The Needless Violence Over Religion

Starting with the usual ‘primary school’ basic and simple teaching that ” No religion in the world teaches violence.”, it is unfortunate that in India it remains only in books and not the minds of people. India has a history of religious riots triggered by the smallest to the biggest of issues. The basis of it is thought to be religion itself. But, one can open any religious text and find one thing in common- non-violence. Do you too think it is true that religion has doomed us? Or is it we who have let ourselves down by our own actions and defamed sacred texts.

The communal tension between Hindus and Muslims is from the time of foreign rule and when Britishers came they only added fuel to the fire creating a sense of insecurity among the various religious groups. The partition of the country on the basis of religion has only widened the gap and made it difficult for people to recognize each other above the religious identity. Not only it is easy to trigger the masses by hurting their religious sentiments and push them into the pit of blood but also they refuse to believe that the fight is more about them and least about religion which is just dragged in the middle.

The riots due to partial demolition of Babri Masjid took place in pieces in different places. The Bombay Riots of 1992 marked many injured. It didn’t happen in that place but people chose to come on the streets and fight each other to only worsen the situation. What does religion say? It tells you to think wisely and inflict no harm unless you have to act in self-defense. But the people chose to not only drag it in their homes but also conclude it by trying to kill each other. Below is ‘Reporter’s Diary’ illustrating the condition back then.

The Gonda riots of 1990 where petrol bombs and stones were thrown in the Durga Puja procession what was the role of religion? Absolutely none. Islam or Hinduism teaches to tolerate and respect other’s path to spirituality and one has no business in the kind of relationship others establish with God. One is allowed to preach but not force.

The infamous Gujarat Riots of 2002 where, as reported “The burning of a train in Godhraon 27 February 2002, which caused the deaths of 58 Hindu pilgrims karsevaks returning from Ayodhya triggered the violence. According to official figures, the riots resulted in the deaths of 1044 people; 2,500 people were injured non-fatally, and 223 more were reported missing.” What can really be on one’s mind where burning humans alive seems apt? And, who are we to do any such thing behind the curtains of religious causes? Below is the video from NDTV news channel that shows the aftermath of Godhra incident and voices out what the locals thought or experienced. The retaliation of the unfortunate incident was mostly on the minority Muslims of Gujarat which is showed in the documentary below.

In 2013 Canning Riots, 200 Homes were burnt and the cause being a Muslim Cleric killed by an unidentified person. The reason wasn’t known, the person was not identified, there was no time for investigation and no time to actually think it seems. The only reasonable explanation even then was making it a religious issue without knowing the murderer or the motive. Either people do not want to learn from history or they choose to ignore educating self to think before act. Below is a video speaking the plight of the people.

The list only goes on and when one looks at it, one will not be able to make sense of the gruesome killing over something that is most of the times, not their business. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_riots_in_India). One thing we all need to learn despite the lack of interest in religious activities is that we can live in harmony only when we respect each other and not drag the neighbor’s issues in our homes the violent way. One is free to express but anything that damages the reputation, property, and lives of the people in the nation, has stop then and there when it is about to start. Only thoughtful, truly educated people will draw themselves away from such events and not be led by mobs and let the Judicial system of the country do the job. Peaceful protests are not looked down upon but switching to violence is. Even the religious guidelines speak against such a course of action. So what are we protecting? What has to be the priority? One’s clean conscience and relationship with God or mindless actions leading to bloodshed in the name of religion. There is a way of justice in the country and no matter how much we disagree we have to follow it to prevent the worst-case scenarios.