[I tried writing on this subject, many may agree to disagree_ Happy reading] Arunachal shows the way for Religious Tolerance The aboriginal tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, for long, have been under the assumption of being miffed by religion that seeps in to the state from mainstream India. To such vague statement made by many, Arunachal Pradesh is one such state that deems fit to be one of the best examples for ‘religious tolerance’. As one walk out of their house during pujas one is sure to find brightly lit puja pandals at every possible junctions starting from Capital Complex all the way to Nirjuli and beyond. The onlookers are certain to witness various religious structures in and around the corner even after the temporary festive structures are lifted. Thus, in its truest sense, it challenges the nation that claims promoting religious tolerance in the constitution but seems limited to its constitutional pages. The secularist view enshrined in the constitution of India is also visible in the land of rising sun perhaps in a better way! Often Arunachalees are taken by stereotypical notion of being savagery by nature, rooted to its primitive way of life. The fact of the matter is also that these very tribal have learnt the art of respecting other’s value absorbing from their very culture. This October, even the often less crowded road at the Capital Complex got unusually busy. People decked up well wearing red light devils horn to get the puja feeling. The crowd comprised of believers as well as the locals. On being asked what the red devil’s horn symbolise, the seller said, “Maa Durga hamare andar ke shaitaan ko nikaal bahar karti hai”. This may be an inclination towards the divinity or ‘commodification’ of puja per say. Whatever be, the common sight was that of the people gripped by puja fever at large scale. Business communities to even employment dockyards got much respite from the big-hearted denizens of the land with late night loud music permitted even by the administration. For that matter even esteemed educational institutes celebrates festival of all kind with great fervour, goes to show secularism do persist in reality. Close to twenty five puja pandals and more were found just at a stretch from Itanagar to Nirjuli. This most likely could be metaphorical for infiltration of outsiders or may be just a committee formation to business while celebrating festivity. Eid-Ul-Zuha and Laxmi puja celebration just to name a few or be it honouring Srimanta Sankardeva or any prominent figures of the region experiences the same zeal with believers performing their rituals here in the state uninterrupted. Nothing like this in terms of tolerance and regard can be seen in other states. The state has given the outsiders who to a large extent have also been part of the state making, the liberty to practice their religious affairs without any ado. This reflects an extension of what intellectuals have decided while drafting the soul of the nation, the Constitution of India. His Holiness Dalai Lama, while attending the international conference on anti-terrorism at New Delhi, once said that India’s long tradition of religions tolerance is a role model for rest of the world. Being role model would weigh much if the so called country aspires to fasten to it. The abandonment of secularism would only lead to commotions detaching people from one another. For a healthy tolerant society, nation definitely needs to take cue from the people of Arunachal, where every religion has their space, place and pace. People irrespective of their cultural affiliations are seen as partial part in all religious celebrations here in the state. The people of the land for ages have made efforts to balance between its traditional roots and their assimilation with other culture. With modernity and post modernism people are going back to finding their original origin while acknowledging changes. It is not just the festivals that offer the level of tolerance and respect people of the state have for others, but also some communities share common beliefs with their neighbours not akin to cultural shocks. Even though the nation is lauded for its secular values, however with many religious crises in the past, the nation has lost its stand on it. As such people need to broaden their horizon and pave ways for greater tolerance. Another thing that is worth appreciating about the people of this land-locked state is that religion and political domain has barely gone parallel. Unlike the West that earlier has religious authority ran the State, East were humble enough to demarcate priests from politics. As such the school of politics function independently, away from religion here in the state adding to the tolerance level of the people belonging to this land. Religious tolerance is of much relevance in a pluralistic society for people to thrive in a single society, and Arunachal Pradesh just betters it! Karyir Riba, Anjali, Padi Aji, Kara Renso III, Nangnang OnAm, Sanjay Mosing, Vasuki Belavadi, Gautami Challagulla,
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:34:09 +0000
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