LETTER TO A FRIEND BORN IN AN ISLAMIC RELIGION

                                                     FROM

ONE WHO IS BORN TO PARENTS OF HINDU[Sanaathana] DHARMA

I am encouraged to write this letter to you because I have developed an impression by going through some of your writings in Sulekha that you are an open minded, liberal and democratic person ready for a healthy exchange of thoughts.

If you have no personal difficulties which you may or may not spell out, will you be pleased to express your stand in the following: [It goes without saying that I have no authority except that of curiosity for asking you these. If you give your response I will be very happy that you gave me an opportunity to understand you. If you opt not to comment I will be a bit disappointed that I was unable to get your views on these. I will conclude that you will have your own reasons for doing so.

The present day popular religions like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam…have their origin in historic periods when the socio-cultural-economic situations were very much different from that obtainable now.

Do you think that all the ideas, customs, the rituals, dress formalities and styles accepted as norms at the inception periods of these religions have total relevance now also? [ I remember you justifying the dress style-covering the entire person- of women in some Islamic sections and/or regions- giving it a security angle. If security is not involved, would you still insist that this dress code is to be insisted? If so, why?

Why not we see it as a matter of individual freedom? Why should there be some kind of imposition from religious authorities.

All organized societies had such codes of dress and attire. e.g.: Widows including very young ones were expected to shave their head-hair. This was the practice among Hindu South Indian Brahmins till recently but not very much in vogue at present.

Hindus especially Brahmins had to follow a strict time table for the compulsory rituals of the day. It must have been okay if the life routine was that of an agriculturist background. When the life style became what it is at present, most of the members of the community automatically got out of that routine for good or bad. Anyway there were no hub-bubs from the more religiously inclined section of the community or from the priests.

The daily religious practices of Islam got fixed centuries ago in a different type of social set-up. For an individual living in the present day society, many of those age-old practices may seem not only inconvenient but irrelevant as well. Is the individual free without causing some kind of repercussions to have his choice?

If the answer is “No!” is it possible to get a logical or reasonable answer for insisting in the continuance of it without any change? Is it that our ancestors set something with some external frame to invoke the mind and heart of the follower? [We all know that a religious man insistent on the details of these need not be essentially a good/bad man simply because of that.]

A number of questions like these are there arising mainly because of the change in the way of our life. Hindu and Christian believers, as far as I know [I do admit that “far” is not much away] do the adjustments required in a personal or family level without causing much of a negative attention.

The situation seems different in the Islam. Is my impression correct? If so, why is it so?

Note: Personally my interest in Islam’s people dates back to childhood when my hero was the conductor Moidu of the service bus starting from our small village to the nearby town Trissur.I was impressed especially by his ability to start or stop the bus by simply blowing his small whistle! Out of my adoration towards him I used to sneak away laddu, jilebi etc from my mothers store and give it to my dear Moidukka [Elder brother Moidu—That was how we boys used to address him]. He was a very loving and interesting person who made us laugh our intestines out by his jokes and comic actions..

The leader of the students of our school was Mohammed, the eldest son of an Arica nut market manager and a staunch Congress man in the 1940s. Even my Father who was then the Headmaster of the Government High School there and who temporarily expelled Ahammed from the School for anti British activities, had only immense affection towards his friend’s son and student’s congress leader. My father and Mohammed’s father were of the opinion that students were not to meddle with party politics. They can, if they want when they grow up and finish their studies. My father used to say “Students are rice seeds never to be used for immediate food as rice”.

About 40% of my regular students when I was a teacher in North Kerala, were from Muslim families and 75% of my tuition students were also of this origin. As a sweeping general statement I may add that these students showed more basic respect for teachers and elders and were better disciplined. For the Islamic festivals I was affectionately compelled to enjoy the feasts arranged at their homes. Of course they did prepare special vegetarian dishes for me.

I have tried to discuss with them how essential it was to update some customs and rituals. They mostly would agree but expressed their inability to put into practice these risky ideas..

I tried to impress on them with out much success how the Malayali-Brahmin youths of the 1930s tried to fight against out dated and oppressive customs prevalent in their communities by getting organized under Yogakshema Sabha. They appreciated these ideas but were very much apprehensive of taking any initiative.

I request all who are concerned about the questions raised here to join the discussion with an open liberal mind and give expression to their opinions with no malice or ill-will.