Harping On Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
9 June 2023
'Bas Ek Kisi
Haaisa-e-Khaas Ka Jhonka
Konain Tabahi
Ke Kinare Par Hai’
(Just a big blow
of a catastrophe/ The universe is on the edge of annihilation)
While I am not sure of the annihilation of
the universe immediately, I'm sure that this country is fast sliding into an
anomie. Just the way people, esp. unemployed Hindus in Maharashtra, are
reacting to some Muslim guys in Kolhapur displaying the picture of Aurangzeb in
their status, one must say that humans are no better than animals.
Politicians are fanning this insignificant
issue and brainless Hindu youths are getting instigated. Agreed, Aurangzeb and
Tipu Sultan were no angels and both abhorred Hindus, but centuries have
elapsed. You cannot keep harping on the same old issues till eternity. Move on.
If some Muslims idolize Tipu and Aurangzeb, let them adore. Is it a felony to
put the pics of Aurangzeb and Tipu as a DP or one's status on a social
platform? At the most, they can be reprimanded (even that's also unfair) by the
police or cyber cell.
Agatha Christie once wrote, “Crime mainly
thrives in a criminal atmosphere; when other things are also conducive for the
perpetration and perpetuation of a series of gory events." Very apt
observation, I must say. When films like 'Kashmir Files', 'The Kerala
Story', '72 Hoorain' and now 'Ajmer 92' will be screened and
a specific narrative will be bandied about, crimes and communal conflicts are
bound to break out. These Islam-bashing movies are acting as perfect catalysts
and conduits for divisiveness in the society. The Hindu India is encouraging
this polarisation. It's like the famous Urdu maxim, Aag Hai, Tawa Hai, Roti
Senkna Ravaa Hai! There's so much hatred in both the communities that it
seems, Hindus and Muslims cannot live together any longer.
Here, I'm not panning Hindus and praising
Muslims. Both are at fault. Even in such dismal circumstances, some Muslims are
insidiously indulging in converting Hindus. Hindus are glorifying those Muslim
girls who're converting to Hinduism to marry Hindu boys. Unscrupulous
missionaries, deliberately oblivious to what's going on, are converting poor
Hindus and Sikhs in the hinterland of Punjab. Sikhs are making a hue and cry that
a mall in Patna installed their 10th Guru's statue as Sikhism doesn't believe
in idolatry. That 50 percent and even more Sikhs visit Vaishno Devi is
inconsequential. One can see scores of Sikhs at Shirdi temple in Maharashtra
but they'll cry hoarse when their Guru's statute is installed and consecrated
at a mall! Wahe Guru ji Da Khalsa, Wahe Guru ji Di Fateh! Religion has
become much greater than humanity.
A few days ago, the venerable octogenarian
Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin rightly asked, “Should we hurtle towards the post-religious
phase of mankind or wait for this to happen on its own?” Well, Mr Ghulam, we
must hurtle toward that phase and eliminate all religions, their gods, 'holy'
books, gurus and sects.
What causes so much strife, must be
extirpated forever. Humanity is urgently in need of a faithless and godless New
World where we all can live peacefully. If a damn ordinary individual like
yours truly can live sans god/s, religion and all useless 'holy' books, why
can't others? Ask yourself?
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL:
https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/aurangzeb-tipu-sultan/d/129950
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