Page 6 - Pakistan Link - March 22, 2024

P6 - PAKISTAN LINK - MARCH 22, 2024 OPINION

(Religious tensions run high as Indi-
ans go to polls from 19 April to 1 June What Modi Can Learn from Emperor Akbar — Part 1 dered his governors to spend their free
time reading Rumi, the great mystic
2024. Momentous issues such as the poet of love and another admirer of
Abolition of Article 370, the Implemen- Jesus. Akbar allowed churches to be
tation of the Citizenship Amendment that all three ruled the major present- built in Agra and Lahore and one of
Act, and the consecration of the Ram day nations of India, Pakistan, Ban- his wives was Mary. Jesuit priests were
Mandir in Ayodhya furnish proof of In- gladesh and Afghanistan — which to- encouraged to believe that conversion
dia being divided along religious lines. gether contain about a quarter of the by the royal family was imminent. In-
Yet, there was a time, as renowned world’s population. deed, it was said that Jehangir, Akbar’s
Islamic scholar Dr Akbar Ahmed re- After his epic victory at Kalinga, son and heir, was partial to Christianity
counts in his fascinating opinion piece when he saw the slaughter of a hun- but fearing a backlash did not declare
when India was known for its religious dred thousand men, Asoka renounced his affiliation.
plurality, when the Nauratan compris- violence and declared his affiliation We can assess Akbar’s attitude to
ing Hindus and Muslims, ruled the with the Buddhist faith. Through the religion by looking at what was con-
country. It was India’s golden period prominent stupas built throughout his sidered the most visible symbol of
when the country accounted for 25 per- vast empire, he meticulously required Akbar’s reign — the ‘nine jewels’ or
cent of the world’s GDP. – Editor) his officials to care for ordinary people the Nauratan which consisted of nine
with compassion, integrity and justice. members constituting the inner most
n By Dr Akbar Ahmed Kanishka, who ruled India in the sec- circle of his advisers, each one a gi-
American University ond century after Christ, was another Photo Hindu Perspective ant in his own right. Four of the most
Washington, DC mighty Emperor of India in the same important of the nine Nauratan were
category as Asoka and Akbar. Kan- Kanishka’s capital at Gandhara was a ning over the non-Muslim religions of Hindus. There was Raja Man Singh
bout five centuries ago, India ishka’s empire and dominions ranged dazzling city of students, scholars, dip- India that ensured the stability of his who was chief of staff of the Mughal
was the center of a thriving from north of the Amu Darya River in lomats, and priests. It linked central long reign and established his dynasty. army and held the highest rank of no-
A empire under the leadership Central Asia down south to Kundina Asia to South Asia. Nearby Peshawar, His constant acts of kindness to the bility matched only by the son of Ak-
of Akbar the Great: India produced and extended southeast to Pataliputra too, was a major city then and housed Hindus and Sikhs were legendary. His bar himself. Akbar was known to call
about a quarter of the in the Ganges plain and northeast into Kanishka’s great stupa which was con- subjects were quick to note that those him his own son. Raja Man Singh led
world’s GDP and the China to present day Xinjiang. Kash- sidered to be one of the wonders of the who battled him were quickly met by the Mughal armies against the Hindu
people flourished un- mir too was under his sphere of influ- ancient world. the force of the empire, but the clashes leader Maha Rana Pratap. Then there
der Akbar’s tolerant ence. In any discussion of these emperors, were not on the basis of religion. His was the musical genius Tansen, Min-
and inclusive lead- According to legend, he was a ruler we must not overlook their military most implacable foes — whether in the ister of Culture for the empire, who
ership. In contrast, with a cruel and harsh temperament might. Akbar’s army possessed some Muslim Shia kingdoms of the south or introduced various schools of music
today the combined but changed dramatically after his 30,000 armor-plated elephants which the Muslim Sunni tribes along what and was a legend in his lifetime. Raja
GDP of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh conversion to Buddhism. His conver- acted like modern tanks. His infantry came to be known as the tribal areas Todar Mal, the Finance Minister of the
and Afghanistan is about four per sion to Buddhism, it was said, was pre- and cavalry numbered in the hundreds of north India — were Muslim. Akbar empire, laid down the foundations of
cent (according to the IMF). In order dicted by the Buddha himself centuries of thousands. He was a successful mili- the successful military general sati- district administration, taxation and
for their country to prosper as it did ago. He drew upon Hinduism and tary commander and doubled the size ated with blood turned to the nonvio- land surveys and a table of weights and
in the past, the leaders of modern In- Buddhism to guide him. There is little of his empire, extending — after half lence preached by Jains. Akbar had a measures. In short, the very founda-
dia — as indeed those of other nations doubt that his gentle and compassion- a century of his rule — from Afghani- soft spot for Jainism which led him to tions of what would become the civil
— have much to learn from Akbar not ate rule earned him the admiration and stan in the north, to the Muslim king- banning the killing of animals during administration of India, later adapted
only in economics but in the field of love of his people. His devotion to the doms in south India, from Sindh in the Jain religious festivals and becoming by the British and still in use in South
inter-religious relations in a multi- Buddha was exemplary: the coins from west to Bengal in the east. Yet he was a vegetarian. Akbar was fascinated by Asia. And finally, there was Raja Birbal,
cultural society. Akbar is matched in his time have him on one side while capable of showing great humility and Jesus and revered him: he selected a the Foreign Minister and poet laureate
his yearning for a nonviolent world by the Buddha is featured on the other. It walked barefoot to pay homage to the profoundly spiritual quotation from who stayed loyally by Akbar’s side for
two other mighty emperors of India, was during the time of Kanishka that great Sufi saints. But, most crucially, Jesus to be emblazoned on the entrance 30 years. When he was killed in 1586
Asoka and Kanishka. Keep in mind Buddhism made inroads into China. it was his spectacular success in win- to his new city, Fatehpur Sikri. He or- (Continued on page 23)

n By Sunita Sohrabji about Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan, and
CA Millions of Muslims Could Face Expulsion Shias in many parts of Pakistan and

Rohingyas could also be persecut-
head of its elections which be- from India as New Law Is Implemented Bangladesh.
gin in April, India announced ed. There’s large number of Rohingyas
Athis week that it is imple- in Bangladesh, who come from Burma.
menting the Citizenship Amendment But the government has decided that
Act, which threatens to expunge mil- have dismissed the roll-out as a divi- those who are persecuted and also
lions of Muslims from the country. sive, political gimmick. Muslim will have no protection under
The CAA, along with the National this law.
Registry of Citizens act was signed into Detention Camps EMS: And the Indian government
law in 2019. The CAA allows undocu- In a March 14 interview with Ethnic plans to simultaneously implement the
mented minorities — who arrived in Media Services, Dr Sangay Mishra, as- NRC, which requires proof of Indian
India before 2015 and were persecuted sistant professor of political science at identity from all residents.
in their home countries of Afghani- Drew University in Madison, New Jer- Mishra: Yes. And if you’re not able
stan, Pakistan, or Bangladesh — to get sey, explained the CAA and the NRC to prove that, then you would be con-
a fast track to gaining citizenship in and their ramifications. Mishra is also sidered illegal or undocumented.
India. The law identifies Hindus, Sikhs, the author of the book: “Desis Divid- Many people can’t keep documents
Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians ed: The Political Lives of South Asian in India. People in rural areas, people
as eligible. But it specifically excludes Americans.” in flood-prone areas, they don’t have
Muslims, including Rohingyas, Ahma- “Muslims fear that they will be ren- ways to keep documentation. You have
dis, and Shias, who have faced perse- dered stateless as a result of the CAA a large number of people who have not
cuted in their home countries. Demonstrators in London, England Jan 25, 2020 protested India’s Citizenship and the NRC being implemented at gone to schools. So how would they
Amendment Act, which excludes Muslims - Steve Eason photo via Flickr/Cre- the same time,” said Mishra. He noted have documentation?
‘Divisive and Draconian’ ative Commons license that when the NRC was tested out in And so to expect that everyone
This is the first time in India’s his- the Indian state of Assam, more than would be able to provide documenta-
tory that religion will be used as a ba- and draconian.” this reporter in 2019: “Any legislation 1 million people could not prove their tion is completely unreasonable. It is
sis for determining citizenship. The “By approving this resolution, the in a liberal democracy should be neu- Indian identity. Thousands were placed not based in the the reality of how soci-
Hindu-centric BJP administration, led city council will go on record oppos- tral on issues of race and religion.” in detention camps. ety is structured.
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ing religious persecution and Islamo- Jairam Ramesh, leader of the oppo- EMS: Please explain the implications EMS: Will Muslim residents of India
promoted both the CAA and the NRC. phobia, the discrimination, scapegoat- sition Congress party, told reporters in of the CAA for Muslims. who cannot prove their Indian identity
The latter requires proof of Indian ing and oppression of Muslims, poor India March 13 that granting citizen- Mishra: This provision is an attempt be deported?
identity from every resident. people and marginalized communities ship on the basis of religion is illegal. to create a religion test for citizenship. Mishra: We have not seen deporta-
Many Indians within the country by the Hindu fundamentalist regime of He questioned why the Modi admin- So if you are from a certain religion, tion yet. It is tricky, because another
and throughout the global diaspora the Bharatiya Janata Party or the BJP istration had held onto the law for so you’ll be allowed to seek asylum in In- country has to accept the deportee. But
have protested the CAA and NRC. The and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” long, before deciding to implement it dia and get legal status. But if you are detention camps are there.
Seattle, Washington City Council — said Sawant at the time. just before elections. Muslim, you will not be allowed to do The more dangerous part is that
led by council member Kshama Sawant The governments of Tamil Nadu that. It’s a very deliberate attempt to you are rendered without any rights
— unanimously passed a resolution in Opposition Party Objects and West Bengal say they will not mark out Muslims. because rights are linked to citizenship.
2020 denouncing the CAA as “divisive Rep Ro Khanna, D-California, told implement the CAA or the NRC, and Muslims are also persecuted. Think (Continued on page 23)
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