fundamentalist forces are trying to poison our minds. The outcome is
one of the worst communal carnages we have witnessed. We can only
hang our heads in shame in response to what has been happening in
Gujarat. We cannot recall any other occasion in our recent memory
when a society has mortgaged its collective wisdom to a hate based
violent ideology.
Some people forcibly want to construct a temple in Ayodhya. A temple
is meant for worshipping. Normally construction of a temple and
worshipping are considered very pious activities. Whether a temple
will get constructed in Ayodhya on the disputed land or not the
movement has plunged us into a communal fire. The manner in which
communal violence was executed in Gujarat it has also raised doubts
as to whether the entire temple movement was meant for this purpose.
Can it be called a religious movement at all? When an action of ours
becomes a cause of fear, terror and violence for others it cannot be
called a humane action.
The common God-believing people, be they of any
religion, want to live with peace and harmony. Nobody would like to
offend another person in the process of worshipping their God. The
Ayodhya temple movement is causing harm to the social fabric of this
country and is distorting the culture of co-existence of Indian
society. If innocent people are being killed due to the temple
movement then it is not at all a religious programme. It is naked
politics for power. The common people of this country do not approve
of this abuse of religion for political purpose. We are opposed to
all kinds of fundamentalist thinking be it related to any religion.
With a view to take the debate of what is religion
and what is not religion to the common people we are planning about a
month long padyatra. We believe that we can be misled for a short
while but ultimately we reject violence and aggressive behaviour. We
are peace loving people and normally practice the larger tolerance
value of religion.
Most of the people in their daily life believe in a
human centered religion. Irrespective of their beliefs we try to find
our God in fellow human beings. We experience true happiness only in
the service of fellow human beings. The one who gets trapped in
parochial thinking can never be happy. The categorization of human
beings on the lines of nations, religions, castes or gender will
always result in violence and agony because these are man made
categories, not natural.
The traditional religions which have a narrow
perspective have failed to give proper respect to women. They have
ignored the existence of women. How can we even conceive of a happy
and prosperous society while insulting half the population on earth.
What to talk of equality the traditional religions have exploited the
women. Even during the time of communal violence women are made the
soft targets. There is no place for such religions in a civilized
society.
We may say that we are governed by God but we never
give up in our efforts. Normally we reap as we harvest. And we act
according to our understanding. We always try to improve our
understanding based on our experiences. In fact, the only difference,
if at all any that exists, among human beings is their understanding.
Hence we are the observer, doer and it is we who experience.
On the way of padyatra a Manav-Dharma Sammelan will
be organized on 8th and 9th June in Raja Talab, 15 km before reaching
Varanasi. Well known social activists, who are actually serving the
vast humanity and religious leaders who can interpret religion
keeping in view the interest of all human beings living on earth will
be invited. We will have to reject the attempts by some organizations
to hijack religion and give it a fundamentalist tinge otherwise our
society is headed towards disintegration.
Contact: AALI office, 407 Dr. Baijnath Road, near Post Office, New
Hyderabad Colony, Lucknow, Phone: 782060, 782066, 347365, 342435,
Mobile: 9839018491, 9839073355, e-mail:
ashain@sancharnet.in, aali@sancharnet.in MARCH FOR PEACE & HARMONY
27 MAY TO 21 JUNE, 2002, CHITRAKOOT TO AYODHYA
Date Place Contact Person
May 27 Chitrakoot Madhvi Kukreja,
Vanangana, Dwarikapuri Colony, Karwi, Chitrakoot,
Ph: (05198) 36985, 35036
June 1 Shankargarh Rampal Verma, Sankalp,
Khan Mazdoor Union, Shankargarh
June 3 Allahabad Ram Dheeraj, Azadi
Bachao Andolan, Gandhi Bhawan, Chaitham
Lines, Allahabad, Ph: (0532) 641872, 466838
June 6 Gopiganj Pranavanand Muni
(Dr. S.C. Verma), Deen Dukhi Sewa Ashram,
Sadar Mohalla, Gopiganj,
Ph: (05414) 30256
June 8,9 Raja Talab Nandlal Master, Lok Samiti,
Mehdiganj, Raja Talab, Varanasi,
Ph: (0542) 632433
June 10 Varanasi Ajit Singh, Guria,
S-8/395 Khajuri Colony, Varanasi,
Ph: (0542) 342253;
Ram Chandra Rahi, Sarva Sewa Sangha, Rajghat, Varansai,
Ph: (0542) 430957
June 13 Jaunpur Daulat Ram,
Bhartiya Jan Sewa Sanstha, Badlapur, Jaunpur,
Ph: (05453) 48580
June 18 Akbarpur R.B. Pal, Jan
Shikshan Kendra, Village Kutiyawan, Post Bewana,
Ambedkarnagar, Ph: (05271) 55031, 55037
June 19 Gosaiganj Bharat Bhushan, PANI,
Village Dhirendrapuri, Post Chachikpur,
Ambedkarnagar, Ph: (05271) 57340, 57240, (05278) 25175
June 21 Ayodhya Uttam Sharma, Vishwa
Ekta Parishad-c/o Gopal Mandir, Ramghat,
Ayodhya, Ph: (05278) 27847, (05248) 23817
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