2nd October, Ahimsa Day: Where are we as human beings heading to?

Today Dr John Dayal,  a person whom I respect and adore for his convictions and commitments celebrates his birthday. I usually do not wish my FB friends as I will not be able to do it promptly without missing a few for lack of time. However, today I wanted to send a message to this friend and opened his FB page. What he has shared there makes me think, weep and share it with my FB friends to join me in reflecting here – where are we as humans heading to? This attrocity should not happen to anyone.

Today is Gandhiji’s birth anniversary.  He is called the Father if the Nation and India still remembers him with gratitude and pride for the many good things that he strived for and achieved.  He was a man who loved people beyond their faith.   Once after the Indian Independence, when the riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims with a rampant massacre, a Hindu ran to gandhiji and asked, “Tell me what I should do now? The Muslims have killed my son.” Gandhi’s reply was, “Go and find a Muslim child who is orphaned and bring him up as a good MUSLIM”.  He stood for Ahimsa – non-violence.  These were the values of our leaders and we wish that the same may be reflected in all those who govern us not just in India but everywhere around the world.

This is what Dr John Dayal asks:

Rights activist Dr John Dayal

So which of these is the subject of the police enquiry?

a. The species of the animal whose carcass or body parts were found in the village

2. The origin of the meat eaten in the Muslim family which was the target of the mob violence

3. Who killed the old man, and critically injured his son?

4. Who goaded the mob?

Wish someone in authority in Uttar Pradesh or New Delhi would tell us.

Some may, otherwise, believe that it is alright to kill human beings.

As I thank John Dayal for this sharp reflection, I would also like to ask you my friends the following question:

How do you as a Christian, Hindu, Muslim or a person from any other Faith or no Faith feel?

Who can answer this family and community?

I just cannot but share this experience with all of you. I was born and brought up in Bangalore city in India. My neighbourhood like many of yours was indeed a heaven on earth. We lived in a semi-detached house sharing it with a Hindu Brahmin Family for more than 12 years and then the owners occupied that house. They are Lingagayats. We lived like one family in Jeremiah Road. We had Hindus, Christians, Muslims, families beloging to different cultures, langauges, faiths and states within India and even 2 British families. I remember many a times, on Bakrid, when the Muslim families distributed meat to all the neighbouring homes, even these Hindu Brahmin/Lingagayts would receive it knowing fully well what it was. Muslim families gave it knowing fully well that these people will not consume that.

After a few minutes, our neighbours would bring that portion to our home and ask us to take it without offending the Muslim neighbours!

We shared such high values – not as Christians alone but Muslims and Hindus excelled. I am sure many of you may have these experiences. We need to share them to bring peace with justice. We need to pray for leaders around the world that they will nurture these values as human beings.

Even as we ponder over these issues, I would like to wish John Dayal a very Happy and Blessed Birthday. May God continue to Bless you to be a blessing to all people as you seek justice and peace for all crossing all barriers of langauage, culture, faith, region and religion. Have a Great Day!

Elizabeth Joy

2nd October 2015