Muslim Fanatics Sever Christian Fanatics Hand in India
I normally do not spend a lot of time thinking about the titles for the articles that I write. This time it was different mainly because it was personal and close to home. I am from Kerala and Malayalees are known for their high literacy rates and left leaning socialistic ideologies. So the question that I asked myself at the beginning was whether I should remain emotionally detached or call it the way I see it.
While the general standards of the state has been falling, religious fundamentalism has been on the rise in Kerala for the past couple of decades. The new NH-47 (the backbone of Kerala) was designed and constructed in the early eighties. Both sides of this brand new highway very soon became museums and exhibition halls for religious architecture of all kinds. As you drive thought this highway you will be wondering whether you are driving through a highway in a beautiful state or whether you are part of a religious procession. How did Malayalees fall victims to religious fundamentalism?
There are reports today that indicate that former professor of Catholic-run Newman College (Thodupuzha), T J Joseph was attacked by unidentified individuals as he was going home after attending Church. This incident happened in Muvattupuzha. He was traveling with his mother and sister when his automobile was stopped. He was dragged out of the vehicle and the criminals left after they severed the former professor’s right hand.
Joseph became a target of Islamic fundamentalists when he designed a term paper in March that contained material taken from an article written by P T Kunjumuhammed. Kunjumuhammed is a well known movie director and a former legislator who represented the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The article in question contained an imaginary conversation between a madman and God. Joseph reproduced this text for the term paper and replaced the madman with Prophet Mohammed.
Joseph was probably well within his rights as an Indian citizen to write what he wants (Article 19 of the Indian constitution guarantees Freedom of speech and expression). But it was clearly a very poor choice on his part to do so. But he most likely violated the polices of Newman College. The college suspended him for one year after one of his Muslim students complained to authorities and members of the community.
There is no comparison between what Joseph did and the act committed today in the name of Islam. Both Joseph and the perpetrators of this act were motivated by their religious ideologies. But severing a persons hand is not only illegal but also barbaric and inhuman.
When such incidents happen there are the usual condemnations from religious leaders and politicians. Father Paul Thelekatt who is the spokesman for the Syro Malabar Catholic Church said that this attack was a result of the “Talibanisation” of the Indian society. When speaking of the Taliban I hope the Father also included people like T J Joseph who see no problems with equating Prophet Mohammed with a madman and then presenting it to his students as part of the term paper.
Many Muslim organizations in Kerala condemned this incident and issued a statement indicating that “The attack on the professor was against the basic tenets of Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet which laid emphasis on forgiveness. Islam explicitly forbade one from taking the law into one’s own hands when there were competent authorities to deal with an issue”. Such statements are worth less than the paper that it is written on.
The only time you hear about forgiveness, love and other good aspects of religion in only when something bad happens. The rest of time the messages are about the only true god, superiority of one religion over others, the bad things one religion is doing to the other, the need to spread their religion to the “lost”, how only certain people can go to heaven etc.
The people who committed these crimes did so in the name of their religion (irrespective of what the religious leaders say). They did so fully knowing that they had the necessary religious sanction (they can quote as many quotes from their holy texts supporting their acts as you can to in opposition to the act). This is the fundamental problem of all religions. Religion and religious texts are full of contradictions. The criminals exploit these contradictions to their advantage.
You can stop this vicious cycle only by ending your addiction to your religion.
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness” – Dalai Lama
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Category: Culture & Religion