Can Hindus and Muslims come together in India and make India a better place?

A thought which has been persistent in my mind and demanded some chintan to find a rational and practical way forward. We have seen a lot of talk about the need for it but have seldom come across a solution. In the rhetorical narrative on the subject of co-existence, the solutions proposed are radical and impractical to say the least. Having given this subject a lot of thought, lot of time in reading various views, and going through history to understand the road we have travelled so far, I pen the below essay…

One basic premise, that we need to understand clearly is that Sanatan Dharma (followed by the Hindu demography) and Islam (followed by the Muslim demography) are essentially diametric in nature, in the process to seek the ultimate truth, and on a superficial level. A level which the general masses relate to and perceive.

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In the essay below the words Islamic Invaders, Hindu, and Muslim have been used with the following meanings. The reader is advised NOT to confuse between these meanings and NOT to derive unintended meaning/s and twist my words out of context.

*Islamic Invaders – Means those who came from outside the Indian subcontinent with the sole aim to loot the land and convert people forcibly to Islam.

*Hindus – The collective whole of the existing masses in the Indian subcontinent including various sects within Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. (Also includes Sikh community after its formation).

*Muslims – The collective whole of indigenous masses of the Indian subcontinent, who follow Islam as a practice of faith. Includes all followers of Islam, Shias, Sunnis, Sufis, and others alike.

The essay may sound harsh to some and reprimanding in its tone to others. However, it is for us to correct our course and swallow the bitter pill if we truly want to see ourselves as a formidable Nation and a society which the world can look up to and not dare to invade and rule ever again!

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Hindu and Muslim communities in India, in general have learnt to co-exist over centuries.

While we all want to look ahead and prosper together, we must know some hard historical facts first, understand them, comprehend them, acknowledge them and know that they happened in the past.

The reality of the past –

The Indian subcontinent, before the advent of Islamic invaders* was predominantly Hindu*. Islamic invaders converted local masses mostly forcibly. Many of the existing temples were destroyed on purpose and Mosques built on the same structures. The purpose was to intimidate and rule. Such rulers came and went. What was left behind was a bitter taste in the mouth of the Hindu community, and an awkward state for the Muslims, while they continued to practice Islam. It is a proven Historical fact that the Muslims who are the residents of the subcontinent are indigenous to the land and hence at some distant point in History were Hindus. The operative word being ‘distant’. Even then both communities learnt to co-habitat amicably and prosper in trade, art, music, architecture, craft, and literature with contributions from both sides. Though these communities lived and prospered together, there was a dormant discomfort with each other as was liable to creep in after centuries of oppression on Hindus in their own land by the Ruling Foreigners.

Britishers sensed this discomfort in both communities and fanned the fundamentalist forces in both communities to create a then non-existent divide in order to fulfil their goals. They looted both the Hindu and Muslim kingdoms to fleece India of its wealth. While Physical wealth was lost, the major loss the sub-continent suffered was that of “loss of trust” between the Hindu and the Muslim communities. Though the ones who could see through the British agenda clearly rose above the imposed divide and came together ultimately to overthrow the British rule. In doing so, however the British succeeded to bleed us again by seeding, nurturing, and bringing to fruition the final divide based on religious intolerance.

Coming back to the present day –

In order to make the country a better place, both communities have to contribute to it. This requires us to take some necessary steps first within our communities, second with the other community and third as a collective whole.

Mind you these steps have to be taken by the masses and cannot be left to be hijacked by the politicos.

Steps to be taken within the communities –

1. Steps to be taken by Hindus –
   1. Stop identifying yourselves as the class or caste they belong to and take pride in calling yourselves Indians first and then Hindus.
   2. Know this for a fact that Muslims living here belong to this country as much as they do. They are not from Arab nor they secretly want to go to Pakistan.
   3. Understand that Hinduism as a religion and way of life is religion of compassion and harmony. Follow your religion properly. Just because it given you the freedom to be what you want, do not abuse the religious freedom and demean your own religion.
   4. Involve yourselves more in the study of your scriptures and understand them for yourself instead of relying on what the western writers say to demean it. You shall not be considered modern by abandoning and abusing your own religion. Learn from the Muslims how to respect their religion and follow it with utmost devotion.
   5. Stand up for your Country First and then your Religion or Region or caste. Oppose fundamentalism at every level.
   6. Kick out people who consciously spread hatred for the other comunity.
2. Steps to be taken by Muslims –
   1. Stop identifying yourselves as Muslims only, and take pride in calling yourselves Indians first and then Muslims.
   2. Know this for a fact that you are Indian by birth, not Arab nor Pakistani. Get this fact straight, and treat the country you, live in and belong to with the respect it deserves.
   3. Know that Islam is a religion of peace. Try learning the Arabic language so that you can read and interpret the Holy Quran by yourself instead of relying completely on what is told to you by someone, which you cannot verify yourself.
   4. Bring about essential changes (status of women, education for girls, Triple Talaq, property rights for women etc.) in the practices of your community, be open to change and move along with the current times. Learn from Hindus how to be open to change and modify practices which are causing discomfort within the community.
   5. Stop playing victim-minority card at the drop of the hat. Know this that Muslims as a community have more freedom, are more protected, and have more prosperity in India than anywhere else.
   6. Do not let Madarsas, which are supposed to instil religious teachings turn into centres instilling vicious hate and false hopes in young minds. See to it that your community Madarsa is not being exploited as such.
   7. Stand up for your Country First and then your Religion or Region or sub-sect. Speak up within your own community for what you feel is going wrong and is against the Country’s interests. Kick out people who consciously spread hatred for the other community.

Steps to be taken with the other community –

1. Steps to be taken by Hindus –
   1. Ask and Learn and not assume things about the other religion if you do not know.
   2. Stop making provocative statements hurting the religious sentiments of the other religion/community.
   3. Stop asking for proof of patriotism and stop being judgemental.
   4. Help Muslims wherever you can to bring them into the main stream.
2. Steps to be taken by Muslims –
   1. Ask and Learn and not assume things about the other religion if you do not know.
   2. Stop making provocative statements hurting the religious sentiments of the other religion/community.
   3. Stop celebrating India’s defeats in sports and other fields. It is your country’s misfortune, nothing to celebrate.
   4. Stop taking undue advantage of the facilities extended to you as a community out of goodwill.

Steps to be taken collectively as a whole –

1. Think of this country as your own. If YOU will not defend it you will cease to have the freedom and the identity to be yourself. Your religion, your views, your laws, your ideology, your own very self will NOT exist the moment your Country loses its sovereignty.
2. Support UCC. It shall be beneficial in the longer run as it shall treat everyone the same. UCC is not to impinge upon your religion, but is there to give everyone an equal chance at opportunities, and law.
3. Take pride in calling yourselves Indians. You represent the longest and oldest living entity called India!
4. Respect the Country, its Flag and its Anthem.
5. Vote responsibly. Do not get swayed by religious/regional/caste/language sentiments and vote a wrong candidate in. Rather vote someone who shall help your region and the country grow and prosper,

The aforementioned are just a few pointers which shall start us in the right direction if we really want to make India a better place for us all to live in.

I believe that India is already a good place to live in. We can surely make it better with our genuine efforts. I have confidence in India and Indians.

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Q – How can we demolish caste system from India?

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(Disclaimer – Long Answer. Please have the patience to read it through. Comments and discussion welcome.)

A pertinent Question.

However do we really want to ‘demolish’ the caste system or casteism? do we want to completely do away with it or do we want to purge the ills of it and retain and reinforce the good of the caste system?

I attempt to answer it thus:

Firstly we need to understand the difference between the following:

1. Casteism
2. Caste System
3. Varna Vyavastha

The aforementioned two are often used interchangeably which results in gross misunderstandings.

I’ll try and summarise what these terms actually mean:

1. Casteism – Means discrimination on the basis of caste. Casteism leads to biased treatment of individuals and communities of a particular caste/s. The effects are seen in biased treatment of such individuals/communities effecting their rights, benefits, education, social interactions and social status. Casteism gives rise to perceived notions and illogical customs devised by the perceived upper class to restrict/control and to assert their superiority over the “less fortunate”.
   1. There are no benefits of Casteism nor any takeaways which can ever benefit anyone. Casteism is an evil to be done away with at the earliest.
2. Caste System – Means a system which encourages individuals to follow the family tradition in terms of vocation and livelihood. Caste system gives rise to Guilds pertaining to various professions and is affected by the benefits and ills inherent to the guild system. Some evident pros and cons of the Caste System are:
   1. Retaining the genetic pool – Science has proven that f amily traits are passed on genetically.
   2. Knowledge is passed on from generation to generation thereby creating a knowledge-base doubled with experience.
   3. Vocations are easy to catch up to by the young and eases ones gainful employment in the family trade.
   4. Individuals are forced to take up family vocation even if they are not inclined, not interested, and posses no relevant skills.
   5. To coverup for the lack of skills, malpractices arise and dilute the very essence of the vocation and help rot it from within.
   6. Individuals who have inclination towards other vocations are discouraged by both parties – the ones from the inherited vocation as well as from the new vocation.
3. Varna Vyavastha – In the Vedic age, for the smooth functioning of the society, Varna Vyavastha was adopted. Varna Vyavastha seeks to classify society into 4 primary parts, viz –
   1. Knowledge Seekers/Keepers/Educators – These were the learned ones who gained knowledge through self study and study of scriptures. They were consulted and held high regard in the society for their knowledge alone.
   2. Security Providers – These were the ones who were entrusted with the security of all the varnas because of their mastery of the art of war and tactic.
   3. Commerce and Business doers – These were the ones who had great business acumen and were known for their ability to do trade, negotiate, generate employment, and thereby benefit the society at large.
   4. Assistant Workforce for all the above – These were people who with their limited skills and knowledge were good followers and executors. In their hands was entrusted the execution and completion of tasks at the ground level.

A thing of importance which has to be accounted for in the success of the above arrangement was that the varna of an individual depended solely on its inherent ability, skill, application of acquired knowledge and inclination. All these were judged and honed in the Gurukul under the tutelage of able Gurus. Once the students passed out of the Gurukul they contributed to the society based on their individual levels and NOT on what varna their parents belonged to!

What most refer to while either claiming superiority or crying foul at the description, is the Purusha Sookta. It states:

1. ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः ।
2. ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्याꣳ शूद्रो अजायत ॥ ११॥

When the Purusha Sacrificed Himself in the Holy Yagna various parts of His form transformed into various creations….

… His face depicting knowledge transformed into Brahmans, His shoulders depicting strength became Kshatriyas, His thighs depicting opulence became the Vaishyas, and His feet, depicting mobility became the Shudras….

The Purusha is supreme in its totality and hence any part thereof cannot be superior to the other. Hence interpreting that Brahmans that came from the face are superior to the others is not one erroneous but also egotistical. This argument when used by either sides is laughable and shows how superficially they know their own teachings and with such minuscule understanding are claiming either to be superior or trodden upon!

Rather it is the feet which help the rest of the other parts to be mobile and hence live and chaitanya! As all parts of the body are essential to feel complete, all parts of the society are essential for its normal functioning progress.

Now look at this classification of any modern business organisation –

1. Top Management/Think tank/Decision Makers – These are the ones have knowledge about the markets and business they are into, have decision making powers and are leaders.
2. Higher Management – These are the ones who manage the health of the business by engaging with the people across the levels and securing them for the business.
3. Middle Management – These are the ones who interact directly with the workforce and are capable of getting things executed as per business requirements
4. Workforce – These are the basic unit of any business/corporate who learns part of the business/project and executes it to the best of his knowledge and ability.

This is a typical pyramid structure on which any organisation runs with relevant modifications depending on the nature of business.

Any individual who develops relevant skills can easily move to the other levels and lack thereof can be moved to other levels as is necessary.

See any similarity?

The modern business structure was not only defined but also adopted by the Vedic society for sustained development of all individuals involved. Moreover to have a functioning society on such a business model spells how evolved and inclusive the society was. The Varna Vyavstha was to supplement individual aspirations and skills and define work culture to benefit the society at large with minimal interference or overlaps.

However over a period of time, the ideal varna vyavastha started to stagnate and constricted individuals to their hereditary occupation. This resulted in loss of skill and inclination within all varnas, which in turn led to them becoming paranoid about the purity of their castes. This inevitable led to the fail of the caste system and gave birth to Casteism.

Casteism is inherently flawed in its definition. It spells discrimination based on inherited caste-labels. On an individual level, one cannot choose a caste/colour/gender/socio-economic conditions etc. Hence to discriminate against such a person is outright wrong.

Casteism is prevalent in all societies across the globe. It is not something associated only with Hindus. Wasn’t slavery a norm and sanctioned till recent times in the so called educated and progressive west? What are the “gymkhana” clubs a remenant of? The rigidity of the class divide as followed in abrahamic cultures and the followers of abrahamic religions is much more deep rooted and prevalent than Caste System is in Hindus.

So in conclusion we as a society need to do the following:

• Understand the difference between Casteism and Caste System
• Shun Casteism
• Rid Caste System of its acquired rigidity and restore it to its Varna-Vyavastha days. Where all strata of the society work in coherence for mutual benefit
• Identify, acknowledge and nurture talent where we see it irrespective of what it inherits as a name or caste
• Encourage cross caste interaction.
• Acknowledge people based on their individual ability rather than based on their family antecedents.

Hope this helps!