Undoubtedly, the Peshawar carnage which targeted innocent and unarmed children and killed them without the least compunction has shaken Pakistan more than ever before. That the act was carried out by people who swore by Islam demonstrated the stark reality that terrorists could use religion to their convenience. Analysts have started blaming the mullas of Pakistan, without whose interference and inducement so many crimes would not have been committed in the name of religion.
To begin with, though the demand for a separate state for Muslims was made citing ‘Threat to Islam’ as the reason and the Muslims of India were collected under a single banner, Jinnah, the architect of Pakistan never had an Islamic state in mind. He wanted a land just like India, for whose formation he was toiling along with all the other leaders of the land. His idea of a Muslim land was just like India, a secular country in whose governance religion would not have any place. The trend continued even after his death, until owing to political instability, the government was taken over by General Ayub Khan.
All dictators want to find a justifications for their rule, to keep people under control so that they may not resort to rebellion. Ayub Khan promised an Islamic state to his people, which, he assured would usher in prosperity to the faction ridden land. Making use of it the mullas of Pakistan entrenched themselves strongly in the country and started interfering in the day to day running of the state. Instead of preaching love, they preached hatred. They induced the people to hate India, which, in their view, was in the way of Pakistan attaining prosperity, and which was unlawfully holding Kashmir which rightfully belonged to Pakistan.
There are Muslim extremists all over the world, who call themselves Jihadis, or those who are engaged in a holy war, and name all the others as their enemies. This assure the right thinking section of Muslims, is against the tenets of Islam. Yet, terrorism flourishes in Pakistan, where Muslims are seen to be killing fellow Muslims in the name of Islam.
That is exactly the danger of fundamentalism. Once they decide to Islamise the country, they have to define Islam and define a Muslim. And there starts victimization. They try to find scapegoats and name every other person an enemy of Islam.
Mustafa Kamal Atatürk, who is celebrated as the father of modern Turkey put an end to religious fundamentalism which was eating into the vitals of the nation, through dubious means, but motivated by the best of intentions. He collected all the mullas of the country and sent them in a single ship ostensibly on a haj pilgrimage, but got the ships blasted on the way, sending all the mullas straight to heaven. After that it was a straight forward movement for Turkey where all the people, men and women were given education, paving the way for progress and prosperity.
Pervez Musharraf, when he took over the government of Pakistan, invoked the name of Kamal Atatürk only to provoke the mullas there. They would not permit even the name of the infidel to be uttered and Musharraf hastily retracted what he said. During the early months of his rule, he set aside and inhuman punishment meted out to a criminal by the Shariat court, but he was forced to comply with their decision. Such is the power wielded by the mullas in Pakistan who are taking the country towards certain destruction. How can anyone serve Islam by exterminating the Muslims is a question for which they must find the answer for.
But that is what is happening in those countries which have been the breeding ground for fundamentalism. Question arises as to who is a true Muslim. Shias and Sunnis are killing each other. Ahmadiyyas are targeted by both the above groups. In Pakistan, Baluchs are considered to be less Muslim than the others and are discriminated against.
All this must be a lesson for India. Religious fundamentalism, which was in check all these days, seems to be on the rise, taking advantage of various factors. Once it gains ground, the result will be chaos. Already there are unmistakable signs that forebode disaster, if not nipped in the bud.
Take for example, the move to enthrone Sanskrit. We are not making the learning of Sanskrit compulsory, they say. Is not Sanskrit a great language, they ask. Yet, the real motive is to brainwash everyone into believing that Sanskrit is more sacred and more sanctified than any other language, not only in India, but everywhere in the world. All this was expressed in the world Hindu conference. The inevitable inference, if this line of argument is accepted, will be that those who oppose Sanskrit are not Hindus and hence do not deserve to live in this country.
The attempts to declare Bhagavad Gita the national scripture is another sinister more to enthrone a Sanskrit work, put it on a pedestal and expect everyone to pay homage to it at the peril of their very safety. The moves at the reconverting Muslims and Christians has already created unrest in the minds of people. If you are against it, are you ready for enacting a law banning all forcible conversions, they ask, as if it is a burning issue.
The man of top appears to be cautious and advocate moderation. “Respect the Lakshman Rekha”, he says, but does not make it clear where exactly is the Lakshman Rekha, if it exists at all. He has never discouraged such moves, mind you.
All these moves are ominous and portend dark days. This is the time for all those who desire the well being of the country to come together and act. Otherwise, history will not forgive us. r
To begin with, though the demand for a separate state for Muslims was made citing ‘Threat to Islam’ as the reason and the Muslims of India were collected under a single banner, Jinnah, the architect of Pakistan never had an Islamic state in mind. He wanted a land just like India, for whose formation he was toiling along with all the other leaders of the land. His idea of a Muslim land was just like India, a secular country in whose governance religion would not have any place. The trend continued even after his death, until owing to political instability, the government was taken over by General Ayub Khan.
All dictators want to find a justifications for their rule, to keep people under control so that they may not resort to rebellion. Ayub Khan promised an Islamic state to his people, which, he assured would usher in prosperity to the faction ridden land. Making use of it the mullas of Pakistan entrenched themselves strongly in the country and started interfering in the day to day running of the state. Instead of preaching love, they preached hatred. They induced the people to hate India, which, in their view, was in the way of Pakistan attaining prosperity, and which was unlawfully holding Kashmir which rightfully belonged to Pakistan.
There are Muslim extremists all over the world, who call themselves Jihadis, or those who are engaged in a holy war, and name all the others as their enemies. This assure the right thinking section of Muslims, is against the tenets of Islam. Yet, terrorism flourishes in Pakistan, where Muslims are seen to be killing fellow Muslims in the name of Islam.
That is exactly the danger of fundamentalism. Once they decide to Islamise the country, they have to define Islam and define a Muslim. And there starts victimization. They try to find scapegoats and name every other person an enemy of Islam.
Mustafa Kamal Atatürk, who is celebrated as the father of modern Turkey put an end to religious fundamentalism which was eating into the vitals of the nation, through dubious means, but motivated by the best of intentions. He collected all the mullas of the country and sent them in a single ship ostensibly on a haj pilgrimage, but got the ships blasted on the way, sending all the mullas straight to heaven. After that it was a straight forward movement for Turkey where all the people, men and women were given education, paving the way for progress and prosperity.
Pervez Musharraf, when he took over the government of Pakistan, invoked the name of Kamal Atatürk only to provoke the mullas there. They would not permit even the name of the infidel to be uttered and Musharraf hastily retracted what he said. During the early months of his rule, he set aside and inhuman punishment meted out to a criminal by the Shariat court, but he was forced to comply with their decision. Such is the power wielded by the mullas in Pakistan who are taking the country towards certain destruction. How can anyone serve Islam by exterminating the Muslims is a question for which they must find the answer for.
But that is what is happening in those countries which have been the breeding ground for fundamentalism. Question arises as to who is a true Muslim. Shias and Sunnis are killing each other. Ahmadiyyas are targeted by both the above groups. In Pakistan, Baluchs are considered to be less Muslim than the others and are discriminated against.
All this must be a lesson for India. Religious fundamentalism, which was in check all these days, seems to be on the rise, taking advantage of various factors. Once it gains ground, the result will be chaos. Already there are unmistakable signs that forebode disaster, if not nipped in the bud.
Take for example, the move to enthrone Sanskrit. We are not making the learning of Sanskrit compulsory, they say. Is not Sanskrit a great language, they ask. Yet, the real motive is to brainwash everyone into believing that Sanskrit is more sacred and more sanctified than any other language, not only in India, but everywhere in the world. All this was expressed in the world Hindu conference. The inevitable inference, if this line of argument is accepted, will be that those who oppose Sanskrit are not Hindus and hence do not deserve to live in this country.
The attempts to declare Bhagavad Gita the national scripture is another sinister more to enthrone a Sanskrit work, put it on a pedestal and expect everyone to pay homage to it at the peril of their very safety. The moves at the reconverting Muslims and Christians has already created unrest in the minds of people. If you are against it, are you ready for enacting a law banning all forcible conversions, they ask, as if it is a burning issue.
The man of top appears to be cautious and advocate moderation. “Respect the Lakshman Rekha”, he says, but does not make it clear where exactly is the Lakshman Rekha, if it exists at all. He has never discouraged such moves, mind you.
All these moves are ominous and portend dark days. This is the time for all those who desire the well being of the country to come together and act. Otherwise, history will not forgive us. r
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