"Hinduism is the greatest religion in terms of metaphysics. We should be proud of that," remarked Justice K M Joseph of Supreme Court

New Delhi 

"Hinduism is the greatest religion in terms of metaphysics. We should be proud of that.  Please don't belittle it," remarked Justice K M Joseph of the Supreme Court.

In his verdict on a case related to renaming of places, the judge - a Christian himself - said, "The heights which Hinduism have in Upanishads, Vedas, Bhagavid Gita is unequal in any system. We should be proud of that". 

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea that sought direction to the Union Home Ministry to set up a panel to restore the names of cities which were changed by Muslim rulers and invaders.

Millennium Park: Jorhat, Assam 

Dismissing a PIL from Ashwini Upadhyay, judges Justice K M Joseph and Justice B V Nagarthna said, "We cannot wish away the invasions. But can't we move forward and deal with the problems at hand".

Justice Joseph also stated: "We have to understand our own greatness. Our greatness should lead us to be magnanimous. I am a Christian. But I am equally fond of Hinduism. I am trying to study it. You read the works of Dr S Radhakrishan on Hindu philosophy". 

Concurring with him, Justice Nagarthna remarked: "Hinduism is a way of life. There is no bigotry in Hinduism". Justice Joseph further said. "If you come to Kerala, it was the Hindu rajas who donated lands for churches, they gave money. That is the history of India. Please understand that". 

"Your fingers are pointed at one community. You must remember India is a secular country," the court said and also telling the petitioner - "Do you want to go back to the past, keep the issue alive and keep the country on the boil?".

According to sources, petitioner Upadhayay disagreed largely and said, "There is another history of India. Due to this kind of nature, Hindus have been wiped off from many historical places. Afghanistan, Pakistan. Even in India, Hindus are minority in seven states, in 200 districts". 

He also maintained,  "Why history should start only from the 15th century or with Ghazni-Ghori? ....The right is not there for foreign invaders..only Indians..What is relationship of Aurangazeb, Tuglaq, Ghori with India?"

Upadhyay also tried to make a cause of his argument by stating that many historical places mentioned in Vedas and Puranas are now named after "foreign looters".

"We have roads after Lodhi, Ghazni, Ghori....there is no single road named after Pandavas, though Indraprastha was constructed by Yudhishtir....Faridabad named after person who looted the city", he maintained.

However, Justice Joseph said, "You run down a particular section of society. India is a secular state, this is a secular forum"".

Justice Nagarathna shared his opinion echoing similar sentiment,  "Hinduism is a way of life, because of that India has assimilated everybody. Because of that we are able to live together. Divide and rule policy of British brought about schism in our society. Let us not bring that back".

"Let us not break society with such kinds of petitions, please have the country in mind, not any religion", Justice Nagarathna said.

The bench dismissed the petition in the ultimate and said, "Actions must be taken which infuse all sections of the society together".

The court ordered, "India that is Bharat is a secular country. A country cannot remain a prisoner of the past. India is wedded to rule of law, secularism, constitutionalism of which Article 14 stands out as the grand guarantee of  both equality and fairness in State action. 

The founding fathers contemplated India to be a Republic which is not merely confined to having an elected President which is the conventional understanding but also involves all sections of people; it is a democracy. It is important that the country must move forward".

ends