Is it okay to sow this seed of hate and distrust in his young and innocent mind, ask him to differentiate between his Hindu and Muslim classmates? Even though I know that this is exactly what Muslim kids are being taught, if not in these schools, but in their madrasas or maybe even in their homes. I am at a loss and not always able to answer his questions in this regard. Any answers?
Let us think a little beyond our personal lives and family values. Let us even look a little beyond our nation. Surely family values and national life are deeply connected with our own individual existence. The issue at stake is something still greater. We stand at the crossroads of civilisation. On the one side is the dark nexus of falsehood represented by the Islamists and the Communist block which preach senseless violence, uniformity, absolute control of the life of the individual by the State, loss of dignity for women and an overall regressive mindset. On the other hand is Sanatana Dharma and the liberal democratic values of life, which keep the doors open to progress and evolution for the collective march of mankind, lokasangrahartha, as the Gita puts it.
Again, to take a leaf from Sri Krishna, there are good and bad people on both sides and in every religion and ideology. The question is which side of history are they standing. Surely there are good Muslims, but they need to speak up. And if they do not have the courage to speak up for the highest human values, then what is the use of a weak and cowardly goodness? Let these good people usher genuine reform in Islam if they think it is possible, question and change whatever is dated and anachronistic in it and join hands with the collective aspiration for the upliftment of our human race. But there lies the problem. Unlike Sanatan Dharma, where questions are allowed to satisfy our seeking and changes allowed to accommodate the Yuga Dharma, the Semitic religions, especially Islam is all about blind adherence, rigid doctrines, fear of punishment from God, with death as the penalty for standing up for what is true and right. And their menace is growing by the day through sheer force of numbers. If the elite of India, the right-thinking sections of humanity, those who care for mankind and for Truth, do not speak up, then we might as well give up hope for a fair and beautiful world based on high and true values. Friendship and all is find but what our children need most is courage, the courage to stand up for whatever is true and beautiful, the courage to be truthful and straightforward and honest in their dealings with fellow human beings, the kshatratej along with the brahmatej, strength along with knowledge. Love and unity, yes, it is most important, but not as a weak sentiment, not a unity purchased with appeasement and adjustment of good accommodating before evil. What children need most today is strength of character, strength that is fearless because it is armed with truth, and courage that is not the offshoot of hatred but born out of the flames of pure love.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
