Like the caste system and burning of widows?
By contrast, witch hunts still happen in India, as well as gang rapes and mutilations, on a level completely unheard of in the west.
And the caste system is still in effect, although not officially.
I trust you've seen the massive protests, and I hope it's a sign that something is being done. Based on reports of political corruption and indifference from the population, unfortunately I don't have much hope for it.
I dont understand why you keep bringing western civilization, probably because you think I am a westerner, I am not. So stop the finger pointing.
Which ways, specifically? Certainly not health nor longevity.
This rewrite of history to make ancient Hinduism appear much greater is very similar to the history rewrite currently happening in China, to retroactively make Han Chinese appear as a superior and united culture.
That is a very uncharitable view. For centuries, trade flourished between east and west, and there was widespread exchange of both goods and ideas. The racism and distrust of "orientals" or "easterners" didn't come until much later, primarily in the era of colonialism (a seriously black mark on western history, as you know) and it didn't actually put a stop to trade and exchange of ideas.
>"So it's very difficult for people who have lived and educated in the West to realize that Eastern civilizations were at the height of glory once."
Not at all. We are very much aware of the great history of India, China, the Arab world and northern Africa, to name a few key areas where great civilizations of the ancient world flourished. Mostly in broad terms of course, it's hard enough to know every detail of your own history, never mind one that happened halfway around the world.
But similarly, you can say that it's very easy for people who have lived and been educated in the east, to not realize the heights reached by western civilizations. One's own history is much closer, obviously.
>"When Indian sages were debating intricate points of philosophy, people in the West were still in caves and lead a tribal existence."
That is not a very charitable view. In this time period, the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations flourished, and you would hardly call them tribal cave people.
Some people in the west (especially in the colder, harsher northern areas) lived in tribal societies, just as some people in the east did. But to completely ignore the great civilizations around the Mediterranean sea is not a very informed view to take.
>"Hindu metaphysics is much superior to any other metaphysical system in the world."
By which measure? Remember that contemporary western civilizations also had intricate spiritual and philosophical systems.
>"It's easy to be blinded by the current events and lose perspective."
I will contend that it is much easier to be blinded by past glory, and especially a historically "massaged" and "improved" view of ancient history. The danger of having a backwards perspective is that you become blind to current events and the future. We cannot live in the past, and "we were great once, you know" is a dead end, not a way forward.
Personally, I am disturbed by this strong rise of hindu nationalism (and nationalism in general), because we have seen what it can lead to. Massacres, world wars, conquest of "lesser people", widespread oppression, economies set back by decades or even centuries. We should endeavor to never repeat these mistakes.
You do not know me, nor do you know "my people". I would appreciate it if you refrained from any further pointless stereotyping and blatant misconceptions. Thank you.