I am talking about the commonly held resources - material, intellectual or spiritual, which are either ignored or unethically exploited. Ambivalence is not the answer. For example overfishing is reaching a catastrophic level. Human beings, not all but a very large number of them, have exterminated, or almost exterminated, several species of fish. Non vegetarians kill fish or other animals who are mostly weak, timid or unable to resist human aggression. Human beings do not eat the brave and strong animals who can pose a formidable challenge if they are slaughtered. Earthworms are always there to crush.
Culture and religious beliefs are in some cases exposed to continuous onslaught of Islam and Christianity who consider Prophetising a cardinal duty. Devout Christians, especially Evangelical Christians would proclaim that you can't reach salvation until you are a follower of Christ. The followers of Islam proclaim that there is only one God and that is Allah. The Indic religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism) are, by and large, much more accommodating. Several followers of these Indic religions have noticed that some of their co religions easily proclaim that we believe in God but which one is not the main concern. Perhaps as the oldest and continuous faith tradition Hinduism has become more and more liberal in its definition or the manner of worship. I for one have no hesitation to say that I am proud to be Hindu and, at the same time, I respect all other faiths traditions. “Sudbhav” – respect for all religions – is ingrained in me but “sumbhav” – all Gods are my God – is perhaps too much for me.
Indian culture is primarily based on Hindu beliefs and it has its own strengths – not that I proclaim that Hinduism is perfect or that it should be universally followed but I genuinely believe that the cardinal principles of Hinduism “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the whole world is one family), and that the Creator or God is one but we know him by different names, are simple and more positive beliefs which are least likely to create antagonism and the tensions such as we increasingly see between followers of Islam and Christianity.
On 27th January Holocaust was rightly remembered just look at the death and destruction in the name of religion and hatred. About 2 million people of Indic faith reside in the UK. Proportionately they do well in education, profession, entrepreneurship, and other positive aspects of everyday life. These Indic faith followers formed the lowest percentage in the number of prisoners in Her Majesty's jails (a total of some 86,000). The followers of Islam sadly are over 10 percent if not nearly 20. There is not enough space is this article for me to explore all the reasons but suffice is to say that our culture and traditions have played a predominant role in our more acceptable behaviour. No doubt there is so much to learn from the western civilisation which is predominantly of Christian origin. Can we have the best of the East and West together for a betterment of society and its individuals?
Everybody's baby is nobody's baby. The followers of the Indic faiths, as well as opinion makers and the leaders of other faith traditions, readily accept that the law abiding and peaceful temperament and behaviour of the people of Indian origin is an asset worth preserving. Recently there is so much going on about the British Muslims. In the Economist dated 24th January 2015 the Bagehot page is titled “Multicultural and aggrieved” and talks about the letter from Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities, and Lord Ahmed a Muslim peer addressed to over 1,000 mosques and indirectly to Britain's 2.8 million Muslims. The main message of this letter is perhaps very provocative and insulting to some if not all of Britain's Muslims. According to the Economist this circular or letter was a polite request which was worth asking but least likely to succeed. The Bagehot column looks at Birmingham’s Sparkhill area where 10% of the residents are white and 70% are Muslims. It goes on to say that British Muslims have failed to crack on—richer Hindus have dispersed to Birmingham’s leafier suburbs”. It also says “that around 40 Brummie Muslims are in prison for terrorism offences”.
Sadly the writer of this article (in The Economist) is not very optimistic about the attitude of the second generation of British-born young Muslims. The article claims, that “it is especially evident among second generation British Muslims who, having abandoned their parents' native language, food and clothing, often find in Islam a uniquely powerful immigrant identity”. It quotes one Mr Ali, “a bearded 37 year old whose relish for communal harmony coexists with conservative Muslim views, is a typical case. 'Our parents were too busy working hard to think about religion much,' he says. 'Our generation is saying: “I choose to be Muslim, this is how I make sense of the madness”.' At the end the Bagehot is waiting for the next generation to be more integrated.
Baroness Warsi, the former Tory Chair, who resigned her Cabinet post some five months ago and gained more popularity amongst the adherents of her faith, has launched a bitter assault on the Coalition's strategy towards it's Muslim constituents. She targets in particular Michael Gove for the severest criticism and says “his failure to engage with the community has fuelled resentment”.
She is very angry that Prime Minister David Cameron has rejected requests from Muslims to be given an equivalent to the annual meeting he has with the Jewish leadership. It is not possible to dwell on this Muslim dissatisfaction any further. I, as a Hindu, am happy to note that followers of the Indic faiths have found much more better space within British society thanks to both their cultural heritage and the fairness and tolerance of British society. I wish all those who refrain from joining the main stream and integrate will have some second thoughts and reciprocate with the vast majority of Britain's who have accepted us so willingly.
