures if Geeta Press had not been there. He published many good religious texts, but he worked only by keeping his vision within certain limits. Religion and tradition must be interpreted according to the times. It would have been better if Geeta Press had considered his work according to the contemporary mindset. Even though he didn’t do it, that doesn’t diminish the usefulness of the good things he did.
