Indians, in general, are very hard to please. (If in doubt, think of your boss!) Argumentative, inquisitive (to the point of being irritating), questioning everything, all the time. This is over and above the other key generic feature of being a perennial "doubting Thomas". We doubt everything, everyone, with the result we, more often than not, doubt ourselves the most.

On the other hand some of us are always exaggerating - what we do, who we know, how we feel, etc. An important aspect in all this is that we tend to question even the most basic of things and at the same time get carried away by our surroundings and eventually, paint everyone with the same brush. We tend to easily agree with the viewpoints on our news-channels, irrespective of whether it's right or wrong! We tend to be guided by what one popular person (actor, anchor, whoever) says and start doubting ourselves more than ever.

For example, I know of so many people who discussed, argued, questioned everything after watching a movie which belittled one religion and its religious figures. Nothing wrong in laughing at our faults or a bit of soul-searching; but getting-carried-away is one fantastic characteristic that works perfectly within us.

We work a minimum of 10 to 12 hours a day, not including the few hours you spend commuting to work, if you're in a major city. In fact nowadays, even smaller cities have a considerable commute time to work and back. Assuming you're working on Saturdays - which most people do in smaller cities or if you're in the BPO/IT industry or the criminal mode of working from home (WFH)- the weekend is over as soon as you get up on Sunday morning. In all this, in our effort to be a integral part of the modern society, rat-race, etc. we seem to have lost complete touch with our individuality, our traditions. We try to blend into our surroundings, be part of the crowd, not risk being the odd-person-out ! We seem to have forgotten, who we are !

Nowadays, Tagging people is easy. If you teach your children shlokas/hymns you're traditional. You go to a temple regularly, you're conservative. Speak up strongly for your religious beliefs then you're in danger of being called a "fanatic". You could get branded pretty quickly to be "right-wing" if you as much as mention anything related to strictly following your religious principles/beliefs. But you could be spared a similar branding if you're from some particular communities - in that case you're just following your religion. Why is it that you're "right wing" if you're from one religion and a "faithful believer" if you're from another? But that's a topic for another discussion ;-)

Why is it that we think twice or don't find it "fashionable" to go to the temple regularly? Why do we look over our shoulder to see if someone is watching you go to a temple each week.

Recently, one of my "friends" was very surprised to see me coming back after a function at a local temple, wearing a "dhoti". He said "A-ha, traditional attire" and inquired if there's something special that day. I wondered, if the reaction would be the same if you saw someone wear a skull-cap on Friday or a tie on a Sunday.

Many times we feel "embarrassed" to be seen on the way or coming back from a temple. Is it that we associate going to the temple to being "backward" or conservative or not "modern"? Why is it that we can't find some time each week to go to a temple?

Are we so busy that we can set aside some time to go bow to HIM? Or is it like someone who asked me "I would like to go but I don't know for sure if HE exists?" Or better still I was once told "I would go to the temple, if it will give me peace of mind"

A confession :- Being politically correct is not my forte !

A good portion of "open-minded", liberal Hindus themselves are to blame to this situation. Our argumentativeness takes over, as usual and we start questioning the need for everything.

How many of us actually have a "mandir", however small, in our homes? Do we insist that our children bow to the "Lord"- whoever is your choice, from the 33 koti Devatas we have - every morning for 30 seconds, and if possible say a small prayer. To start with, we have to take the lead and do it ourselves. (BTW, 33 koti devatas - is a topic for another discussion, sometime soon).

When was the last time you taught your children a "shloka" or a hymn? Are most of us not guilty of trying to move "heaven-and-earth" to get our children admitted to a "convent" or "modern" school?

You'll find many Hindus visiting "dargahs" when on vacations, trips, etc. Nothing wrong in it, I say. But first visit the local temple near your home regularly. If you have no qualms putting a handkerchief over your head to be let into the dargah, then it is perfectly fine to go to a temple and follow the rules there.

It's very upsetting to see people coming to temples in shorts, pajamas, bermudas, skirts, etc. And its the men who are the biggest culprits! I have this question to ask of them "Will you go see your CEO wearing these clothes". Is it too difficult to ask that one follows a proper decorum when you're in a holy place. Would you find a person from any other religion going to a gurdwara, church or mosque wearing such clothes? And are we not guilty of turning a blind eye to such things, thinking its better to avoid an argument!?!

Does this have to be taught? Or are we taking this also for granted? Many times, it is the question of "Who will ask me"? I have also observed a situation where a person when stopped inside a temple actually argued, where in the rule book is it written that I cant wear shorts to the temple! Maybe like in other religions, the fear of punishment will have to drive each and every action of ours.

Whilst other religions tell you to "fear" the "Lord Almighty", Hinduism is the only one that tells you to LOVE "HIM". You have the liberty to treat HIM like a child, warrior, husband, mother, father - choose what you want - you're free.

I'm not in any way saying that we should all be ultra-religious or something similar; to each his own. All I'm saying is - Let's give our religion and traditions, the respect it deserves.

We take our traditions and beliefs too much for granted. Yes, traditions have to change with times, and it is changing, and not without a fight in the patriarchal society, we all live in. But it is no reason for us to take belittle what's been handed down to us. It is OUR responsibility to understand, follow and maintain and be proud of it, to the best of our abilities. And that will not come without a concerted effort by each of us and we've to lead by example in our circle of influence.

Surely modernism does NOT have to come at the cost of our traditions !