An artist, defender of anything outlandish, lording over everything, and a wanna-be intellectual.

Kamal Haasan, a confused, apologetic Hindu, one that fashionably disowns the faith of his ancestors only to conveniently embrace parts of its generous allowances and non-punitive nature, in order to gain political clout and gain acceptance from Dravidian Stockists.

Mr. Haasan claims to be an atheist and a rationalist. Hinduism is perhaps the only major world religion that does not systemically/institutionally disrespect, taunt, abuse, disown or try to convert an atheist.

Hinduism makes room for every type of believer and non-believer, including the atheists, agnostics, rationalists. I have no issue with disbelievers, as long as their rhetoric covers all belief systems or none at all.

However, you’re sure to get a reaction when you single out one faith, one belief and one culture, innumerable times.

Why is it that the peculiar breed of Indian secularists, socialists, communists, atheists, agnostics, and self-styled activists of all feathers, pick on the flesh and bones of Hinduism but stay the hell away from the slightest of “constructive criticism” of the world’s big two – the sparring Abrahamic religions?

Kamal is one among that flock and he is aware of what would happen if at all he were to stir the hornet’s nest. The memories of Viswaroopam must still be afresh in his mind.

The other rabid critics of Hinduism (the exclusive club of Hindu critics) from Tamil Nadu with affinity for EVR (known as Periyar by his followers), are equally annoying, when they choose to exercise their right of expression only on Hinduism fortunately, they don’t garner pan-Indian attention and are not placed in the “intellectual” category.

Kamal Haasan however, poses a unique challenge to the average Hindu man, woman and child. He is in a position to misuse his reputation for histrionics, acting, the “intellectual” tag and his family’s considerable standing in the arts and business.

He has been around long enough to have tested the waters of Hindu resilience and continues to spew unnecessary, unsubstantiated hyperbole on Hindu matters. Any time Mr. Haasan is bored, laying low, looking for his next work assignment or wanting to kick start his defunct political career, he takes a skinny dip in the murky waters of unsolicited Hindu commentary.

In a recent press meet, Kamal Haasan had said that there was nothing called Hinduism during Rajaraja Chozha’s era and that there was only Saivism, Vaishnavism and Jainism that time. He said that ‘Hindus’ was a term given by the Britishers.

He had also said that it was only after Adisankara that the six religions (Shanmatham) – Saivam, Vaishnavam, Saktham, Kaumaram, Ganapathyam, Sauram – became unified under the umbrella of one religion.

At the outset, it may look like he is speaking a fact. However, this actor who fashions himself as an intellectual has passed of distorted facts as a matter of fact.

Histoical evidence trace Adishankara’s period to the 8th century while Rajaraja Chozha’s reign lasted from 985 CE to 1014 CE. That’s around 200 years difference.

So, even if one were to go by the argument that there was no Hinduism before Adishankara, Kamal’s statement that there was no Hinduism during Rajaraja Chozha falls flat.

Cho Ramaswamy was indeed right – Kamal Haasan is an intellectual among actors and an actor among intellectuals.

But it is not just that. The Chozhas have left innumerable evidences – copper plates, inscriptions, temple edicts – that clearly establish their identity. They were patrons of the Hindu faith that we know today. The worshipped Shiva, Vishnu, Murugan, and every deity of the Hindu pantheon. The name may not have existed then. But then what was Dharma back then is what is Hinduism of today.

Despite making a blatantly false claim, Kamal Haasan lacked the intellectual honesty to clarify that he was wrong. Instead, he apparently acknowledged the existence of Hindu lifestyle to an acquaintance who had shared it on his Facebook.

Kamal Haasan has exposed his Hindu hatred many a time in his career. During an election campaign in a Muslim-dominated area, Kamal Haasan said that the first terrorist of independent India was a Hindu (hinting at Nathuram Godse). To disparage Hindus, he doesn’t have a problem in acknowledging the existance of Hinduism but Chozhas are not Hindus according to him.

His film Hey Ram was another attempt at minority appeasement in which he would’ve shown Hindu nationalists as Nazis.

Does an infinite, inexhaustible amount of collective patience and resilience, guarantee favorable results? How long do you turn a figurative blind eye? Till the eyes turn literally blind, the ears go literally deaf and the mouth goes mute? Hassan’s flair for dramatic statements and unnecessary commentary on Hindu matters that don’t concern him anyway because of his atheistic beliefs, should be restricted to his circle of like minded Hindu hate-mongers. The privilege of public discourse should not be made available to people who, bite the hand that feeds them.

Kamal Haasan and many of his family members may have disowned their pedigree but it’s note-worthy nevertheless because it proves their ingratitude to the lineage and privilege they were born into. It was on account of this lineage and privilege, that got them educated, gave them a head start in life and allowed them access to opportunities that are not easily available to most others . The family comes from liberal, broad-minded Tamil Brahmin stock. While they have the right to be spiritual/religious or irreligious and whatever else, they do not have the right to denigrate and belittle the beliefs of Hindus and Hindus only.

Would a majority of the Muslim and Christian citizens of both declared and undeclared nations, tolerate one-tenth of the contemptible rants of such people against their respective religions?

Haasan has gone on record, admitting that his career benefited from association with Christian institutions / organizations. He has also mentioned that he put his training in the Hindu classical dance form, Bharatnatyam, to use in propagation of a Christian message. His brother, Charu Haasan has gone on record drawing far-fetched, ridiculous parallels between Vedic texts and the Bible – clearly there was an economic, financial benefit to helping direst the Christian word. Actress Suhasini, Charu Haasan’s daughter and Kamal Haasan’s niece, also wife to Tamil film director, Mani Rathnam is a professed atheist as well.

Beware of the dishonarable person that prospers in your land, attains the proverbial heights of success and still speaks ill of it. Gratitude is a trait, a virtue. One ought to be wary of people that lack gratitude because they are not likely to stay loyal are easily swayed by all things, material. Name, fame, opportunism of all types, hold the highest appeal for them. It explains their hypocritical attitude towards life.

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.