Interesting feedback

Here is an interesting feedback emailed to me regarding the Deepavali advert. We do get various feedback and i usually write back without posting it. But this one, perhaps I should share ...

His Email -

The article under the title " Have a meaningful Deepavali" advertised by Zubedy will in no way add value. It is because the whole article is written by a person with half-baked ideas. He does not seem to have full knowledge of what he is writing. It will not create empathy unless one who reads it is apathetic.

In fact, the whole article is a farce, written under the pretext of peace-loving citizen. It back-fires and creates backlash. I do not see any relevance in printing the picture of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy. He is a well-known reformer, well-known critic of Hindu religion, idol worship, and an atheist. He was not in the habit of celebrating Deepavali.

The writer does not seem to know about Hinduism either. Perhaps a certain sect in Hinduism does not prefer to eat beef. But Hinduism does not prohibit eating beef. In Vedas, there are "slogans" asking Hindus to serve beef and intoxicating drinks.

The writer shows true colours when he says "we blast" 'ceramahs' after midnight prayers on loud speakers". Perhaps, one in a thousand mosques, it might happen and that too in areas where only malays reside. Know your facts before you fire. This spoils the purpose of the whole article.

My reply

Salam bro,

On the contrary, I know of all the facts you commented below especially abt Periyar. It is just the Hindus are generally more liberal people who can accept him as part of them – because while he is against religion, he practice it better than those who profess to. In fact I have so many Hindus who called, emailed, sms, facebook, etc thanking me for featuring him.

And no, the ceramah’s are everywhere, just go check the police reports ( but no action lah). In Selangor/KL alone I know of more than 20 mesjids and suraus jolly doing it. And for Muslims sake too, they should not coz Muslim students should concentrate on doing their homework and READ ( the first word of Quranic revelation.)

In the first place there is no such thing as Hinduism. It is a new name evolved after the British occupation and more so since the 19th century. The term is a foreign concept – basically came from the word Hindi, a Persian name for India in the 12 th century. Perhaps the correct way to call the religion is Sanatana Dharma. It is a mosaic of hundreds if not thousands of ‘way of lives’ – and ‘Hinduism’ absorbs all of them – it’s a very sponge like religion.

Vegetarianism for example was a Jain influence. You see, Sanatana Dharma it is an evolving religion that started perhaps more than 5000 years ago. Many ‘silly’ souls ( usually in the form of Muslim and Christian chauvinists) will find a quote from some Hindu text that was written before the Jain influenced to suggest that Hinduism does not prescribe the act to shun meat eating. Poor souls…

Since it is a liberal religion, if a Hindu man chose to eat beef, by all means he can go ahead. As far for the Hindu is concern, he will just delay reaching moksha. No priest or ulama is going to cane him or fined him.

There are some Muslim sect and even Ulama who still think that the world is flat, it would be wrong to suggest that the rest think the same way. There will be some Hindu minority sects ( from the thousands) who suggest that beef is good to eat, I don’t think that it is smart and fair for you to suggest that its ok for all Hindus to do the same.

But, we can agree to disagree.

Thanks for the feedback. Salam, anas