High education, modernity or the rising standards of living have no direct bearing on human values

Not truly Asian Tarun Vijay The Times of India 9 May, 2007

My last visit to Kuala Lumpur and its outskirts showcased a vibrant, futuristic society which boasted a booming economy and the strength to resist “western pressures”, as they tried to put it...Unfortunately, it has one again proved that high education, modernity or the rising standards of living have no direct bearing on human values or an egalitarian civil behaviour. Like the 9/11 “martyrs”, who were born and bred in a free, democratic civil society, Malay rulers too have fallen victim to extreme forms of religious fanaticism, at the same time wishing to project their country as a “truly Asian” destination.

Of late, minorities are subjected to persecution and barbarism that was unheard of a couple of years ago. Temples are razed, Islamic rites are forced through Sharia even on those who are non-Muslims, and freedom to worship and propagate one's religion has to pass through the laws of Mullahcracy, which has shown a power to undo any modernism and mullah-promised tolerance to a different view point and freedom of religious practices...In Malaysia, Islamic law forbids people born to Muslim families to change religion...

There was a time when the Asian spirit was represented by Buddha and Gandhi. Now should we allow it to be expressed through Islamic terror? The author is the Editor of Panchjanya, a Hindi weekly brought out by the RSS. The views expressed are his personal.