“AN EYE FOR AN EYE WILL
MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND.” (MAHATMA
GANDHI)
Hindus
and Muslims are the two major religious communities of India. They differ not merely in
their religious persuasion but also in social structure, forms of worships,
zealous fervor and the manner in which they see themselves. South Asian
Subcontinent (variably called the Indian Subcontinent) can be peaceful only
when certain sections of Indian polity refrain from Hindutva ideology and Pakistan & Bangladesh lessen their obsession
with religion.
Hinduism stands for ‘Aum’
(The primordial sound of creation) and Islam for ‘Allah-O-Akbar’ (God is Great).
The difference doesn’t end there. While Hinduism celebrates pluralism and diversity,
Islam is for simplicity and austerity. While Hinduism professes equality of all
religions, Islam believes purely in the sanctity of Prophet’s (Mohammad) words.
Hinduism with it’s caste system and the practice of untouchability is
traditionally near apartheid–istic, on the other hand Islam is perfectly
democratic as all ‘followers’ are perceived equal under the eyes of God.
Finally Muslims see themselves as Muslims – as followers of Prophet Mohammad,
where as religious identity has traditionally been the last thing on the minds
of Hindus – at the most they are Bhartiyas (Inhabitants of the Holy Land of their ancestors – Bharat).
The conflict between these
two major communities has been historical – albeit in a more or less indirect
manner. Right since the conquest of North India
by Mohammad Ghori, Hindus and Muslims have fought political battles, more or
less in veiled manner. The picture of medieval India was indeed a gloomy one as it
represented a social conflict between the Hindus and Muslims.
However beyond all these
differences and hostility, there developed over the centuries a setting of
mutual acceptance and accommodation. This mutuality gave way to a bonding. The
development of Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh movements were the chief links of this
bonding. Hindus and Muslims learnt to live with each other, and then became
socially integrated.
Under the aegis of the
great Mughal ruler Akbar, for the first time the foundations of a secular,
welfare nation were laid in India.
Though the subsequent Mughal rulers did much dis-service to this noble cause –
but already a cultural nation - that incorporated the Islamic element while
still remaining broadly Hindu - was foundationed.
Hindus have suffered at
the cost of Muslims in medieval India.
And now Muslims suffer at the cost of Hindus in modern India – like during the
infamous demolition of Babri Mosque by Hindu Karsevaks at Ayodhya in December,
1992, and the subsequent communal riots in Mumbai or the much recent communal
riots of Gujarat (in vengeance of burning of karsevaks in a train at Godhra)
and so on –wherein Muslims have been the prime targets and at the receiving end.
On the other hand, Hindu community is on the verge of extinction in the Muslim
dominated Pakistan and
Hindus now face deadly discrimination in Bangladesh.
However this endless path
of hate and distrust will lead us only to death, destruction and despair. This
gory method, this way of blood must be put to rest. Only in mutual adjustment,
lies the peace of our nations and only by that peace will our countries
actually grow out of poverty, hunger and illiteracy.
Modern times have provided
us with an excellent opportunity to set aside these differences. We have to
grow economically. We have to fight hunger, starvation, illiteracy, poverty.
Hindus and Muslims should live in peace with mutual respect – not because it’s
a high moral ideal, but because they have no other option. Hate and distrust
will only lead to stagnation, perpetuation of banckwardness, wars and communal
riots.
Only when certain sections
of Indian polity refrain from the Hindutva ideology and treats Hindus and
Muslims perfectly equally;only when Pakistan gives up it’s hatred for India
& stops sponsoring terrorism and gives more liberal touches to it’s society;only
when Bangladesh comes back to it’s original constitutional ideal of secularism
and prevents excesses being committed on it’s Hindu & Buddhist minorities–only
then can South Asian region have some ray of hope.
XXX 
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