Hindu-Muslim Relations

Harasankar Adhikari

Hindu-Muslim unity is always a matter of controversy in India. It is a prominent problem of India. There was no such effort made to uniting Hindu-Muslim. Factually, 'from 1919 to the end to 1921 Hindus and Muslims of India were fairly united.' Mutual distrust and suspicion are prime cause of broken Hindu-Muslim relation.

But there had never existed any deep cultural differences between the Hindus and Muslims. History witnesses that 'Hindus and Muslims shared a composite culture'. "The social relationships between these two communities were co-operatives without any severe constraint or conflict despite religious distinctions".

From the history, one can see that during 'pre-partition period, there was harmonious relationship between these two communities. Hindu-Muslim solidarity was visible in the struggle for the independence of India.' After the partition of India in 1947, people saw that large-scale sectarian strife and bloodshed throughout the nation exits. "The violence that occurred between the two religious groups about the time of partition strained the relation between Pakistan and India so completely that hostility between the two nations continue even to this day".

If one looks back to the Mughals period, 'Akbar is highly acclaimed for promoting Hindu-Muslim unity. He tried to build up his relations with the Hindus by making marital relationships with Rajput princesses. It was he who listened to the teachings of the Hindu saints and philosophers in his Ibadat Khana (house of prayer). It is observed that "a large number of temples were built all over the country by him." Even the customs and festivals of Hindus were celebrated in the court. Besides, 'the Muslim painters, musicians and authors, too, played a vital role in cementing the Hindu-Muslim relationship. During the time of Akbar, the Gita was translated into Persian.'

Hindu-Muslim relation is still skeptically weak. Political parties are always taking an advantage of this. CAA/NRC is a new fuel of rapid deterioration or evil personification of this relation. Muslims are absorbing it as Hindu politics, and they would be more revengeful against Hindus. Will this broken relation of Hindu-Muslim repeat in the future the great incident of 1946 in Bengal—The Great Calcutta Killing'. Unfortunately, political parties and its leaders have no effort to bridge the relational gap between these two communities. Particularly, whole political processes are making a conscious gap between two. Why Muslims of this nation would consider India is their own country? And they have equal importance for making new India? Why would they be misled their status as foreigners? Why would their leaders mislead them, it was only place of Muslims, and they have to struggle to reoccupy their rights? Why would they think Hindus are their enemy? This game has to be stopped immediately. Otherwise, this country's familiarity as a zero tolerance nation would be destroyed. And it would be only the country of violence and peace in a secular nation would be jeopardised. All political parties and religious leaders should be worked for a secular and peaceful nation.

All of them should come forward and join their hands to keep glory of this nation intact. CAA/NRC is in the fog. Every party regardless of colour is performing an eloquent drama. Every party is trying to gain something, and it is an opportunity for them. They rarely think about the future relation of these two communities.

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Frontier
Vol. 52, No. 37, Mar 15 - 21, 2020