Editorial

Looking Beyond Religion and Differences

by the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

Last few days, there have been numerous conflicts and riots on religious lines in the different parts of the country, it seems rather than learning and moving beyond the wounds of the past we are ever more increasing the rift between communities. Social harmony and peace are again at stake and the state and central governments who are supposed to keep the law and order on the streets are failing miserably at their job, again.

Be it food or a procession on a religious occasion becomes a battleground to sort out religious differences. How does it make a difference if somebody eats non-vegetarian food during Navratras? The auspicious nine days are a time of spiritual cleansing and self-reflection, the significance these nine days hold for Hindus is similar to the importance of Ramadan for Muslims. Religion should be a personal discipline that enhances one’s maturity and understanding but it seems in our collective case, religion has become more of a dividing line.

The same goes for religious processions, it’s a way to express and celebrate our collective co-existence together but it seems, we are getting further afar from each other with each passing day. News of stone-pelting and provocative sloganeering near religious places is not something that bodes well for our social harmony.

In riots, it’s the ordinary bystander that pays the most cost. Either his shop or home is torched or he loses a limb or life in the madness. No differences or problems are resolved from these unrests but lives become devastated forever be it a Mohalla in Khargone, MP, or a mixed Hindu-Muslim colony in North East Delhi. From a country that underwent a partition on religious grounds, we should have tried to create a more cohesive and understanding society but this idea of living together seems increasingly difficult for the future.

Rather than coming together on issues of development and social justice, we seem to be at each other throats over issues such as which song got played in a religious procession and from where the rally was going.

No community will achieve anything from this madness and it’s the country that will suffer the greater cost of this religious divide. I hope some common sense prevails, but the sense is in short supply these days and a fever, a religious fever, has gripped our minds.

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