Namaste,
It may be true that outsiders coined a name for the original people of the Indian sub-continent, but the term Hindu is what we use to identify ourselves and how others look at us. It is not a derogatory term, just a word invented for the sake of a religious/ethnic grouping. The name of the forum that we are members of is called the Hindu Dharma Forum, the sub-section that I am making the post in is 'I am a Hindu'. So, there is no going back and getting all steamed up about our identity. Time does not march backwards. Agonizing over a mere word is a worthless cause to pursue. Yet one of our members seemed very disturbed and had this to say, "I would not use the word 'hindu' as this itself is a coined term but that is (a) whole different subject (al)together."
Let us live our lives in a constructive way to enhance our spiritual quotient instead of being tied down in 'Jalpa' and going through endless debates about topics that in the grand scheme of things don't matter. I don't expect anyone to follow my line of thought and I don't expect others to try to convince me that they are right and I am wrong. Live and let live. If the HDF rules are not palatable to someone, (s)he can always start her/his own forum and propagate only one point of view. Setting up a permanent residence in the 'Jalpa' section of HDF is bound to result in undesirable acrimonious behavior, which the moderators may not tolerate and ban the person.
Yes, I am a Hindu and feel fortunate to be one!
Pranam.
PS, I stand corrected. Per the link provided by hinduism♥krishna in post #5 below, the word Hindu in its various forms, had been in use for many centuries by different groups in the preIslamic period. So, it is of Indian origin. Anti- Hindu, anti-India Romila Thapar lies again. Thank you hinduism♥krishna for the link.
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