The beauty of our country is its diversity; dress, food, way of life and culture changes every few hundred kilometres. The one thing that binds the nation is its religion. Without Hinduism as the core adhesive for our States, many States might have declared their independence by now. However, India chose to be a secular nation instead of a religious one, unlike Pakistan, which was born out of dismemberment of India by the British and never shied in declaring itself as an Islamic nation.
Be that as it may, independent India has made great strides in every field and can boast of a US$ 3 trillion-plus economy and nearly $400 Billion as foreign exchange reserves, unlike our bankrupt neighbour Pakistan. This growth was even as the British left us as paupers and dependent on outside help and aid for decades. One of the greatest virtues of India was to include all citizens in our growth, irrespective of their religious practices and virtues.
However, our country enslaved by Moghuls, Islamists and the British for nearly a millennium seem to have left a deep wound in the heart of Hindus. The tweaking of history to favour the invaders and obliterate Hindu rulers’ successes was silently digested for long.
The election of the Modi led BJP in 2014 could have been an expression of despair on the pent-up centuries-long discrimination and on a hope of a resurgent Hindu nation, which meant to be an all-inclusive and all-embracing one. Such a shift has not suited a few who were so far enjoying the polarization of the minorities, causing an eternal apprehension and fear in their minds of a Hindutva bulldozing every minority hope and aspiration. Periodically some right-wing Hindu extremists too exhibit intolerance to the extent of lynching anyone seemingly offending their religious beliefs.
For our country’s adversaries, it pays to keep our country engaged in internal disturbances, provoking one against another and polarizing communities. One should not fall for their manifestations.
The latest example of another religious unrest is over the disallowed hijabs in the schools. One section of students, even those who were liberal, are now made to come to the schools wearing hijab, while the Hindu students show up wearing saffron scarves or saffron headgears. The students seem to be deeply divided over defending their supposed right to dress in the manner prescribed by their religion.
No religion may have prescribed anything to school-going girls or boys. The girls in Afghanistan are fighting for just the opposite: discard the hijab and a right to education. In Pakistan, Nobel winner Malala was shot for going to school. She, too, was then forced to wear a hijab, which she discarded after settling abroad.
The Karnataka High Court hears the hijab matter is certainly not a matter of pride. On the contrary, it is a matter of concern and shame. Whichever way the court decides, the perpetrators of disharmony with the children will not rest. It is sad to see that the future of India, which rests on these students, both Hindus and other minority communities, must start with discord and which would grow to bother the country in the future.
I despise every provoking group, regardless of their political and religious affiliations. Stop playing with fire!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
