Vested interests have
divided society
BY allowing the Indian society to be
divided on the basis of caste, sex and religion, even in
the name of Constitutional positive
discrimination, we have jeopardised and imperilled
the very existence and growth of true secularism. Stray
instances of domineering violence and communal outbursts
point to the deep-rooted discontent on both sides, which
can be removed only by mutual harmony, understanding and
tolerance supported by a rational scientific temper.
Cleansing the society of
the fundamentalist traits, which disturb social
equilibrium, requires not only a positive and
non-partisan support from the government, but also a
fresh interpretation of social reforms in terms of
reorienting the society to the changing needs of the
time. The caste and religion-based reservations in
government jobs and professional courses may have been
good in the past, but in the days of global competition
merit and talent cannot be ignored. Politicians
vested interests only add to the discontent among the
masses, which again is exploited by some unscrupulous
casteist and religious fundamentalist elements resulting
in communal disharmony and violence.
Secondly, we have neither
encouraged awakening of the masses through education nor
has our education developed a scientific and rational
temperament. Our reading of history has been negative and
biased, instilling only hatred against our rulers in the
past. Instead of inspiring a love of the country and a
desire to work for her welfare, the distorted facts of
history, presented with communal overtures, have spread
communal animosity.
More important in the
direction of building a tolerant society, is not checking
the criminalisation of politics, as much as it is to give
our educational system a secular and rational priority.
The accumulated treasure of spiritual truths can be
preserved and developed if our education could inculcate
in the masses the human virtues of tolerance,
understanding, mutual respect, brotherhood and
inclination of self sacrifice for others welfare.
VED GULIANI
Hisar
True
Hinduism
Swami Vivekananda
had said: This word (Hindu) was the name
that the ancient Persians used to apply to the
river Sindhu. Whenever in Sanskrit there is an
S, in ancient Persian it changes to
H so that Sindhu became
Hindu. Now this word Hindu as applied
to the inhabitants of the other side of the
Indus, has lost its meaning. There are the Hindus
proper, the Mohammedans, the Parsis, the
Christians, the Buddhists and Jains. The word
Hindu in its literal sense ought to
include all these but as signifying the religion,
it would not be proper to call all of them
Hindus.
The true Hinduism
signifies the mutual respect for all religions.
We must appreciate and respect all religions. All
religions tell us to do noble deeds. Let us
detect worthiness in other religions. Religious
tolerance will bring social tolerance in our
society.
Once we acquire
tolerance for other religions there will be a
society with tolerance and mutual respect. Let us
wipe out evil and create an atmosphere of mutual
trust, love and tolerance.
MOHAN
SINGH
Bathinda
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Result of neglect
This tragedy of burning
alive the missionaries damaging churches, raping nuns and
ill-treating the Christians is a direct result of the
nations neglect. The legacy goes back to 1984 when
the Sikhs were butchered and burnt alive in thousands and
the nation as a whole remained a mute spectator. The then
Prime Minister had even brushed aside such a ghastly act
under his government and under his very nose by simply
saying that when a big tree falls the ground around
is bound to be shaken.
The nation (Parliament)
remained unaffected, the named criminals have not been
punished even till today. Rather the then party in power
has given them honourable positions in the party and in
the government. Naturally, the same act is being repeated
with the Christians. But since they are a very large and
powerful community all over the world, at least lip
sympathies are being shown by the leaders and the
government to keep them quiet and satisfied.
Let us awaken ourselves to
our responsibility as a great Indian nation to which
every one of us belongs. Hindus, Muslims, Christians,
Sikhs and Budhists as we are Indians first and anything
else afterwards. Unless we adopt this course and the
majority community stops thinking that it is their
country alone, we are bound to suffer and will never
develop as a nation.
We must congratulate Mr ML
Khurana who had shown the real Indian consciousness and
resigned from all posts. He was the one who had pledged
to bring the criminals, responsible for killing the Sikhs
in 1984 to book when he was CM of Delhi and the process
had been started in a big way. And now again he has shown
his grit to be the banner holder as a real secular
Indian.
DALJIT SINGH
DHILLON
Chandigarh
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Double
standard
No sane person would prove
of attacks on a Christian, or for that matter on any
peaceful person or persons. But why so much hue and cry
when there is attack on Christians, and why no reaction,
when Hindus in thousands were killed and in lakhs forced
to leave their homes permanently in various parts of the
country, where they happen to be in minority? Why this
double standard, and selective show of concern?
More important point is
that there was nothing against the Hindus. Their only
fault was that they are not separatist, and differed in
their thinking, and it is a constitutional right to
differ. It is not so in the case of Christians. They are
indulging in conversion of Hindus, and that too by
fraudulent methods. This has resulted in violence between
Hindu tribals on one side and Christian tribals and
missionaries on the other side. In Gujarat it were the
Christians who attacked first. There is absolutely no
proof of direct involvement of VHP or Bajrang Dal
organisations.
The very wording of the
topic for discussion is biased and objectionable, as it
presumes that the VHP and the Bajrang Dal are creating
disturbances and the entire Hindu community has become
intolerant. The fact is that it is a local reaction to
the proselytising activities of the Christian
missionaries by adopting unethical means.
Even the adversaries of
the Hindus have been accepting that Hinduism is the most
tolerant religion, which accepts vast variations in the
mode of worship, different concepts about the God and
different type of socio-religious practices. Christianity
and Islam do not have that liberal approach to religion.
Then why to destroy that liberal Hindu religion? It must
be realised that India is secular only because of Hindu
majority, and the moment Hindu majority is destroyed, it
would cease to be secular.
ANAND PRAKASH
Chandigarh
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* *
Do
not blame all
Although the barbaric acts
of a few mad fanatics shock us beyond measure, yet we
must not blame the entire Indian society, which can never
forsake its tolerant and non-violent character, as is
revealed in the widespread condemnation of the incidents
in Orissa. In his address to the nation, Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee vowed to bring to book the criminals
involved in such heinous crimes against humanity, and to
uphold the spirit of Sarva panth sambhav
which is the corner-stone of the Republic of India.
I think that the
enlightened people of all the faiths must unite to keep a
vigilant eye on the forces of evil. They must not allow
any political party to make capital out of the situation.
They must recognise the need of using even weapons of war
against the enemy the graceless zealots. Lord
Rama, Lord Krishna, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, even as divine
beings, had advocated the use of arms against the
uprighteous elements to defend the innocent saintly
people.
S.K. SHARMA
Hoshiarpur
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