IN THE NAME OF GOD

Two films on the contemporary religious divide were screened at the International Film Festival of India, being held in Goa. The Urdu film, “Khuda kay liye” (in the name of God) tackles the contemporary subject of the inhuman acts done in the name of God. It is a story of the predicament of a modern liberal Pakistani family which bears the brunt of the communal dimensions of two different religions.

The movie is about two musician brothers – one of who gets sucked into the regressive world of religious extremism; while the other is brutalised by the racial profiling in the USA. It also handles other issues like the theological issues, suppression of women and the cultural contextualization of Islam. The last scene has a liberal and a radical competing for the Azaan. The contest for who speaks for Islam has begun!

The second film “Dharma” captures the use of religion to propagate hatred first within the Hindu community against the Dalits and eventually to unleash violence against the other religion. It is about a Pundit - a revered authority on the scriptures - who unwittingly adopts a Muslim baby, thinking him to be a Brahmin. When confronted with reality, he undergoes severe penance. But, he is liberated of his pain only when he finds that love for humanity is the real Dharma! And thus is born his courage to halt the violent rioters!

But the main learning is about the way, various groups are propagating different versions of their religions and the politics of hate. We grow up to learn that the underlying principle of all religions is love for humanity. However, the fact remains that the overriding dimension of religion ranges from suspicion for the other faiths to a violent war with them. In the name of God, the most heinous of crimes are being wrought and justified. Religions speaking about brotherhood and love for mankind are at war with each other.

It is not enough for a faith to be tolerant towards the other. We need to sift the grain (perception) from the chaff (prejudice) first in our own minds. The various dimensions of the philosophy of religions which clash with its practice need to be understood. The vengeful mask of religious identity cannot be allowed to mask our sense of perspective. In the name of mankind, we need to unlearn our prejudices and “develop new dimensions” of empathy, peace and social justice.

In the name of God, hate propels inflammatory actions,
In the name of mankind, let’s ‘develop new dimensions’!

--- Pravin