As the world struggles to fight the cancer of religious extremism, it will do well to study the Indian model of Sanatana Dharma, which was raised on the universal principles of equality, acceptance and harmony
Certain sections of Indian society want to erase the ancient Indian civilisation from the pages of history as they do not find it congenial to their interpretation of ‘secularism’. These sections have also scripted the downfall of the Congress which depended on them for intellectual inputs. They wanted to be the messiah of the minorities, practiced communalism, and criticised those who talked of nationalism and India’s glorious contributions to human knowledge and spirituality.
One can understand why the British followed the policy of de-linking Indians from India — to create fissures among religious communities. The British knew it is the only way to demoralise a nation and subjugate a culture.
To understand the hypocrisy of the intellectuals of today, one only has to see how these luminaries have kept quiet about Taslima Nasreen’s persecution but are quick to pounce upon anything that comes from nationalist forces. The recent statement of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Mother Teresa and religious conversions, for example, was grabbed by the secularists.
The common man, without any ideological constraint, is clear on the issue: Christian missionaries have set laudable standards of serving the destitute, needy and the poor. It is widely known that in British India, missionaries were encouraged to come to ‘save the soul of the savages’. Can it be denied that missionaries have, and are still, converting the people to ChristianityIJ Their religion encourages them to do so.
Then, why should so much of noise be made on a statement that reiterates the universally acknowledged fact that proselytisation is an integral part of Christian missionary activities in India, particularly in tribal areasIJ Most Christian missionaries are appreciated by Indian society for their work in the education sections, as the popularity of ‘convent schools’ show.
Mother Teresa was an embodiment of service to the poor and destitute. She was also convinced that Christianity alone was the ‘way’. And she has a right to believe in it. Even those who did not agree with her premise, gave her all the respect and regard. Few grudge her humanitarian contributions. One finds no disrespect for Mother Teresa in Mr Bhagwat’s statements. The controversy was created by those who want some publicity.
The fact is that most of the violence and cruelty in the world today relates to religious fundamentalism. Certainly, there are political factors but the critical factor is the ill-conceived notion that “my way is the only way”. The world today cannot accept this. These are the times for cultural intermingling given the compulsions of learning to live and work together. Is it not an indicator of the changing times that young persons from 60 nationalities were victims of 9/11IJ
The times of slavery, apartheid and colonialism are over. But how can people live together if certain sections misinterpret religion and claim the sole proprietary rights over passage to heavenIJ The universality of the principle of equality of all human beings, and hence all religions, can be established without any misgivings.
Religious leaders pleading the superiority of their own religions must realise the demands of times. Service to mankind is service to God only so long as it is not tacitly linked to religious conversions. History is full of instances of forced conversions, religious persecutions and mass killings in the name of serving the highest and the purest.
Sensible persons recall with admiration and respect the Chicago address of Swami Vivekananda delivered in 1893. Contrast that speech to wisdom of those who are not even willing to sit beside followers of religions.
Every Indian could take pride in having achieved higher levels of understanding of life, and beyond life, of how to realize that diversity is the most beautiful gift of God and deserves to be protected. It must be conceded that at least two thousand years ago if not earlier, the Indian civilization had reached a stage that remains a dream for the global community: Acceptance of the equality and validity of all religions and faiths; that all of these lead to the same goal.
let it be discussed threadbare: Who has welcomed the followers of all religions over hundreds of yearsIJ Who welcomed Christianity and Islam to the shores of IndiaIJ Who received with open arms the persecuted Zoroastrian communityIJ The adherents of Sanatan Dharma, which permits all possible combinations and permutations within its fold, did. Even today, the Jew are persecuted the world over, except in India.
It is this culture that conceptualised the essential unity of human beings of all religions. Universality was discovered and articulated by Indian thinkers and philosophers much ahead of others. If there is one model of diverse religions and culture cohabiting together, it is the model practiced in India for ages.