Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai
Chairman
World Forum for Peace & Justice
November 16, 2024
November 16th is observed as the International Day for Tolerance. It was declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.
The mission statement of International Day of Tolerance says that “Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human.”
Philémon Yang, President of the 79th session of the General Assembly said on September 13, 2024, “Let us work towards tolerance and dialogue…In so doing, we can also accelerate progress towards sustainable development and ensure universal respect for the human dignity of everyone, everywhere.”
Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations has said that tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected. On this international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, let us all be inspired anew by the fundamental principle, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of the equality of all human beings.
Mr. Annan also said that in every great faith and tradition one can find the values of tolerance and mutual understanding. Kofi Annan is correct. Take the case of Islam. The Quran tells us that “We created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said, “Be tolerant and you will receive tolerance.”
Once when the Prophet (PBUH) was asked, “What is Eemaan (belief)?” He (PBUH) replied: “Belief is patience and tolerance.”
Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, one of the most celebrated Muslim poets, stated, “Listen with the ears of tolerance! See through the eyes of Compassion! Speak with the language of Love!”
Al-Ghazzālī, one of the most prominent Muslim philosophers’ stresses tolerances as respecting each other’s rights. He urges that human beings must go beyond tepid abidance-tolerance, to the loving embrace of one another.
I believe that International Day for Tolerance has become an instrument to address the rising intolerance, hate and discrimination. The observance of the day will undoubtedly promote awareness and education about diversity and inclusion.
I am proud to say that the Valley of Kashmir has remained the shining example of tolerance and symbol of communal harmony for centuries. A hallmark of Kashmir has been its long tradition of tolerance, amity, good will, and friendships across religious and cultural boundaries. Kashmir has a long tradition of moderation and non-violence.
Its culture does not generate extremism or fundamentalism. Its five religious groups Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and tiny minority of Christians – have for centuries flourished in harmony and mutual bond: no religious ghettoes; no religious apartheid; no economic or sharp cultural divides. All religious persuasions rejoiced at each other’s holidays and times of joy, attended social gatherings together, lived as neighbors in harmony, and treasured their mutual trust.
Recently BJP/RSS lead government has tried to weave a smokescreen with some unfounded myths, like intolerance, hate, communalism, and fundamentalism, which seek to discredit the pluralistic nature of Kashmiri society. . But these ploys will never be able to cover up the reality and sufferings of people in the Jammu & Kashmir.
But New Delhi-based ‘Mirror Now Digital’ has refuted all these baseless allegations of BJP government. Itst report makes it clear that the tolerance still remains perfect model in the Valley of Kashmir. ‘Mirror Now Digital’ reported on Apr 26, 2022, entitled, “Humanity wins! Muslims help perform last rites of Kashmiri pandit woman in J&K’s Kupwara district.” The report says that “Rita Kumari, a Kashmiri Pandit woman residing in Lalpurah area in the border town of Lolab died due to some age-related ailments.
As the news of her death spread, people from the Muslim community residing in the area reached her place and joined the Pandit family in conducting her last rites, as reported by News18. A large number of local Muslims carried her bier to the crematorium and helped her family in the cremation which was done as per Hindu tradition.”
Daily Kashmir Observer reported that Muslims helped a Hindu family in the cremation process of a man who died in the Maisuma area of Srinagar city on February 8, 2021. According to reports, one Rakesh Kumar breathed his last. Muslim neighbours arranged everything required for the cremation process. Locals said they arranged a priest and shouldered the dead body up to the cremation ground.
India’s another daily, The Hindu, reported on June 5, 2020. “Local Muslims made special arrangements to perform the last rites (of Mrs. Rani Bhat– a Hindu). Firewood was arranged for cremation. The body was also shouldered by Muslims. It’s our duty to ensure that we are with our Pandit neighbours in thick and thin,’ Abdul Qadir, a Muslim villager, said.
Sanjay Kak, a film maker and himself a Kashmiri Pandit wrote that “although terrible tragedies did happen to many individuals, most Kashmiri Pandit families were not betrayed by their Muslim neighbours. While some properties were torched and destroyed, most temples and homes were not ransacked or looted, and many more have run to ruin over years of neglect. Most critically, this myopic narrative succeeds in obscuring the fact that what happened in Kashmir in the 1990s was not centrally a conflict between Muslims and Hindus. It was an uprising against the Indian state.”
We all know that the Pandits languishing in the refugee camps in Jammu, Delhi and elsewhere were victims of the tragedy of Kashmir for which the Government of India must take responsibility. Only Governor Jagmohan made this Pandit community flee and desert Kashmir at its hour of trial. They were made to abandon their own people.
It is a pity that India is using these helpless victims of India policy as pawns in a cynical propaganda game. Kashmiri Pandits want to return to their homes. Muslim families, despite their own plight, are ready to welcome them back. But I am afraid that Indian authorities will try to score points in the debates. To them human rights are of secondary importance.
There is no doubt that the foreign occupation has destroyed the very fabric of Kashmiri culture. It has also shattered the communal harmony and the pluralistic nature of Vale of Kashmir. The occupation has dispossessed the people from their culture which is distinctly unique and different from Indian culture. The resistance in Kashmir is against alien occupation and is not communal.
It cannot be communal and should not be. Kashmiri culture was nurtured over the course of centuries where various religious and ethnic groups lived in complete harmony. Even after the annexation of the State of Jammu & Kashmir by India, this spirit continued to thrive, and Muslims and Hindus (Pandits) lived in amity in the Valley of Kashmir.
Dr. Fai is also the Secretary general, World Kashmir Awareness Forum.
He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435 or. [email protected]
www.kashmirawareness.org