Discussion with Narayan Desai--Hindu-Muslim Conflict Part 1

We were a motley bunch of city breds visiting Vedchi as guests of Narayan Desai. It was 4.30 pm and we all assembled in the community hall to hear his views on Hindu-Muslim conflict.

Strange, why we never considered Hindu-Christian conflict?

We tossed him many questions. And this is what he had to say.

1. What is relgion?
Religion (dharm) is that which brings people together. Irreligion (adharm) is that which separates people.

So, now we are in the grips of irreligious feelings. Now I know why we feel the way we do.

2. Muslims are being appeased by the Indian government.
Sure they are being appeased by the government. Look closely and see in what ways they are being appeased. By giving them subsidy for Haj. But do they have subsides for anything else? The politicians make sure that they do not get anything significant but they make a lot of noise about it. The facts are different. Go for facts and not what politicians tell you.

This tactic was deployed by the British and our politicians (irrespective of party) have simply taken up from where British left. Our history has been coloured to ensure that the divide between Hindus and Muslims remain. Did you know that there was no history of communal riots prior to the British? There were occasional fights between muslims and hindus but never communal fights, where people of one religion revenged another because of the act of an individual.

Like the Babri Masjid demolition. Carrying out an act 400 years later. Politicians want to highlight this and it has been documented thus in history. But how about the land gifted by Babar to build temple of Kashi? We don't want to highlight this. We are fed information which will keep us apart.

contd in part 2