What exactly is Hindu rashtra?

Letter September 04, 2014
Ironic fact is that immigrants from India are mostly referred as Hindustani, some bigoted even call us Hindus.

ISLAMABAD: I thank Mr Aakar Patel for his very interesting and thought-provoking article “What exactly is Hindu rashtra?” published on August 31.

In this connection, I would like to point out that the origin of the word ‘Hindu’ itself points towards the conquest of present day Pakistan’s geographical area by the Achaemenid (First Persian Empire) in around early six millennium BC.

During that time the people inhabiting around Sindhu river were probably called Sindhus by the conquerors, and since seen (S) changes into hay (H) in the Zand or Pahlavi language, Sindhus changed into Hindus. This fact can also be well understood by recalling that the sacred drink of the Brahmins, ‘Soma’ is called ‘Homa’ by the Achaemenides, both being close cousins.

I fully agree with Mr Ansari, and Ms Heptullah’s point of view, and myself encountered this fact in my 20 years sojourn in Saudi Arabia, where Pakistanese would be referred as ‘hanoud’ (of Hind).

But, the ironic fact is that the immigrants from India here are mostly referred as Hindustani, and some bigoted go to the extent of calling us Hindus, which if they mean of Indian origin, might be understood, but if meant as follower Hindu faith will be a trifle ironic.

M Yousuf Dehlavi

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2014.

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