Pavan Varma said Hinduism is inclusive by its very philosophy. (File photo)
New Delhi:
Hinduism is a great religion but "ignorant and illiterate people, who think of themselves as its self-anointed protectors", are trying to devalue it, said JDU leader Pavan Varma.
"I want to proudly say that I am a Hindu, but I want to say that for right reasons," the diplomat-turned-politician said at the launch of his new book 'Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker' at the Nehru Memorial Library in New Delhi.
"I refuse to be a mute witness to the reduction of such a great religion (Hinduism) to its lowest common denominator by ignorant and illiterate people who think they are self-anointed protector of Hinduism," Mr Varma said.
The book was formally launched by BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Congress leader Karan Singh.
Hinduism is a grand edifice of thought and is inclusive by its very philosophy and is based on shastras, debates, ability to listen, to accommodate and much more, he said.
"I want those traditions to be respected- of inclusion, not exclusion; of assimilation, not hatred; of dialogue, not violence. We need to have the knowledge of Hinduism and its great philosophy and if we don't, it's like to be reduced to that level," he added.
Congratulating the author for his book, Mr Singh jokingly remarked that Mr Varma has covered quite some distance from writing about 'Kamasutra: The Art of Making Love to a Woman' in 2007 to the great theologian Adi Shankaracharya now.
"Let me commend Pavan, because when I met him first 12 years ago he was an unusually intelligent foreign service person, but since then he has moved from Kamasutra to Adi Shankaracharya," he said.
"I want to proudly say that I am a Hindu, but I want to say that for right reasons," the diplomat-turned-politician said at the launch of his new book 'Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker' at the Nehru Memorial Library in New Delhi.
"I refuse to be a mute witness to the reduction of such a great religion (Hinduism) to its lowest common denominator by ignorant and illiterate people who think they are self-anointed protector of Hinduism," Mr Varma said.
The book was formally launched by BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Congress leader Karan Singh.
Hinduism is a grand edifice of thought and is inclusive by its very philosophy and is based on shastras, debates, ability to listen, to accommodate and much more, he said.
"I want those traditions to be respected- of inclusion, not exclusion; of assimilation, not hatred; of dialogue, not violence. We need to have the knowledge of Hinduism and its great philosophy and if we don't, it's like to be reduced to that level," he added.
Congratulating the author for his book, Mr Singh jokingly remarked that Mr Varma has covered quite some distance from writing about 'Kamasutra: The Art of Making Love to a Woman' in 2007 to the great theologian Adi Shankaracharya now.
"Let me commend Pavan, because when I met him first 12 years ago he was an unusually intelligent foreign service person, but since then he has moved from Kamasutra to Adi Shankaracharya," he said.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
