SPECIAL ISSUE

July 23, 2001: Tony Brown apologizes to Hindus

By Frank Parlato Jr.

Chicago: In the aftermath of a controversial radio broadcast on Hinduism — reported first by J.V. Lakshmana Rao in India Tribune — TV and radio talk show host Tony Brown apologized to Hindus, and said he plans to broaden sympathies between Indian Americans and others in the US.
“The truth is I made a mistake,” Brown told India Tribune. “The errors I made were made out a misunderstanding of Hinduism, not out of malice. I guarantee you, I will be more sensitive.”
Brown is one of the best known black commentators in the US. His TV show, Tony Brown’s Journal, is the longest running TV series in the history of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Brown said he hopes to clear up misunderstandings arising out of his June30 WLS (Chicago, 890 AM) broadcast. Brown’s comments provoked a barrage of complaints from the Hindu community. Both Brown and WLS radio received e-mails and phone calls from Hindus upset by the show, and the report published in India Tribune about it.
Brown said that some of his comments were taken out of context. Nevertheless, Brown opened a vein of debate and his response was immediate. “As journalists, we must search for truth,” he said. From the start, Brown expressed remorse for hurt he might have caused Hindus. “I am sensitive to the danger of hate crimes that threaten new immigrants who could be victimized by bigots who will use the slightest excuse to attack a minority group with different religious ideas,” he said. Brown added that some opinions expressed on his show were not his own, but reports of others’ views of Hinduism - including the Jehovah Witnesses’s Watchtower publications, and Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput. “Some comments that I made although from what I considered reputable sources - proved hurtful to some Hindus,” Brown said. Brown not only apologized on air during his July 14 show, but also issued a written apology, a copy of which was sent to the India Tribune. “The statement(s) I made (about Hinduism) were derived from either books or articles that I read,” Brown said in his statement.
“Still, I had not considered the possibility of bigots using the information to persecute the Hindu Indian minority in this country. Notwithstanding, that does not excuse me from the pain I have caused by not being more circumspect and the political target that I offered to those who would exploit (even innocently) those remarks by taking them out of context for their own political purposes or due to their own fears,” he added
To rectify lingering misconceptions, Brown invited Swami Atmajnananda, abbot of the Washington DC branch of the Ramakrishna order, to appear on his radio show on July 21 to dilate on Hinduism and answer questions from callers. Brown also invited J.V. Lakshmana Rao, managing editor of India Tribune, to participate in the discussion. Swami Atmajananda told the India Tribune he welcomed the opportunity to speak about Hinduism, but was not concerned about the controversy. “It is not something I would pay much attention to,” the Swami said. “But it’s important for all religions to be understood. People have a very distorted view of what Hinduism is. (Brown) will learn something and others will learn something. It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”
Brown said he plans to probe Hinduism further by inviting two Swamis to appear on his PBS TV show in September. Referring to the suffix at the end of all Swamis’s names: “ananda,” which in Sanskrit means “bliss,” Brown added, “I hope some of the Swamis’ ‘ananda’ (bliss) rubs off on Hindus and non-Hindu alike.”
The broadcast aired on July 21 was well received and there was a fair discussion on the subjects of Hindus, Hinduism, caste and casteism. Several listeners also participated enthusiastically. As Brown hoped, the broadcast “shed some light on Hinduism and reduced heat over the controversy.”
Most Hindus interviewed by India Tribune seemed satisfied with Brown’s apology. Lina Nanda of Evanston said she gives Brown the benefit of the doubt. “I was pleased that he apologized. It did seem complete,” she said.
Girish Parikh, a Chicago based free-lance writer and journalist, said: “Brown can be an example to other journalists. The fine gesture on Tony Brown’s part – his offer to explore Hinduism – to discuss it openly while seeking the truth is all we, as Hindus, could ask for. I particularly like Tony Brown’s statement that journalism is the search for truth, and I’m glad he’s opening up to search for the truth of Hinduism.”
Even some Westerners familiar with the issue thought Brown did well. “What Tony Brown said was reflective of a lot of people’s understanding of Hinduism,” said Joe Dwieza of Buffalo NY. “Once he realized there was more to the issue, he was willing to look at it from a completely different light. And now that he’s learned that, he can share that. A Swami on the show would go even further. It’s kind of an unusual way to have an opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for an educational experience.”
Brown said that, in the wake of his show, he received mail from groups and individuals who wanted Brown to pursue a fight against Hindus and specifically Brahmins. One wrote “Sir, Please do not give apology, if so, it is a sin. Hinduism, the anti-religion, is a master plan designed by them -- the Unbelievers of God.”
Another e-mail read: “There is a small group in India; they are cheating the entire world in the name of God and religion.”
Brown said his position is to “steer clear of taking sides” in debates over Hinduism. “I don’t practice group hate,” said Brown. And, in the interview with India Tribune, Brown said that, although he is a Christian, he does not support Christian efforts at conversion. “Whether I believe in your religious tenets or not, I respect them, and I will go to the death to defend them. Hindus have a right to practice their own faith,” he said.
By and large reaction to Brown’s apology was favorable. Dr. Romesh Diwan, a professor of Economics in Troy, wrote to Brown: “I admire you for your moral courage to apologize to Hindus in your audience. I thank you for your willingness to recognize your possible mistakes and learn more about Hindus.”
In response to Brown’s apology, Deepak Madala said: “I have had many discussions about Hinduism and India with many of my non-Hindu friends and they say similar things to what you said in your program, but I realize they and you are not saying them out of malice or hatred. It is a result, like you say, of a misunderstanding of Hinduism.”
Brown, a best-selling author, published with William Morrow Co., operates the Web site: He wrote “Empower the People: A 7-Step Plan to Overthrow the Conspiracy That Is Stealing Your Money and Freedom,” and “Black Lies, White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown.
Swami Jyotirmayananda of Kerala, author of the landmark “Vivekananda, his gospel of man-making” now in its 5th edition, was visiting Chicago during the time of Brown’s broadcast. He heard about the controversy but seemed unperturbed. He said that Hinduism is unassailable. “Hinduism stands for the welfare and happiness of everyone. All included,” the Swami said. “There is one infinite, eternal existence. All existence is one; all humanity is one. It is nothing but the manifestation of the divine. Hinduism stands on the eternal verities: the divine in the heart of everyone. Hinduism has a message for the entire humanity.”
Brown is well known as an educator and commentator. He was named “one of the100 most important talk radio hosts in America,” by Talk Radio magazine. USA Today named him one of 5 top leaders to analyze the status of blacks in America. Black Enterprise magazine called Brown “Television’s Civil Rights Crusader.” His involvement in civil rights is not new. Brown organized a June 1963 march in Detroit with Dr. Martin Luther King. An estimated 500,000 people attended. During that march, Dr. King is believed to have delivered for the first time his, “I have a dream” speech, later made famous when he delivered it in Washington DC. Brown is hoping that in the end, Americans of all cultures will work together with tolerance and acceptance. “As I frequently tell my radio audience, “We didn’t all come over on the same ship, but we are all in the same boat,” he said.