The other day we chose not to go into town because the Hindus were celebrating the consecration of the new Ram Mandir or temple built on a long-disputed site between Hindus and Moslems, in Ayodhya, northern India. You may have already heard about this since the national media gave it quite prominent coverage.

The Hindus believe Ayodhya is the birthplace of Ram, a major Hindu deity, and considered a Supreme Being. After Mogul rulers destroyed an earlier Hindu temple back in 1528, they built Babri Mosque on the same site. In 1858 waves of communal rioting for the site began, culminating in 1992 when Hindu nationalists destroyed the mosque. Then in 2002, 58 Hindu activists returning from Ayodhya were burned to death when their train was set on  fire in the state of Gujarat. Days of brutal violence were unleashed that left more than 1,000 people dead, the majority of them Muslims. Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat at the time, was accused of complicity by allowing the Hindu groups to carry out the revenge and turning a blind eye to police involvement. Modi denies any wrongdoing.

All too nationalistic for our liking. And how did the country’s 200 million Muslims feel? Not to mention the Buddhists, and Christians that also inhabit India? How can Modi’s slogan ‘1.4 Billion One Dream’ apply to a subcontinent as diverse as India.

The following day, we were in the local chai shop when we overheard an animated conversation between a distinguished elderly gentlemen and young man.

Both agreed that Modi’s Ram is quite different from Mahatma Gandhi’s Ram. The young man accused the BJP of mixing religion and politics and exploiting the wave of religious sentiments for maximum electoral gains. The BJP has harnessed Hindu people’s devotion towards Ram and weaponized it,” The older man agreed and quoted Gandhi saying, by Rama Rajya (Kingdom) he did not mean a Hindu state. What he meant was the rule of God, where the weakest would secure justice.” The young man continued with: “For Gandhi, Ram was not an angry god, but a symbol of benevolent divine power.”

Gerard and I are disturbed by the drift globally toward extremism on the right, as personified by Trump, Putin, Netanyahu,. Orban and Modi. We are living in a strange time.

Gerard and I are disturbed by the drift globally toward extremism on the right, as personified by Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, Orban and Modi. We are living in a strange time.