The well-known 'Nehru-Gandhi dynasty' of India scarcely requires an introduction. From the days of India's, Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first premier) to his celebrated daughter the mercurial Indira Gandhi to Rajiv and Sonia, to Priyanka and Rahul (pictured right) the Gandhi name in politics now enters a fourth generation. The spell held over many of India's voters appears to be as strong as ever with crowds flocking to see the children of the dynasty enter the murky and on occasion deadly arena of Indian politics.

It should be noted, at this point, that the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is no relation to Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi title was adopted by Indira Gandhi at Jawaharlal Nehru's request. Nevertheless, few other families in Indian politics endanger such reverence and awe or alternative hate and loathing than the Gandhi family. They are accused by critics of encouraging the concept of dynasty into the political fabric after the much vaunted morality of the earlier politicians, as well as having been involved in arms corruption (the Bofors Case), mishandling the Punjab crisis with the attack on the Golden Temple and turning a blind eye to the barbaric anti-Sikh riots of 1984. On the other hand, supporters point to the fact that both Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi were killed in the service of the nation by terrorist groups, and hence the family has sacrificed a lot for India.

Also accused of having contempt for the Hindu majority and ethos of India the Gandhi family has been quick to shed its secular anti-Hindu image when political necessity calls and like many others in their much maligned profession, alternate their ideological positions depending on the audience and circumstance. Thus Nehru could claim that he was a 'Hindu by accident of birth' whilst his grandson Rajiv could call on the introduction of 'Rama Raaj' to India. Known worldwide the family has proved to have greater staying power than any other in South Asia.

The website Hinduunity.org however is not as well known. Based in the United States by expatriate Indians the website is known better for its vitriolic stance on the issue of Hindu politics and issues. The site was promoted by aged activists who were disgruntled members of the Hindu oriented Sangh Parivar who operate under the pseudo name of Rohit Vyasman. In an effort to establish militant credibility with younger more active Hindus the group have created the net personality of Rohit Vyasman to represent the aspirations of the Hindu activists. In their reach they have however failed to influence mainstream Hindu thought with wild theories of secret conversion to Christianity and Islam of virtually the entire Indian political class and others.

Left outside the discourse of political and activist Hindus the Hinduunity.org has recently clashed with the Gandhi family in a manner which has brought them centre stage. Allegations were made by Hinduunity.org that Rahul Gandhi was involved in a gang rape of a young woman. This allegation was duly splashed all over the web site as an earth shaking scoop of the first magnitude. Astonishingly this 'scoop' was totally ignored by the Indian media, the police, the local and national and international news agencies and the main opposition parties like the B.J.P and the Left Fronts.

Not dismayed by the above and discarding advice from the mainstream Hindu groups the H.U pressed onwards until finally they attracted the attention of the Gandhi clan. Outraged, Rahul Gandhi immediately contacted the server to withdraw facilities to the website which was duly withdrawn. It is a matter of history that the HU team managed to reform their forum in a matter of a few weeks.

The question remained - Are we witnessing a deeper malaise within the growing Hindu ranks or the wild ramblings of a handful of geriatrics, lost and alone harping on the perceived solutions to world problems by the utter physical eradication of the 'other'

Modern India has seen a steady growth in the confidence and realisation of Hindu dharma which is now making its presence felt in many parts of society all around the world. The Indian economic powerhouse has helped fuel self belief of many Hindus and the highlighting of issues, both historical and present which are felt to affect Hindu all around the world. Whether or not the person subscribes to the growing feeling of Hinduism, known as Hindutva. The left and self proclaimed secular forces in India are beginning to acknowledge the influence and spread of Hinduism as a defining factor in Indian and world issues which look well set to spread into the century.

Such growth however has also led to the rise of a tiny minority on the fringe of Hindu activities who are working totally at odds with the mainstream Hindu society. The malaise is apparent in India and abroad amongst expatriate communities and an outlet for the perceptions of this frustrated minority can be viewed amongst website such as Hinduunity.org

Normal Hindus dismiss the site as a minor aberration and nothing more than an irritant, the wild ramblings of an irrelevant geriatric clan lost in the political nuances of the 1920's. and the site and its sister offshoots have proved a boon to the anti-Hindutva clan, allowing them to point to the site as an example of so called 'fascist' tendencies with dreams of physical ethnic cleansing and invasions of south east Asia and the west. On many forums the crazed ramblings of the moderators have been held out to deny legitimate space to genuine Hindu grievances. In fact some astute observers are commenting that the site and its offshoots are proving detrimental to the growth and development of Hindutva and proving a (albeit minor) impediment to the further flowering of Hindu dharma on the world stage

Following a millennia of struggle the stage is set for the full growth and appreciation of Hindu Dharma. All around the world people are tuning in to the ancient wisdom of the Holy Vedas and related branches of knowledge and enlightenment. Many more are practising and following beliefs of the ancient sages to help the world to a period of mutual acceptance and peace. With the rapid healthy growth the malignant and diseased cells rapidly fail and die leaving the main body full of strength and vitality.

The depressed and defeatist mentality and the inability to see anything in a positive light that has traditionally dogged some Hindu organisations is rapidly becoming a thing of the past as we march with confidence in to the future

Satymeve Jayte
The Truth will prevail