Such hate-filled ignorance is the modus operandi of the Hindutva ideologue. Christianity was in India long before the British came. In Pakistan – formerly North India – the Muslims preserve a tomb said to be that of Jesus Christ (who supposedly lived-out his life in India following the survival of his crucifixion). Then there is the story of St Thomas who is believed to have been martyred whilst praying in a cave in Tamil Nadu. Even if neither of these stories are true – Christianity probably arrived in India long before it arrived in England. The Buddha, of course, was “Indian” and born a high caste Hindu (Kshatriya). Buddhists are reformed Hindus and were not foreign (or violent) invaders (Marx refers to Buddhists as practicing “rational Brahmanism”). Muslims did invade a “Buddhist” India, and did use violence against the Buddhists who refused to fight back. Only the followers of Brahma took to the field before being defeated. Yes – followers of Brahma still existed in Buddhist India – being a manifestation of Buddhist tolerance.
