RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE: ROOTS AND UPROOTING THEM
Dear Muhammed/ Ram / Joseph
It pains me to write this to you but considering the nature of the ongoing strives plaguing this country, I choose the Anne Frank way of spending my time.
From just another ordinary citizen of these dark ages, to the bright beacons of our future, I write to tell you what has changed in these allegedly developed time which might as well bring us on the brink of a man-made extinction.
Lynching, religiously inflamed mobs, mob justice, illegal forced conversion seem to be the norm of the day and I would like to start from where it all started.
Although early India had strong traditions of cultic and religious syncretism, there is plentiful evidence to prove the prevalence of religious and sectarian antagonisms from very early time.
Coming from a country which labels itself as a staunch supporter of ‘Vasudev Kutumbhkam’ mistrust between communities has been pretty evident since archaic times with several prominent figures like Patanjali going to compare a relationship between Brahmins and Buddhists to that of a relationship between snake and mongoose.
Similarly, animosity between Shaivism and Jainism and the persecution of the later by the former, is well documented. Alberuni, remarks the Hindus to be ‘haughty, foolishly vain and self-conceited with an alarming sense of superiority over other religions.
As much as the politicians and government vehemently believe that the report of religious friction between communities is highly biased, the reality stand otherwise. I hope the politicians in your times, prefer to give basis for their actions and something more than mere rhetoric.
In the early 19th century, Hinduism was clearly defended as a tolerant religion. Dayanand Saraswati sharply opposed other religions even going on to refer Mohammad as an impostor and Jesus a very ordinary ignorant man.
Ramakrishna, his contemporary diplomatically spoke of equality of religion with a guised caveat, that being the Hindu religion being the Sanatana Dharma.
Politicians have milked the ideals given by these personalities to defend the countless counts of haranguing the masses in the name of religious equality. Far too many personalities across the course of history have chosen to align to a specific religion, though not in the public discourse.
Historians too have chosen to defend the actions, very evidently seen in the ignorant human beings of these times. Religious intolerance in ingrained into us before tolerance.
Intolerance is a result of ignorance, which leads to fear progressing to hate and finally violence. The intolerance is not limited to a single religion with intolerance spreading out to multiple religions, with each trying to outdo the other, and in the process often picking up arms against their own brethren.
Instances of intolerance can be witnessed in Islam and Christianity against minorities, and unsurprisingly between various sects are on the rise.
Going by numbers, The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on riots currently shows that the rate of riots (numbers per million) has actually declined from 57 to 52 between 2010 and 2015.
Incidences of riots too have come down to 65,255 in 2015 after peaking at 74,633 in 2012. The incidence of communal riots in the country has declined from 1,227 in 2014 to 789 in 2015, even as the rate of riots has remained unchanged, according to NCRB, which began publishing the break-up of riots data in 2014.
Even though the numbers have been declining, there are instances of lynchings, and strives on the basis of religious lines that we need to work on.
Religious intolerance in not only prevalent in India but spreads far and wide. Cries of ‘Go Home’ rings in the ears of shooting victims as they face religious and racial persecution.
Religious fringe organization try their best to exploit and endanger humanity in the name of religion. Our friendly neighbours too have been at the receiving end of religious discrimination often taking a nasty turn.
We, your forefathers, the citizens of a country ranked fourth in terms of religious intolerance are mute spectators to the atrocities committed across the length and breadth of the country, with some of us occasionally trying to stick their head out.
We live in truly difficult and intolerant times, and sincerely hope that you don’t.
Selective knowledge is often a cause of religious strife. Adding passion for one’s faith to the ignorance of other faiths gives the perfect recipe for communal mistrust.
As I progress through my final years, I hope I can act as a catalyst for a much-needed change. Teachings need to start at home, and we need to model more tolerant attitude by our own actions and the words we speak.
Giving a patient ear to anyone has never been our forte, and I wish it isn’t the same in your case, your case being actually listening to their perspective, trying to understand why they feel and think the way they do.
The question that remains is whether tackling religious intolerance is a legal challenge or a political one. Having witnessed, I’d go with neither, since politics is by and large influenced by vote banks, and legal hurdles are too many to cross.
The solution and the will need to come from within about changing things for the better. It is almost impossible to turn on the news today without witnessing scenes of hatred, violence and intolerance perpetrated in the name of religion or belief.
The main UN global policy framework for combatting intolerance, stigmatisation, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief is set down in Council resolution 16/18.
Resolution 16/18 was adopted, with much fanfare, in March 2011 and hailed by stakeholders from all regions and faiths as a turning point in international efforts to confront religious intolerance.
Several such initiatives to promote universal brotherhood and unity. Both the communities must realize that they are destined to live together and find a way to co-exist.
One can’t go on a massacre for the way one dresses, eats and dresses. It is a post-modern world and if we have to maintain equilibrium, then we must accept pluralism in all walks of life.
Fundamentalism and obscurantism are the need of the hour when it comes to dealing with religious strives.
I need you to do things I never could. I need you to befriend people that I never could and I need you to fight for what’s right irrespective of the happenings around you. I hope the world is more united when you will be reading this. And pray that the world is more tolerant to ideas. This beautiful world doesn’t deserve intolerant beings, what it deserves is peaceful cohabitation with all it has to offer. Life shouldn’t be lived looking over our shoulders, it should be lived looking straight and progressing.
Yours concerned
Mustafa/ Ganesh/ John