Is Hinduism in Singapore thriving? [Part 7/8]

TLDR: No. There have been open calls to wipe out the Hindu population here with the government not doing anything about it.

பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின் அறம்பிற

செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று. (திருக்குறள் — 297)

If one acts in truth and only truth, one will prosper even without performing other virtuous acts.

We have already highlighted the problems plaguing the community as well as the work we have done to overcome it. Much ink has been shed about how Hindus need to unite and do more, get the youth involved etc. However, an article changed our minds and made us focus on outcomes instead. As a community, we need to set a list of goals that we can use to navigate the future as Singaporean Hindus. For this, truth has to be our beacon (Satyameva Jayate) and we cannot shy away from mistreatment and injustice shown to us. We have shown how Christian organizations are getting a lot more vocal and dismissive of Hindus. In fact, several young Vasantham stars have converted to Christianity and are public about it on social media. In fact Christian churches have been advocating for a religious cleansing in Singapore. Despite our best efforts, Hindus and the government have been silent.

We need to ensure we have enough Hindu public figures and role models as well. Singapore’s neighbouring countries actively discriminate against Hindus, and we are implicitly disallowed from discussing actual genocides of Hindus that may be going on. Without actively discussing these issues, we cannot be strong, we cannot decide what is important to us as a community, and we cannot decide our future direction.

The implicit discrimination that Hindus face is revealed on social media. For example, these are some comments on a positive coverage of the Maha Kumbh Mela by CNA.

Discriminatory comments about a major Hindu event.

Fortunately, in local instances where Hindus committed crimes, there is some attempt to malign foreigners (which also cannot be condoned) but less mocking of Hinduism as a whole.

In other scenarios of Singaporeans misusing the Hindu religion for crimes, most Singaporeans do not associate it with Hinduism. SgHindu began because we could not accept the ignorance and intolerance towards Hindus that was prevalent online and offline. We knew we had to play a part towards giving Singaporean Hindus a voice. By acting as a community, we hope that any future intolerance will be unacceptable not just to Hindus, but to all our fellow Singaporeans.

Read the next part here.