New York : Hinduism is a “wonderful” religion suited for the modern era of uncertainty and questioning because it values incertitude, according to Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor, who also excoriated the politicisation of the faith.
“Hinduism rests on the fact that there is a heck of a lot we don’t know about,” Tharoor said on Thursday during an interactive session at JLF@NewYork, the edition of the Jaipur Lit Festival. What makes it fit for today’s world, he said “the first is the wonderful fact in an era of uncertainty, incertitude, you have uniquely a religion that privileges incertitude”.
About creation, the Rig Veda actually says “where the universe comes from, who made all of this heaven and earth, may be He in the heaven knows, may be even He does not know,” the author noted.
“A religion that is prepared to question the omniscience of the Creator is to my mind a wonderful faith for a modern or post-modern sensibility.
“On top of that, you have got extraordinary eclecticism” and since no one knows what God looks like one is free to imagine God as one likes in Hinduism, the Congress MP said.
Shashi Tharoor, who is the author of Why I am a Hindu, took issue with those who condemn the religion as built on misogyny and discrimination.
‘Imran can be face for peace or voice for hostility’
Tharoor said Pakistan PM Imran Khan has a “fairly clear level” of military backing and could be a “wonderful face” for peace or an “effective voice for hostility” depending on what the Army wants.
Tharoor described Khan as a “fine human being” and a “good guy” whom he has known for a long time.