My grandfather had been very calm, soft and good. My father was active, gentle and respectable. I am dynamic, result-oriented and successful. You might have noticed that the three generations mentioned are not similar in the quality of life they had. Man, world over, has been becoming more and more tense, less patient and intolerant in course of time. He is busier, more materialistic and selfish. Reasons could be many like loss of religious influence, no commitment to righteousness, loosening of personal bonds, loss of identity due to industrialization and globalization. More knowledge made him desire more but his achievements are restricted by his abilities which are not unlimited.
Also read: “I for You”
Inability to contain desires
A child starts weeping or throwing things when it does not get what it wants. Even fear of not getting what it wants makes it cry. So does a man. An unfulfilled desire results in worry or anger. Then his anger will not be confined to the object he failed to achieve but spreads over everything in his thought and life. He becomes irritable and starts seeing the negative part in everything. This increases his anger and makes him go to the extent of hating everything and everybody except a few persons, things or principles he values. This intolerance is a result of his inability to contain his desires or develop the ability to accept failure.
Also read: “Heritage”
Result of intolerance
An analysis of the present day disturbances in many parts of India tells us that they are a result of intolerance. Hindus and Muslims have been living in India peacefully for several centuries but while getting independence from British there was a fight between them though they were together in their fight against the British. Pakistan became an Islamic religious state while India remained a secular one with many religions including Islam
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Culturally one in spite of religious diversity
Indian sub-continent is not just a geographical entity. Politically it had been a land of many kingdoms but culturally one in spite of diversity in religious faiths, food, dress, language, customs etc. It believed in universal brotherhood. But in recent times, certain politicians made Indian Muslims feel conscious about their minority status and developed in them a feeling of insecurity to make them their vote bank. As Muslims voted as a unit they became a political force to reckon with in spite of being minority. As Indian government has not favoured any religion and allows all religions to flourish other minorities like Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Zorastrians have been living happily with majority Hindus. So intolerance between Hindus and Muslims is not a religious issue but due to vote bank politics.
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Congress ruled for several decades
India was ruled for several decades by Indian National Congress party. Two divisions of Communists are also there along the length and breadth of India but their parties are very small and they are confined to a few regions. The only other national level party, Bharatiya Janata Party, dominated by Hindus, which had remained as opposition party for long, came to rule a few years ago. Since then the apprehensions fed among Muslims by the Congress party are highlighted to defeat the ruling party in the elections. But as it did not happen many other ways are being tried to sow disaffection between Hindus and Muslims and thereby get Muslim votes so that Congress (and other regional parties) may come back to power.
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Divide and rule policy
The ‘divide and rule’ policy of the British divided Indians into Hindus and Muslims. Though the state of Jammu and Kashmir became a part of India, as it was a Muslim majority state, Pakistan wanted it and had been making efforts to woo the people of Kashmir. With uprising in East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh with Indian support Pakistan decided to take revenge by dividing Kashmir from India. As it cannot win India in war, it started sowing seeds of disaffection towards India among the Kashmiris. The Indian government remained negligent and Pakistan started sending trained terrorists to attack Indian armed forces and also trained Kashmiri youth to become terrorists in the name of Jihad. Bomb explosions in several cities and parliament too did not prompt the Congress government to take stern action against the perpetrators of violence. These attacks have come to light as the present government mobilised international support against the terrorists.
Also read: Religion for Spiritual Progress
Find what is good for all
Religion is a source of good things that direct our life. Still as time changes everything has to change. God has given us the ability to think what is good and what is bad for us. Good and bad depend on the time you live in and the place you live in. What you eat or wear in a hot place is not suitable in a cold place. What you thought right a few years ago may not appear right today as man continues to mature in his thinking. Whatever be the religious tenets, as human beings we have to use our reason and find what is good for all of us. Then we will be tolerant and live in peace.
Also read: Fundamental Questions
