IBONIO D’SOUZA
The Gandhian approach to religion and communal harmony is inclusive and comprehensive. This approach gives space to everyone. It cares for everyone and no one is considered superior or inferior. It sees everything in its totality. It looks at the root cause of a problem and gives a non-violent solution to it. Its basis is that the individual, society and nature are related to each other and can’t be separated from one another.
Gandhiji is recognised as a world citizen. His concept of communal harmony is not confined to India alone. It is an integral part of harmony of all creation.
Gandhiji wanted Hindus and Muslims to co-exist in harmony. In all his movements and programmes he gave a prominent place to communal harmony. Gandhiji laid great stress on sincerity and advised Hindus and Muslims to be concerned with the voice of their inner self and develop strength from within. Both must be strong and at the same time humble. Gandhiji advised the people of different communities to examine their own shortcomings to avoid communal strife and live together united like sisters and
brothers.
He studied the major religions of the world and came to the following conclusions:
All religions are divinely inspired.
All religions are true but not infallible.
All religions have a common purpose. One who understands his own religion will also understand other religions.
All religions teach love, non-violence, righteousness and service to humanity.
All religions teach us to see God in all creations.
No religion can claim to be superior to other religions.
Gandhiji believed that every person is at liberty to follow his religion. To him religion is simply an ethical framework for the conduct of daily life.
Tolerance, mutual trust and dialogue are fundamental to communal harmony. The spirit of harmony can come only from within each section of the society.
Gandhiji had a strong faith in the underlying unity of Indian culture. He believed in its assimilative character. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and Jews should be Indian first and Indian last. Religion is a personal affair of each individual. It must not be mixed up with politics or national affairs.
Gandhiji dedicated his whole life to five causes viz. Hindu-Muslim unity, justice, peace, non-violence and harmony. May he serve as our guide in all our actions, individual and national!
Pandit Nehru too held a similar view on communal harmony, when he wrote: "From the distant past all communities in India have lived in harmony with each other. That has been the best of India’s culture. Long ago, the Buddha taught us this lesson. From the days of Ashoka, 2,300 years ago, this aspect of our thought has been declared and practiced. In our day, Mahatma Gandhi laid stress on it and, indeed, lost his life because he laid great stress on communal good and harmony. We have, therefore, a precious heritage to keep up and we cannot allow ourselves to act contrary to it."