Christianity and Islam determined to
destroy all other Religions : There are two religions in earth, which
have distinct enmity against all other religions. These two are Christianity
and Islam. They are not just satisfied with observing their own religions, but
are determined to destroy all other religions. That’s why the only way to make
peace with them is to embrace their religions.” (Original works of
Rabindranath Vol. 24 page 375, Vishwa Bharti; 1982)
Muslims can not confine their
‘Patriotism to any one country’ : A very important factor which is making
it almost impossible for Hindu-Muslim unity to become an accomplished fact is
that the Muslims can not confine their patriotism to any one country. I had
frankly asked (the Muslims) whether in the event of any Mohammedan power
invading India, they (Muslims) would stand side by side with their Hindu
neighbours to defend their common land. I was not satisfied with the reply I
got from them… Even such a man as Mr. Mohammad Ali (one of the famous Ali
brothers, the leader of the Khilafat Movement along with his brother Shaukat Ali) – the compiler has declared that
under no circumstances is it permissible for any Mohammedan, whatever be his
country, to stand against any Mohammedan.” (Interview of Rabindranath in ‘Times
of India’, 18-4-1924 in the column, ‘Through Indian Eyes on the Post Khilafat
Hindu Muslim Riots')
Hindus
and Muslims can make a fake friendship : Whenever a Muslim called upon the
Muslim society, he never faced any resistance-he called in the name of one God
‘Allah-ho-Akbar’. On the other hand, when we (Hindus) call will call, ‘come on,
Hindus’, who will respond? We, the Hindus, are divided in numerous small
communities, many barriers-provincialism-who will respond overcoming all these
obstacles?
“We suffered from many dangers, but we
could never be united. When Mohammed Ghouri brought the first blow from
outside, the Hindus could not be united, even in the those days of imminent
danger. When the Muslims started to demolish the temples one after another, and
to break the idols of Gods and Goddesses, the Hindus fought and died in small
units, but they could not be united. It has been provided that we were killed
in different ages due to out discord.
“Weakness harbors sin. So, if the
Muslims beat us and we, the Hindus, tolerate this without resistance-then, we
will know that it is made possible only by our weakness. For the sake of
ourselves and our neighbour Muslims also, we have to discard our weakness. We
can appeal to our neighbour Muslims, ‘Please don’t be cruel to us. No religion
can be based on genocide’ –but this kind of appeal is nothing, but the weeping
of the weak persons. When the low pressure is created in the air, storm comes
spontaneously; nobody can stop it for sake of religion. Similarly, if weakness
is cherished and be allowed to exist, torture comes automatically-nobody can
stop it. Possibly, the Hindus and the Muslims can make a fake friendship to
each other for a while, but that can not last for ever. As long as you don’t
purify the soil, which grows only thorny shrubs you can not expect any fruit.”
(The above is the part of the article “Swamy Shraddananda", written by
Rabindranath in Magh, 1333 Bangabda; compiled in the book ‘Kalantar’)
Own
religion true-others are false : “When two-three different religions claim
that only their own religions are true and all other religions are false, their
religions are only ways to Heaven, conflicts can not be avoided. Thus,
fundamentalism tries to abolish all other religions. This is called Bolshevism
in religion. Only the path shown by the Hinduism can relieve the world from
this meanness.” (The above is the part of the article ‘Atmaparichay’ in his
book ‘Parichay’).
Make
your children strong : The terrible situation of the country makes my mind
restless and I can not keep silent. Meaningless rituals keep the Hindus divided
in hundred sects. So we are suffering from series of defeats. We are tired and
worn-out by the fortunes by the internal and external enemies. The Muslims are
united in religion and rituals. The Bengali Muslims, the South Indian Muslims
and even the Muslims outside India-all are united. They always stand united in
face of danger. The broken and divided Hindus will not be able to combat them.
Days are coming when the Hindus will be again humiliated by the Muslims.
“You are a mother of children, one day
you will die, passing the future of Hindu society on the weak shoulders of your
children, but think about their future.” (From the letter to Hemantabala
Sarkar, written on 16th Oct, 1933, quoted in Bengali weekly
‘Swastika’, 21-6-1999)
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