India Should Heed Mohan Bhagwat’s Pluralistic Call That Echoes the Sentiments of All Abrahamic Religions and Other Faiths
By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
30
September 2021
RSS'
Chief Echoes the Basic Call of All the Abrahamic Religions and Other Faiths of
Plurality in the Society
Main
Points:
1. In his Surat
speech, Mohan Bhagwat said Hindutva has three essence – Darshanik, Laukik and Rashtriyata.
2. Sri Bhagwat
being the Chief of RSS as well as an intellectual himself is a widely heard and
respected person.
3. Mr Bhagwat’s
call for a pluralist Indian society will certainly bear fruits and Assams will
not be repeated.
4. These trying
times, for the whole humane society of the world, seem to be devoid of the
positive essence of brotherhood and the message of divine inclusiveness.
-------
Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief
--------
RSS' Chief
echoes the basic call of all the Abrahamic religions and other faiths of
plurality in the society. Shri Bhagwat understands all the Hindu religious
epics and their values. He also seems to be following –
مذہب نہیں سکھاتا
آپس میں بیر رکھنا
ہندی ہیں ہم وطن ہیں ہندوستاں ہمارا
In the
present prevailing Islamophobic environment in India, at least one plural voice
from such a big organisation is welcome for the safety of Indian Muslims and
Indians’ Idea of India essence. In his Surat speech, he said Hindutva has three
essence – Darshanik, Laukik and Rashtriyata. All three meanings
of Hindutva - Darshanik, Laukik and Rashtriyata described by Shri
Mohan Bhagwat are found in the basics of all the Abrahamic religions and other
religious faiths, as well. He further said, “Hindutva means those who walk
unitedly with all people”. The Holy Quran says, ‘O humanity! Indeed, We
created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so
that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. (Al-Hujurat: 13) - Dr Mustafa Khattab’. The Holy Quran says that all human
beings are the same in their humane traits and that they are divided into
nations and communities so that they could respect each other’s individuality
and mingle with them in their cultural events.
Sri Bhagwat
being the Chief of RSS as well as an intellectual himself is a widely heard and
respected person. He has been advocating religious pluralism through his
addresses at conferences and events. It is known to all that good things have
little attraction for humankind in comparison to bad things, this is why,
perhaps, people seem to be giving not much attention to his efforts on the
pluralistic ethos of the country. But, better late than never, his call for a
pluralist Indian society will certainly bear fruits and Assams will not be
repeated.
These
trying times, for the whole humane society of the world, seem to be devoid of
the positive essence of brotherhood and the message of divine inclusiveness.
Humankind’s empty stares at fellow beings present the horrific situation
humanity is passing through. Everybody looks to have a positive passion for
everyone but is unable to express his respect and trust towards other people.
These people just need to be given words of faith in one another and the world
will transform into a domain of peace and tranquillity and inclusiveness that
is the only guarantee of prosperity and happiness.
Say
whatever you wish to but you cannot even think of a prosperous society without
inclusiveness being in its foundation. It is the absence of pluralistic ethos
in the basics of the nations that have born the brunt of internal strife and
resultantly horrific terrorism.
A pluralist
society faces internal and external issues in front of the nation together
without any discrimination of religion and culture. Many nations have been
witness to their devastation and ruins because of their internal sectarian
conflicts. United fight against the outside attack would have saved the nations
that stand ruined today.
Different
religions and cultures are like different colours of the rainbow of life on
earth. Different people are like different flowers that make a beautiful garden
on earth. The ethics of pluralism taught by all the religious dispensations
needed to be brought into practice to stay away from social pain and sorrows.
Everyone be it an individual or a nation if divided will fall, without
distinction and united will stand.
Hindu
scripture says, “Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti”. It means — the truth
is one but is interpreted differently by the learned.
And Guru
Granth Sahib says, ‘Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible and the Quran are
false. Those who do not contemplate them are false. — Guru Granth Sahib
page 1350’.
Both the
above-mentioned teaching from India’s two most revered religion asserts
pluralistic ethos for a society.
Islam is a
universal religion. Islam is a part of Abrahamic religions. Allah the Most
Gracious revealed various Holy Books on His various prophets. All the available
Holy Books and the sayings of the Prophets have the essence of pluralism and
equality embedded in their ethos
Pluralism
in Quranic Verses
For
every [religious] community We have appointed rites which they perform. (Al-Hud: 67) - Saheeh International
We make
no distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit. (Ali 'Imran - 84)— Abul Ala Maududi
There
shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. .. (Al-Baqarah: 256) - Sahih
International
And
among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the difference
of your tongues and colours. (Ar-Rum: 22) - Mufti Taqi Usmani
.... If
Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test
you with what He has given ˹each of˺ you. So compete with one another in
doing good. To Allah you will all return, then He will inform you ˹of the truth˺ regarding your differences. (Al-Maida: 48) — Dr Mustafa Khattab
Prophet
Muhammad Pbuh’s life was an example of brotherhood between communities and
equality for all human beings irrespective of their belief and customs.
Consider the following tradition:
“Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a
non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than
they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet
Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud)
All the
religious communities in India should come forward and spread the message of
unity among all the religious communities, given by RSS Chief Shri Mohan Bhagwat
for the sake of unity in diversity that is India’s identity around the globe.
And
Allah Knows the Best.
-----
Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/bhagwat-abrahamic-religions-india-faith/d/125476