Dear Editor,
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chiarman Ghulam Nabi Azad has come out with a statement that majority of Indian Muslims are the ones who are converted from Hindu religion. He has cited the example of Kashmir Pzandits converted into Islam in the Kashmir Valley. Azad has enlightened that there were no Muslims in Kashmir about 600 years ago and there were only Kashmiri Pandits. Kashmir was land of Kashyap, Anant island of Shesha Naga, Srinagar was called as Surya Nagar, Baramulla was named after Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There was no history of Islam in Kashmir until 14th century when Muslims came and wiped out Hindus. Christianity, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the holy land 2000 years ago, is the world’s biggest religion with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide. Islam, on the other hand was founded in 7th century. Azad has reiterated this by saying that Islam came into existence 1500 years ago. The Prophet Muhammad founded Islam in the year 610. Muhammad and his followers spread the teachings of Islam in Arabian peninsula. If Christianity is the biggest religion, Hinduism is the oldest religion dating back to 4000 years. Hinduism is the third largest religion with the following of 900 million people. Unlike Christianity and Islam, Hinduism has not been founded by anybody. Hinduisim is believed to be a way of life also apart from being a religion. Azad has lamented that when Hindus die, they are cremated. “They are burnt in different places. Their ashes are placed in the river which mixes the water and we drink that water”, he further adds. True. Ashes are immersed in water. But Azad needs to be reminded that daily hundreds people will be urinating in the water while taking bath. Hundred of people take the water from the rivers after passisng stools. While washing, the hand is dived again and again. Does Azad think that people carry with them pitchers whenever they go to river? In these rivers we drink water and bathe. If we think of these, no river waters will be fit for human consumption. The river waters have to be used only for agricultural purpose in that case. However, the silverlining is that he also has observed that the Muslims’ flesh and bones become a part of the nation’s soil. “They too become a part of this land. Their flesh and their bones become a part of Bharat Mata’s soil. Hindus and Muslims both merge into this land. What differene is there between them?”, he further elaborates. Azad advocates that religion should not be used as a vote bank in politics. Unfortunately, the religion of the candidates in electoral fray has been playing dominant role in the mind of majority of voters. Religion and politics should not be mixed. It is only a wish. Now religion has become inseparable part of our political system.
K.V Seetharamaiah
