Beware the Insidious Invader

By Rajitha Ratwatte

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the way all things Indian and the ancient authenticity of Hindu culture has started to take prominence in today’s world? We are all aware of the Mohenjo-Daro civilization and its claims to be one of the foremost centers of human civilization.

Here in Aotearoa – New Zealand, the knowledge of these matters may not have been taught in the past but right now it is happening. It is happening with a vengeance and so powerfully that an eternal sceptic like yours truly, is inclined to wonder if dark forces are at play.

Remember how, virtually in the blink of an eye ‘Muslim Culture’ had overtaken the world? Backed by Oil money and the ultra conservatives in Saudi Arabia, suddenly everyone was wearing traditional dress, prayer times and even prayer rooms at workplaces became compulsory and in some situations the law of the land was changed to accommodate things that had done very well in the past without the undue emphasis, that they now required. We now know how fundamentalist organisations became terrorists and the mayhem that ensued. The resurgence of White fundamentalism that sprang up as a result, we are still trying to come to terms with in Aotearoa.

Everyone is reading about Hindu culture, Krishnamurthi is back in fashion and Sath Guru and his Ashram, not to mention his Motorbike has taken the Internet by storm. Meditation, mind control and ancient yogic culture are gaining prominence once again. Not altogether bad things but remember these things had prominence in the past as well. The Beatles with their swing to Hindu culture, the Hari Krishna Movement and flower power, they all came and went.

The new generation is probably discovering all this for the first time. Probably because they never really learned anything from their parents. Could have been due to the demands the rat race made of the parents combined with GOOGLE which was their font of all knowledge.

There is a lot of authenticity being lent to India by most of the CEOs’ of leading tech companies being Indian, by politicians, the new Vice President of America, the possible next Prime Minister of the UK and assorted members of Parliament and ministers in the first world and of course the mayor of London originating from the Indian Sub-Continent.

The great advantage they have is that English was very much part of their education. This is why they have been able to work themselves into the fabric of western civilizations when the Chinese (their biggest rivals) are going to take another generation or two. We in the Pearl who rejected this language and voted overwhelmingly for the politicians who advocated this, are inevitably, paying the price.

Of course, the Indians brought a whole new work ethic to the west. The original immigrants started with the diaries or the corner shops that they kept open at all hours of the day and by providing service and convenience captured the market. They then provided education to the next generation. Education combined with this unrelenting work ethic led initially to exploitation but has now in this age of political correctness and liberalization, led to dominance.

Are they now beginning to cunningly and insidiously tell all of us how we need to follow their path to success? Their Hindu religion, their Tamil culture and their belief that history should be re-written. New Zealand celebrates Diwali and it is one of two days of the year, the other being Guy Fawkes day, that fireworks are allowed to be bought and lit in private houses!

I was reading how a certain Tamil politician in the Pearl has been pontificating that all our ancient kings were Tamil in origin and had Tamil Names. Even the great Dutta-Gamini, I read, was a Tamil Buddhist who fought against a Tamil Hindu in Elara. This will have to rectified soon unless the present rulers of the Pearl will be linked to the LTTE by default!

The Indians’ turned cricket on its head with IPL. They got all the best cricketers in the world, particularly the bowlers (they already had great batsmen) studied them carefully under Indian conditions and consequently dominated world cricket for a number of years. Meantime they decimated the national teams of other countries and turned cricketers into “pot hunters” and not sportsmen who took pride in representing their Countries. No decision taken by the International Cricket Council can be ratified without Indian approval, so much for the game that has its home at Lords in London.

Everyone is watching the Chinese. The eye is off the Indian Sub-continent and its billion plus population of mostly English savvy people. Plus of course the millions of Indian immigrants who are in almost every country and culture of the world. There is an old poachers trick of going into the jungle accompanied by a tame buffalo that the hunter uses as cover to get close to his prey. Make sure that the Indians are not using the Chinese for this purpose!

I am not saying that this is a bad thing, dominance by hard working educated people. There are Indian Millionaires and even Billionaires who may be seeking cultural dominance. That is what all dominant civilizations have done over time haven’t they? This culture if it is seeking world dominance, is much more refined, has the experience of millennia and will be more subtle than those I have mentioned earlier. I am only saying be aware and make sure that we do not get “blindsided” and have cause for resentment, one more time!