Islam and Peace
Co-existence of Religions in India
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instance, a vegetarian Hindu and a non-vegetarian
Hindu adhere to different principles, but for
practical reasons, they live happily together without
ever coming into conflict with one another.
In recent years, India has seen various clashes and
confrontations in the name of religion, and the
country’s image has apparently been affected by
these incidents. But this has been due less to the
actual points at issue than to the media’s sensational
coverage of them.
For instance, in 1985, a case was filed in the Calcutta
High Court by a Hindu, asking that a ban be
imposed on the Qur’an. This incident was given
undue emphasis in media coverage, but its outcome
only served as a further proof that religious co-
existence is to be found in India in its ideal form, for
not only was his case dismissed by the court, but his
action was condemned by all national institutions
and by the whole of the Hindu community.
Another instance of the refusal of the Hindu
community to condone a show of disrespect for
Islam was in the now infamous case of the Babari
Masjid being razed to the ground. There had been
