Silence is Golden!
Their composed, distinguished, and majestic silence would have set an example on the magnificent and glorious nature of their most sacred scripture that contains 'the ultimate guidance for all humankind', if only ...
... a few of the leading Islamic countries (in particular the broad-minded UAE and Saudi Arabia ) had just ignored the Dog Whistle trap set by some religious fundamentalist groups within India.
Why these two countries? I had the privilege of living in both these countries; during the best part of my 27 years of life in UAE I had the wonderful opportunity of knowing the religion of Islam and the people better: On My Muslim Friends!
This dog whistle technique was a messaging within the Indian political landscape to garner support from those particular groups opposed to the ruling BJP by instigating the religious fundamentalist followers of certain political parties, who exploit religion for their selfish and egotistical advantages.
It was quiet unnecessary for any external country to step into the messy waters of Indian politics and dirty their feet!
Finally, the hypersensitive reactions by many countries make one wonder whether there is any difference between:
- the responses of these countries castigating India and asking for an apology from the Indian government
- the call by Al-Qaeda and other religious terrorist organizations for terror attacks, suicide bombing, and beheading in India.
It is rather ironic that all these admonitions and reprimands as well as hatred and violence are not only complementing each other but are also taking place in the name of a religion of love and peace!
In the midst of all these chaos no one has bothered to listen to the full TV debate and understand the context of the heated arguments. The perceived 'insult to Islam' is only a mischievous interpretation of the dog whistler by isolating the words of the debater without the context of the other debaters' statements.
As far as Hindu religion is concerned, its strongest critics on the TV channels are not our Muslim brethren or friends from other religions but those who are born into the faith to Hindu parents. Some of them consider it fashionable and progressive to bash Hinduism, some others do it because of their political affiliations and compulsions. Both groups know very well that whatever disrespect, abuse, and mockery they shower on or show to Hindu Gods, their 'Hinduness' will protect them.
It may be worth noting that it is basically the intellectual criticism of Hinduism by erudite and scholarly Hindu sages that led to the birth of three religions, namely Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism as alternatives of Hinduism.
I myself was a staunch critic of the many flagrant irrational beliefs, incoherent practices, and meaningless rituals of Hinduism (the only religion I knew and grew up with) and earned the moniker of an atheist in my younger days. As my worldview evolved, my concept of religion also changed and I could make the clear distinction between religion and spirituality.
To conclude, the current acts of political interventions by other countries along with the violent exhortations by extremist groups have, in my humble opinion, only belittled the very splendorous and glorious religion they are trying to uphold.
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