INDIAN DEMOCRACY AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM... A LURKING KOMODO DRAGON IN INDIAN POLITICAL SCENE...PART I

INDIAN DEMOCRACY AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM, A LURKING
KOMODO DRAGON IN INDIAN POLITICAL SCENE.. PART I


Dr K Prabhakar Rao

Ever since the man has started living as a social animal with congregation of tribes, he has always identified himself with some beliefs and customs. As civilization progressed their beliefs have taken the shape of religions and since then the man kind has been engulfed by various religions, faiths, beliefs, and rituals. It is known that a religion is n order of life for human beings where individuals are guided towards a goal, good behavior, and orderly life and for a disciplined social life. All the religions preach and define association of human soul with a divine power. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism and many other faiths glorify the greatness of God and all the religions aim at salvation by an orderly life and by good deeds. No religion preaches hatred, violence and human suffering. Yet the ma has deviated from the true path, interpreted the texts in a different form, and twisted the versions to advantage causing human suffering.

All the religions have some type of rituals and practices aimed at controlling the minds of individuals and to bring in some type of concentration and discipline among people. Over a period of time, these practices and rituals have become more important than the religion itself and real teachings faded into background. Some individuals who could master the rituals by virtue of their education, intelligence, social status over a period of time developed vested interests in the system and tried to be powerful religious leaders. Priests in temples, clergy in Christian churches, Mullahs and Maulvis in mosques belong to this category. Great preachers of religions never give importance to the rituals for union with god. The story of Bhakta (devotee) Kannappa is a solid proof for this. It is a clear example where uneducated forest dweller Kannappa spent a cold night on a tree in a forest and through out the night he was plucking leaves and dropping down unable to sleep. The leaves were falling over a Siva Lingam that was under the tree. The tree was a bilwa tree the most liked one by Shiva. Lord Shiva much pleased at the devotion of Kannappa granted him salvation although the dropping of leaves was unintentional. There are plenty of examples to quote throughout the world in all religions where people are said to have attained salvation by good deeds. Sadly in modern days religion has been used more for political gains and creating disorder in the society.

Before independence was gained Hindus , Muslims, Sikhs , Christians and all others fought side by side shoulder to shoulder against the invaders. In 1857 war every one fought under the banner of Bahadur Shah Zafar the last Nominal Mughal emperor at Delhi. There were many Muslim commanders in Hindu kingdoms and vice versa. Vikramaditya, ( Hemu) was the commander in Chief and led the Afghan army against Akbar in Panipat war II long ago. Similarly Akbar had innumerable Rajput officers and commanders in Mughal army occupying very important position. Raja Man singh was the commander in chief of Akbar’s army. They never betrayed him even while fighting Hindu armies. Vijay nagar forced from the time of Proudha deva Raya had Muslim troops. However the Muslim troops and the generals betrayed Aliya Rama raya at tallikota and joined Jihad and this is probably the major betrayal in Indian history. Rani of Jhansi had general Ghulam Ghouse Khan as head topchi (Artillery commander) in her forces. Ghulam Ghouse Khan was a great patriot and died fighting the company troops at Jhansi in 1857 and the Rani of Jhansi was his side when he breathed his last after he was badly wounded by a musket shot. Thus there are ample proofs top conclude that Hindus and Muslims lived in harmony in Past for many years. Unfortunately in the last part of 19 and beginning of 20 century the seeds of hate were sown and the credit must go to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan the founder of Aligarh Muslim University and later to Poet Iqbal. They clearly recommended that in free India Muslims will be marginalized and could not live. They did not rise above narrow religious sentiments and were fathers for wrecking the nation. Indian Muslim league that represented Muslims in India practically were responsible for the partition and subsequent holocaust. Partition was the unwise decision of last century.

As a matter fact every religion has fundamentalists and every individual has some craze for his religion although the fact many may not concede. In many it is dormant and much vigorous. Some display openly. The dormant one is more dangerous and is displayed whenever occasion demands and at appropriate times resulting in abnormal group behavior resulting in clashes with others and release their religious frenzy. Some are crazy about religion and exploit sentiments while anti social elements that have nothing to do with religion fish in troubled waters to gain politically. In our country both methods are used to gain politically and these activities result in building up of passions during festivals celebrated by Muslims and Hindus such as Muharram and Ganesh processions, Durga pooja etc. by and large al communities lived in peace for most of the them. Even today Hindis take part in Tazia processions ( Peerla Pandaga) while Muslims also take part in Dusserah and Diwali festivals and wish their brethren in other communities. On the day of Id Hindus make it a point to wish Muslim friends. It is only a section of trouble makers in both the communities who want to exploit sentiments and want to create tensions.
India is state where Hindus are in majority. Yet the Hindus agreed to make India a secular state inspite of creation of Pakistan. Even today, sizeable portion of this minority community sing songs for Pakistan and display it. During cricket matches they waved Pak flags and applauded when Pak cricketers scored runs and booed when Indian cricketers had upper hand. Unfortunately, a minority leader from Hyderabad even threatened another partition and got away scot free. The government had no guts to book him. Thanks to the pseudo secularists in India. Thus message had gone that Indian leaders have weak knees. The leaders turned their faces other way and were showing their dirty smile. The Indian political parties have divided the nation clearly on religion, caste, and regional and language basis. For creating vote banks they rake up fundamentalism. The Muslim fundamentalism and creation of Pakistan has also resulted in Hindutva lobby and respective political wings have come up in India such as Bajrang dal, Vishwa Hindu Perished, Shiv Sena etc. Similarly, many Islamic outfits have surfaced such as Darga e shahdat, Deendar anjuman and Student Islamic movement of India, etc. The problems have been further aggravated by the annual festivals and processions such as Ganesh and Durga processions, Tazia procession, Muharram processions etc. These processions have become a night mare as fingers are kept crossed for these events and entire police force is kept busy for these activities. When they pass off the administration takes long breath and prays to gods. As years passed the tensions have not subsided. Mischief makers wait for these days to create unrest. Some even display the portraits of Jinnah, Iqbalinstead of Subhash, Gandhi and Patel and Nehru. The Saudi Arabian insignia is also fixed in front of jeeps by these men.

Hindus and Muslims lived reasonably in peace in Hyderabad state under Nizams. But as the chances of granting independence became brighter Nizam 7 harbored the idea of remaining independent after the departure of the English men. He was inspired the fundamentalist and devil incarnate Kasim Razvi, the leader of majlis e Ittehad ul Muslimeen ( MIM) and Laikali the Pm and Deen yar Jung the Director General of Police of Hyderabad State. They gave him false hopes of defending the state even if Inian army invaded. They were in league with Pakistan and additional arms were collected. On the other front a systematic persecution of Hindus was launched by the Razakar bands under the command of Self styled Field Marshal Kasim Razvi. The atrocities committed by these thugs on Hindu subjects in state can not be even penned. The committed lootings, dacoities, mass rapes, killings, torture, burning of villages, destruction of property etc. . At last the Nizam succumbed to the police action ( A limited military action) in Sept 1948 ordered by Sardar Patel although Nehru the PM was against it. Hyderabad forces surrendered after insignificant resistance under the command of Major General El Edruoos. Hyderabad was merged with Indian union and Military government under Major Gen Chaudhry was formed. Communist rebellion too was suppressed in the state. Unfortunately Nizam did not pay for his misdeeds and it was projected that Nizam was innocent and was misguided by Kasim Razvi and Laik ali. The PM. But it is a fact that Nizam abdicated his responsibility as ruler for protecting his Hindu subjects from official terrorism. The saddest part was that he was made the Rajpramukh meaning governor. The Indian government developed cold feet for punishing the Nizam for his role in the atrocities on Hindu subjects and he was pardoned as a policy of appeasement of Muslims in state. More over Nizam enjoyed reputation in the eyes of the king of England. These events prove that the Nizam exploited the religious sentiments in Muslim subjects and collected large force of Razakars. He even brought in pathans, Afghans, Punjabi Mussalman from Pakistan and other parts to terrorize Hindus.


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