By Tanveer Jafri
India which teaches world the lesson of love, harmony, tolerance and co-existence, is passing through a phase of political infection these days. There is no doubt that there is an atmosphere of peace prevalent in the greatest democracy of the world. At the same time, however, some extremist powers and organizations are active spreading poison in the name of religion, and many a time undertake violent and inhuman activities which worry the peace-loving society of the country.
Orissa is a state in India where most of the people are passing through a phase of poverty. There is news of suicides by many farmers, due to financial problem, in this state of the country. It requires from the government of Orissa, voluntary organizations, non-government organizations or organizations based on religion or missionaries to work for the welfare of general public if they want to do something for the betterment of the people. They should join their hands to do constructive work for the welfare of the poor in Orissa. There should be programmes for self employment, irrigation, farming, primary education, health, construction of link roads from villages to cities and primary health centers. But at such places, it is usually seen that not to speak of helping the poor, there is use of political ends and many private, political and religious organizations try to improve their support base for it.
In India, Mother Teresa, a great social worker is given a high place of respect. She will be remembered as a person who gave shelter to those who had no shelter. But at the same time, there is a group that views her every step as a political step. As she gave support to the unsheltered and encouraged the discarded people to live a respectful life, extremists blamed that whatever Mother Teresa did for the welfare, her main objective was to attract the people towards Christianity. But the persons, who accused her, couldn’t tell if any of their organization had started this type of nationwide programme to help the ignored, poor, diseased and discarded persons of every cast and community? The organizations that spend millions of rupees to spread hatred and communalism, have no nationwide constructive work to give shelter to the poor, ignored and discarded.
Undoubtedly the persons of the Christian Missionaries are working on a worldwide programme for the change or religion. But this programme of theirs is not based on Jihad, Trishool or Sword. That is not based on hatred. Their missionary gives a message of love from Christ. That shows a path of harmony to the discarded and helpless. In such circumstances, if a person who has been insulted and ignored by his own society, family or group gets new life, love and affection from the missionary and starts worshipping Jesus, and then at least who stands responsible for it? Mother Teresa was awarded Bharat Ratna award for her services. If hundreds of persons may have adopted the change in religion under her influence, then it can’t be denied that Mother Teresa gave shelter to them in her home and saved their lives. She gave them support. She became their Godmother when they were helpless and ignored by their society.
There shouldn’t be a market of cunningness, deceit and greed for the change of religion. If it is so then it must be considered a crime and it must be stopped at every cost. Such activity should be stopped non-violently. There should be no violence in it. If any organization or group objects any method of missionary, church or any other mission in a violent way, it shouldn’t be allowed. A dreadful action of burning Graham Staines and his two children while sleeping, by setting their carriage on fire, can’t be called a teaching of any religion. At least the dead family was awarded Padamshri whereas the extremists who were found involved in the action, faced punishment. What does this incident teach us and what they make us to think? Aren’t such crimes perpetuated to polarize votes in the name of religion? Who involve in such type of politics want to enjoy and increase in their vote bank. They want to grab power by doing this.
These persons who spread communalism aim at not only the churches, their priests or holy places of other communities but sometimes they may also adopt the policies of terrorists. Just as terrorists blast a temple to enrage the Hindu society and cause communal riots. If these people fail in their planning because of the country’s communal harmony then there remains the peace in the country. If these defeated or lost terrorists may belong to the Muslim community, they don’t hesitate to blast a mosque or a graveyard. Here too they desire that if the Hindus are not incited because of their attack on their worshipping places, then perhaps the Muslim community may be enraged by blasting their holy places. In fact, in both the circumstances, the terrorists want to divide the society.
Last week, such a plot was disclosed by the police of Tamil Nadu state. Last year on 24th January, there were bomb blasts in the office of Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh in a town known as Tenkasi in the Trinlavely district. The pipe bombs were used in this blast. All the communities live together in Tenkasi that is well known for communal harmony. But the Hindu extremist organizations, perhaps didn’t like this harmony. After this blast in the Sangh office, there was an atmosphere of hatred. The Islami terrorism was supposed to be responsible for it. The demonstrations were started in this peaceful town of Tenkasi that is known as the Kashi of South, under the different banners by Sangh activists. They accused the Muslim terrorists for it. But the police closed this chapter, a few days back. Tamil Nadu police arrested three activists of Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh for this blast on the Sangh office. The arrested three activists were S. Kumar, S. Rave Pandayan & V. Narayan Sharma. These accused confessed their crimes. Fourteen pipe bombs of that type were recovered from their possession.
What does the above incident teach us? If the country is to be strong and one, then beware of the powers that want to divide. There is a need to understand their steps and motives. The professional terrorists as well as the white-collar terrorists, both are to be deeply understood. The support to be done or not of their call and announcement should be minutely observed. There is apprehension that under the cover of patriotism; there may be polarization of votes. The country should be kept from the forces which are out to divide it.