Religion: a Gandhian perspective

  ONE of the characteristic features of Indian society is that it is marked by religious diversity. Religion is a potent force in our society. It can act both as a cementing as well as a disruptive agent depending upon the way it is visualised. To ensure harmonious relations between individuals and communities belonging to different religions, it becomes pertinent that religion should be understood in a proper perspective. In this context Mahatma Gandhi's ideas appear to be quite relevant. Gandhi's greatest contribution lies in the fact that he has tried to keep religion away from narrow, dogmatic and sectarian thinking and attempted to base it on certain humanitarian and moral values which are crucial for the survival and healthy development of the entire human race.

Gandhi had an attitude of respect and reverence towards all the religions of the world. He talked about the prevalence of different religions answering to different temperaments and climatic conditions. He regarded all religions to be equally sacred and said: "Temples or mosques or churches.... I make no distinction between these different abodes of God. They are what faith has made them. They are an answer to man's craving somehow to reach the Unseen".

He believed in the fundamental truth of all the great religions of the world. According to him, different religions are just different roads converging to the same point. He pointed out that if we read the scriptures of the different faiths we would find that they are complementary to each other. All of them have the same goal. "Belief in one God is the cornerstone of all religions".

However, he regarded religion to be the personal affair of every individual. The idea of propagation of religion or conversions in religion did not appeal to him. He said, "I do not believe in people telling others of their faith, especially with a view to conversion. Faith does not admit of telling. It has to be lived and then it becomes self-propagating". Gandhi was of the firm belief that true religion and true morality were inseparably bound with each other. According to him, religion cannot override morality. A man cannot be immoral and religious at the same time.

Mahatma preached the religion of love and non-violence. In an attempt to define God, he said, "Truth is God and there is no way to find Truth except the way of non-violence". However, according to him, the religion of non-violence is not meant only for the rishis and the saints. It is meant for the common people as well. He said, "I know no greater sin than to oppress the innocent in the name of God".

SUNEERA KAPOOR
Shimla

Culture of tolerance

Tolerance definitely holds the key, but to preach the gospel of tolerance to the Hindus alone is nothing but to add insult to injury. No nation in the world is as tolerant as the Hindus are. Their tolerance is rather proverbial. The Hindus tolerated slavery for about 1000 years since the occupation of Sindh by Mohammad Bin-Qasim in 712 AD. There is no other nation on earth which tolerated so much humiliation and for so long. The Hindus tolerated the destruction of their most sacred temples throughout the length and breadth of this subcontinent and imposition of Muslim religious places there on. Can any self-respecting nation treat India’s freedom complete without the liberation of these sacred pockets still under slavery?

The Hindus tolerated the rape and insult of their women for hundreds of years. They tolerated the sale of their brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters in the streets of Ghazni. The Hindus tolerated their death and destruction through fire and sword. No nation can produce such highest examples of tolerance.

When the so-called freedom came to India, the Hindus tolerated a truncated country and brutal killings of lakhs of their co-religionists pushed out of those parts separated from India retaining all those who were responsible for the division of the country.

What happened after August 15, 1947? A great tolerance never heard of in the annals of any other country. The Hindus bestowed such a constitution upon themselves which made them second class citizens in their own homeland, giving a superior position to the minorities.

P.C. ASDHIR
Chandigarh

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Is it gender equality?

The editorial “Progressive verdict” (February 20) was a well-meaning piece. By ruling that both the father and mother should be treated on a par as natural guardians of their minor child, the Supreme Court has struck at the very root of the patriarchal society we live in. Inter alia, it would help the prostitutes to have their wards admitted to schools which cannot now insist on knowing the father’s name.

The initiative in this respect should have come rather from the legislature keeping in mind, as rightly held by you, that “an ever-increasing number of women are now part of the country’s work force”. But our law-makers remain ever busy in more important business — when to topple which government and how?

Nevertheless, gender equality must not mean pampering women. City-bred girls have turned viragos. They batter husbands, shatter parents-in-law. The girls these days come to their in-laws to reduce them to the level of “outlaws” by hook or by crook, mostly by crook.

We are passing through a new phase in history when daughters-in-law are attuned to living an independent life of comfort and luxury. These city-bred (mis) educated girls are least concerned about their parents-in-law.

According to Indian ethos, Indian culture, Indian way of life, the elderly deserve love and affection, respect and reverence, care and comfort. The daughters-in-law would expect — rather demand — rent-free stay in the house of the in-laws, but are loath to look after the aged, ailing and dying parents-in-law.

Society has to ensure proper care of parents, which is not only a social but also legal responsibility of sons and their wives.

S.S. JAIN
Chandigarh

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From dance to computers

History of India provides evidence of the fact that dance was used as a medium to communicate ideas, thoughts and emotions, woven around narrative folklore or legends. In the epics and puranas we often read that princes were taught the art of dancing. Lord Krishna was the supreme dancer.

Mass media came into existence with the invention of machines, and these in turn widened the scope of communication. The 15th century was a turning point in the history of mankind because of the invention of the printing press. John Gutenberg of Germany invented the printing press and was credited with publishing the world’s first printed book (Gutenberg Bible).

With the passing of years, globalisation has affected the growth of mass media. Now the reach of the modern systems of communication — computer, satellite, Internet, etc. — has revolutionised society. Much of the credit goes to the computer.

YOGITA SHARMA
Chandigarh