The forces of Hindu Dharma, the theology, and Hindutva, the extremist communal movement, both seem to be in an utter state of confused excitement. The rise of BJP under Modi seems to have disbalanced their senses. The calls for domination of Hinduism are hitting the nation in different decibels. There have been communally tinged calls for the abrogation of article 370, for the “modernization of Madrasas”, and introduction of “uniform civil code”; there have been rabid anti-Muslim statements from the likes of Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia; there have been forced roti-feeding to a fasting Muslim employee of Maharashtra Bhavan by Shiv Sena MP; and there has been objections on Sania Mirza having been appointed the brand ambassador of Telangana. The list is pretty long. In addition, there have been numerous other incidents that speak of the rising intolerance towards Muslims. More importantly, a Dharmayudh is getting intensified within the Hindu community on the question of the worship of Sai Baba whose Muslim identity has irked the Shanakaracharya of Dwarika so much that he wants his idols to be removed from all Sanatan Dharma Mandirs and special rituals to be performed by Sai Bhaktas to get purified back to Sanatan fold. Instead of listening to the diktats of the Shanakaracharya, the Sai bhakts have hit back by pouring in huge numbers to the Sai Temple at Shirdi and holding big protests against the Dharamguru. The dissidence within Hindu community is threatening a vertical split, with many akharas and Hindu priests openly condemning the Shanakaracharya and siding with Sai. Almost everyday, national TV channels are showing debates on the confrontation, and the priests can be seen using extremely offensive language against each other.
While all these happenings have something to do with the rise of Modi, the people behind these events are not necessarily Modi supporters. Some of them are in fact open Modi-bashers. These include Togadia and the Shanakaracharya. The former has an old animosity towards Modi and the latter openly hates him and is largely perceived as a Congress supporter. Then there are elements within BJP that want to keep pressure mounting on Modi. BJP itself is divided too. There is a strong contingent within the party which wants to push the Hindutva agenda not only because this is in their blood but also because they think that BJP cannot survive for long as a political party without its communal politics. There is another, fast growing group, which feels that Hindutva agenda should not be pursued beyond a limit at least for some years, and many think that if Muslims can be wooed, this will be a better way to ensure a long-term BJP government.
It an be seen that ultimately, it is all a keen power struggle, within the country and within the Hindu community. After all they all want power and use it for the people who matter to them most. Ideally, the power struggle within the Hindu forces should have had nothing to do with Muslims. Muslims are least concerned about what is happening in the Hindu religious folds. But unfortunately, they cannot remain unaffected by the drama. What to spek of the forces of Hindutva like BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena and Hindu Vishwa Parishad, even the Dharmacharyas seem to benefit from the anti-Muslim undercurrent in the Hindu community. In order to gain mileage, they do not mind using the Muslim card. Even the Shankaracharya of Tirupati has made it known to the whole nation that his hatred for Sai Baba emanates primarily from his Muslim background. Had it been not so, they would have perhaps declared him theKalki avatar the way they declared Buddha the penultimate avatar of Hinduism.
Irrespective of who emerges the winner in the latest Dharmayudh between the different sects of Hinduism, what Musims are worried about is the impact of all these happenings on the communal amity in the country. Muslims were worried about the rise of Modi but they have taken it bravely and positively, and are looking to develop stronger relations with the fellow Indians. If BJP government moves a step towards them, they are ready to move two steps towards them. On the other hand, if the government exhibits disregard to Muslim sentiments and needs, they will use their democratic rights to protest. Some of the statements from Prime Minister Modi looked encouraging. But with so many lobbies and pressure groupsat work, there is an uneasy ambience, which needs to be urgently corrected.
The forces of Hindutva need to recognize that in almost all the matters related to cultural and social values, majorities of Hindus and Muslims tend to think alike. They think similarly on the sanctity of family system, social vices like alcohol, gambling, and Western cultural onslaughts in the form of nakedness, live-in relationships, homosexuality and promiscuity. Even on economic front, many of their concerns are common including poverty, corruption and economic disparity. If the forces of Hinduism give up their communal agenda and instead concentrate on moral and religious values, they and the forces of Islam will find themselves standing on the same side of the line. This is the line of thinking which I want to propagate at my personal level, and this is where I think lie the biggest opportunities of the integration of all religious communities in the country. If Muslims and Hindus do understand the true face of the so-called modernism, and regard it as their common foe rather than embattling each other, they can make the nation cleaner, purer, healthier and more peaceful.
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* Dr Javed Jamil is a thinker and writer with over a dozen books including his latest, “Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough” and “Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Road-map”. Other works include “The Devil of Economic Fundamentalism”, “The Essence of the Divine Verses”, “The Killer Sex”, “Islam means Peace” and “Rediscovering the Universe”. He can be contacted at: doctorforu123@yahoo.com or 91-8130340339.
Allah SWT gives power & take way instantly.
Let us await the order of ALLAH against the evils of the Earth
who have installed war against Islamic community.
great article. it’s true that all positive people wheather hindu or Muslims both will save this country they will never be fool by cheap thoughts.
no community is bad .. and i love my religion…i respect all religion…buraiya to sabhi dharm me hai kynki ye kaliyug hai……..mai apne sanatan updesho par chalkar jo ho sake insaniyat k liye karunga
Burai is not in Dharm, it is the person who misinterprets it wrongly and tries to push his/her own agenda. Burai is in the individual.
No doubt Allah willsee the evil doers, but are we not given some responsibilities ?
Why not we study all the religions and then decide?Religion is very important factor of our life.We are exerting our effort for everything to take best decision,but not thinking about religion.While religion is the most important factor of one”s life.
Fact is that islam is on verge of extinction….they r fighting everywhere….from fight of shia n sunni in iraq to massacres in peshawar to killings in nigeria…..this evil religion is bound to perish….humanity will win against barbarians.
@ a ravi……a wishfull thinking of a cow dung licker..will at best remain fantasy…..just google… converts to islam… and sanghi stinkfarrtt you will skip your beat.
Soon Islam will die its death…there is no place for barbarism in this world for Muslims are known for all over the world eg. Al Qa’ida, Boko Haram, Taliban and many more all willing to establish their barbaric islamic retarded logic and Muslims are as usual do not have the guts to take on that thugs..that is hard but bitter truth.
Better Muslims should mend their ways or they are doomed…
Next time, while at work and your next desk colleague is a muslim, repeat the same in front of him.
Media have done its best to portrait islam as religion of terrorists but failed to stop people converting to Islam. Million of people were killed during WW I and WW II in these war muslims were not involved so it’s belived that countries with non muslims were more barbaric in the past. The crises in the muslim world are due to foreign interest once America support Saudi Sunni to wage war against Shia, then America gave training to Taliban to wage war against Russians in afganistan, later they killed millions of Muslims in Iraq and found that there is no biological weapon, then entered Egypt destroyed it, then Libya was destroyed by nato force. Take in India the data from police station annually 30000 women were raped and more than 50000 people are murdered every year and 90% person the criminals are non muslims. So correct your facts