Can Anyone Restore Hindus And Muslims To the Setting Created by The Architects of India?
By
Muhammad Alamullah
13 March
2023
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
Who Will
Consolidate Peaceful Coexistence Between Hindus And Muslims In India?
Main
Points:
1. The country
is once more experiencing in full force the same oppressive environment that
prevailed during the time of the partition.
2. Even those
people who once saw sectarianism as merely a subject for intellectual debate
now live in constant fear that if they leave their homes in the morning, they
might not be able to get back there in a secure manner by night.
3. For many
non-Muslims today, the word "Muslim" is a strange concept. They
quickly associate the Muslim name with someone who is less respectable,
non-conservative, and dangerous.
4. We must take
advice from countries who have overcome repressive and unfair conditions
imposed upon them in order to overcome our challenges.
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The
situation of the country is rapidly shifting. When one issue is not resolved, a
new one emerges and spreads like an amoeba. In recent decades, it appeared that
the painful memories of India's partition seemed to have faded from the public
consciousness and there did not seem to be as much of a hostile environment
where people were hell-bent on obliterating one another. Although
discrimination and prejudice towards the weaker sections of society persisted,
it was untrue to say that everyone in society had fallen victim to the venom of
hate-based thinking and anxiety.
All that
can be said is that this poison of hatred only infected a small portion of
society. Yet given that we now live in the twenty-first century and that our
country works to become a global power, there are an increasing number of new
narratives based on hatred and profanity that are tearing the country apart and
dividing its people. Now it appears that the catchphrases utilised in the
particular context of India's division have returned with incredibly harsh
overtones.
It is
unclear to me why, 75 years after India's independence, I am missing the
individuals who are credited with building modern India and who worked
tirelessly to better the lives of Indian Muslims in particular as well as to
bring the country back together after its independence and partition. They went
above and above to establish healthy social and interpersonal relationships,
and worked relentlessly to instil liberal and secularist views into the
political and social systems of the country.
The
"Constitution of India," a masterpiece and historical document that
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar held near to his chest till the end of his life in order to
guarantee the protection of every Indian's fundamental civil and human rights
regardless of his or her money, gender, or caste. Great figures from that era,
including Gandhi, Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Azad, and Patel, had the courage and
the ideologies to uphold social relations in the nation and bring all groups
and nations together. They have big hearts and far-sighted eyes.
This
endeavour must have been extremely difficult for them despite the fact that a
new country had just been established, the wound of the division had been
identified, and the communication channel between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs
had been broken. It was obviously challenging to work on a project to ensure
peaceful cohabitation under such circumstances, but those who demonstrated their
dedication by serving as a bridge between the relationships that had been
completely broken did so.
But in
modern times, there are no longer people who bridge disparate worldviews,
languages, and civilizations. In particular, for those who sincerely want the
national flag of peace and peaceful cohabitation to fly high, it is only
natural to reflect back on these same architects at this pivotal time.
The country
is once more experiencing in full force the same oppressive environment that
prevailed during the time of the partition. Currently, the existence of the
nation's minorities, particularly Muslims, has begun to lose favour with the
ruling class and the majority class. They intend to deny them of their
fundamental human rights in addition to establishing their dominance over them.
The contempt and aversion to all the country's minorities, their language,
culture, traditions, and even their religious practises have reached an
extreme, which is the climax of the constantly escalating hostility towards
minorities.
Everything
has altered gradually. Even those individuals for whom sectarianism was only a
topic for academic discussion now live in terror that when they leave their
houses in the morning, they may not be able to return home safely by the end of
the day. They are also concerned for the safety of their lives and possessions.
Who will get into what difficulty at what time and where is unknown. While
strolling in crowded areas, riding public transportation, and using buses and
trains, it has become necessary now to exercise extreme caution and awareness.
Though it
now appears difficult, it is not impossible to change how Muslims are perceived
in the nation. Muslims must reawaken and develop a stronger sense of their
political and social responsibility. There is little question that Muslims
won't have many better or alternative options. Muslims need to understand that
sectarianism is frequently focused on a certain community and is produced and
manufactured. Riots inside communities, no matter how big or little are planned
in advance.
A climate
of animosity towards a nation is fostered. A certain group is denounced as
traitors and afterwards identified as posing a threat to the integrity of the
state. It doesn't take much effort or time to demolish any subsequent classes
because the game is so deadly. It uses a small number of resources. And in this
instance, whether it is the Congress administration or the BJP government, both
of them have harmed Muslims equally, therefore the communal riots have occurred
with the support of these two governments, according to Bipan Chandra.
For many
non-Muslims today, the word "Muslim" is a strange concept. As soon as
they hear the Muslim name, they immediately think of a less respectable,
non-conservative, and dangerous person. Some people interpret the Muslim name
as a terrible omen, believing that someone with a Muslim name and identity
lives nearby and will undoubtedly do them harm.
The funny
thing is that despite having varied life experiences, some people believe the
rumours and make a wrong opinion about Muslims. Then they won't care that the
beauty of India is a result of the diversity of its people, languages,
cultures, faiths, and worldviews and that this country was founded with Indian
blood, which comes from all social classes and nationalities.
There is a
new tradition emerging now that says Muslims should be held responsible for any
problems or losses that occur in the nation. It serves two purposes and has two
edges. On the one hand, a nation descends deeper into hopelessness and misery,
and on the other, the government is released from accountability. There is no
better justification for avoiding obligations and acting immaturely. The most
effective tactic for the federal and state governments is this weird tradition
and strange tragedy.
Also having
their own psychology are hate and fear. They enter the veins of a man.
Treatment for them is difficult. Their solution is that the blossoms of love
should be planted with the same amount of effort and hard labour as is put into
the trade in hatred. Examples of this can be found in several countries. Nelson
Mandela and his allies were successful in converting whites' hostility and
prejudice towards blacks into love and acceptance in South Africa after the end
of apartheid. Once the Berlin Wall came down, citizens of East and West Germany
greeted one another, suddenly erasing years of hostility.
Muslims
will also need to adopt the same approach and behave similarly. To solve our
problems, we must learn from countries that have triumphed over oppressive and
unfair conditions that were imposed upon them. We need to find out how they
viewed and comprehended the problems they ran across, as well as how applicable
they were to modern sciences and the arts. When things are going well on the
inside, we are more likely to adopt a positive mindset to deal with problems
that come from the outside. To win the internal fronts, one must advance with a
unified front and a constructive course of action. Winning the internal fronts
is necessary before winning the external fronts.
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Urdu
Article: Can Anyone Unite Hindus And Muslims? کوئی ہے ہندو مسلم کو کہ جو شیر و شکر کر دے
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/hindus-muslims-architects-india/d/129346
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