Skip to main content

Cow politics: When the issue of religious faith, performance of rituals raise ugly head

By Harasankar Adhikari 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa preached that the religion of man is like the dialect of an individual or a group of individuals. Individuals of varied religious groups pray to reach the infinite and supreme soul considered to ‘God’ or ‘Allah’ or "Rama" or "Krishna" through religious practices in daily life. Sri Rabindrannath also shares his view on religion in the same vein, and he expresses his dissatisfaction regarding the origins of the different religious groups and religious practices. According to him, the origin of different religious groups is the cause of communal harmony. However, the various practices of a particular religious group are very special and personal. It never harms any other group if it is not imposed by one group on another. Thus, separate religious groups might have their own food practices and other rituals as per their choices.
But the focal point of discussion is that when various religious groups are divided and treated according to their size of population as majority and minority, it might create disharmony among these groups. In Indian society, Muslim religious groups are the largest minority groups, and they are considered other Indians by the Hindu majority. Rephrased, Hindus as the majority dominant group are also treated as others because of the lack of the necessary degree of tolerance for one another and the wrong perception of intercultural communication. It causes civil violence and conflict very often. Muslims are the victims of such violence. This religious group often faces the problems of acculturation, bilingualism, alienation, cultural determination, ethnocentrism, ethno-phobia, cultural shock, etc. This causes a cultural deviation that leads to clashes, misunderstandings, and hostile behavior. There is a vivid competition between majorities (Hindus) and minorities (Muslims) due to the misevaluation and interpretation of other cultures, and due to ethnocentrism, one thinks their culture is superior to another. We forget that the behavioural code of conduct is determined by the environment and surroundings in which a member grows up. It has no relation to biological or genetically inherited traits.
The banning of beef and the demolition of Masque are acts of anti-religiousness because dominant Hindus are trying to rule over minorities (Muslim groups). While the protection of the cow is a symbol of Hindutva, then what would be our food chain and eco-system? The cow is sacred in Hindu mythology, and its attachment to Lord Krishna is the reason for its worship. So, the Muslim minority has no right to take it as their food, and it is anti-Hindutva in India, a secular country. So, cows are very fortunate. Side by side, a goat, sheep, or chicken is unlucky because it has no attachment to the popular ‘Hindu god." So, these animals are victims of discrimination. It reminds us of the guarantee of the Indian Constitution, which promises to provide, protect, and safeguard the fundamental rights of every citizen and every minority. But now it is saffronized in terms of political ideology. It is a threat to the minorities, and it jeopardizes the fundamental rights of the minority. Surprisingly, we observe that there is no or little religious conflict at the grass-roots level if there is no political interference. Both the majority and the minority live together. But the issue of religious faith and the performance of rituals raises its ugly head with the interference of some interest groups.

Comments

TRENDING

Will official Modi invitation to Pope include itinerary of meeting Manipur Christians, too?

  By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  Few will not remember Judas Iscariot and the role he played in the betrayal of Jesus! For those who don’t know or don’t remember, these passages from Sacred Scripture will help put things in perspective: "And while they were eating, he said, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.' They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, 'Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?' Jesus replied, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray from Sacred Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.' Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, 'Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?' Jesus answered, 'You have said so.'  (Mt. 26: 21-25)

RSS supremo Deoras 'supported' Emergency, but Indira, Sanjay Gandhi 'didn't respond'

Indira Gandhi, Balasaheb Deoras By Shamsul Islam* National Emergency was imposed on the country by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25-26, 1975, and it lasted for 19 months. This period is considered as ''dark times' for Indian democratic polity. Indira Gandhi claimed that due to Jaiprakash Narayan's call to the armed forces to disobey the 'illegal' orders of Congress rulers had created a situation of anarchy and there was danger to the existence of Indian Republic so there was no alternative but to impose Emergency under article 352 of the Constitution.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Amidst climate of hate, none cares to remember VP Singh, not even his family

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*   It was former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's birthday on June 25. He would have turned 93 on this day. A man of great idealism and conviction, VP changed the politics of power in India that became more inclusive in terms of participation and representation of the marginalised in our highest decision making bodies. 

Manipur's Meira Paibis: Inter-sectional activism, regional bias, media misconstruction

By Biswanath Sinha*  The women led movement in India is a diverse and multifaceted phenomenon that reflects the country's vast cultural, social, and political landscape. One of the most distinctive and influential women's organizations in this tapestry is the Meira Paibi of Manipur. Known as the "torchbearers," Meira (lights/torch) Paibi (holder/bearer) carved out a unique space in the annals of women's activism in India.

Architects, planners, designers discuss impact of climate change on infrastructure

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava*  The School of Architecture and Planning at the Woxsen University, Telengana, organized a conference on Architecture & Design of Built Environment (ADoBE) on 6-7th June 2024 at the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT-Hyderabad. The larger theme of the ADoBE’24 pivoted on ‘Cities Embracing Inclusivity’. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.