The Hijab Row!
I know it is a sensitive and politically charged subject. Yet "my two cents' worth".
In any religion, it is a minority of religious fundamentalists that create problems for the majority of the peace loving followers of that religion. These fundamentalists are very vocal in expressing and advocating their strict, literal, and repressive interpretations of scriptures in the religion.
However, these fundamentalist groups subvert all these well intentioned objectives and instead tries to impose their skewed views on the followers and the society at large. They create divisions among the people by destabilizing and unsettling the society to achieve their political agenda. The world has become increasingly polarized by the activities of these religious fundamentalist groups.
What is ironic is that these minority groups are dictating terms and imposing their distorted beliefs and religious practices against the wishes of the majority and the silent majority keeps quite and suffers. This hijacking of the religion, by such dominant extremist minority segments, keeps the larger unorganized majority in fear and in silence. This pattern has been there throughout history the world over.
The current hijab row by the Muslims, and the consequent retaliation by the Hindu groups, are the workings of the fundamentalist groups of these respective religions. And as expected, the majority followers of these religions, who feel that these are abhorrent acts, are forced to keep silent. It is unfortunate, ridiculous, and short-sighted to see that the political parties, the media, the religious organizations, and other social groups are taking a blinkered view by debating whether wearing a hijab is a fundamental right or not.
The present issue before the court has nothing to do with wearing a head scarf. The fundamentalist and extremist groups have brainwashed and incited a section of the students to raise this issue in the school campuses knowing fully well that the seed of hatred, discontent, and conflict they have sown will create havoc and widespread destruction in the society and the whole country. This is nothing but a carefully planned diabolical act by the extremists and has nothing to do with any religion.
If the court does not realize this larger picture and confine the arguments, discussions, decisions, and conclusions purely from the hijab wearing point of view, then the court is promptly and absolutely falling for the bait set by these fundamentalists. And in this process, they will snare the courts and the country into larger and deeper never-ending problems, which is precisely their objective.
I earnestly request the 3-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court to see this larger picture while pronouncing the judgement on the hijab issue. Please realize that there is absolutely no urgency in this matter, and this is not an issue to be deliberated upon in haste. This is an occasion to see the big picture and act accordingly from a long-term perspective of the country's future.
In any religion, it is a minority of religious fundamentalists that create problems for the majority of the peace loving followers of that religion. These fundamentalists are very vocal in expressing and advocating their strict, literal, and repressive interpretations of scriptures in the religion.
The agenda of these fundamentalists are very clear. Though it is primarily a political agenda, they want to stay in the limelight by acting as the saviors of their religion and they resort to any means including violence, intimidation, persuasion, coercion, threat, bribe etc. to achieve their nefarious ends.
This is very clear if we examine the acts and deeds of these groups belonging to any major religion in the world, whether it is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. The purposes of the practice of a religion are manyfold. It reinforces social unity and stability, serves as an agent of social control and social change, promotes psychological and physical well-being of its followers, and gives meaning and purpose to life.
This is very clear if we examine the acts and deeds of these groups belonging to any major religion in the world, whether it is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. The purposes of the practice of a religion are manyfold. It reinforces social unity and stability, serves as an agent of social control and social change, promotes psychological and physical well-being of its followers, and gives meaning and purpose to life.
However, these fundamentalist groups subvert all these well intentioned objectives and instead tries to impose their skewed views on the followers and the society at large. They create divisions among the people by destabilizing and unsettling the society to achieve their political agenda. The world has become increasingly polarized by the activities of these religious fundamentalist groups.
What is ironic is that these minority groups are dictating terms and imposing their distorted beliefs and religious practices against the wishes of the majority and the silent majority keeps quite and suffers. This hijacking of the religion, by such dominant extremist minority segments, keeps the larger unorganized majority in fear and in silence. This pattern has been there throughout history the world over.
The current hijab row by the Muslims, and the consequent retaliation by the Hindu groups, are the workings of the fundamentalist groups of these respective religions. And as expected, the majority followers of these religions, who feel that these are abhorrent acts, are forced to keep silent. It is unfortunate, ridiculous, and short-sighted to see that the political parties, the media, the religious organizations, and other social groups are taking a blinkered view by debating whether wearing a hijab is a fundamental right or not.
The present issue before the court has nothing to do with wearing a head scarf. The fundamentalist and extremist groups have brainwashed and incited a section of the students to raise this issue in the school campuses knowing fully well that the seed of hatred, discontent, and conflict they have sown will create havoc and widespread destruction in the society and the whole country. This is nothing but a carefully planned diabolical act by the extremists and has nothing to do with any religion.
If the court does not realize this larger picture and confine the arguments, discussions, decisions, and conclusions purely from the hijab wearing point of view, then the court is promptly and absolutely falling for the bait set by these fundamentalists. And in this process, they will snare the courts and the country into larger and deeper never-ending problems, which is precisely their objective.
I earnestly request the 3-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court to see this larger picture while pronouncing the judgement on the hijab issue. Please realize that there is absolutely no urgency in this matter, and this is not an issue to be deliberated upon in haste. This is an occasion to see the big picture and act accordingly from a long-term perspective of the country's future.
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