The Good Role of the Other Religion

The Good Role of the Other Religion
4 Nov 2007, 0310 hrs IST,Jyoti Punwani,TNN

Can Muslims be mobilised only on religious slogans? Does the implementation of the Srikrishna Commission Report concern Muslims alone? These questions refused to go away as maulana after maulana, Muslim after Muslim, took the mike at the rally convened by Muslim organisations last week at Azad Maidan. The religious slogan "Nara-e-Takbeer, Allah-o-Akbar" rent the air as Islamic history was used to remind the 8000-odd Muslims present that the followers of Islam had always had to fight injustice and had always emerged victorious. Some speakers limited the history of this struggle to post-1947 India; and a few really provincial ones narrowed down the enemy to the Congress. "Allah-o-Akbar" was again heard when more than one speaker declared what a joyous sight it was to see Shia, Sunni, Bareilvi, Deobandi and even Ahle-Hadees followers—all believers in Allah—come together to fight for their rights and make their oppressors tremble.

Was this rally about the same Commission headed by a judge who quoted profusely from the Gita in the courtroom, and who ended his Report with a Sanskrit shloka? Only the Jamaat-e-Islami president, while thanking Justice B N Srikrishna, inadvertently reminded the Muslim audience that it was a devout Hindu who had written the Report they were suddenly willing to give their lives for.

Ever since the Srikrishna Report was submitted in 1998, a small group, comprising mostly Muslims but also some non-Muslims, have been agitating to get it implemented. Throughout their campaign, the effort has been to get the message across to as many Mumbaiites as possible, that those responsible for the death of 900 citizens, 575 Muslim, 275 Hindu and 50 'unknown and others', should be punished. Indeed, it was a matter of pride to these activists that a majority of the 18,000 signatures collected on this issue were those of Hindus. Every time the media highlighted a burqa-clad woman signing a petition, or a bearded topiwala holding up a placard, they would see it as a setback, this making of a human rights issue into a 'Muslim issue'.

At the same time, there's no denying that Justice Srikrishna's inquiry into the 1992-93 riots is very much an expose of the denial of equal rights to Muslims as to the citizens of Mumbai by the State's most powerful arm, the police; and by the government, which refused to take steps that would have put a stop to the violence. The malafide acts of the 31 policemen indicted by the Commission were all directed against Muslims. Activists have often wondered despairingly why even in Muslim areas, the response to their campaign has often been lukewarm; why the city's Muslim leaders have not created hell for the government over its total inaction on the Report. Muslim leaders could fill Azad Maidan over an anti-Bush rally, organize a successful boycott of US goods over the invasion of Afghanistan, but over the Srikrishna Commission Report, which documents how, in area after area in this city, the police allowed Muslims to be killed, looted and driven away from their homes, no community leader lost his sleep. So when these leaders remembered this denial of justice after 14 years, the feeling was, 'Der aaye, durust aaye', never mind that this recollection had come only after their own community members were convicted for having killed innocent Hindus to avenge the riots.

But the rally confirmed all one's misgivings about this kind of community mobilisation. To start with, the Commission was referred to as the 'Krishna Commission' (as it always is by Muslim leaders). The Commission's findings were mentioned by barely four of the 20-odd speakers, and some of them got that wrong too. More seriously, the emphasis was all wrong. To expect the speakers, who wore their faith on their sleeve, to mention the burning alive of six innocent Hindus, five of them women, in the Radhabai chawl incident, or the attacks on 57 city temples after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, was unrealistic. As one speaker said, this was a religious, not a political rally. What made the screams for justice hollow, was the knowledge that few of the 60-odd persons on the dais had ever helped their own community victims, though they lived among them.

By the time the rally ended with Samajwadi chief Abu Asim Azmi's piece de resistance, you were thankful for the low turnout and the people leaving even as he spoke. Azmi's open instigation to his community to avenge the riots ('Make me proud of you like Sarpotdar was proud of Radhabai Chawl'); his threat that driven to the wall, Muslims could hit back; his promise to honour Bilkis Bano's husband if he took up a gun and shot "anyone"; and his blasphemous comparison of such acts with Udham Singh's shooting of Gen Dyer—nothing could have been more insulting to the belief in justice and the rule of law that permeates the Srikrishna Commission Report.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Review/The_good_role_of_the_other_religion/articleshow/2515895.cms


I choose this article because I thought it was really interesting. When I saw that 900 citizens were killed both Muslim and Hindu I was extremely shocked and immediately saddened by how many people gave their lives for this matter. I also remember trying to get signatures for my fathers election and were we only had to get about 150, where as
18, 000 is a huge number. I thought it was interesting that just over ten years ago they were stilling trying to get equality when we have had equality for so long already. I’m glad that they were fighting for their rights but at the same time I’m saddened by the number of people that had to die in these riots in order for something to be done. What are your thoughts on these rallies and what are other strategies do you think they could have used to achieve their goal in equality?

My Kami

My Kimi would have all objects that have a special meaning to me. It would be located in the corner of my kitchen. It would be there because the kitchen is the place where most of my company stays and everyone will be able to see it, in other words it will get a lot of attention. On my shrine I would have candles most likely the Sacred Heart of Jesus Candle in memory of all the people that I’ve lost throughout my life. I’d also have a crucifix on it to represent what religion I worship, along with rosary beads that I got from the Vatican. On each side of the shrine there will be pictures of both of my great grandmothers, in addition to their pictures I would put their prayer cards from their funeral. When I was a senior in high school I had a friend named Jasmine that passed away in a car accident and on my shrine I would put a stuffed animal that she gave me on it along with a red ribbon that all the seniors wore for respect. I would put flowers on it to represent life and all the living things. My dog Sammy is a big part of my life so on my shrine there would be a dog bone to keep him safe and healthy. I would put drawing that my niece and nephew made for me along with a bracelet that Kayle my niece told me never to lose. She gave it to me the day I moved out to go to college. I’d put a little statue of an angel so that it can watch over and protect all the people that I love. In the middle of my kami I would put this old glass perfume/makeup thing my great grandmother, Granny, gave to me before she passed away. I would put some kind of food on it so that my family and I would have food that will last a lifetime. And lastly I would put Holy water to fight away all bad sprits or anything that could cause harm or sadness to anyone I know and love. My shrine would be the most meaningful thing I had in my entire house.

Wu-Wei and Tao

For me to apply Wu-Wei and Tao ideas to my everyday life would be extremely hard. They are very similar when it comes to what they mean. They both pretty much mean that you can’t let anything annoy, upset or bother you. It means to do everything that is natural, non-aggressive or violence. To do something but nothing at all. If something like my house was to catch on fire I know I wouldn’t be able to stay inside and do nothing. I’d either try to put it out, call for help, or get out as soon as possible. This is also similar to if I saw someone get beat up by someone else, I couldn’t just stand there and watch or keep walking without doing something. With these examples it proves that I definitely WOULD NOT be able to live by these ideas.

Lao-Tzu and Confucius

If Lao-Tzu and Confucius were asked to speak to Mercy students about the religion in China the conversation would be like the following:

Lao-Tzu- Would start with saying you must live a simple life and avoid any achievements possible.

Confucius- Would respond with no instead you should set personal and spiritual goals.

Lao-Tzu- You should give up everything including your family, education and all of your possessions.

Confucius- You should live by and follow the five relationships, which consist of Parent to child, child to child, husband to wife, younger to elder, and ruler to subject.

Lao-Tzu- To wrap it all up life should be simple and stress free, in order for that to happen avoid anything that can cause stress, including achievements. If these few guidelines are followed then you will be able to understand the Tao.

Confucius- In closing the five relationships are important to live in everyday life. Respect and love should be present in a day to day basis. Goals are ways to get through the tough time and have something to look forward to. If these minor things are considered than you can reach the highest goal of "superior man".