Hindus have welcomed Philippe as the 7th King of Belgium.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that they hoped that Philippe as King would make efforts towards narrowing the growing divide between mainly French-speaking south and mainly Dutch-speaking north. We would pray for Philippe, Zed added.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged Philippe as King to work towards recognizing Hinduism in Belgium.
Rajan Zed pointed out that there was need to reform the way religious groups were recognized and financed in Belgium. Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought. What else Belgium wanted to fulfill its criteria of recognizing Hinduism? All it needed to do was to open a standard book on world religions and most of its doubts would be cleared.
As religious or “moral” instruction was reportedly mandatory in Belgium public schools and teachers were provided for recognized religious groups only, Hinduism non-recognition was thus hindering Hindu children from learning about their own religion, Zed argued.
Belgium, which hosts European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is known for its chocolate, beer, waffles, Bruges, cartographer Gerardus Mercator, Big Bang theorist Georges Lemaitre, painter Jan van Eyck, poet Emile Verhaeren, etc. Elio Di Rupo is the Prime Minister.