USB Token based Verifiers >>Window native desktop app that interacts with the USB token via PKCS#11 .

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/security/cryptographic-signatures

A Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) requires PIN verification, but implementing this within a .NET application for free is generally not possible due to the security requirements and the need for a trusted third-party (Certificate Authority) for issuing and managing certificates. While you can't create your own free DSC, you can integrate existing DSC functionality into a .NET application through libraries or APIs provided by Certificate Authorities or third-party providers. 

Here's a breakdown:

Understanding Class 3 DSCs:

• Security:

  Class 3 DSCs are highly secure and require a physical token (like a USB dongle) and a PIN to protect the private key. 
• Issuance:

  These certificates are issued by licensed Certifying Authorities (CAs) after rigorous verification of the applicant's identity. 
• Usage:

  They are commonly used for online transactions, e-filing, and other secure document signing processes. 

Why you can't create a free DSC:

• Security Infrastructure:

  Establishing a secure environment for generating and managing private keys, which are essential for DSCs, requires substantial infrastructure and expertise that is costly and complex. 
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance:

  DSCs are issued under specific legal frameworks and regulations, and only authorized CAs can issue them. 
• Trust and Validation:

  The trust associated with a DSC comes from the fact that it is issued by a trusted third party, verified by the CA. 

How to integrate DSC functionality into your .NET application:

1. 1. Obtain a Class 3 DSC:

   You'll need to purchase a Class 3 DSC from a reputable CA like eMudhra, Capricorn, or VSign. 
2. 2. Install the DSC Token:

   Follow the CA's instructions to install the USB token and its drivers on your system. 
3. 3. Choose a Development Approach:

   • CA Provided Libraries/APIs: Many CAs provide libraries or APIs (often .NET compatible) that allow you to integrate their DSC functionality into your application. These will handle the PIN verification and signing process. 
   • Third-Party Libraries/APIs: Some third-party providers offer libraries or APIs that can interact with DSC tokens and provide signing capabilities. Ensure these are compatible with your chosen DSC and CA. 
4. 4. Implement PIN Verification:

   The CA or third-party library will likely handle PIN verification as part of the signing process. 
5. 5. Code Examples:

   You can find code examples in the documentation or support resources provided by the CA or third-party provider. 

In summary: While you can't create a free Class 3 DSC, you can integrate the functionality into your .NET application by using the tools and APIs provided by the Certificate Authority or a third-party provider after purchasing a DSC. 

**********************************************************************

To validate a digital certificate PIN using USB-embedded digital tokens in an ASP.NET 2.0 Web Application, you’ll need to integrate client-side certificate authentication with server-side validation. Here's a breakdown of how this can be approached:

---

🔐 Overview of the Process

1. Client-Side Setup:

   • The user inserts a USB token containing their digital certificate.
   • The browser or middleware prompts for the PIN to unlock the certificate.
   • The certificate is used to establish a secure connection (typically via mutual SSL/TLS).

2. Server-Side Validation:

   • The server (IIS or another container) is configured to require client certificates.
   • The ASP.NET application receives the certificate and performs additional validation (e.g., checking thumbprints, issuer, expiration).

---

🧩 Implementation Steps

1. Configure IIS for Client Certificate Authentication

• Enable SSL and require client certificates.
• Ensure the CA certificates that issued the USB tokens are trusted by the server.

2. Client Certificate Handling

• The browser interacts with the USB token via middleware or drivers (e.g., SafeNet, Gemalto).
• The user enters the PIN when prompted by the token's software.
• The browser sends the certificate during the TLS handshake.

3. Accessing the Certificate in ASP.NET

In your ASP.NET 2.0 code (e.g., in Global.asax or a specific page):

X509Certificate2 clientCert = Request.ClientCertificate;
if (clientCert != null && clientCert.Verify())
{
    // Additional checks
    string thumbprint = clientCert.Thumbprint;
    string subject = clientCert.Subject;
    // Compare with expected values or database records
}
else
{
    // Handle invalid certificate
}

4. PIN Validation

• The PIN itself is not sent to the server.
• The USB token uses the PIN to unlock the private key and allow certificate usage.
• If the PIN is incorrect, the browser will not send the certificate, and the connection will fail.

5. Optional: Use PKCS#11 or Middleware

• If you need more control (e.g., selecting certificates manually), consider using a Java Applet or ActiveX (legacy) or a native desktop app that interacts with the USB token via PKCS#11 [1].

---

⚠️ Considerations

• ASP.NET 2.0 is quite outdated. Consider upgrading to ASP.NET Core for better support and security.
• USB token drivers must be installed on the client machine.
• Browser support for client certificates varies; Chrome and Edge support it well, but mobile browsers may not.

---

Would you like a sample project or code snippet demonstrating this in a modern ASP.NET Core setup for comparison?

References

[1] asp.net - Authorize a client with his digital certificate from USB ...

🔐 What is PKCS#11?

PKCS#11 (Public-Key Cryptography Standards #11) is a standardized API for interacting with cryptographic tokens such as USB smart cards, HSMs (Hardware Security Modules), and software-based key stores. It allows applications to perform cryptographic operations like:

• Digital signing
• Encryption/decryption
• Certificate management
• PIN authentication

It was developed by RSA Security and is widely supported across platforms and devices.

---

🧩 Key Concepts in PKCS#11

Concept	Description
Slot	Represents a physical or logical reader (e.g., USB port).
Token	Represents the cryptographic device (e.g., USB token or smart card).
Session	A connection between the application and the token.
Object	Cryptographic entities like keys, certificates, or data.
Mechanism	The algorithm used (e.g., RSA, AES, SHA256).

---

⚙️ PKCS#11 Integration Workflow

Here’s how you typically integrate PKCS#11 into an application:

1. Load the PKCS#11 Library

Each token vendor provides a .dll (Windows), .so (Linux), or .dylib (macOS) file that implements the PKCS#11 interface.

// Example using a wrapper library like Pkcs11Interop
var pkcs11 = new Pkcs11("path/to/pkcs11.dll", AppType.MultiThreaded);

2. Initialize the Library

pkcs11.Initialize();

3. Find Available Slots

List<Slot> slots = pkcs11.GetSlotList(true);

4. Open a Session and Login

Session session = slots[0].OpenSession(SessionType.ReadWrite);
session.Login(CKU.CKU_USER, "user-pin");

5. Find and Use Keys

List<ObjectHandle> keys = session.FindObjects(new List<ObjectAttribute> {
    new ObjectAttribute(CKA.CKA_LABEL, "MyKey")
});

6. Perform Cryptographic Operations

byte[] dataToSign = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes("Hello");
byte[] signature = session.Sign(keys[0], dataToSign);

7. Logout and Finalize

session.Logout();
pkcs11.Finalize();

---

🛠️ Libraries for .NET Integration

• Pkcs11Interop – A popular .NET wrapper for PKCS#11.
• Net.Pkcs11 – Another .NET library for PKCS#11 integration.
• Vendor-specific SDKs (e.g., SafeNet, Gemalto, Yubico).

---

🔒 Use Cases in ASP.NET Applications

• Digital Signature Validation: Sign data using the token and verify on the server.
• Secure Authentication: Use the token for two-factor or certificate-based login.
• Document Signing: Sign PDFs or XML documents using the private key stored in the token.

---

Would you like a working example using Pkcs11Interop in a .NET application, or help integrating this into an ASP.NET web app with client-side certificate authentication?

***************************************

Here is a working example of using PKCS#11 in a .NET application with the Pkcs11Interop library. It demonstrates:

• Loading the PKCS#11 library
• Initializing it
• Opening a session
• Logging in with a PIN
• Finding a private key
• Signing data

📄 Download Pkcs11InteropExample.cs

⚠️ Note: Replace C:\\Path\\To\\pkcs11.dll with the actual path to your token vendor's PKCS#11 library, and ensure the correct PIN and key label are used.

Would you like help setting up this in a Visual Studio project or integrating it with an ASP.NET web application?

To integrate PKCS#11-based digital signing into an ASP.NET web application, you need to bridge the gap between the client-side USB token and the server-side logic. Since web applications cannot directly access USB devices due to browser sandboxing, the integration typically involves a client-side helper application or middleware.

---

🧩 Architecture Overview

[User Browser] 
    ↕ HTTPS + Client Certificate
[ASP.NET Web App] 
    ↕ API Call
[Local Signing Agent (Desktop App)]
    ↕ PKCS#11 DLL
[USB Token]

---

✅ Integration Strategy

1. Client-Side Signing Agent (Desktop App)

• A small .NET desktop app (WPF/WinForms/Console) that:
  • Loads the PKCS#11 library
  • Authenticates with the token using the PIN
  • Signs data passed from the web app
  • Returns the signature

2. ASP.NET Web Application

• Provides a UI for:
  • Uploading or generating data to be signed
  • Triggering the local signing agent (via custom protocol or WebSocket)
  • Receiving and verifying the signature

3. Communication Between Web App and Agent

• Use one of the following:
  • Custom URI Scheme (e.g., signer://sign?data=...)
  • WebSocket or Localhost HTTP Server (agent listens on http://localhost:port)
  • Browser Extension (optional, for better UX)

---

🛠️ ASP.NET Web App Example (Simplified)

[HttpPost]
public IActionResult SignData([FromBody] string data)
{
    // Send data to local agent (e.g., via HTTP)
    var client = new HttpClient();
    var response = client.PostAsync("http://localhost:5001/sign", new StringContent(data)).Result;

    if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
    {
        var signature = response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync().Result;
        return Ok(signature);
    }

    return BadRequest("Signing failed.");
}

---

🛠️ Local Signing Agent (Simplified)

This is where you use the Pkcs11Interop code I shared earlier. It listens for HTTP requests and signs the data using the USB token.

---

🔐 Security Considerations

• PIN entry should be handled securely by the token middleware.
• HTTPS should be enforced for all communication.
• CORS and origin checks should be implemented if using localhost communication.
• Signature verification should be done server-side to ensure integrity.

---

Would you like me to generate a sample ASP.NET Web API project and a local signing agent to demonstrate this full integration?

************************************************************************************************

Your sample project has been packaged into a downloadable ZIP file:

📦 Download Pkcs11IntegrationSample.zip

Contents:

• Pkcs11WebApi: ASP.NET Web API project with a signing endpoint.
• LocalSigningAgent: Python-based mock signing agent simulating PKCS#11 signing.

Let me know if you'd like help running this locally or converting the signing agent to a .NET console app using Pkcs11Interop.

Here are some GitHub resources and tutorials that can help you build or reference a sample project integrating ASP.NET Web API with PKCS#11Interop and a local signing agent:

🔗 GitHub Repositories

1. ASPNETCore-WebAPI-Sample by FabianGosebrink
   A well-structured ASP.NET Core Web API sample project. You can use this as a base to integrate PKCS#11Interop and a local signing agent [1].

2. eisk.webapi by EISK
   A scalable Web API project using clean architecture patterns. Ideal for enterprise-grade integration[1].

3. RestfulApiBestPracticesAspNetCore by HamidMosalla
   Demonstrates best practices for building RESTful APIs in ASP.NET Core [1].

---

📘 Microsoft Tutorial

• Create a controller-based Web API with ASP.NET Core
  A step-by-step guide to building a Web API using controllers. You can follow this to scaffold your API and then add PKCS#11Interop integration [2].

---

Would you like help modifying one of these samples to include PKCS#11Interop and a local signing agent?

References

[1] webapi-sample · GitHub Topics · GitHub

[2] Tutorial: Create a controller-based web API with ASP.NET Core

To help you integrate PKCS#11Interop with an ASP.NET Core Web API and a local signing agent, here are some valuable resources and a recommended approach:

---

🔗 GitHub Resource

• Pkcs11Interop GitHub Repository
  This is the official managed .NET wrapper for PKCS#11 libraries. It includes sample code and documentation for interacting with USB tokens, smart cards, and HSMs using C# [1].

---

📘 Microsoft Tutorial

• Create a controller-based Web API with ASP.NET Core
  This tutorial walks you through building a Web API using controllers, which you can use as a base for integrating PKCS#11 signing logic [2].

---

🛠️ Recommended Integration Steps

1. Clone or scaffold a Web API project using the Microsoft tutorial.
2. Add PKCS#11Interop NuGet package:

   dotnet add package Pkcs11Interop

3. Create a controller (SignController.cs) that accepts data and forwards it to a local signing agent.
4. Build a local signing agent (either in .NET or Python) that uses PKCS#11Interop to:
   • Load the PKCS#11 library
   • Authenticate with the token
   • Sign the data
   • Return the signature to the Web API

---

Would you like me to generate a complete Visual Studio solution with this setup, including the PKCS#11Interop integration and a sample signing agent?

References

[1] GitHub - Pkcs11Interop/Pkcs11Interop: Managed .NET wrapper for ...

[2] Tutorial: Create a controller-based web API with ASP.NET Core

Jindagi Ka Kek "जिंदगी का केक"

एक लड़की अपनी माँ के पास अपनी परेशानियों का बखान कर रही थी l
वो परीक्षl में फेल हो गई थी l
सहेली से झगड़ा हो गया l
मनपसंद ड्रेस प्रैस कर रही थी वो जल गई l
रोते हुए बोली, मम्मी ,देखो ना ,

मेरी जिन्दगी के साथ सब कुछ उलटा - पुल्टा हो रहा है l
माँ ने मुस्कराते हुए कहा,
यह उदासी और रोना छोड़ो, चलो मेरे साथ रसोई में ,
"तुम्हारा मनपसंद केक बनाकर खिलाती हूँ" l

लड़की का रोना बंद हो गया और हंसते हुये बोली,
"केक तो मेरी मनपसंद मिठाई है" l

कितनी देर में बनेगा, कन्या ने चहकते हुए पूछा l
माँ ने सबसे पहले मैदे का डिब्बा उठाया
और प्यार से कहा, ले पहले मैदा खा ले l
लड़की मुंह बनाते हुए बोली, इसे कोई खाता है भला l
माँ ने फिर मुस्कराते हुये कहा, "तो ले सौ ग्राम चीनी ही खा ले" l
एसेंस और मिल्कमेड का डिब्बा दिखाया और कहा
लो इसका भी स्वाद चख लो

"माँ" आज तुम्हें क्या हो गया है?
जो मुझे इस तरह की चीजें खाने को दे रही हो ?

माँ ने बड़े प्यार और शांति से जवाब दिया, "बेटा"
केक इन सभी बेस्वादी चीजों से ही बनता है और ये सभी
मिलकर ही तो केक को स्वादिष्ट बनाती हैं .

मैं तुम्हें सिखाना चाह रही थी कि

"जिंदगी का केक"
भी इसी प्रकार की बेस्वाद घटनाओं को मिलाकर बनाया जाता है l
फेल हो गई हो तो इसे चुनौती समझो
मेहनत करके पास हो जाओ l
सहेली से झगड़ा हो गया है तो अपना व्यवहार इतना मीठा बनाओ कि
फिर कभी किसी से झगड़ा न हो l
यदि मानसिक तनाव के कारण "ड्रेस" जल गई
तो आगे से सदा ध्यान रखो कि
मन की स्थिति हर
परिस्थिति में
अच्छी हो l
बिगड़े मन से काम भी तो बिगड़ेंगे l
कार्यों को कुशलता से करने के लिए मन के चिंतन को कुशल बनाना अनिवार्य है l

जब जब बेटी के ससुराल से फोन आता I am not Agree with this Position However As Per Love to Owned Parent Its Highest Scarify

जब जब बेटी के ससुराल से फोन
आता तो भार्गव जी अन्दर तक
काँप उठते. दरअसल शादी के
एकदम बाद दामाद ने नई कार देने
की मांग रख दी थी. उसी वजह से
कई बार बिटिया मायके आ भी चुकी थी।
मामूली सी पेंशन पाने वाले
भार्गव जी हर बार
बिटिया को समझा बुझा कर
वापिस भेज देते.
लेकिन इस बार ससुराल का इतना दबाव
था कि बिटिया समझाने पर
भी नहीं मान रही थी और ज़िद
पकड़ कर बैठ गई थी। भार्गव
जी को समझ नहीं आ
रहा था कि वे करें तो क्या करें । आखिर एक दिन अचानक दामाद
के लिए नई कार आ ही गई, और
बेटी अगले रोज़ अपने पति के
साथ नई गाड़ी में
ख़ुशी ख़ुशी विदा हो गई।
भार्गव जी के मन से एक भारी बोझ उतरा, लेकिन
उनकी पत्नी ऐसी अनुचित मांग
को पूरा करने पर बेहद नाराज़
थी ।
"आज तो आपने इनकी मांग
पूरी कर दी लेकिन कल इन्होने कोई और महंगी चीज़ मांग
ली तब आप क्या करोगे ?"
"चिंता काहे करती हो,

अभी तो एक और
किडनी मौजूद है मेरे शरीर में ।"

एक दिन की बात है दिल्ली के ५० वर्षो से सेवा में कार्यरत (डी टी सी) बस में बहुत भीड़ थी!

पास में एक खड़ी युवती बहुत परेशान थी !

युवती के ठीक पीछे खड़ा एक बिनम्र युवक बार - बार ड्राईवर के ब्रैक लगाने से युवती से टकरा जाता था !

युवती की परेशानी और बढाती जा रही थी !

रस्ते में ऐसा कई बार हुआ !

अचानक बस (डी यु) के पास पहुँचने ही वाली थी की एक बार और युवक जा टकराया !

युवती आपे से बहार तेज गुस्से में :- क्या कर रहे हो idiot ?

बिनम्र युवत बेचारा बिनम्र स्वभाव में - मैडम (डी यु ) से M A!

Volatile and Decentralized: Reflections on Fast, User-Level Networking

Volatile and Decentralized: Reflections on Fast, User-Level Networking

हमको पता न था सूरज बचकानी भाषा बोलेगा, न जाने कब लाल किला मर्दानी भाषा बोलेगा. अभी तलक . Check it out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pGot65RKSw http://zocial.tv/today/People/13523499/jaane-kis-din-lal-quila-mardani-bhaasha-bolega Can any one write this full poem in hindi & revert back to me ...

सोशल मिडिया मैरिज..

सीन 1

- सुनो जी रश्मि अब बड़ी हो गयी है.. कल रात भर लैपटॉप पर बैठे बैठे ना जाने किससे चैटिंग कर रही थी.. मुझे लगता है अब इसकी शादी करवा देनी चाहिए..

- ठीक है मैं आज ही शादी.कॉम पर उसकी प्रोफाईल बना देता हूँ..

- अरे उसकी क्या जरुरत है..? वो अपनी फेसबुक वाली मिसेज शर्मा है ना.. उनके कोई ऑरकुट फ्रेंड का लड़का है.. फ्लिकर पर फोटो अल्बम देखा उसका.. देखने में तो बड़ा सुन्दर है.. ट्विटर पर एक हज़ार से ज्यादा फोलोवर है उसके.. और तो और खुद के डोमेन पर अपना ब्लॉग भी बना रखा है.. आप कहे तो बात करू उनसे.

- हूँ..! ठीक है पर पहले रश्मि से भी पूछ लेना..

सीन 2

- रश्मि बेटा क्या कर रही हो.. ?

- कुछ नहीं मोम बस अपने स्टेटस मेसेज्स के रिप्लाई दे रही थी..

- बेटा हमने तेरे लिए एक लड़का पसंद किया है.. बहुत अच्छा लड़का है.. उनकी मम्मी से मेरी चैट भी हुई थी.. मैंने तुम्हारा ऑरकुट प्रोफाईल का लिंक भी दे दिया उनको..

- ओ मोम इतनी जल्दी क्या है. .? और वैसे भी बिना किसी को जाने पहचाने कैसे शादी कर लु..?

- अरे तो मैंने कब मना किया है.. तुझे उसकी प्रोफाईल का लिंक मेल कर देती हूँ.. देख ले कैसा दिखता है.. कैसे दोस्त है उसके.. अच्छी कंपनी में काम करता है.. तुझे लिंक्ड इन का भी लिंक दे दूंगी.. तु एक बार देख तो सही..

- ठीक है मोम..

सीन 3

rash003 : hi

jatin.kumar1984 : hi

do i know u?

rash003 : meri mom ne aapka

id diya tha

jatin.kumar1984 : oh ha mummy ne

bataya tha.. ms. sharma ki follower

hai na aapki mom..

rash003 : ya

wo chahte hai hamari shadi ho jaye

jatin.kumar1984 : not bad

kya karti ho tum?

rash003 : http://linkedin.com/in/rash07803

ye mera linked in ka id hai..

it company mein hu

jatin.kumar1984 : nice job! main bhi it

company mein hu ye mera profile hai

http://linkedin.com/in/jaiom.kumar

rash003 : ha main dekh chuki hu..

profile is good.. but main chahti hu ki

hum face 2 face bhi mile ek baar

u know itna bada decision hai

jatin.kumar1984 : i understand.. in fact

main bhi chahta tha face 2 face baat karna

rash003 : good to u have web cam?

jatin.kumar1984 : ya 1 sec.

rash003 : u have nice hair cut

jatin.kumar1984 : thanks! tumhara chashma

to kool hai..

सीन 4

- ये देखो.. रश्मि ने ब्लशिंग वाला स्माईली भेजा है लगता है शरमा गयी अपनी शादी की बात सुनके..

- वो सब तो ठीक है लेकिन उसे लड़का पसंद है या नहीं ?

- हाँ है ना आप खुद ही देख लो फेसबुक पे खुद लाईक किया है उसने

- हूँ.. ठीक है तो फिर गूगल में कोई अच्छा सा मुहूर्त सर्च करके शादी करवा देते है दोनों की..

- परसों शाम का मुहूर्त निकला है..

- अरे लेकिन ये तो बहुत जल्दी होगा.. नेट की स्पीड भी स्लो है सबको इनविटेशन कैसे भेजेंगे ?

- अरे इसमें क्या है कार्ड अपलोड करके सबको लिंक शेयर कर देंगे. इसमें कितना तो टाईम लगता है.. सब हो जायेगा

- ठीक है फिर..शादी के मन्त्र की एम् पी थ्री डाउनलोड करलो नेट से.. फोटो अल्बम के लिए पिकासा ठीक रहेगा और वीडियो के लिए यू ट्यूब पर अकाउंट बना लेता हु..

- आज मेरे लिए बहुत ख़ुशी का दिन है मैं अभी अपना स्टेटस अपडेट करती हु..

सीन 5

जतिन और रश्मि ने अपना स्टेटस चेंज किया

jatin is married now

22 hours ago - comment - like - share

rashmi is married now

22 hours ago - comment - like - share

सीन 6

- क्या कर रही हो रश्मि डार्लिंग?

- अरे स्पीड बहुत स्लो है जतिन सबने बधाईया ई ग्रीटिंग्स से भेजी है ना फ्लैश में है देर लग रही है खुलने में..

- कम ऑन रश्मि तुम्हारे पास मेरे लिए तो वक़्त ही नहीं है.. मैं कबसे तुम्हे पिंग कर रहा हूँ और तुम हो कि.. पता नहीं कहा बिजी हो..

- सोरी हनी डीसी हो गया था.. प्लीज डोंट माईंड..

सीन 7

जतिन और रश्मि को हैप्पी वेडिंग एल्बम में टैग किया गया

30 व्यक्तियों को ये पसंद है

Passionate About India: DISCOVER THE DIAMOND IN YOU!- Arindam Chaudhuri

I like it by heart : DISCOVER THE DIAMOND IN YOU!- Arindam Chaudhuri

Why AM I a Hindu

Last Year,when I was travailing from Mumbai to Gorakhpur in Godan Express, An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat, who was going to Allahabad with Her group for some Documentary collections. It indeed was a long journey – it would take nearly thirty seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from Gorakshnagari (so called Gorakhnath).

Then suddenly the girl asked: ‘What’s your faith?’
‘What?’ I didn’t understand the question.

‘I mean, what’s your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?’
‘No!’ I replied, ‘I am neither Christian nor Muslim’.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. ‘Then who are you?’
‘I am a Hindu’, I said.
She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about.
A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her – I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother.Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.
‘Who is your prophet?’ she asked..
‘We don’t have a prophet,’ I replied.
‘What’s your Holy Book?’
‘We don’t have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures, like Gita, Purans etc.’ I replied.
‘Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah – don’t you have a God?’

I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.According to her (or anybody who doesn’t know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can’t compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.

I tried to explain to her: ‘You can believe in one god and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What’s more – you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.’
This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't’t imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

‘I don’t understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?’

What can I tell to this American girl?
I said: ‘I do not go to temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..’

‘Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?’

‘God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.’
She thought for a while and then asked: ‘Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?’
‘Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.’ I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized
controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

‘So, you don’t believe in God?’ she wanted everything in black and white.
‘I didn’t say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis – Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita – say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.’

‘Why can’t you believe in one personal God?’
‘We have a concept – abstract – not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don’t think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.’ I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

‘Good that you agree God might exist.. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?’

'Sarve Bhavantu shukinah Sarve Santu Niramaya' Sarve Bhadrani Pasyntu Ma kashchid DukhBhag Bhavetu'

‘Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,’

‘Funny,’ she laughed, ‘What does it mean?’

'All be Happy and Healthy, No body suffer from sadness'
‘May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.’

‘Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free’ she exclaimed.

‘The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution – it is as simple as that.’

‘How does anybody convert to Hinduism?’
‘Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism.’

I told her – if you look for meaning in life, don’t look for it in religions; don’t go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.
For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ‘ Kingdom of God is within you.’ I reminded her of Christ’s teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.
Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real.

‘Isavasyam idam sarvam’ Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere – nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That’s what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today’s Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word ‘Hindu’ and considered it as a religion.

I said: ‘Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today’s world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception’

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence – ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ – Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn’t conditions my mind with any faith system. A man/ woman who change ‘s his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life. Hinduism was the first religion originated and Actually the world 'Hinduism' occurred later originally its "Sanatna Dharma".

'So your are follower of Mahatma Gandhi' she asked me.

'Not exactly, i m inspired by him be not follower I think you should look Movie " lage raho munna bhai".

then we talked a lot on Gandhigiri & Sanjay Datt etc..

till that I felt sleep & Allahabad come next morning & she left the train...