It was not without reason that Trump castigated CNN as fake news. CNN has a history of spreading misinformation and brazen lies. Take for instance, the show ‘Believer’, created in partnership with Reza Aslan, who is lampooned by many as a closet Islamist. The first episode of the show covered ‘Hinduism’, predominantly as a religion that practises cannibalism, follows a rigid caste structure and even described Varanasi as a city of the dead. No wonder that many Western audiences, especially those seeped in Abrahamic thought, identify Hinduism as some sort of demon worshipping religion.
The title of the show, ‘Believer‘, could not have been more improper. Something like “CONVERT YOU PAGAN HINDUS-why Islam and Christianity are superior”, would have been cumbersome, but more apt. In the troubled times we live in, shows such as ‘Believer’ only tend to widen the gulf between communities leading to violence, like the one witnessed in Kansas or Seattle. Instead of spreading awareness about cultural differences between the East and the West, CNN and Reza Aslan are simply reinforcing blatantly false stereotypes.
For centuries, Hindus and India have been derided as nothing more than snake charmers. Who can forget NYT’s cartoon lampooning India, standing with a cow and asking for membership to the Elite space club. Between Islamic invaders and British colonizers, India lost a treasure trove of cultural artifacts, monuments, languages and what not to looting, pillaging and desecration.
With their chant of ‘Jesus the savior’, Western missionaries sought to label native Indian practices as superstitions. Using all the means at their hands, they sought to proselytize and harvest natives’ souls for their Lord above. Who can forget the portrayal of Hinduism as ‘ A religion more shameful or indecent has never existed amongst a civilized people’ or of Hindus as ‘a people exceedingly depraved’ during the British colonial era. Rampant Hinduphobia and Indophobia in the West, especially in the US has resulted in such avoidable controversies as ‘Caifornia text book controversy’ or the ‘Rajan Zed prayer protest’ among others.
Fortunately, this time around there were many voices willing to challenge Reza Aslan’s interpretation of Hinduism for cheap publicity.
For one, Tulsi Gabbard, the Hindu Democratic representative from Hawai chose to openly confront CNN and Reza Aslan for their despicable coverage of world’s third largest religion.
In a Facebook post, she decried CNN’s and Reza Aslan’s attempts to sensationalize coverage to show Hinduism in poor light, e.g. the showing of a group of Hindus under the caption ‘Cannibals’. Tulsi Gabbard blasted CNN for their blatantly false coverage which spoils inter-community relations, leading to ethnic slurs, hate crimes and what not. She pointed out that CNN’s lurid interpretation of Hinduism was far removed from US’s religious pluralism and tolerance. Not only Gabbard, but a host of Hindu leaders and writers have slammed CNN for their shameful coverage of one of the world’s most ancient religions.
For centuries, Indians and Hindus have suffered from stereotypes and ethnic slurs. We need more international voices like Tulsi Gabbard to stand up and show the liberal West, the duplicity of their ways.
