I remember some conversations that I had with some acquaintances whom I knew about 20 years or so ago. The gist of the conversations was that India needs an authoritarian approach in order to deal with the many challenges that it is facing. The Muslim culture – specifically Sharia – was praised. The question was raised as to why India should not adopt a Hindu version of Sharia in order to force its undisciplined citizens to behave in constructive ways.
This blog is my response or answer to that question.
The first point I would make is that the Sharia is derived from the customs and traditions of the Arabs. And theirs is an ancient culture that has evolved over time. Over the centuries in fact. In addition, Prophet Muhammad was a genuine mystic and his teachings could be regarded as the word of God. The same cannot be said for members of my community.
Next – if people in the Hindu community want a Hindu Sharia then they have the right to ask for it from their elected representatives. They also have the right to form a political party espousing their views and get elected to Parliament. Once they are elected they can pass whichever laws that they think fit. But they do not have the right to break the existing laws as they stand because they do not agree with them.
This is a very important point because if the Hindu version of Sharia gets legal sanction then it will be the job of the police to enforce it. As things stand the people who want a Hindu Sharia have to administer what they think is right themselves. And they do not have the training to do this job. The police – in all countries – are trained and there are checks and balances on them if they misuse their power. So the potential for mischief is curtailed.
Also, according to Tibetan Buddhism, all of us have got a human birth after – for all practical purposes – an eternity. And the best way to use this opportunity is to seek the Divine. If instead of doing something constructive people choose to make a nuisance of themselves because they want a Hindu Sharia then I can only say that it is a very foolish use of their time as an educated human being.
For more on the subject of rebirth please refer the book below. It is a modern spiritual classic and will instruct and inspire as well as entertain.
Lastly the survival of the human race depends on modern science and scientific inventions. Else it is only a matter of time before the natural resources of our planet are exhausted and humanity will face extinction. And the scientific temper is not one that flourishes in authoritarian societies. Science demands freedom of thought and opinion.
And not just survival but also – in the interim – economic growth of the country depends on scientific inventions. The reason why the USA has a preeminent position in the world is due to its military and economy. And both depend on scientific inventions.
It is no accident that the Islamic countries that practice Sharia are not good in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. If ever you wanted a reason to have a country with liberal and free laws this is the clincher.
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