Religion is More Assertive in Politics Now
Prof N.K. Singh
Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
All of a sudden, Rahul Gandhi running to dozens of Hindu temples and offering puja has taken many politicians by surprise. The Congress leaders so far kept a low profile on their religious beliefs and practices. After desperation of defeats in many states in India, Indian National Congress changed its stance and took Narendera Modi on his own turf. So far the party had not projected its religious face and realised the trouble it is facing due to Hindu backlash. It was only Mahatma Gandhi who could balance his religiosity with secularism in “Ishwar Allah Tere Naam”. Nevertheless after his death, a clever strategist to woo large Hindu along with Muslim population was missed but his impact continued.
Partition was watershed in the history of India when religion split the country in two parts. Mass murders and genocide were order of the day. It still remains debatable that why we went to accept a totally unjustified move to divide the country on the pressure of communal parties, especially Muslim League which etched out the separate identities of two religions in India. It is true Muslims invaded India and destroyed lives of human being not following their faith and divested precious temples that showed contempt for the culture of Hindus. Both religions, however, learnt to live amicably with some Muslim rulers following liberal practices abolishing Jazia, a tax that was levied on those who did not follow Islam.
A king like Akbar married in Hindu families; celebrated Hindu festivals, had Hindu ministers and advisors. The cleavage between both the religions gradually faded, although, both continued to follow own rituals and rites. It was in the fitness of things that when India got freedom, the government should have continued this practice of religious harmony and tolerance.
It is greatest blunder in the history to have given up the natural bonding of two communities living in harmony had indulged in mass killing of each other during partition of the country into two nations. Politics became inflicted by religious hatred and both nations fought subsequent wars.Gandhi was totally opposed to any partition and declared that it had to be on his dead body but he too acquiesced on persuasion of Jwaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel. Overnight the county was divided and mass movement of men and property took place causing extreme hardship and loss of lives on both the sides.
There are many theories how politics finally swallowed the religious pill although India claimed to remain secular and had large Muslim population still within its borders. The Congress government at that time was obliged to show soft corner to Muslims as many of Congress leaders like Maulana Azad were Congress men and had cast their fate with them.They were also taken aback as the decision was sudden and no one got time to take care of such massive movement and change.
The Congress decided to carry the Muslim card for its secular credentials but instead of treating them as equal and true Indian citizens offered a large platter of preferential treatment for example Haj subsidy etc. The majority was taken for granted as the rulers were mostly Hindus and they took it as their duty to maintain secular status which for them meant giving priority to minority being good hosts. This was also a major strategy of Congress to keep them happy for vote bank purpose as they en mass voted for the Congress.
The BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi strongly projected the need for bringing equality as per constitution rather than going extra mile to give preferential treatment. This looked hostile to non-Hindu community as berated by Asaduddin Owaisi and other Wahhabi leaders. The fight on Ram Temple in Ayodhya is symbolic of this change and resistance. All the time both Hindu and Muslim sides have been indulging in absurd fight as majority belief is that it is a Hindu Ram Temple and not as sacred to other side as their prophet was not born there. It should have been long back settled by mutual consent. Politics has kept this fight alive and it becomes the beacon of dividein the nation.
Shia Waqf Board has shown sagacity and grace by agreeing to shift the site of their Mosque to Lucknow. But Sunni group of Muslims do not agree to it and have thrown a spanner in this settlement. Politics and religions had never been so meshed up in the country as on this light house of dispute. The Congress too can’t keep its religious interest alive in times to come as it is bound to lose its vote bank. Kashmir and Ram temple will rattle Congress a lot in the times to come.
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