KOLKATA, MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2024
The need to promote
inter-faith harmony
BHARAT DOGRA
I
n the midst of several conflicts
and tensions in the world, the
compelling need to promote
inter-faith harmony and under-
standing is increasingly realized. Such
promotion increases possibilities of
durable peace among various com-
munities and often also among sever-
al countries. Religious fundamental-
ism is characterized by a rigid and
narrow understanding of religious
texts and precepts, leading to sectari-
an views and frequently to avoidable
conflicts with people of other faiths or
sects.
One main problem created by
religious fundamentalism is that this
discourages human understanding on
the basis of rationality due to very
rigid adherence to what was written
or spoken several hundred years back,
and may have had a very different
context compared to the situation
existing today.
Secondly, and related to the first
factor, is the tendency for this irra-
tionality to very easily turn against
people of other sects and faiths, par-
ticularly in the hands of mischievous
elements. This can lead to entirely
avoidable conflicts and violence; we
can see too much of this in the pages
of history.
Many well-intentioned people
had reasonable hopes that in modern
times several factors would combine
to reduce the prospects of religious
fundamentalism and in some sections
of human society this has already
happened. However, looking at the
world we see that on the whole trends
of religious fundamentalism have
shown surprising strength and
resilience right up to the 21st century.
Why and how this happened is a
subject for detailed study, but what
must be clear is that while religious
fundamentalism may be strong, it is
not desirable. What the world needs
instead is inter-faith harmony, and
fundamentalist, rigid understanding
of one’s religion is not compatible with
the promotion of inter-faith harmo-
ny. We need a more enlightened and
liberal understanding and practice of
IT CAME TO MIND | MANISH NANDY
Square pegs and round holes
A
square peg in a round hole
means someone who doesn’t
quite fit in. Like an unquali-
fied man in a job or a cultivat-
ed woman in crass company. But the
metaphor applies just as well to a per-
son dying to connect meaningfully
with another person – a person who
would understand and respond well
– but ends up sadly in a banal
exchange. They talk about trivial
things, carry on a courteous but
inconsequential conversation that
satisfies neither, and go their separate
ways, unfulfilled and frustrated.
My father had some English col-
leagues and friends. He taught us that
when somebody asked, “How do you
do?” the correct response was “How
do you do?” I was outraged and told
my father so. If anybody was to ask
how I was doing, it was both polite
and sensible to tell the person how I
was doing. It made no sense to
respond to a question with another
question. If the second question was
to show some interest in the other
person’s well-being, it was undercut
by a patent reluctance to reveal the
state of my well-being. I believe my
father was both impressed and frus-
trated by my logical bent and tersely
commented that that, perversely, was
the English protocol.
Not just the reserved English,
what amazes me is how essentially
uncommunicative is the rest of
mankind. Even the fraternal Irish, the
garrulous Italian or supremely gregar-
CROSSWORD
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religion which has greater compatibil-
ity with peace, human welfare, gen-
der justice, inter-faith harmony and
rationality.
Of course rejection of religious
fundamentalism should never be con-
fused with the rejection of religion, as
religion for many people has many
positive aspects aligned with ethical
life, philanthropy, kindness, taking
care of those in distress, compassion,
mental and spiritual peace, reducing
attachment to consumerism and vol-
untary simplicity or austerity. This in
fact is the proper role of religion which
is highly compatible with the welfare
of humanity and in fact all forms of
life. Some of the best and greatest
scholars of religion have in fact devot-
ed themselves to the interpretation of
religion in such contexts, clearing
many misconceptions and contribut-
ing much to welfare at several levels.
Some other religious scholars have
gone a step ahead to also speak of a
society based on justice and equality,
as well as resisting injustice to create
such a society. Those who follow this
approach may be devout followers of
their religion but at the same do not
hesitate to reject any isolated highly
objectionable passages found in some
religious texts.
A serious problem with religious
fundamentalists is that while they are
very insistent regarding the greatness
of their own religion, they can be very
hostile towards other religions. They
have a tendency to falsely interpret
history and to mix up mythology with
history in arbitrary ways in order to
spread hostility against other religions
based on falsehoods or twisted half-
truths.
Common people of various faiths
are perfectly capable of living in har-
mony with people of other faiths,
quite often happy to do so, but the
fundamentalist and sectarian ele-
ments often try to create problems
and obstructions.
Hence it is clear that, from the
point of view of peace and welfare of
humanity, fundamentalist and sectar-
ian elements of all religions can create
serious problems, and almost all of
them are associated with various
ious eastern Indian may talk a lot, but
do they truly share what is important
in their life? I have spent years in
Kolkata and known highly talkative
barbers who talked of their wayward
neighbors; in my short stints in
Dublin, friendly cab drivers have
regaled me with stories of misbehav-
ing millenials in the backseat. Such
conviviality is amusing, perhaps even
affable, but does it offer what our
heart craves?
What our heart wants is a real
exchange. We want to exchange real
thoughts and feelings. An idea that
has troubled my mind or excited my
imagination. A feeling that is gnawing
at my heart. Those are the things I
want to share with a caring person. A
person who will listen patiently and
perhaps even agree. Even if she dis-
agrees, she will listen to the end and
tell me gently why she thinks differ-
ently. A person who will understand
when I talk of my disagreement with
my partner, my disappointment with
my son or my disillusionment with
my boss. He may not see things in
exactly the same way, but he will try to
see the way I see them.
These are what we want from a
conversation. A bit of talk about the
weather is normal. A reference to the
day’s heady headline is understand-
able. Even a joke or two is welcome.
But at the end of all that, we want to
share something important. That goes
beyond polite palaver or benign blab-
ber. Or even a little beyond the
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YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION
L A ND L A D Y OB T A
A A U R L U
B A T HROO M M I DR
I I E P O N E I
L I V E S T O C K D E V
E E F R D O
T I F F A R A B I
I E S T R Y
CU S T OMS B L EW
E T L E I G
22
S Y R I A L OO K A L I
K A T F L T V T
24
A UN T I E RO O T B E
T G N G I I A
E N E RGY E Y E C A N
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London)
forms of violence. This violence may used by the USA and its CIA, using
be directed against people of other Pakistan in the important role of inter-
faiths, or even against those people of mediary, to collect Islamic militants
their own faith who do not agree with from all over the world to fight the
their view of religion. Soviet army in Afghanistan which had
Thus while fundamentalist and come there to support a communist
sectarian elements of all religions gen-
erally have violent tendencies and are
government at its invitation. This pro-
vided the biggest opportunity to these
harmful for peace, social harmony
and democracy, in recent times more
militants from many countries to get
modern, deadly weapons as well as
attention has been focused on Islamic the training to use these weapons
fundamentalist and sectarian forces effectively. After their use for ousting
including the militants among them. the Soviet army was fulfilled, these
What is more important is to militants were by and large left free to
know how many of these militants roam to many places including their
with fundamentalist beliefs increased original countries and spread violent
in several countries in the middle of disruption there.
several modern influences. Partly this In Iran the democratically elected
increase reflects a reaction against patriotic Prime Minister Mohammed
some harmful aspects of modernity Mossadegh was ousted by the USA
which damage social relationships in and Britain when he tried to protect
significant ways, but there are other the national interests of Iran. In his
factors too. place they brought back the monar-
One of the biggest sources of chy of the Shah of Iran who estab-
funds for the spread of Islamic funda- lished a regime characterized by sup-
mentalism over the years came from pression of people and torture. It was
Saudi Arabian royalty, while this roy- the repressive rule of this regime
alty got special support from the USA. which created the conditions for the
In many countries the fundamentalist arrival of the regime of fundamentalist
forces could be strengthened because forces.
of the financial support received from In Afghanistan it was the highly
Saudi Arabia or some of its allies who corrupt and inefficient regimes sup-
had plenty of oil money at their dis- ported by the USA which created the
posal. conditions for the return of the fun-
In due course this money was damentalist forces led by the Taliban.
illastration by : Debabrata Chakrabarty
warmth of brotherly banter. We want a we know. Our friends, our colleagues,
connection. We want to lighten our our neighbours, our relatives, even
hearts by telling another human what our brothers and sisters. We can’t trust
has made us happy or sad. We want them enough to share the problems
to share what has made a difference in that are gnawing at our guts. When
our lives. our talk edges closer to something
What stops us? What prevents our that means a lot to us, we shrink back
conventional, casual conversations and turn the discussion into some-
from graduating to a deep, rich, thing safer. Our instinct is to not let
meaningful discussion? anyone in on what is eating us up
Of course, there are little prob- because it exposes too much of our-
lems with words and language selves. Can we let a colleague know
because we all come from different this? She may one day use it against
cultural backgrounds. But we also me. Should we share this pain with a
know how well blind and deaf people cousin? He may pass it on to others
find a way to share their thoughts and who are either less discreet or more
feelings. It helps if we learn to speak curious about my failings. It may be
clearly and precisely; it reduces the jealousy or schadenfreude.The far
chance of misunderstanding. Yet that greater problem is our bottomless
is hardly the principal barrier. The real preoccupation with ourselves. When
problem lies elsewhere. somebody speaks, we seldom listen
A major problem in taking our wholeheartedly. We are already sort-
conversation to a higher level is our ing what we agree with and what we
inbred distrust of other people. Not
just of strangers, but also of the people
dislike. Worse, we are not so much lis-
tening as preparing a riposte to what
a man of property first to execute
ACROSS (8) crook? (4)
15 Grab a nap, having 25 Particle split by 4 Continue to desire a
7 Rubbish people necked last of beer head of
I N working away at (6) thermodynamics in
Oxford? (8) 16 Big old gun city abroad (6) 5 Flute Lance played
U advisory committee of reconstruction
I B 9 Having sex without member of the 2 Chattering pirate’s
affection ultimately clergy picked up (6) first to be saved by
I L
is sickening (6) 19 Spooner says Le navy chopper (8) 6 European article
10 Conservative leader Pétomane’s an
I
breaks soft strike object of historic
S T DOWN
deal (4) interest (8)
11 To mate with pint, 21 Johnny Morris 8 Drop of sherry’s
B
getting drunk could finally to meet PM
be one (10) in 1971 (6) 1 Old film star that
K E 12 A kid with a chilled- 23 When people must Banksy might do in 13 Teenagers
out demeanour take on board one a toilet? (6)
E R (2,4) or some disparaging 2 Topless dress?
D Y
14 Succeed in remarks (10) Rather! (1,3)
marrying aristocrat, 24 Prison in Texas 3 Trousers round 15 Supporters one
CMYK
It is by now widely known that in
Gaza the emergence of Hamas was
supported by Benjamin Netanyahu
and some other Israeli leaders as a
counter to left and secular forces
among the Palestinians.
Thus what we see in country after
country is that Muslim religious fun-
damentalism grew either when funds
and support became available for this
from resourceful or powerful coun-
tries, or else militants among funda-
mentalist forces were directly recruit-
ed or supported to be used against left
and secular forces.
As powerful Western countries
supported many corrupt dictatorships
and monarchies in Muslim countries,
the youth had to find some channels
of opposition. As the left forces faced
too much repression, the secular
paths became more risky. For those
still keen to oppose the corrupt and
oppressive dictatorships, the funda-
mentalist conservative forces could
provide some protection and hence
the forces of resistance also found a
more convenient channel in funda-
mentalism.
This explains how Islamic funda-
mentalism could spread at a fast pace
in many parts of the world, with some
of the most powerful Western coun-
tries playing an important supporting
role in this, although later they were
also forced to fight such forces. At the
same time, powerful Western coun-
tries have also played an important
role in supporting (and getting sup-
ported by) fundamentalist forces of
several other religions too.
People should realize how they
have been opportunistically used by
various forces in narrow ways for their
own interests, and come to the
enlightened, welfare-oriented, liberal
path of religion that emphasizes
peaceful co-existence, while giving up
the sectarian and rigid, narrow path.
In addition they should promote
inter-faith harmony for the unity of
their nation and indeed for the unity
and welfare of all humanity.
(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to
Save Earth Now. His recent books include
Protecting Earth for Children, When the Two
Streams Met and A day in 2071.)
we think is wrong or a rejoinder to
what we believe is right. It is more
evaluation than assimilation, more of
forging a strategy than absorbing a
viewpoint. If only we could keep our
mind clear like a blank slate, we would
possibly find something to accept or
empathize with rather than reject as
trivial or combat as incorrect.Why do
we do that? Because we are afraid of
disclosing our vulnerability. We have a
mortal fear that, if others know of our
sadness and solitariness, our foibles
and failures, our hardships and
heartaches, we would seem weak and
not fully in control. A child connects
deeply with his mother because he
runs to her anytime he is hurt; he isn’t
afraid to seem weak or defenseless. If
we can shed our instinctive fear, talk
and listen to another person fully, with
the intent of connecting with another
human, we are likelier to take the first
step toward a genuine conversation.
My friend from Brazil, Marian,
talks of the time she talked openly
with a friendly but foolish interviewer
only to be shortly told that she was
‘too emotional’ for the job. She also
had the opposite experience with a
counselor who commented that her
extraordinary capacity of self-disclo-
sure was both an asset to her and a
gift for people who enter her orbit. We
need to take the risk Marian did.
(The writer is a US-based international
development advisor and had worked with
the World Bank. He can be reached at
mnandy@gmail.com)
NO-292665
ankles possibly set charged after a
bells off (8) scrape (8)
17 One helping a
licentious woman? relative to cross
(6) last section of
bypass (8)
could create noisy 18 Competitive games
blasts? (10) on the rise, leading
to fits of bad
published about temper (6)
revolutionary Pole 20 Toxic gas from
(8) behind engulfing
almost all of pub (6)
more than enough 22 I take digs from
for a little taste (6) granny that’s
offensive all round!
vandalised houses (6)
close to Muslim 24 Drug that’s fine
settlements (10) being taken in
church (4)
100 YEARS AGO
OCCASIONAL NOTE
All things considered, the results
recorded in the Bengal Olympic trials
held on Saturday may be regarded as sat-
isfactory, and as comparing very
favourably with those of other provincial
meets. The best performances were those
of T.K. Pitt and W.R. Hildreth in the two
sprint races, the latter establishing what
is claimed to be a new Indian record, by
doing the 220 yards in 22 1/5 seconds. In
the trials at Madras, Allahabad, and Nag-
pur no one did better than 24 seconds, so
that the Bengal representative is almost
certain to be picked for the All-India
team, and on a cinder track should be
able to better the timing recorded on Sat-
urday. T.K. Pitt also won the quarter mile,
and the fact that he finished strongly in a
shade over 50 seconds suggests that, on a
more perfect track such as will be used at
Paris, he is capable of something
approaching 49 seconds. N.O. Murray's
time for the mile - over five minutes - was
very poor, and would not do credit to the
average school sports in England. No
good miler, unfortunately, has been
unearthed in any other province so far.
The Madras trials brought to light quite a
good long distance runner in N.
Varadarajalu, of Bangalore, who, if he
could improve on his time of just over 54
minutes, would not be far from Alfred
Shrubb's old record of 50 minutes 40 3/5
seconds.
NEWS ITEMS
THE KUMBH
"MELA"
ALLAHABAD, JAN.14
Mr. K.N. Knox, the District Magis-
trate of Allahabad, has issued the follow-
ing notification with reference to the dif-
ficulties connected with bathing at the
Kumbh Mela, the first big day of which is
today:- "For many weeks past the state
of affairs at the junction of the Ganges
and the Jumna has been causing great
anxiety to the authorities and to all those
who are interested in the Adh Kumbh
Mela. The stretch of sand which lies
below the Fort is very contracted, and the
current of the Ganges has been reducing
it day by day. Local residents whose
memory carries them back for two or
three decades have stated to the magis-
trate that the condition on the bathing
side is more dangerous than they can
ever remember.
BANKRUPT EUROPE
In the course of an address at the
Westbourne Park Chapel pleading for a
new international mentality, Sir George
Paish said that although French mentali-
ty was wrong, the disaster caused to
France by the war was much greater than
the French Government dared tell even
its own people. Europe, he said, was now
faced with complete bankruptcy. Ger-
many and Russia were hopelessly bank-
rupt and all the indications were that
France would be bankrupt this year. Sir
George believed that Britain could sur-
mount the situation, but there must be a
change from the old mentality of nation
distrusting nation. He was convinced
that Continental nations would not
change their mentality until they saw
there had been a change in this country.
INDIAN STORES
DEPARTMENT
DELHI, JAN. 14
The report on the administration of
the Indian Stores Department for the
months of January, February and March,
1922, and of the financial year 1922-23, is
published. During this period the pur-
chasing activities of the department were
confined to buying textile goods for the
Army and certain other departments of
the Government. These operation were
of considerable extent, the total value of
purchases made having amounted to Rs.
59,27,000 during the period January to
March, 1922 and to Rs. 164,78,000 dur-
ing the financial year 1922-23. In the
course of these operations new sources
of supply were discovered and utilised.
Purchases were affected in accordance
with strict business principles, and were
made more cheaply than would have
been the case had not Indian markets
been resorted to.
JAPAN'S
FORTITUDE
DELHI, JAN. 14
The latest news from Tokio regarding
reconstruction work in Japan shows that
the Board of Construction is to take up
the practical charge of reconstruction
work for Tokio and Yokohama under the
control of the Cabinet, and there is an
composed of eight prominent men,
besides the Cabinet Ministers, such as
the leaders of the political parties, the
influential members of the House of
Peers, the Privy Councillor and the direc-
tors of the leading companies. The plans
and schemes for the new cities have been
for some time under discussion, and they
will shortly be put into execution. Mean-
while, pending the new scheme, the peo-
ple of those cities have built their tem-
porary abodes on the ruins, and business
is being carried on almost under normal
conditions.