THE statement of Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, former senior leader of Congress party and Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, that a majority of Muslims in India have converted to Islam from Hinduism is reiteration of fact. He has acknowledged this fact while rightly asserting that religion should not be used to get political mileage. Though a lot of political talk is getting woven around Mr. Azad’s statement, saner minds need to look at it from a wider perspective that would strengthen harmony in society. Similar political reactions had come in some time ago when Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had said that all Indians had common DNA. The statements of both acknowledge that all Indians have common roots.

 

When one talks of common roots, one is obviously desiring an exercise aimed at developing a deeper understanding of the societal fabric. In that context, both -- Mr. Azad and Dr Bhagwat -- deserve kudos. As far as common roots are concerned, India of today is a reflection of diversity acquired through religious, social, cultural, and ideological influences over thousands of years. Islam and Christianity are relatively younger religions than what is known as Hinduism. Prior to acquiring the form of a religion, Hinduism was a way of life, a civilisational existence of diverse practices with common cultural thread holding them together. That common cultural thread ran across the length and breadth of larger ‘Bharat’, which, before modern history, spanned a much larger geography. It was more of a cultural empire than territorial empire. This prosperous land attracted not only scholars from other contemporary ancient civilisations but also invaders. However, the invaders failed in fully converting the ‘Bharatiya’ civilisation into their own fold. Rather, most of them got absorbed into the ever-evolving and ever-maturing fold of Hinduism.

 

The biggest reason being the openness in Hinduism. For, everything is welcome in ancient cultural Hinduism whether or not someone believes in the Almighty, irrespective of manners of prayer. Acknowledgement of cultural common roots of such openness have helped in reducing the intensity of modern-day conflicts. Indonesia is a fine example of this. Despite being a demographically Muslim country, Indonesia has preserved the Hindu and Buddhist heritage. The Prambanan Temple complex represents ancient Hindu influence, while Borobudur reflects Buddhist cultural influence in Indonesia. The daily ‘Ramayana’ ballet shows are a major tourist attraction in Indonesia. Muslim actors portray Lord Ram, Sita, and Hanuman without any kind of isolationist religious notions. Indonesians feel that all these are ‘shared heritage’. Indonesia’s success is rooted in treating religious and cultural influences as part of shared heritage and legacy. Credit must be given to its population for respecting the common civilisational roots.

 

To reduce the modern-day conflicts, such a matured approach is needed. Sadly, in case of India, the colonial rulers made it a point to not only question the richness of heritage but also actively engage in polarising the society. It gradually led to the cultivation of separatist mindsets firmly rooted in isolationist belief in own identity alone. Some of the results have been of catastrophic proportions -- Partition, birth of Pakistan, attempts of ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits, secessionist terrorist tendencies plaguing various parts of India. Against this backdrop, it is good to see that saner minds like Mr. Azad and Dr. Bhagwat have been making efforts to create a collective sense of common cultural roots. May their tribe grow. For, such an understanding is an essential to weave social fabric with threads of harmony.