The following letter by Mohammed Rehan reflects on religious tolerance, the impact of British colonial “divide and rule” policies on India’s partition, and the lingering prejudices tied to skin color and societal attitudes. Through a personal story of mutual respect between a Muslim worshipper and a Hindu priest, the author calls for greater understanding, character, and humanity. This article is a reader’s contribution and does not reflect the editorial’s opinion absolutely.
Dear friends of unity of India,
One bad effect of second world war for the freedom of India was that after 1945 people knew more about the Nazi and their policy towards German minorities Jews. Now India was about to get freedom. Indian Muslim leaders where having talks with the Congress leaders about the rights of minorities in India after freedom. So basically there was no word like Pakistan. It was just for the rights of minorities i.e. Muslims in free India. In early1990s the demolition of Ayodhya Mosque is one of the biggest show of power to the minority. Is there any difference between Hindu and Muslim God? Secondly there was no historical proof that Hindu God Rama was really born on that particular place (the Mosque area). It is possible that at the time of construction of that Mosque there was a Temple.
My mother used to tell me a true story about her father, a person who offered all 5 prayers „Namaz“ in a day. They were on their way to a village near Ayodhya the city of Temples in mid 1950’s In Ayodhaya he was looking for a clean place for his mid day prayers. He could not find a clean place so he went to a Temple Priest in Ayodhya and asked him if he (my grand father) could offer his prayers (Muslim Prayer in a Hindu Temple!!) in the Temple complex. The good thing about this Temple priest was that he said „we both pray for the same one God you my Muslim friend (to my grand father) call him „Allah“ and I as a Hindu Priest “ Bhagwan“. The Priest allowed my grand father to go for his Muslim prayers „Namaz“ in the Temple complex. I find both my grand father and the Priest who understood the real sense of all religion: TO POLISH YOUR CHARECTOR!!! Unfortunately we do not see such things any more even today. There is no tolerance any more not only in India but all over the world including Germany.
Now I am sure that British rulers who ruled India for almost 200 years while using the policy of divide and rule policy played an important role in creating more differences between both Indian parties. Second important aspect is that the minorities were not even asked through referendum if they really want two nations. I think that Lord Mountbatten hoped to rule India longer through his divide and rule policy.
There is one point which I could not understand about we Indians. There is a word „Angrez“ which means English. So after more than 50 years of freedom all Europeans/Americans are called „Angrez“ by Rickshaw/Taxi drivers. They run after these tourist in expectation of getting more money. This I understand but why do many rich Indians give more importance to „Gora Angrez“. white skinned persons. I do not understand. One Hindu friend of mine said we are still mentally slaves of English Rulers. His argument was that late 19th century most of the statues of Indian Gods/Goddess which had dark colours changed to white or bright colours. Today any girl in India if she has dark complexion will have very hard to find right partner. WHY?
US pop singer sings a song „it makes no difference if you are BLACK OR WHITE“ I have heard that this person gets his skin bleached to get brighter.
The Muslim invaders, Muslim rulers like Sher Shah Suri and the Mughals ruled India but with a big difference to the English rulers. Most of these rulers became part of India. They did not send raw products to their home country and again sold the final products to the Indians what the British rulers did. Second most important fact is that English rulers NEVER became part of India or Indian society. Still we Indians treat „Angrez“ better than the Muslims who became Indian and gave many good things too. The majority of Indian Muslims are born after 1947. They do not know how things were during/before freedom. So if some radical groups in India hate them. I want to ask them one thing. These radical Indian groups should say that all young Germans of these days are Nazi’s. Which is also not true. Any Indian Muslim if he says he is pro Pakistan I would recommend him to leave India and go to Pakistan and that too for ever.
Politicians on BOTH SIDES MADE MISTAKES and both do not accept this fact.
Mohammed Rehan
