An article by Lewis M Simons, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, in a recent issue of Newsweek magazine on the ascendancy of Islamic fundamentalism is extremely alarming, to say the least.
Simons, who has co-authored a book-“ The Next Front: South-East Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam” elaborates his observations made during his recent travel to the South East Asian region. He has observed that 40 years ago, the Muslims of SE Asia were renowned for their moderation. Today, there is a subtle shift towards radicalism. Fundamentalists, slowly but surely, are getting to impose a greater role for Sharia, or religious law, not just in family life but in the affairs of the nation.
Simons goes on to point out that he found the drift throughout the region’s five major Islamic cultures; Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, southern Thailand and Singapore .
With Pakistan, to our west in a state of deep turmoil, and these conditions to our east, India is under a real threat of being caught in pincer by radical Islamism. How are we as a nation preparing ourselves to meet this clear and imminent danger. While the government of the day may evolve policies, it is our duty as citizens of the country to observe certain basic tenets to ensure that nationalism is not subverted by any form of fundamentalism.
Let us all safeguard indiscrimination by implementing it in our respective spheres of influence. Let us not fall prey to the parochialism being propagated by political bigots.
We have to ensure that the voice of moderation is not allowed to be suppressed and the fundamentalist voice is not given the amplification it seeks.
Let us all vow to keep our religious beliefs confined to our personal realms. And this would hold true for members of all religious denominations. Let us acknowledge and practice the primacy of nationalism in letter and spirit.
Let us also see through the diabolocal shenanigans of the political parties which encourage casteism by way pseudo-secularism and expose them for what they are.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
