Corona and Civilization Contrast

Even before the lockdown was declared RSS had decided to cancel its Hindu New Year celebrations, the first festival in its calendar. Swayamsevaks were asked to stop conducting shakhas in the open. The message from the Sarsanghchaalak was to obey all laws, support the government’s efforts to stop the spread of the Corona Virus. The only time when shakhas were officially stopped for 13 days was the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi as a mark of condolence. Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha's annual meeting was canceled for the first time since it began in 1951. The only time it was not held was during the Emergency period. Not only this, after the Lockdown was declared, but its most important training programs were also canceled for the year that involves over 100,000 swayamsevaks. The message from the Sarkaryavaah was to serve the society within the framework of law in every way possible.

The response of RSS swayamsevaks was spontaneous even before any official plans for serving the society and helping the people at the forefront. Within 2 days of the lockdown, many centers in various parts of the country had come up to serve the poor, the daily wage earners and helping medical services in setting up clinics and hospitals. Over a period of a week or so, a formal network took shape in different states and districts and organized efforts began to serve food to needy, rations to people who could cook, help organize crowds, help medical fraternity in any way, including distributing masks to medical and health workers. By ten days, about 1 million people had been served by over 100,000 swayamsevaks and other allied organizations. The sudden crises of migrant labor created by the unscrupulous axis of politicians and left media were controlled by RSS swayamsevaks serving the poor migrants on way in every possible way with food and medical support.

The response of orthodox Muslim leaders was totally different. It was so different that it left the average Muslim embarrassed and alarmed.

The hate-driven orthodox Mullah leadership, nurtured and instigated by faux secular politicians carried the spark that lit the fire in the major sections of Muslim society. This orthodox leadership remained in denial. They saw a conspiracy of the West and Indian society to isolate them, kill them, end their religion and decided that The Book would be their savior. Hate videos were circulated. The hate of anti-CAA was further fuelled with conspiracy theories against Hindus. Rumors that Muslims will be targeted and medicines will be used to kill them were spread.

While Hindus closed temples without any ill-will, did not celebrate important festivals, Mullahs went on to call the faithful to assemble for prayers in defiance of all orders. There were other orthodox Muslim leaders in India who had also spread the myth of invincibility of the faithful against the virus.

Till this time the Muslim community was silent, believing that Tablighi Jamaat was a purist, peaceful group preaching orthodox Islam of the 6^th Century. It was only after the other Muslim leaders realized that a large number of Muslims and the non-Muslims were horrified with the conduct of this play of orthodoxy putting entire nation to risk; did they tried to distance themselves. But they went on finding excuses with ‘whataboutery’ in public. Damage has been done. The entire Muslim society now has to suffer ignominy for the deeds of these obscurantist leaders and their followers.

Add to this, the conspiratorial silence about foreign Muslim missionaries coming for this congregation directly from deadly Malaysian Tabhligi congregation of 18000 people, their mixing up with local Indians across India. We, then, realize how India is on the verge of Stage 3 because of these hate-filled Islamists. I have called them ‘ISIS without guns’.

We also note that Islamic states responded with lockdowns their nations, closed down their places of worship and took steps to protect their citizens. But, Indian Mullahs, in tune with Pakistani Mullahs told the world that they were different, and would not follow even Saudi Arabia, the home of their Prophet, and custodian of Islam.

If Muslims talk about Universal Brotherhood, why did they behave in such a manner? Was it because the brotherhood is only for the people who follow their religion, as Dr. Ambedkar had stated? Not only their religion but their respective sects alone. Was it because Indian Muslims have not sought reforms? Should the Indian Muslims allow destructive leaders to lead them? Will it give up the dream of converting Dar-ul-Harb into Dar-ul-Islam and live peacefully with people of other faiths in the spirit of co-existence?

Will the new generation of Muslims, with a modern, and reformist Muslim leadership rise to challenge this ultra-orthodox leadership that had hijacked the Muslim community since Khilafat days with the help of the Secular Congress of that time? It is time that Muslims realize that they are also inheritors of a civilization that truly believes in happiness for all, irrespective of their faith and way of worship. It is a society that sought to live in harmony with nature, hence worshipped all forms of nature, believing it to be a source of life and happiness. They too belong to the tradition of Sant Gyaneshwar, who sought blessings of the Supreme Being for the welfare of the entire world. It is time the modern new-age Muslims take up the challenge of leadership, oust the Mullahs from society’s leadership and take control.