Speakers have said that Hindu nationalism was posing a serious threat to regional peace and India’s very integrity.
They were speaking at a one-day seminar on "Islamophobia: A Political Dividend in India”, organised by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
The seminar was moderated by QAU Assistant Professor Dr Salma Malik. Former High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, Group Captain S M Hali and Chairperson of Defence and Strategic Studies Department, QAU, Dr Shabana Fayyaz spoke on the occasion.
Dr Salma Malik in her introductory remark underlined the efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sensitise the world about Islamophobia. She said that the efforts continued during the tenure of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The strategy ultimately bore fruit as the United Nations has now recognised an International Day to Combat Islamophobia, she added.
Abdul Basit delved back into the genesis of RSS and remarked that this 'saffron brigade' is rooted in the works of Sarvarkar, the pioneer of Hindutva ideology. He further said that this extreme nationalism is not only about territorial expansion but also about the creation of a Holy Land (amalgamating minorities into the Hindu culture).
“Ironically, this rabid nationalism is increasing the legitimacy of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). Modi who is associated with RSS since childhood has mastered the art of voting politics by spreading the anti-muslim rhetoric. There is a conscious effort to convert the Muslim nation into a minority through efforts including the citizenship act, the "Ghar Wapsi" programme aims the conversion of Muslims into Hindus; hustling with history and changing the name of roads associated with the names of Mughals. Now it has become a part of statecraft-hood and would continue under the BJP regime.”
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S M Hali narrated that Islamophobia is not a new phenomenon but it has its traces in the history of the subcontinent. By elaborating on the historical incidents, he showed how it is transferred from generation to generation and how severe the animosity would be in the coming generation which would be destructive.
During the British era, the young boys were given training as cadets in an academy run by the Hemani, niece of the founder of Hindutva and through the training; it was inculcated in their minds that Muslims were their real enemy and must be subjugated, he said.
The surgical strikes in the guise of the Uri attack in 2016, the Balakot strike in 2019 and the recent Missile incident; all are stemming from ultra-nationalistic tendencies.
Dr Shabana Fayyaz emphasised an important aspect that because there is something wrong with the very psyche of the Hindutva adherents, it is going to erode the integrity of the state of India. She argued that religion or culture in itself is not an evil force but when it's used to suppress a minority, it gradually gets a bad reputation.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2022.
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