Today Religion has become like the Sun, wherein your progress revolves around your faith. History is witness to numerous bloody religious wars. But, if you look closely, Religion was just a catalyst used in order to gain ulterior political wealth. We need to realize the façade behind this, to be able to oppose the hate politics in our society we dwell in.
Let us realize one thing, the underlining principle which every religion, be it Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, teaches us is to be good people – and develop with a kind mind and body, heart and soul. In the end what is good to all, is the best that can be. Living in a democracy, we need to respect each others’ cultures and traditions. Inciting class hatred and unrest will do no benefit for the common welfare of man. Many a time we have observed church, mosque and temples being destroyed, innocent people being killed just because they follow a certain religion and uphold its values.
Well, the point is - on earth, we can divide and bias on religious grounds, but once we enter post-death transition, we stand before the divine supernatural power and lo! That’s judgment day in our final analysis. Let me bring to light some points which I read in book, “Communalism” by Ram Puniyani, Chpt- conversions, Pg 11
It says that, “the present feeling that Christians are converting by force, fraud and allurement needs a deeper introspection
The Christian population as per 1971 censes is 2.60%, in 1981 it reduced to 2.44%, in 1991 it is 2.32% and in 2001 – 2.18%. The share of Christians in total population is continuously declining and we tend to believe that forcible conversions into Christianity are on. Christianity arrived in India in the year 52 AD, with the coming of St.Thomas. It is 1950 years old here. The Indian census is quite revealing the truth which some fundamentalist outfits don’t understand.
Friends, religion cannot be forced into someone or other, it should be in the hearts' highest desire to accept and belong. When we were born, young and foolish, we did not select our religion or faith. We followed our elders and superiors; we bloomed where we were planted. We can conclude by this that when we were born to life on earth,- there is a God who sent us and when we die, we go back to him. We embrace a particular faith when we grow in wisdom and understanding, that’s very much during the later part of life, you cannot deny this.
Again I quote Ram Puniyani’s “Communalism” Chpt- Minority Appeasement, Pg 28 –
“It is being said that Muslims are more conservative and orthodox and that they are terrorist. But today they are over 50 countries where Muslims are in majority; their population is around 200 crores, can they be typified by single characteristic? It is determined more by a social situation rather than just by religion.”
We just cannot blame or hate anyone for a particular religion. Just because some people engage and kill, that doesn’t mean, all are bad. There is a good in everyone. For every enemy, there is a friend. We should introspect as to why someone, does something rather than just blaming. We are a human race who can think, so in fact we should fix the solution, not the problem!! Most of us may have heard Saint Kabir, and how all loved him. He was called as, “Baba Nayak Sant Fakir, Hindu ka Guru, Muslaman ka Pir!
If you notice, we have friends from different communities, we study in different religious schools (Minority institutes) we live in different countries, irrespective of the countries religion. There are Christian in the Middle East, there are Muslims in America, there are Hindus in Australia, there are Malaysians in India etc. Wow what a multicultural blend of marvelous cocktail & yet we live.
Dear friends, let us become more broad-minded and understanding. There were so many great Hindu, Islamic and Christian leaders. Let us learn from them! And moreover let us spread the message of love, respect, honour- the only things that matter after all. Let peace prevail.
I would like to leave you with the beautiful poem composed by Vinay Mahajan in 1986, which was translated by Dr Gautam Appa into English during the Gujarat Communal Violence 2002. Here it goes:
‘ In temples, mosques and churches, God they divide
Land they divide, oceans they divide, people they divide.
Hindu says temple is mine, temple is my place
Muslim says Mecca is mine, Mecca is Allah’s grace
Hindu chants: Om Namah Shiva
Muslim: Allah ho Akbar
They chant and fight till death is in sight, a fight that leaves both destroyed
Who knows what dreadful cruelty, each on the other has not deployed
Figure out who is pulling the strings and whose purpose is served
Land they divided
Power hungry politicians, play the card communal
Colluding with religious bigots, disempowered people
Comradeship shattered, unity went bust
Political leaders surely unworthy of trust
They got the votes to win the election
And proceeded merrily to ease exploitation
Yet it may not be too late, times worth, evaluate
Land they divide,
Robbing people in a people’s democracy, what is this Government
Bullets, batons, Ishwar, Allah all used as instruments
Live in amity and unite, defeat them in united fight
Life without strife is our right, assert till we clinch this right
If fed up of their evil deeds, get rid of these dirty devils
Land they divide,
People dying of hunger, ever present corruption
Cruel killers everywhere – unemployment, exploitation, inflation
They go on causing the bloodshed, bellowing religion, religion
Demons are amongst us, in the garb of humans
How shall we ever sing: Sare Jahaan Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara;;;
Land they divide
I hereby appeal to all readers spread the word of peace, love, respect, honor. I trust it’s infectious & we can all do our bit. Signing off !
(The writer could be reached at [email protected])
More from Edmond Fernandes:
* The Virtue Called Humility: Easter of Change
* Chromosome & HIV: A Nobel Insight
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