AR Bhat
In today’s modern world of economic and military super power, in a world governed and dominated by the economic prowess and political might of the Nations, Religion still does and will always play a fundamental role, one that is undeniable and one whose influence is unavoidable. Religion from ancient time has shaped our histories and is responsible for a lot of the conflicts and battles that have taken place over the centuries which in turn has led to formation of countries that exist to this very day. One’s faith is always an important factor in one’s social sphere and plays an important role in one’s lifestyle and life decisions as well. The role that religion plays in our lives, is on most days determined by the extent of our faith and beliefs of our need to display the strength of our beliefs. But does our own faith and beliefs of our religion allow for tolerating and encouraging that of others, or is it that Religion and Religious organizations today preach of being more staunch believers and practitioners of one’s own faith and disregarding others as a show of strength of one’s own religious belief or will the world evolve to one where all religions coexist peacefully and side by side. Will the world lean towards Religious Radicalization or towards Religious Plurality?
In Modern day Kashmir, Religious Radicalization which now has been taking place for a long time, is now showing signs of Religion having entered and begun to dominate every aspect of life. The Daily routine, everyday activities and almost all spheres of social life are administered by religious philosophy and beliefs. The cause of this is the large number of centers of religious learning which preach of a purely religious life where in nothing is done against the existing philosophies. Radical Islamist Outfits are spreading their message and ideology through all available means to ensure that their radicalization effort touches one and all. The youth today are very much concerned about being religiously pure and walking on the path of Islam than ever before. The centers of such teachings though not all, but some definitely see their world as one in which Islam and its followers are threatened in their very existence implying that protection for their cause is needed and this protection on most days also translates to fighting for the freedom to follow what they believe is the right path. Hence Radicalization is not only directing energies and efforts towards righteous Muslims but also making certain believers believe it’s their duty to fight and uphold the Islamist way through what had taken place even in past as a religious war of sorts JIHAD. The warriors of Jihad are also believed to be holy and are referred to as Mujahids. These Mujahids are from the youth of Kashmir, fighting to keep their land free from the influence of other religions and their believers which they call Kafirs. Thus what we have today is JIHAD to uphold and preserve Islam by Mujahids against the Kafirs. Thus religious Radicalization has not only made everyday life difficult but also disturbed the peace in the Valley. It has caused deep rooted hatred of other religions and even sects of Islam such as the Shias, hence it also propagates intolerance of other religious practices and practitioners and prevents harmony.
Kashmir at one time in history was a melting pot of religions and cultures from all over the subcontinent with great balance between different religions and cultures all coming together to be a part of Kashmir’s own uniqueness, as beautiful mix of the best that all had to offer, KASHMIRIYAT as many call it. Pluralism has always been the bedrock of Kashmir’s religious and cultural life. Even when the entire country was afflicted with the partition on the religious lines, but Kashmiris were basking in the glory of its marvelous communal harmony and interfaith diversity. At the time when Islamist nationalism was on the march in Pakistan in the 1970s, and Hindu
nationalism was taking root in India in the 1980s, Kashmiri syncretism continued to thrive without major disturbances. Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir have been known for their wide embrace of the Hindu and Buddhist cultural practices. This is why their version of Sufism is distinctly known as Rishi-Sufism. Even today we can witness the shining examples of diversity in Kashmir where in Muslims are helping Hindus and vice versa. Based on the interpretations of numerous Quranic verses, many modern Muslim Scholars advocate Pluralism affirming principles of freedom, difference and coexistence.
A gaze at the early history of Kashmir reveals how some ancient settlers generally propagated the Universalist idea of harmony, rendering the distinction between Muslims and Hindus almost an impossible task. Kashmir’s ethnic and religious diversity, once the hallmark of its local Pluralism, has evolved into the stage for Jihad based ideology. What was traditionally a strong confluence between Islam and Hinduism in Kashmir, where the shared language and culture worked as the greatest bond between the two communities, has evolved into mounting pressure that has targeted communities of Kashmir for their non-conformist ways in accepting religious practices. Muslim Sufi saints preached pluralism and tolerance of other faiths, the novel type political Islam grappling Kashmir has instilled sentiments of intolerance and prejudice. At a societal level, the outbursts of violence, radicalization and terrorism that have taken place in the course of the past decades, have transformed the relationships among the Muslims and Hindus.
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