Religious Conflict in the History: The Key Causes of Conflicts

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Religion is one thing that many people hold close to their heart. Almost all of us belong to one religion or the other. Many religions across the world advocate for peace. Wherever people of a certain community are going through a conflict, religious people are always the first in trying to broker peace and return calm to that particular group of people. However, this has not always been the case as some religions have been in conflict at one time or the other. Many of us then wonder why people who are involved in peace brokering suddenly turn against each other. A good example is the conflict between Muslims and Hindus that finally led to the partitioning of India and Pakistan. This paper identifies and analyses the key causes of the conflict. (Sidhwa)

Main body

Looking at the history of the two countries, one does not fail to see that both countries foundation was based on religion. While India was found as a secular state, Pakistan on the other hand was a Muslim nation. This caused differences between the two countries with each side holding on to their ideologies. These differences continued even after the British had left and independence attained. Problems between the two religions began back in the 18^th century. The British for ease of administration had divided the land in to sections. By the turn of the 19^th century, the British partitioned Bengal in order to ease administration. The most interesting thing was that this particular state had a large number of Muslims. This action was closely followed by the formation of a Muslim League that was meant to promote the interest of Muslims in India. When the partition of Bengal was revoked in 1909, an anti-British and anti-Hindu attitude was born since the Muslims had now lost their popularity in East Bengal. (Singh)

As the British oppression against India continued, there were calls from many people for the liberation of the country. In 1930, a poet by the name of Dr. Allama Iqbal who was also a politician called for the creation of a separate home for Muslims. This was finally attained in 1947 and Pakistan officially became a Muslim state. Many things occasioned the birth of this Muslim state. While the Indian National Congress was insisting that Britain should leave India, the Muslim League maintained that the British should first divide the country then leave. The British followed this with a policy to divide and rule. This was practised during census time where people were categorised on their religious affiliation. Their knowledge of the people was based on religious grouping other than on the coexistence that had existed among the people. In doing this, the British wanted to attain the favour of the Muslims since they were still a threat to them. This was because the Muslims had ruled the subcontinent for close to 300 years. (Sidhwa)

Another factor that led to the partitioning of the countries was the strong ideological divide that existed between Muslims and Hindus in India. While all the people were nationals, there were communal conflicts based on religion than on regions. Many Muslims felt that the nature of Islam demanded that there be a communal society for Muslims. This was also because of the bitter memories of having lost power among the Muslims. This bitterness caused the Muslims to refuse any association with the British. Because of this, the Hindus got better positions in the British government. This in itself made the Muslims bitterer and led to their increased quest for their own state. (Rushdie)

On their part, the Hindus were not happy with the Muslims as well. Hindus resentment toward the Muslims came from the latters rule over India. Many Hindus rallied for a stop on the sale of cows meat that was a source of inexpensive meat among the Muslims. The Hindus also wanted to change the countrys official script from Persian that was favoured by the Muslims to their Devanagri script. This led to more tension between the two. (Kesavan)

The congress on its part committed some several mistakes in their policymaking that convinced the Muslims that if the colonists left without dividing the land, then their interests would be suppresses by the Hindus. A good example of such policy was the national anthem that contained bad sentiments against the Muslim faith. What made it bitterer is that Muslim children were forced to sing it in school. The congress also indirectly strengthened the Muslims by banning support for the British during the II world war. The Muslims took advantage of this by supporting the British thus winning their favour. (Ghosh)

Finally in August 1947, India and Pakistan were separated. If we pause and look back, one does not fail to notice the devastation that was left behind by the mayhem. The process of dividing the country led to the loss of many lives. Many women were raped before they were brutally killed. The most affected were women who were used as tools of power by the Hindus and Muslims alike. These people would cut womens breasts and take them to the newborn countries in trains from all the borders. An outpouring of refugees followed this acts across all the borders. Whether the people were Muslim or Hindus was not important. The most important thing at that moment was for one to flee in order to save their lives. The riots experienced back then remain one of the worst to happen in the world in the recent past. Many Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs lost their lives. (Desai)

Though many years have elapsed since the countries were divided, both countries are yet to heal from the wounds they received. Many years down the line, many people are yet to find their identity since they cannot trace their roots. After the division, each country ended up with a crumpled economy and without a proper government. Many of their great leaders like Gandhi were also lost in the struggle. The countries have also fought twice after the partitioning and deep down the animosity between them persists. (Bhalla)

Conclusion

Looking back, one is amazed that such kind of bloodshed was occasioned by religious conflict. While it was bad for this to happen, it should be a wake up call to all religions and nations to avoid a repeat of the same mistake. One would be lying to insinuate that either of the involved religions was bad. What happened between the Hindus and Muslims can happen to any other religion that does not learn to co-exist with others. We should all remember that all strife starts with hatred. Unless religions want to create a situation like the one that happened between the Muslims and Hindus, all religions should stick to their mandate of bringing people together and preaching peace at all times.

Works Cited

Bhalla, Alok, ed. Stories About the Partition of India. Vol.3. New Delhi: Harper Collins, 1994. Print

Desai, Anita. Clear Light of Day. New York: Penguin, 1980. Print

Ghosh, Amitav. The Shadow Lines. New York: Oxford UP, 1995. Print

Kesavan, Mukul. Looking Through Glass. New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1995. Print

Rushdie, Salman. Midnights Children. New York: Penguin, 1991. Print

Sidhwa, Bapsi. Cracking India. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1991. Print

Singh, Khushwant. Train to Pakistan. New York: Grove Press, 1956. Print

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Religious Conflict in the History: The Key Causes of Conflicts

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