It's high time now for Hindu religious organizations in Malaysia to come-up with a well rounded Hindu religion classes for Malaysian Hindu population. No doubt that Hinduism is dynamic in its practices and follows many "sampradaya" teachings but majority Hindu population here does not even know that Hinduism has four main denomination which is not in conflict with each other as Ahimsa is their foremost common dharmic principle. Being confused about what is the main authority book on Hinduism, more than 90% of Hindus will answer Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana as the main book. This is true but not accurate.
Further, we're prone to mixing religious believes and traditional practices carried from our forefathers without proper understanding. This leads to conflicting minds in young children who are growing in a plural society.
Books about Hindu religion are too complex and varied in nature. Most are of high intellectual nature like Puranas of yore which depicts moral stories; containing mixed situation, including violence. We experienced children asking thought-provoking questions, comparing with other religions that sometimes even the adults cannot provide adequate and intelligent answers!
So, which book to read to know about Hinduism? Malaysian Hindus are open to many challenges in this far more open society, ascending towards uncontrolled liberal thinking in a diversified race/religion mixture country.Young children, and often the adults too are confused about Hindu religion basic understanding.
Sadly too, many Hindu children in Malaysia don't have proper means to acquire such religious knowledge due to sheer ignorance of parents or social surroundings where they live in, e.g. rural areas and estates, low-income families, broken families etc.
Another main issue is language. Malaysia is culturally diversified and multilingual nation though Bahasa Melayu is the national language, English is widely used and vernacular languages like Tamil, Mandarin, etc, are prevalent among the Malaysian Indians and Chinese.
Hindu children are sent to National schools where Malay language is the main medium of teaching. Though Tamil schools are quite popular with the rural families, urban parent prefers to place their kids in national schools due to the better facilities, well funded by government and wanted these kids to be competent speaking Bahasa Melayu, a language which is compulsory for full certificate award as well prerequisite if wanted to gain University entrance and government jobs.
On the contrary, lately, we are witnessing a surge in awareness to learn this beautiful religion in other part of the world in a systematic way. Western devotees, who had just recently discovered Sanathana Dharma's profound intrinsic values are leaping ahead; learning the religion diligently from the basics, adhering to Hindu tenets correctly and value adding them with proper delivery tools so that their youngsters are implanted with the right thoughts, sound intellectual understanding.
Only after 1980's, when His Holiness Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami reverberated with a loud wake-up call to all Malaysian Hindus to rise and "defend" Hinduism by equipping with sound religious knowledge, had made a huge impact on them to boldly push for internal and external changes. We had made a tremendous transformation since then.Thus, we should be thankful and grateful to this great "Mahan" as the main towering figure who woke-up the sleeping giants in us to be brave and expressive enough seeking major transformation, proudly reclaiming our Hindu religion believes and practices with pride.
The need for common interesting and educational book that unite all the knowledge on Hinduism presented in simple to understand, yet triggers intellectual curiosity to love and practice Hindu religion among young children and adult alike is truly lacking.
Though many independent Hindu religion organization in Malaysia do have religious education, but this is just confined within their group members and occasional devotees who visit their places. A clear comparison can be observed on their personal development of that a child attends proper religious class and those who do not. The former mostly outshines the latter in every aspect of personal development as they grow-up.
Pupil own religion (POR) classes, apart from pupils own language classes (POL) should be a part of the curriculum subject for children of other religions. Hinduism classes must be conducted on specific time and day within school hours in the national schools. I know it's easier to say than done, but with strong willpower and community political will support may materialize these mission, eventually one day!
Hinduism classes must be conducted at a specific time and days within school hours as parents aren't focusing on this aspect at home and for that matter, they completely leave it to self-discovery, traditional pass down of their religious practices or entrust them to trustworthy (sometimes can be untrustworthy organizations) Hindu religious groups, temples and organizations at respective areas or near their residence .
Nevertheless, credit must be given too to the many individuals and organizations that are trying their level best to create greater awareness among the young Hindu generation to love our religion without being fanatical towards other religions. We are seeing many activities being conducted to outreach knowledge thirst Hindus to learn this beautiful religion comprehensively and be proud to be a Hindu.
Let us pray and do our part in any way or means we can to support their activities to boldly move forward spiritual and physical development of Malaysian Hindus.
