Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
The word ‘Hindu’ is neither a Sanskrit word nor is this word found in any of the native dialects and languages of India. It should be noted that ‘Hindu’ is not a religious word at all. There is no reference of the word ‘Hindu’ in the Ancient Vedic Scriptures. Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for people living in the Indian subcontinent. In 1966, a five-judge constitution bench of Chief Justice P B Gajendragadkar, K N Wanchoo, M Hidayatullah, V Ramaswami and P Satyanarayanaraju in ‘Sastri Yagnapurushadji’ case had attempted to narrate historical and etymological genesis of the word ‘Hindu’ and arrived at that we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet, it does not worship any one god, it does not subscribe to any one dogma, it does not believe in any one philosophic concept, it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances, in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more. It is a matter of common knowledge that Hinduism embraces within itself so many diverse forms of beliefs, faiths, practices and worship that it is difficult to define the term ‘Hindu’ with precision. The historical and etymological genesis of the word ‘Hindu’ has given rise to a controversy amongst Ideologists; but the view generally accepted by scholars appears to be that the word ‘Hindu’ is derived from the river Sindhu, otherwise known as Indus so to say Hindu is a geographic name rather than a religious name. Thus, if we go by the original definition of the word Hindu, any person living in the land beyond the river Indus is a Hindu and whatever religion he or she practices is Hinduism, the word Hindu is a secular word. Hinduism denotes any religion or religions that are practiced by the people living in the Indian subcontinent. Hindus are persons who regard themselves as culturally, ethnically, or religiously adhering to aspects of Hinduism. Hinduism is a religion that is practiced in the Indian peninsular. There is no data available depicting the actual date of starting Hinduism. It is the oldest living religion on Earth. The Vedas are the most sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The proper word to use for those people who follow the Scriptures of The Vedas is ‘Sanatan Dharma’, not ‘Hinduism’ as is commonly used. They constitute its most foundational work, which every Hindu tradition and sect claims as its source. They also embody the most ancient ritual and spiritual traditions of the world. The world is full of people following different religions and beliefs and from which some religions came into existence only a few years ago while on the other hand, some popular religions have existed for thousands of years. Religion plays an essential role in influencing all aspects of daily life. According to an estimate, there are 21 formal religions around the globe with their followers living in different countries around the globe. Pew Research Institute data says that Hinduism ranked third in position with 1.05 billion followers living in the different countries of the world. Top 10 Countries with the highest number of Hindus in 2020 according to Pew Research are: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United States, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Myanmar. In the coming decades, Hindus are expected to increase both in absolute number and as a share of the overall population in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2010, Hindus made up about 25 per cent of the population in Asia and the Pacific. By 2050, Hindus are projected to make up nearly 28 per cent of the region’s inhabitants. Between 2010 and 2050, the most rapid Hindu population growth, in percentage terms, is projected to occur: In North America 160 per cent, more than six times the expected increase in the region’s overall population (26 per cent). The second-fastest growth among Hindus is anticipated in the Middle East and North Africa 115 per cent, also exceeding population growth in the region as a whole (73 per cent). In addition, Hindu populations are anticipated to grow substantially in the coming decades in Europe 93 per cent and the Asia-Pacific region 34 per cent. This expansiveness in Hinduism is possible by the widely shared Hindu view that truth or reality cannot be encapsulated in any creedal formulation. Hinduism maintains that truth must be sought in multiple sources, not dogmatically proclaimed. Slight decreases are forecast for sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (Pew Research Center). India is home to many famous religions and cultures in the world. Various religions like Hinduism apart from Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism started in India. According to 2011 Population Census, religious population of India is: Hindu 79.8 per cent, Muslim 14.2 per cent, Christian 2.3 per cent, Sikh 1.7 per cent, Buddhist 0.7 per cent, and Jain 0.4 per cent. Many religions are grouped together under the title of Hinduism. Hinduism is the most dominant religion in India. With approximately 80 per cent of India’s population, Hindu religion is present in almost every nook and corner of the country.
