Events & Issues

New Delhi, 22 October 2012

Bakrid Festival

LET’S NOT PLAY SPOILSPORT

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

Come Eid Ul Azha or Bakrid, Hindu-Muslim communal tension starts building up in the country. The prime reason is that the Muslims belief and tradition in sacrificing animals during this festival evokes strong opposition from some Hindu groups. This not only leads to tension between the two communities but dampens the spirit of festivity.

The practice of animal sacrifice is a pre-Islamic tradition. Most religions in the world have it too, including Hinduism. In rural areas, Hindus freely sacrifice goats for the welfare of their child after birth, two for a boy and one for girl. In fact, many Hindus go to tombs of Muslim saints and perform this sacrifice. The practice is incorporated into the Islamic belief system due to the virtue of making sacrifices. Importantly, the practice of animal sacrifice marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage of the Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia.

As an act of religious piety, every devout Muslim, who can also afford it, is supposed to make animal sacrifice, though only domesticated grass-eating animals are prescribed for the same. These could include goat, lamb, water buffalo etc. While half the meat is distributed to the poor, one quarter is given to relatives and the remaining quarter for self.  

The tradition is going on since centuries in India and there was little fuss over it till recently. It is not passing off smoothly everywhere. Sadly, the delicate interfaith relationship is being tampered by some misguided youth who have taken upon themselves the mantle to oppose this Muslim tradition.

According to reports emanating from Hyderabad, an organization called the Hindu Vahini has sprung up spewing venom against the Muslim’s practice of animal sacrifice. In the name of animal protection, the cadres of this organisation are not only attacking the traders who are brining animals from the rural areas to the cities, but are also confiscating their cattle. It is reported that these self-proclaimed guardian of Hindu faith are also reselling such animals and operating as thugs under the garb of Hinduism.

Following the Vahini’s activities, traders of animals, many of whom are non-Muslims, have been compelled to seek police protection. In Hyderabad they have petitioned to control the activities of Hindu Vahini cadres, else there could be a communal flare up in entire State and that if the situation was allowed to continue then it would be difficult for them to continue this trade.

Additionally, certain Hindu Vahini leaders, which include few corporators, have been reported to be indulging in hate speech regarding the Bakrid festival and in their penchant for making anti-Islamic statements have shockingly openly called out for enrolment of a Hindu Army! Unfortunately, the local police have failed to act against such blatant communal propaganda forcing some Muslims to question why permission to such Hindu zealots is given to organize public meetings. It is well-known that hate speeches have led to communal clashes as witnessed last year in Hyderabad during Bakrid. Why is a similar atmosphere being allowed to be created, is the big question.  

Remember this is not an isolated case of Hyderabad alone. Last year, a note was struck on the walls of the Jama Masjid in Delhi narrating the plight of animal traders, who facing hardship had to bring the animals to the national capital. They blamed the same anti-social elements bjecting to their trade, the police harassing them and the huge expenses involved in transporting these animals, thereby leading to the exorbitant prices of the sacrificing animals.

There are few nuggets of this story that need to be analysed. One is the argument of the animal lovers, who decry cruelty against animals and demand their protection. They are driven by compassion and equate animals with human beings. Well, if they are allowed to have their way, all the carnivores’ animals would go hungry and biodiversity may turn topsy-turvy. It is difficult to convince such folks as all arguments will go on till the cows come home!   

However, the most important feature of this debate is the growing radicalization among many Hindu youth, who are taking up such issues to seek an identity.  With their own interpretation of Hinduism and mixing it with nationalism, they are making an explosive cocktail, swelling the ranks of Hindu Vahini.  

There is no denying the fact that everyone in India has the freedom to practice one’s religion and no one has to right to dictate how others should pray. Muslims are highly conscious about Hindu’s sensitivities towards the ‘Cow’ and avoid its sacrifice as a mark of respect. However, with Vahini objecting to the sacrifice of other animals it’s time to blow the whistle. This madness has to be dealt with firmness by the authorities else it will rip apart the communal mosaic of the country.

In the countryside many farmers, mostly non-Muslims, take to the rearing of animals for the purpose of selling them during the Bakrid festival. Similarly, many traders, mostly non- Muslims, take up this job and trade in animals during the festivities. The activities of some Hindu youth are hurting their right to livelihood. The question to be asked is: Are we going to mortgage this country to such anti-social elements, and allow them to have a free run?

The most conspicuous thing about it all is the so-called mainstream media, which on the one hand goes gung-ho about the radicalization of Muslim youth and on the other chooses to maintain a conspiracy of silence about right wing Hindu organization such as Hindu Vahini. An appropriate punch line here could be: “Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter".

Let us not forget an old warning of Jawaharlal Nehru: “Communalism is the single most subversive ideology in contemporary India. While all communalism is bad, minority communalism is at least born out of fear but majority communalism is nothing but sheer fascism”. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)