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Journalism of Courage
Betwwen the unrelenting deification of Sonia Gandhi and the merciless death fatwahs on Salman Rushdie lies neither adoration nor hatred, only illiteracy — or Ignorance. If it were adoration, the petty politicians would have done it through deeds rather than posters. If it was the head of Rushdie the Muslim extremist leaders had wanted, there are easier ways of getting it than making a bold and preposterous pronouncement. Both, I believe, are simply making crude attempts at getting their 15 seconds of fame.
To that extent, perhaps, like in the material world, nations are moving towards empowering their peoples with financial and legal literacy so they can manage their money and rights better; perhaps we need to introduce religious literacy in school and college curricula, where students are sensitised to a plethora of religions. Not all adherents comprising 4,200 religions, temples, mosques, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures and movements can be accommodated in this curriculum. The thrust should be on the spiritual Oneness that links and binds all religions, irrespective of how repulsive their proponents may try and make them out to be.
In perhaps what could be seen as another public-private partnership, maybe the state needs to create a platform, an infrastructure, where men in orange, white or black, women in purdahs, saris or skirts, and children in their delight, freedom and gay abandon can plant the seeds for a new, universal religion. A religion that unites all souls and still leaves space for different minds, that nurtures and shares the fruits of this evolving planet, knowing full well that it is in the Great Oneness of souls that the Gods live.
