RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE SURFACES IN INDIA AGAIN

K Prabhakar Rao — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:42:55 -0800

By and large, India is plagued by religious intolerance. However in general, people live under harmony; yet there are occasional disturbances in the country that disturb peace. Islam and Hinduism have been under logger heads for long and there were many communal disturbances between them (1). This religious intolerance between these two communities surfaced once the prospect of getting independence from British rule became evident during last century. Mohammed Ali Jinnah (Father of Pakistan) claimed that in independent India with democratic parliamentary system, Muslims shall completely loose their identity and will not be able to live as majority votes would be in the hands of Hindus. Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan (1817- 1892) founder of Aligarh Muslim University and Poet Mohammed Iqbal earlier in 1939 voiced similar sentiments and hinted at bifurcating the country. Sir Ahmed Khan said (2 ):

“ Under a democratic system, of Government which forms the ideal of congress leaders, the larger community would fully override the interests of the smaller community”................On the front of Hindu Christian relations, situation is not bright in certain states. The Christmas that passed off recently in 2007 has witnessed communal riots between Hindus and Christians in Orissa State where tensions are known to have built up between both the communities since long. The trouble started off when some Christians attacked a Hindu religious aged leader. Hell broke out. Scores of Churches and Christian properties have been burnt without any remorse. Violence very greatly affected Kandhamal district although government has been claming that situation is under control. The rioters felled trees on the roads to prevent police vehicles to reach quickly. Police fired at Brahamnigaon town. On 27 December Christian mobs set fire to several houses belonging to Hindus and Hindus reacted by burning down 11 churches in Brahmanigaon. Seven more churches and several residental houses were burnt down by Hindus in areas Gandapadr, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar ,Minia and Adigara. The governmnet sent reinforcements only after damage has been done as reported (3). The Hindu dominated tribal district is trouble some. In fact Orissa state was always in fore front on the issue of atrocities on Christians...............................

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PV Narsimha Rao

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE SURFACES IN INDIA AGAIN