Relations Between Hindus and Muslims in India

By

Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi

There is a theory advancing between Indian Muslim and none-Muslim scholars that the relation of Muslims and Hindus in India is one verge of collapse, and the differences between two communities led to much deadliest violence in various parts of the country before and after independence.

I think there is no reason to relay on it. Existence of differences is natural, but these differences are not much that leaded the violence between two communities. If these differences take place because of religion both communities can't live together in their daily life.

We see in common life that both communities are living together. They travel in train, buses and on footpaths together. They stand in one queue at Platform and at Cinema Hall. Both communities in daily life support one another. Sometime Hindus purchase their home materials and other items from Muslim's shop and vise-versa. Hindus go to their Temple to pray there, while Muslims go to Masjid to pray there.

In various situations, it is noted that the people of both communities help one another, even in bad time and when the violence erupted, it is seen that, Hindus save Muslims and Muslims save them. In others works, people of both communities live and share their ideas, even both communities select their candidates for state and central government. So, after existence of these adjectives of Indian society, how we can say that both communities are suffering with much differences and hatred as various writers and Hindu-right wing organisations insist.

As for Hindus and Muslims, there is no reason of differences between them. However, when we discuss on such issues, questions strike our minds that if it is not, as they are being told, so why Babri Masjid was demolished? Why Gujarat burnt in 2002? Why Malyana and Hashim-pura incident took place? Why only Muslim youths picked up by police after every bomb blast in last few years? Therefore, other questions are arise and to be answered very clearly.

There are no big differences between two communities. It is very clear thing. Those who have the answer in negative, they have to search Indian streets, shops, trains, busses, taxies, and every common place where people gather to bring to a conclusion their necessities of daily life, and then come to clear that where are differences? They will see there that Hindu advocates are fighting for Muslims and Muslim advocates are fighting for Hindus in the court.

If anything happens with Muslims by Hindus, it is not because they are Hindus and we are Muslims, but the people who come ahead to butcher Muslims are being funded by the organisations who are playing their jobs under the label of Hindutva, not Hinduism. Most important things, they can carry out every work even against their community and the country if the money given them.

When Mr. Advani began his Rath Yatra for building a Temple on same place where Babri Mosque is situated, his intention was not to serve Hindu religion, because it could be achieved by other ways, his intention was only to exploit his community in the name of religion.

Mr. Advani, his colleagues, his party members and thousands of workers and activists whose minds were instilled with wrong history, hatred against Muslims, and the fear instilled into them, were known that it is only the religion that can reach them to the Center.

Hindu right-wing organisations understand that religion is a weapon that can be used at any time, and it is a very simple and unmistakable instrument to instigate religious sentiments of ordinary Hindus.

The conflict begins when religion is being used as a weapon to achieve political interest. Unfortunately, government and political parties in India, where a large number of subjects related to ordinary people whether they are Muslims or Hindus, are in need to be addressed on top priority basis, see the religion as a substitute to divert the attention of ordinary people.

These Hindu extremist groups or organisations are not serving for Hindu community since its existence. Their activists and workers clearly linked to religious and communal terror. They have been trained only for violently activities. We can call them a private militia that fully trained with all types of weapons.

Existence of such groups with their militias and activists where their numbers are in lacks and fully trained with locally and internationally made weapons within a democratically elected government are not only a threat to Hinduism but also a threat to India’s integrity and its multi-cultural society.

The mostly tension that appears between two communities are a result of fueling it by Hindu right-wing organisations.

If they addressed seriously by the government and not allowed other groups to take matter in their hands, there would be no room for such groups and parties to continue their communal and terror work.

The hatred and bigotry against Muslims, are not that Hindus don’t like Muslims but it is for that some Hindu extremist groups, who searched the reason to live in the society under the garb of Hindu religion, are don’t want to leave a single issue that benefits them in creating gulf between Hindus and Muslims.

If we separate these organisations from Indian society for a while, a single violence can’t be presented for example that Hindus and Muslims go on rampage with each others on a pity issue.

Such groups by taking the shelter of Hindu religion, spread violence and take a part in propaganda, state and central government provides them legal cover with not taking a stern step against them, and finally they get licenses to do anything, as they did it in Gujarat.

Little differences in a multiple society are possible but it can’t be the reason to say that the relation of both communities is on verge of collapse.

04-07-2010