Acharya Tulsi
On December 6, 1992, some people pulled down the controversial structure at Ayodhya. This incident added fuel to the fire of ideological controversy on the question of the temple and the mosque. All who were real national devotees wanted that the fire should not spread. People acted with restraint. The situation remained under control in spite of the psychological revolt. The government was faced with a very complicated situation. The Prime Minister had referred the case to the Supreme Court under article 143 (1) of the Constitution. The issue was highly sensitive. The government thought it appropriate to take the opinion of the highest court before taking any action in the matter. Once the case was in the Court, neither of the concerned parties nor the government were in a position to take any decision in the matter. They waited impatiently for the judgment of the Court. Ultimately the Chief Justice Shri M.N. Venkatachalaiya announced the judgment of the court on October 25, 1994. That did not in any way mitigate the trouble of the government, because the Court refused to say anything about the matter on which its view was sought. The issue once again was left for the government to decide.
We are not interested in what the government would do with regard to this controversial issue. This subject has become a headache for the entire country. We are concerned with how this headache can be remedied. It is not a situation befitting such a great nation that such small issues should become headaches in such a manner. In our view, this problem cannot be solved by legislation or by the court. Nor can it be solved by the government. It is necessary to consider the question from the point of view of non-absolutism.
Whenever any issue becomes controversial, there are two sides representing opposite views. Both the positive and the negative wires are required to produce electricity. For raising a controversy also two opposite sides are needed. It is not sensible to give a violent turn to any controversy. It is reasonable and sensible on the part of man that on such occasions, attempts are made to bring harmony. Bhagwan Mahavira had resorted to the attitude of non-absolutism for concentrating on such problems. Any feeling of victory or defeat is not involved in this. There is no intention of showing anyone as high or low. The situation does not arise to honour or dishonour anyone. If the point of view is correct and the direction is right and there is a keen desire to solve the problem, then there can be no better way than adopting the attitude of non-absolutism.
The Hindus and the Muslims are two communities. Why should there be confrontation between them? There are many other communities in the country as well. Every community has a right to live. There would be no ground for communal strife if there is a feeling of harmony and co-existence among the people of all communities. There can be harmony only when there is respect for each other's feelings, respect for each other's traditions and the places of worship are not turned into centres of conflict. The Hindus and the Muslim are born and brought up on the same soil. They have been living like brothers all along.
They have set a wonderful example of fraternisation in the Tintini town of the Gulburga district, 275 km from Hyderabad. They have been worshipping the same saint in the same place of worship. The Hindus call that saint Moneshwar Baba and the Muslims call him Monappaiya. It is said that the saint was originally a Hindu. Later, he was attracted to Sufism. For that reason, both the communities started respecting him. Can the Hindus and the Muslims not recognise the same symbol as their own at Ayodhya?
The Hindus respect Mahavira. Among our Muslim brothers too there are many who have a generous outlook. If they would accept the non-absolutist view of Mahavir, the roots of conflict can be destroyed. So far as destruction activity is concerned, it has not been accepted in the view of Mahavira. Nor can it be accepted from the humanistic point of view. If the Hindus come to regard sabotage as a wrong method and the Muslims give up the path of confrontation and accept the Hindus as their elder brothers, I am convinced that the conflict growing between the Hindus and the Muslims can end.
