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AN ESSAY ON HINDUISM

Sikhs have imitated them out of ignorance. When Lord Morley gave a constitution to India and gave therein a special representation for Mohamedans, the Jains in Bombay Presidency came forward, and contrasting themselves with the Hindus demanded a separate representation.^[1]

The most important test by which the place of a religious body or sect can be judged is, whether that sect is socially separate. Does a man who may join the sect lose his caste thereby? Can people of that sect marry with Hindus who do not belong to that sect? Do the members of that sect pollute Hindus? If the sect is not separate in this sense, then the sect is a Hindu sect. At present Hindus who are not Sikhs intermarry with Sikhs. So Hindus of Gujrath who are not Jains intermarry with Jains, so these sects do not form a social body outside the Hindus. For the same reason Brahmos are a Hindu sect.

But some sects have practically become castes. In that case, the question whether a sect is Hindu or not can be decided by asking the following questions:—

(1) Does that sect adopt Hindu Gods?

(2) Does that sect regard Brāhmaṇas as sacred?

(3) Does that sect regard as sacred any of those works or documents which Hindus regard as sacred?

men wish to create divisions in the people of India, for political reasons. They say this. Hindus think that Sikhs are Hindus; Sikhs think that they are Hindus; but Englishmen do not think so!!!

↑ Very similar has been the attitude of castes in the Maratha country, whose claim to be classed as Brāhmaṇas has not been gener. ally admitted. Members of these castes, when among Hindus, are anxious to assert their claim to Brāhmaṇahood, but when they approach a European for a position, they generally give the popular name of their caste, and conceal the fact that they consider themselves as Brāhmaṇas, as there is a general impression that a Brahmaņa applicant is less likely to be favoured by the British.

[1] Very similar has been the attitude of castes in the Maratha country, whose claim to be classed as Brāhmaṇas has not been gener. ally admitted. Members of these castes, when among Hindus, are anxious to assert their claim to Brāhmaṇahood, but when they approach a European for a position, they generally give the popular name of their caste, and conceal the fact that they consider themselves as Brāhmaṇas, as there is a general impression that a Brahmaņa applicant is less likely to be favoured by the British.

[1]