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Religious harmony in Pakistan, India after 1947

2 years 4 months ago - 2 years 4 months ago #204 by Imtiaz Chughtai
Religious harmony in Pakistan, India after 1947

Imtiaz Chughtai


Pakistan and India enjoy a shared and shining history when it came to religious harmony, relationships with minorities as well as religious tolerance, and interfaith. Despite being a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic society various religions, sects and faiths co-existed here for decades sharing common grounds, cultures, and values in the subcontinent. The decade-old local culture, norms, and values have proven enough to tie various religions, communities, and faiths in sheer bonds of care, love, and mutual respect.

Local culture was stronger enough to defuse and neutralize several colliding points present between various thoughts and ideologies. It also provided a strong bond between various religions for co-existence.
At the time of partition, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism were among the top religions besides many other big and small faiths, customs, and cultures. After the partition, the majorities in the sub-continent started victimizing the smaller religions and communities. Within no time the hate griped the whole continent. Millions of Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Scheduled Castes were killed in the violence.
Pakistan after her creation provided shelter to various religions, faiths, ideologies, and cultures who became prey to violence and hatred. Within the boundaries of a new state, various multi-religious societies and groups started living incoherent and complete religious harmony. Unlike India, the Christians, Hindus and Sikhs, and other minorities were given rights and protection in the constitution of Pakistan. The minorities on the other hand left no stone unturned in playing their due role for the development of the country. A large number of non-Muslims especially Pakistani Christians have laid down their lives while defending Pakistan against Indian aggressions. The Prime Minister recently has inaugurated the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, which is in line with the vision given by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation.
Since 1947, the majority of governments have gone an extra mile in maintaining relationship minorities in Pakistan. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur is now the world’s largest Sikh temple. Pakistani Government has also facilitated a large number of the Indian Sikhs pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur without any discrimination. On the very first day of its opening, 12 thousand Sikh pilgrims were allowed to visit the corridor and the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. All the past governments have made efforts in establishing coherence among various religions, cultures, and ethnicities present here. The efforts were made to bring various ideologies close as well as to create a society based upon principles of love mutual respect and co-existence under the green flag.
It was widely perceived, that after her birth, the Secular state of India will learn from her horrific past experiences and violence against minorities. However the said perception failed and India failed to continue as a truly secular state where each religion, ethnicity, and faith may enjoy freedom, religious harmony based upon the concept of co-existence. Due to the worst treatment of minorities’ number of separatist movements have become active in various parts of India. The cultural diversity was of mighty India was rapidly dominated by religious extremism and hate ousting love and mutual respect from the land of Gandhi.
The BJP led government in India is now attempting to promote the decades-old extremist ideology of ‘Hinutva’ amid targeting Muslims, Christians, Dalits, Sikhs, Nagas, and other minorities. Instead of promoting peace and inter-faith, the ruling Party and her allies are provoking religious sentiments based upon religious animosities. The religious minorities in India are not saving anymore and the government has failed in providing them protection. As the big breakthrough of Kartarpur, in neighboring Pakistan boasted the morale of minorities there, the hardcore verdict of the Indian Supreme Court on the Babri Mosque case has triggered more fears and uncertainty among the minorities all over India. Brutal lock-down in Indian Occupied Kashmir has crossed over 100 days and the genocide of Kashmiris continues in the hands of Indian security forces. Now the minorities in India are feeling insecure as well as orphans. The Sikh community that is pleased with the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, is still unable to forget the brutal use of force by India during ‘Operation Blue Star’ targeting her most sacred ‘Golden Temple.’ As a state, India has failed to protect its minorities which Pakistan has done magnificently.
Instead of adopting the hostile approach towards minorities, the need of the time is that India should revise its policies before it’s too late. When it comes to the treatment of minorities, India should learn from the shining experiences of Pakistan. The Minorities in Pakistan are in much better condition as compared to her.
Any state always must ensure the protection of its citizens as well as provide them with chances for better growth and improved living conditions. Like Pakistan, India has to pay more respect to its minorities. Despite efforts, it will take some time for various religions, communities, and faiths to find and re-gain mutual trust in South East Asia.

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