When intention is good, it’s important for one and all to take a comment in the right spirit. So too with the promise from Pakistan President and former cricketer Imran Khan, the other day. His statement was that Pakistan would show India –and PM Modi– how to treat its minorities. Implicit in this statement is a resolve to try and improve the kind of treatment his nation meted out to religious minorities – mainly Hindus and Christians. The sentiment behind this statement is thus appreciable.
However, underlying this statement is also his view that India does not treat its minorities well. Minorities everywhere feel they’re not getting their due. In India, Muslims feel more neglected than other minorities – say, Christians, Parsis, Jews, etc who by virtue of their financial clout managed to get better education and enter the job market with greater confidence. The demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 was a turning point in India’s history and the general sense of comfort among the minorities took a nosedive. The ham-handed manner in which it was done left a bitter taste among peace-loving and secular Indians. The aggressive stands taken now and then by the Sangh Parivar added to the minorities’ sense of alienation. The Modi era in the past five years saw communal riots in Uttar Pradesh and some other places, but the scenario was generally under control, other than for the attacks on Muslims in the name of cow protection.
Progress of the nation is possible only if all its components act in unison for a common purpose. It is for the majority community to provide that sense of comfort and confidence to the minorities. Acts of terrorism and the growth of the aggressive Wahabist cult etc among Muslims also added to the worsening of the communal scenario and growing trust-deficit in social life here.
Pakistan and other Islamic nations have a record of ill-treatment of their religious minorities. Both Hindus and Christians are often at the receiving end in Pakistan. In the Gulf region, the past domination by the Europeans helped in Christianity having strong bases there. But, even in the UAE, a lone Hindu temple had to function in a “hidden” mode. In Pakistan, there is scope for much improvement in extending protection to the minorities, as attacks on churches are often reported. The Hindus there are scared and adopt a low profile. Good lessons are always welcome, appreciable and adaptable for India, as also for others. Khan can lead the way and make good that promise.
