India is a great religious nation. It is here, where great ideas, thoughts and religions flourish. When it comes to religion, Hindu (as a religion) and Islam are the most prominent in India. Whatever the religion India is the most fertile ground for devotion. She gave birth to lots of great devotees, in both religions. The desire for brotherhood, love and understanding between these two great religions was there even from the ancient times. The great saint,visionary Swami Vivekananda had a vision of new India with a Vedanta-brain and a Muslim-body. Even though actions of some handful of people in early years and later by the British tried to saw the seeds of hatred between them that desire for brotherhood and togetherness is still here.
The love, respect and devotion for Islam in India started right from the time when it took birth. The great religion of Islam is believed to have come to India first through the trade routes via sea. We can still see the ancient Mosques in south India which was established by Islam followers who came to India, not so long after its birth in Persia. The most interesting fact is that, the rulers of the land in that times of India, the Raja's and Prabhu's (kings and Landlords), who were ardent devotees of Hindu religion did recognize the greatness of Islam and gave land and other gifts to the carriers of this precious cargo from across the sea (Islam) to establish it in India. Even more interestingly, some of the rulers even chose Islam as their religion. The remains of these dynasties can be found in south India even today and they were excellent rulers and great patriots. But later the entry of Islam through the northern side of India by Sultans from Persia was violent. They were in the process of extending there territories through wars in north India and with them Islam found its ground in large scales.
In later years, as Islam began to blossom and in its peak India produced finest of Islamic thinkers, artists, poets, devotees and rulers. During these times some great people like Kabir Das who recognized the greatness of both Hindu and Islam, tried to highlight the importance of brotherhood and understanding between them. Yet from time to time by the actions or inaction of handful of people of both religions, who were supposed to hold the highest virtues of their respective religions, betrayed their people and great values of their respective religions to cultivate hatred and misunderstanding between people and caused self-imposed separation from each other and even urged people to kill each other. To kill!, to hate each other!, and that is what these two great religions teaches not to do and that is what people did and yet they were regarded as the true practitioners of their religions and called themselves Hindus and Muslims.
After all, religions are just different roads which lead to a destination which is common for all. It is like children of a father taking different roads to reach home after a long day's hard work.
Today in India the scenarios had been changed. Now there are lots of Hindus and Muslims happily lives along side and discrimination and violence are cornered to only some pockets of India where social injustices like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment cohabit. (Non-existence of good basic infrastructure facilities like roads, transportation, schools, hospitals, etc. can also make the children of a country, quarrelsome.) And today hate is a tool in the hands of political parties (both ‘communal’ and so called ‘secular’ political parties) which they use now and then to increase (or decrease) their vote bank (support) and sustain their only means for livelihood they know.
Presently India has the largest population of Muslims living in an Islamic and non-Islamic country and has more happy Muslim people than most of the so called Islamic countries. Today, Islam is in full bloom in India as Hindu religion and irrespective of their religion every Hindu and Muslim possesses a collective identity of "Indian-ness" and works for the progress our great nation as an Indian. Now India is as much as a Muslim nation as Hindu. In this fertile land of ours any number diverse thoughts, ideas and religions can blossom, bear fruit and thrive. This is India, our mother, an Embodiment of Universal Love, she embraces all.
To further our cause we should:-
1.Learn, understand and respect other religions and their teachings.
2.Make more friends and acquaintance with people of different religions.
3.Invite people from other religions to your religious festivals and you should participate in theirs too.
4.Work for the well-being of all.
NB: I request you to send me your valuable comments and any corrections if needed. I welcome all your support in this regard. Thank you.
Dated 7/23/08 7:19 AM
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