Together We Stand

I scrolled through my feed, sipping my favorite cold milk. That was an interesting day, wasn't it? This day, full of odd irony for activism these days. Do you remember that crisis in Palestine and in Rafah? The Internet was abuzz. Celebrities, influencers, and people who had an Instagram account suddenly know so much about global politics. It had all those hashtags and emotional captions with black-and-white pictures. People cared.

But now, Hindus in Bangladesh are facing terrible acts: temples are burned; families are forced to leave their homes; whole communities are targeted. And the people who used to demand from us to "raise our voices" are now silent. Where is "humanity first"? Or does caring only come along when it fits with a popular cause?

I, for one, find all this a very familiar affront. It's only similar to how we've cared less for ourselves for as long as outsiders have come to run our affairs. As Balasaheb Thackeray would phrase it, "I am Hindu, a mad mad Hindu." And guess what? Me too. If it speaks of going mad over what keeps us together, then count me. I would rather be termed 'mad' than see stillness and silence as Hindus in Bangladesh face abuse.

What is even more disturbing about this silence is the hypocrisy. When it was the Palestine crisis, rallies happened all over the world. Celebrities, politicians, and activists filled social media with strong calls for help. But when it comes to targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, hardly any noise. It seems support often disappears when it is not the "popular" group that needs help.

But let us not totally give up. Not everybody remains silent. Many Hindus have risen up to protect and care for these Bangladeshi communities in distress. These aren't your loudly advertised efforts. These quiet expressions of solidarity are acts of silent communion with each other. That reminded me, unity remains to be our greatest strength.

For instance, India and other countries around the world are seeing small but significant movements. People are reconstructing ruined temples and monasteries, letting people know about the horrific deeds, and not allowing the struggle of the Hindus of Bangladesh to be forgotten. The efforts are not intended to create division or hatred but to come together as one global community sharing common values and a sense of justice.

Some of our own Hindus quickly dismiss these efforts. "It's their internal matter," they say, as if borders should decide our caring. The same people who held marches and lit candles for Palestine now ask, "Why cause trouble?" Oh, the irony. If you can march for Gaza, why not speak up for Dhaka?

This has nothing to do with competition in tragedy or belittling someone's pain. And every life counts, while every injustice is something that should cause worry. Still, we can't ignore the inconsistency. In choosing whose pain counts, we say more about us than about the world of which we claim to care so much.

As Hindus and citizens of the world, we have a responsibility-not only to our religions but to humanity. Helping Bangladeshi Hindus is not about hate or fanatic faith. It is a call to return to that feeling of oneness that was eroded over many years of separation.

Let those who stay quiet know that support is not something that is depleted. If you had the voice to raise for Rafah, you have the voice to raise for Rangpur. If you could share for Palestine, you can share for Bangladeshi Hindus. And if you lit a candle for humanity, don't let it burn out when it's our people who need the light.

I am standing with my other fellow "mad Hindus." And all of this, from the fixing of temples and monasteries to sharing of stories and raising awareness in its simplest form, together, we can make a difference. The saffron flag that we carry are symbols not of faith but of strength and unity.

History has proven that by not speaking out, one is in fact agreeing to bad acts. We can't ignore what's happening. This isn't just a fight for Hindus -it's a fight for justice, for all, and for the belief that everybody deserves help.

So, what will you do? Will you stay together or let the world win over one's silence?