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Bimonthly Vol. 2 | No. 5 | September 2021 A Quest for Peace and Re c on c i l i ati on
A Quest for Peace and Reconciliation
For E-Reading (Free Access)
www.paxlumina.com
Vol. 2 | No. 5 | September 2021
A Q u e st for Pe ac e an d Re c on c i l i ati on
Advisory Board
• Dr. Jerome Stanislaus D'Souza
(President, Jesuit Conference of South Asia)
• Dr. E.P. Mathew
(Kerala Jesuit Provincial)
• Dr. Ted Peters
(CTNS, Berkeley, USA)
• Dr. Carlos E. Vasco Photo courtesy: sara official artgallery/Instagram
(Former Professor, National University of Colombia)
• Dr. Thomas Cattoi (JST-SCU, California)
• Dr. Kifle Wansamo Editor
(Hekima Institute of Peace Studies, Nairobi)
• Justice Kurian Joseph
• Dr. Jacob Thomas IAS (Retd.)
(Former Judge, Supreme Court of India) Managing Editor
• Dr. George Pattery
(Former Professor, • Dr. Binoy Pichalakkattu
Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal)
Associate Editor
• Dr. K. Babu Joseph
(Former Vice Chancellor, CUSAT, Kochi) • Dr. K.M. Mathew
• Dr. Ms. Sonajharia Minz
Contributing Editors
(Vice Chancellor, Sido Kanhu Murmu
University, Jharkhand)
• Dr. Augustine Pamplany
• Dr. Jancy James (Former Vice Chancellor, • Dr. Francis Gonsalves
Central University of Kerala)
• Dr. C. Radhakrishnan (Litteraeur, Kochi)
• Dr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu
• Sunny Jacob
• Dr. Denzil Fernandes
• Roy Thottam
(Director, Indian Social Institute, Delhi)
• Dr. K.K. Jose • Dr. Neena Joseph
(Former Principal, St. Thomas College, Pala) • Devassy Paul
• Dr. M. Arif (Adjunct Professor, • Sheise Thomas
Premraj Sarda College, Ahamednagar)
• Dr. M.P. Mathai Design
(Adjunct Professor, Gujarat Vidyapith) • Predish Sama
• Dr. Paramjyot Singh (Centre for
Peace and Justice, XLRI Jamshedpur)
• Dr. Siji Chacko (Director, Conference
Development Office, JCSA)
Pax Lumina
• Dr. S. Mohammed Irshad An Initiative of Peace and
(TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai)
• Joye James (Former Professor,
Reconciliation Network
Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum) Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA)
• Dr. Neil Tannen (Asst. Professor, Vision
St Joseph’s College Autonomous, Bangalore)
Promotion of Peace and Reconciliation
• Dr. Walter Fernandes
(Professor, NESRC, Guwahati) The Nodal Platform for Peace and
• Dr. (Sr.) Beena Jose Reconciliation Network of JCSA aims at
(Principal, Vimala College, Thrissur) fostering peace with a multi-pronged approach.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
LOYOLA INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND Peace and Reconciliation
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (LIPI) Network
Ponoth Road, Kaloor, Jesuit Conference of South Asia
Kochi- 682 017, Kerala, India 225, Jor Bagh, New Delhi-110 003, India
03
Contents
Vol. 2 | No. 5 | September 2021
Cover: Religion & Peace A Q u e st for Pe ac e an d Re c on c i l i ati on
17
12
Editorial
06 | Religion and Peace
Jacob Thomas
Afghanistan
08 | What is Happening in
Afghanistan?
K.P. Fabian
12 | Radical Socialist Statement
22
on Afghanistan
Secularist Perspective Group, Pune
17 | The Inimitable Afghan
25
Peace Warriors
George Pattery
22 | India: Striving for Peace
and Amity
Ram Puniyani
interview
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
25 | “Women are
the Worst Sufferers”
Syeda Hameed
04
08
International
29 | Religion, Conflict and Pakistan:
The Way Forward
Asim Shaukat
33 | Enchanted by Extremes:
The Search for the Lost Centre
29
in America
Thomas Cattoi
37 | Japan’s Nuclear Position
and Religious Response to Peace
Sali Augustine SJ
33
ART and Peace
42 | Timeless Art
Bindu P.V.
Science and Peace
47 | Knowledge Clusters:
37
An Innovative Collaboration
for a Better Tomorrow
Book Review
51 | A Global Voice
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
Calling Out for Peace
Rajalekshmi G.R. 42
letters to the editor
05
Religion and Peace
A
ll religious texts speak of peace as the ultimate goal of a human
Editorial
being. Peace is invoked during many religious rituals. Religious
greetings generally comprise peace and its synonyms. Yet, many
consider religion to be the cause of much violence in the world both in
the past and the present. At the level of nations, most theocratic states
inflict direct and indirect violence on their own citizens especially the most
vulnerable, women, children and the other excluded. Look at Taliban which
has come back to power in Afghanistan. They have shown themselves to be
viscerally and sadistically intolerant of women and art. Can their guiding
force be any kind of a religion?
The founders of all religions preached peace, love, justice, tolerance and a
host of other desirable values. But when these ideals got concretised into
institutions and organisations, they appear to have been short-changed for
the need for preservation of the organizational identity and its expansion.
Conquest for accumulation of wealth and power seem to have replaced
the original ideals.
It may be argued that it is the unholy alliance of religion and politics that
gives birth to this violent mutant which, in fact, is far from what true
religion is supposed to be. Some schools of thought maintain that religion
divorced of spirituality is the problem. In any case, these are important
issues which need to be looked at carefully and impassionately. This issue of
Pax Lumina asks some of these pressing questions and provides responses
from those who have thought deeply about these issues, observed the
unfolding of violence around us and, most importantly, looked for hope
and peace amidst this encircling darkness.
Jacob Thomas
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
Editor
06
Afghanistan
P eace is not the
product of terror
or fear. Peace is
not the silence of
cemeteries. Peace
is not the silent
result of violent
repression. Peace is
dynamism. Peace
is generosity. It is
a right and it is a
Pax Lumina 2(4)/2021
duty.
- Oscar Romero
07
K.P. Fabian
kpfabian@hotmail.com Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 / 08-11
What is
Happening in
Afghanistan
T
o answer this question, it might be
useful to recall Barbara Tuchman’s
The March of Folly: From Troy to
Vietnam. She has demonstrated
that governments have often taken decisions
contrary to their interest. That illustrates the
law of unintended consequences which has
been operative almost throughout history.
In the present case, the March of Folly began
in 1979 when Zbigniew Brzezinski, President
Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser,
sent in US Special Forces in July, 1979 to
Afghanistan to foment revolts against the
Communist government in Kabul.
The Afghan government became alarmed and
sought military assistance from the Soviet
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
Union. Russian leader Leonid Brezhnev,
without consulting the Politburo, sent in
forces.
08
America funded and armed the mujahideen
that included Osama Bin Laden who inspired
the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre
T
in New York City and other sites. But
Brzezinski got what he wanted. The folly he decision to withdraw
of the Soviets in Afghanistan contributed the military was, in
to the weakening of the Soviet military and substance, a correct one.
the liberation of Poland from Moscow’s
domination. However, Brzezinski, who was
But the shambolic manner
of Polish descent, did not foresee 9/11. of execution could have
been avoided.
America lost interest in Afghanistan when
the Taliban captured power in 1996. This
outfit implemented a harsh version of the
Sharia.
The next major actor in this sordid drama
is President George Bush Jr. He and his Bush wanted to project himself as a formidable
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice leader. So, he sent an ultimatum to the
had not heeded the loud and clear signals of Taliban Government to surrender Osama
an impending attack on America. (https:// bin Laden. Kabul was prepared to negotiate.
www.politico.eu/article/attacks-will-be- But an adamant Bush, who argued that 9/11
spectacular-cia-war-on-terror-bush-bin- had changed ‘everything’, started bombing
laden/) the country on October 7, 2001.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
09
India, too, was
somnambulating. It should
have talked to the Taliban
when Washington started
talking to them in 2018.
‘No talks with terrorists’ is
a slogan, not a formula for
mature diplomacy.
President Donald Trump entered into talks
with the Taliban in February, 2020, at Doha
and agreed to the withdrawal of US and
Earlier, in late September, American and NATO forces against an undertaking by the
British Special Forces had entered Afghanistan Taliban that the territory of Afghanistan
giving support and arms to the Northern would not be permitted to be used for
Alliance which was engaged in armed action any terrorist attacks on the US and its
to topple the Taliban. One week into the allies. There was a clause for the release of
bombing, the Taliban offered to send Bin prisoners, 1,000 by the Taliban and 5,000
Laden to a third, ‘neutral’ country. Bush by the Ashraf Ghani government. But the
continued with his Global War on Terrorism. Ghani government was not a party to the
There was nothing left to bomb. agreement.
Americans occupied the country, with NATO That Government and the Taliban were to
playing the role of an ‘attendant lord’. The start power-sharing talks once the prisoners
United Nations came in later. In April, were released. The release got postponed,
2002, Bush proclaimed a ‘Marshall Plan’ the power-sharing talks started late, and
to do nation-building in Afghanistan. By stalled as the Ghani Government was split
2009, $38 billion had been spent. and the Taliban wanted a lion’s share of
power.
In 2009, President Barack Obama wanted
to leave Afghanistan but was compelled to In March, 2021, Secretary of State Antony
send in 17,000 troops, adding to the 36,000 Blinken wrote to President Ghani, in a
already there. He too recognised that the deliberate breach of protocol, demanding
military engagement in Afghanistan was an that the power-sharing talks should be
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
albatross around America’s neck reminiscent concluded fast as America was going ahead
of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of with its plans to pull out without waiting
the Ancient Mariner. for any power-sharing arrangement.
10The Taliban may or may not have changed.
Their rule from 1996 to 2001 was cruel.
They have publicly promised to soften the
By July 8, the troops’ withdrawal was Sharia and to permit the education and
almost complete. Ghani continued to employment of women up to a point. The
somnambulate. He was not alone. Biden right approach will be to encourage the
too was somnambulating. formation of an inclusive government for
which the Taliban has taken the initiative.
On August 12, there was a meeting of There are reports of the Northern Alliance
senior officials at 4 am in Washington as planning an armed resistance in the Panjshir
the Taliban captured provincial capitals valley. The West is unlikely to lend military
one after the other. support.
On August 14, Biden was at Camp David for Thousands of Afghans are fleeing or trying
the start of a 10-day vacation. Instead, he to flee. Washington has frozen Afghan
spent much of the day on video conference funds to the tune of $9.5 billion and the
calls with his top aides. International Monetary Fund has disallowed
Special Drawing Rights worth $460 billion.
The decision to withdraw the military The worsening availability of funds and the
was, in substance, a correct one. But the rise in the price of essentials might make
shambolic manner of execution could have the Taliban more unpopular than they are.
been avoided. The interested reader may
like to see the New York Times z - https:// Looking at the big picture, there is a danger,
www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/us/politics/ not yet noticed by scholars.
biden-taliban-afghanistan-kabul.html
After the Soviet Union fell, Russia and
India, too, was somnambulating. It should China got closer. After the West imposed
have talked to the Taliban when Washington sanctions on Russia following the 2014
started talking to them in 2018. ‘No talks annexation of Crimea, the two powers have
with terrorists’ is a slogan, not a formula virtually established an axis. Iran might join
for mature diplomacy. this axis primarily because Biden failed to
lift the Trump-imposed sanctions. Where
China goes, Pakistan follows. If the Taliban
alone forms a government, Afghanistan
too might join that axis.
Do look at the map. Such an axis will not
be good for India or America. However,
America is far away. New Delhi needs to
T he right approach will
be to encourage the
formation of an inclusive
make an urgent course correction.
(Ambassador KP Fabian served in the Indian
government for which Foreign Service between 1964 and 2000. He
retired as Ambassador to Italy and Permanent
the Taliban has taken the Representative to the U.N. in Rome.)
initiative.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
11Secularist Perspective Group, Pune
Radical Socialist
Statement on
Afghanistan
A Double
Tragedy
Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 / 12-16
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
12In these 20 years, the US
military and its puppet
regimes have carried out
massive bombings, drone
attacks, and brutal and
indiscriminate ‘search and
destroy’ missions against
unknown insurgents and
their families.
This is why it was the responsibility of
Indians to overthrow British rule, of
Indonesians the Dutch, of South Africans
against apartheid, and so on. Calling for
external help of all kinds, even military aid,
was one thing; calling for external military
liberation, no!
W
In the 1978 ‘Saur Revolution,’ a secular and
e mourn with the Afghan reform-minded pro-Soviet ‘Communist’
people their double tragedy. party, the People’s Democratic Party of
The first tragedy is the US’s Afghanistan came to power but was bedevilled
illegal and utterly unjustified by internal armed faction-fighting and had
military invasion 20 years ago. It helped no social base beyond Kabul.
prepare the ground for today’s tragedy,
and the accession to power of the Islamo- The Soviet invasion in 1979 to support this
fanatical Taliban. Condemnation of the government was morally unjustified and
latter must not mean any softening of the condemnable while politically disastrous,
criticism of US and Western imperialism or handing over as it did the mantle of ‘popular
in shedding tears at their departure from nationalist struggle’ against the foreign
the country. invader to a host of ethno-tribal Islamist
groups including Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
The single most important democratic
advance in the second half of the 20th century The primary military aiders, equippers and
was the end of colonial and imperialist trainers of these were the US, its British/
rule even where this, unfortunately, French allies, along with Pakistan. The
resulted in indigenous dictatorships. In Soviets withdrew in 1989 with its factotum
a world where peoples are constituted as government collapsing three years later
belonging to separate and multiple States, amidst a civil war waged by the various
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
the fundamental moral-political principle to Islamists until the Taliban captured 90% of
uphold is respecting the freedom of people the territory and established its dominance
to overthrow their tyrants. in 1996.
13T he Taliban may or may not
have learnt something from
its past international isolation
the ones to watch out for. They were aware
that Afghanistan, apart from Pakistan, abuts
Iran, China and the pro-Russia Central
and avoid some forms of social Asian Republics. The latter is also a region
and civic repression. having large relatively untapped sources
But given its history and of oil and gas.
social programme of In these 20 years, the US military and its
religious sectarianism, an puppet regimes have carried out massive
anti-democratic attitude, and bombings, drone attacks, and brutal and
indiscriminate ‘search and destroy’ missions
anti-women measures there against unknown insurgents and their
is every reason to oppose families.
it forthrightly and without
equivocation. The US deaths, of soldiers and contractors,
have been around 6500. In contrast, by
extremely conservative estimates, the total
Afghan deaths up to the end of 2019 were
around 160,000. These include government
soldiers, police, opposition fighters and
In 2001 the US government deliberately civilians. Other sources which try to take a
refused to characterise the assault on the count of unreported deaths have estimates
Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon of civilian casualties alone running from a
in Washington as an international crime few hundred thousand to over a million in
against humanity. For that would have an overall population of 40 million.
meant going after the criminals and their
network only. Four million Afghans have been internally
displaced with another 2.7 million external
Instead, by declaring a ‘Global War on Terror’ refugees. As of now, around 48% are below
and claiming that no distinction would be the national poverty line. Some progressive
made between the guilt of the perpetrators laws and reforms have taken place but they
and that of the governments of countries no more justify US presence and rule than
‘housing terrorists’, the way was cleared the fact of the British building hospitals,
for the US. schools and introducing some legislatures,
elections and a limited franchise.
It could transform a conflict between itself
and a non-state network into one against The three lakh official Afghan forces included
any number of countries in West and soldiers, police, and special militias. They
Central Asia. This was in keeping with its numbered five to six times more than the
wider geopolitical ambitions of achieving Taliban fighters. They were also equipped
global dominance. with the most advanced arsenal of weapons
and had full control of the airspace. Yet they
In the new millennium, Afghanistan was the dramatically collapsed. This indicates that
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
first of many to suffer such military assaults. the Taliban had ground support and public
The US foreign policy establishment had acquiescence beyond its predominantly
already identified China, Iran and Russia as Pushtun base.
14However, it is strongly hostile to the government; or else to join hands with
Persian-speaking Tajiks who make up 27% other self-serving major powers like the
of the population as compared to the 42% Western Alliance or the possible front
of Pushtuns. So, there is every reason to of Russia, China and Pakistan that looks
fear internal repression and even a possible more favourably at the new dispensation
civil war in future. in Afghanistan.
The Taliban may or may not have learnt No Afghan government has ever accepted
something from its past international the Durand line. The Taliban, with even
isolation and avoid some forms of social and stronger sympathies with Pushtuni
civic repression. But given its history and nationalism, is not as beholden to Pakistan
social programme of religious sectarianism, as the Islamophobic Modi government.
an anti-democratic attitude, and anti-women India would like to whip up anti-Pakistan
measures there is every reason to oppose sentiment domestically which allows them
it forthrightly and without equivocation. to deepen the repression in Kashmir.
It has declared it will impose Sharia Law.
It is the good of the Afghan people and
Governments everywhere, including India’s, not our supposed ‘national interest’ that
will shed crocodile tears for the Afghan we must reflect on who and what we must
people but are only motivated by the crude support and oppose. There should be no
and amoral considerations of realpolitik. economic sanctions against Afghanistan.
Claiming to pursue the ‘national interest’, These hurt the people much more than the
they will decide whether or when to establish elites that govern.
diplomatic relations with the new Taliban
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
15A basic test for the West
and many other countries
will come concerning the
attitude they adopt towards
the flow of Afghan refugees
now and afterwards. There
should be no restriction
to those seeking refuge
or asylum and adequate
provisions be made for
them to stay or relocate to Even before the advent of Modi, India was
where they can. and remains a non-party to the 1951 Refugee
Convention and its 1967 Protocol which,
among other things, rejects refoulement
(forcible return of refugees to their places
of displacement/persecution).
This Modi government has carried this out
on several Rohingyas simply because they are
Muslims. This hostility to Muslims and Islam
is also reflected in the Citizenship Amendment
Humanitarian aid, on an appropriate scale, Act applicable to Afghanistan. While New
routed through progressive international and Delhi may, in current circumstances, allow for
civil society organisations to this war-torn selective refugee influx, this is not enough.
country is a must. No recognition of the A free flow must be allowed even as there
Taliban regime while political, diplomatic and can be a discussion among neighbouring
cultural pressures of various kinds (but not States for sharing the responsibility.
military) can play a role in pushing it to be
less repressive in its laws and actions against Moreover, those Afghans, students and
women, ethnic and religious minorities. otherwise who are already in the country
and wish to remain must have their visas
A basic test for the West and many other extended until they feel confident of
countries will come concerning the attitude returning or they can, in due course, apply
they adopt towards the flow of Afghan for Indian citizenship.
refugees now and afterwards. There should
be no restriction to those seeking refuge or ‘NO’ TO IMPERIALISM,
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
asylum and adequate provisions be made ‘NO’ TO THE TALIBAN
for them to stay or relocate to where they
can. This holds for India as well.
16George Pattery
gpattery@gmail.com Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 / 17-21
The Inimitable
Afghan
Peace
Warriors
T
he dominant discourse in the
print, digital and social media of
the last week has been ‘Taliban
and Afghanistan’, and rightly so.
The speed with which the country was
overrun by the Taliban forces took the
world by surprise. Implied in the narrative
was a totalising frame of Afghanistan with
Taliban and vice versa. Afghanistan is not
the Taliban; it is much more. It is an ancient
land of civilisational people of uncommon
valour and resilience.
In 1971, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan visited the
Aga Khan Palace in Pune to pay his homage
at the samadhi of Kasturba Gandhi, the
revered wife of Mahatma Gandhi. Over six
feet tall with black hair and beard, a Pathan
in his long kurta looked a commanding
figure. His gentle persuasive voice caught
the attention of the motley crowd; he dwelt
Pax Lumina 2(4)/2021
on the person and message of Mahatma
Gandhi. Our young minds were ignited
with the desire to learn of Gandhi. Little
17did we know then about the Muslim
Gandhi - Badshah Khan, Frontier Gandhi,
and his unique revolutionary movement
in the North-West Frontier province of
Afghanistan.
Making of a Peace-warrior
Born in Utmanzai, Charsadda, in Afghanistan,
of the then British India on February 6,
1890, father of four children, the well-known
Badshah Khan died on January 20, 1988, in
Peshawar. By then he had spent several years
in jail in Pakistan. His grave is in Jalalabad,
across the Khyber in Afghanistan. The burial
in Jalalabad caused other unprecedented
events. A one-day ceasefire was declared in
the Soviet-Afghan war so that mourners
could safely traverse the distance between
Peshawar and Jalalabad, the two cities at to eradicating poverty and realised the
either end of the Khyber Pass which marks importance of education and literacy for
the official boundary between Afghanistan society. When he was only 20 years old,
and Pakistan. he founded his first school and travelled
throughout British India to spread his
His family were wealthy landowners. At ideas. Khan believed that people should
a very early age, he committed himself earn respect based on their deeds, not on
their class background. He condemned
privileges and conducted himself with
modesty, honesty and courage. It was at
this time one of his many nicknames stuck:
Badshah Khan, “King of all leaders.”
G andhi and Khan shared a
vision. They dreamed of an
independent, undivided, secular
Khan met Gandhi and entered politics in 1919
during the agitation over the Rowlatt Acts,
which allowed the internment of political
India - an India where both dissidents without trial. In the following
Hindus and Muslims would live year, he joined the Khilafat movement, which
sought to strengthen the spiritual ties of
together in peace. Indian Muslims to the Turkish sultan. In
Khan repeated over and over 1921, he was elected president of a district
again that the concept of Khilafat committee in his native North-West
Frontier province. After attending an Indian
non-violence was anchored National Congress gathering in 1929, Khan
in the Quran and would be founded the Red Shirt movement (Khudai
used as a weapon in ‘jihad’, Khitmatgar - Servants of God) among the
or ‘holy war.’ Pashtuns.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
It espoused nonviolent nationalist agitation
in support of Indian independence and
sought to awaken the Pashtuns’ political
18consciousness. By the late 1930s, Khan had
become a member of Gandhi’s inner circle
of advisers, and the Khudai Khitmatgar
actively aided the Congress Party’s cause
up to the partition of India in 1947.
In post-British time, Khan, who had always
A devout Muslim and
committed ally of
Gandhi, Khan, for almost
opposed the partition, chose to live in
Pakistan, where he continued to fight for eighty years, struggled
the rights of the Pashtun minority, and an incessantly for the rights
autonomous Pashtunistan, an independent of his people without ever
State in the border areas of West Pakistan.
He paid dearly for his principles, spending raising arms. Like Gandhi,
many years in jail and afterwards residing Khan believed that the
in Afghanistan. upliftment of his people
Gandhi and Khan shared a vision. They
was essential preparation
dreamed of an independent, undivided, for independence.
secular India – an India where both Hindus
and Muslims would live together in peace.
Khan repeated over and over again that the
concept of non-violence was anchored in
the Quran and would be used as a weapon
in ‘jihad’, or ‘holy war.’ He said, “It is the
weapon of the Prophet, but you are not
aware of it. That weapon is called patience
and righteousness. No power on this planet
can stand against it.”
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
19Khudai Khidmatgar:
The Movement
Strongly inspired by Gandhi’s strategy of
nonviolence, Khan amassed the world’s first
major nonviolent army in the North-West
Frontier region. He persuaded 100,000 of
his countrymen to lay down guns and vow
to fight nonviolently against the British
regime. He termed this army the Khudai
Khidmatgar, the servants of Allah. It was
no mean achievement, considering the
bloody and barbaric history of the Pashtun
community. It was a history that was full
By demanding that India should not be of invasions, massacres, conquests and
partitioned after the end of British rule, Khan occupations. The Khudai Khidmatgar
managed to make many enemies amongst movement espoused nonviolent, nationalist
Muslims. Khan came in for harsh criticism agitation in support of Indian independence
from many of his followers who favoured and sought to awaken the Pashtuns’ political
partition into an independent Hindu-majority consensus.
India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. It
was at this time that he was given a second A devout Muslim and committed ally of
nickname: ‘Frontier Gandhi’, meaning the Gandhi, Khan, for almost eighty years,
Gandhi from the Northwest border. struggled incessantly for the rights of his
people without ever raising arms. Like
Khudai Khidmatgar was Khan’s greatest Gandhi, Khan believed that the upliftment
achievement because he brought Gandhi’s of his people was essential preparation for
message to Muslims in the border province. independence.
He grew into this movement. “As a young
boy, I had violent tendencies. The hot blood Khan opened schools in the province, brought
of the Pathans flowed in my veins. But in jail, women into the mainstream of society,
I had nothing to do except read the Koran. and encouraged his nonviolent soldiers to
I read about the Prophet Mohammed in vow to do at least two hours of social work
Mecca, about his patience, his suffering, and daily. Aware of the pervasive violence in his
his dedication. I had read it all before, as a society, Khan decided to gather people on
child but now I read it in the light of what I religious and humanistic grounds.
was hearing all around me about Gandhiji’s
struggle against the British Raj…when I Khan believed that the world was going in
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
finally met Gandhiji, I learned all about his the direction of violence and hatred, but the
ideas of nonviolence and his Constructive only way forward is non-violence. The Holy
Programme. It changed my life forever.” Prophet Mohammed came into the world
20Pledge of a Khudai Khidmatgar:
Challenging Commitment.
n I am a Khudai Khidmatgar; and as God
needs no service, but serving his creation
H e held that his religion is serving him, I promise to serve humanity
in the name of God;
was truth, love and
service to God and humanity. n I promise to refrain from violence and
Those who are indifferent from taking revenge.
to the welfare of their n I promise to forgive those who oppress
fellowmen, whose hearts me or treat me with cruelty.
are empty of love, do not
know the meaning of n I promise to refrain from taking part
in feuds and quarrels and from creating
religion. enmity.
n I promise to treat every Pathan as my
brother and friend.
n I promise to refrain from anti-social
customs and practices.
and taught us: “That man is a Muslim who n I promise to live a simple life, to practise
never hurts anyone by word or deed, but virtue and to refrain from evil.
who works for the benefit and happiness
of God’s creatures. Belief in God is to love n I promise to practise good manners and
one’s fellow men.” good behaviour and not to lead a life of
idleness.
He held that his religion was truth, love
and service to God and humanity. Those n I promise to devote at least two hours a
who are indifferent to the welfare of their day to social work.
fellowmen, whose hearts are empty of love,
do not know the meaning of religion. Afghanistan belongs to a civilisational
people of great tradition and stature. The
Hence, he devoted his energies toward the story of Khan and Khudai Khidmatgar
establishment of a society that would be testifies to it. Looking through that glass,
based on its principles of truth and peace. it is hoped that the resilience of the great
“Nothing is surprising in a Muslim or a people of Afghanistan will find a way of
Pathan like me subscribing to the creed of nurturing peace and nonviolence, despite
nonviolence. It is not a new creed. It was the present-day tragedy of being reckoned
followed fourteen hundred years ago by the as the violent playing fields of world powers
prophet all the time he was in Mecca.” and terrorists.
It is my inmost conviction, Khan said, that (The author is Former Professor, Visva-Bharati
Islam is amal, yakeen, muhabat - selfless University, West Bengal)
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
service, faith and love. (The Frontier Gandhi:
My Life and struggle, Abdul Gaffar Khan,
Roli Books Pvt Ltd; New Delhi, 2021.)
21Ram Puniyani
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
India
Striving for
Peace and Amity
Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 /22-24
India has been inhabited by the people of
T
major world religions. The different traditions
he past few decades in India have of Hinduism have been there for centuries.
been dominated by issues related Jainism and Buddhism came up with the
to identity. The Ram temple, holy principles of non-violence and equality.
cow-beef, love jihad, conversions Christianity also came in the first century
and gharwapasi are some of them. These AD and Islam in the seventh century.
issues have marginalised the issues which
should aim to alleviate the problems of the The interaction between communities of
daily life of the people. The rise of communal different religions enriched all and led to
forces, which do politics in the name of syncretism at various levels. Bhakti and Sufi
the ‘identity of religion’, has, at the same traditions had a lot of influence on Hinduism
time, worsened the plight of most sections and Islam. Sikhism also came up against
of society. this backdrop. Christianity contributed to
various facets of the community, particularly
India has been sliding down on the indices in health and education.
related to hunger, employment, health,
freedom and general well-being. This is There are Christian shrines where people
due to politics which aims to revive the old of all religions frequent, like Mother Mary
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
values of caste and gender relationships of Velankanni. Undoubtedly, people of
and has nothing to do with the spiritual different religions frequent the shrines of
or moral aspects of religion. saints of diverse religions.
22T he older sections of
society, the landlords and
kings, Hindus and Muslims,
took recourse to politics in
the name of religion and
the culmination of their
politics was communal
violence and the partition
of the country.
The greatest example of this had been
Mahatma Gandhi, a Sanatan Hindu, who
followed the inclusive politics of secularism.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a practising
While there was some strife between Muslim, did not talk of a State in the name
the subsets of religions, like Shaiva and of Islam. He also felt that politics in the
Vaishnav on the one hand and Shia and name of religion is counterproductive.
Sunni on the other, the use of religion for
goals of power was not dominant. During The older sections of society, the landlords
the period of kingdoms, kings had people and kings, Hindus and Muslims, took
of diverse religions in their courts. The recourse to politics in the name of religion
interaction in the areas of food, music, and the culmination of their politics was
literature and architecture led to the rich communal violence and the partition of
cultural development in the subcontinent. the country.
With the coming of the British, the social After Independence people did have the
structure and relationships started changing. freedom to practice, preach and propagate
The introduction of modern education and their religion. The country was on the
industries led to new equations in society. path of development, education, health
The newly emerging classes focused on the facilities, scientific institutions and the
problems related to industrialisation, the promotion of industrialisation. This was
spread of education and the integration undertaken at high speed, though with many
of the people of the subcontinent into the shortcomings. Overall, the emphasis was on
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
overarching identity of being Indian. The bread-and-butter issues, better education
secular, plural values developed without and health, and affirmative action for the
trampling on the religiosity of the people. weaker sections of society.
23The Dalit empowerment began, and women
started coming to the social space in good
measure and religious minorities, despite
T
some flaws, lived with some freedom and
security. he violence is preceded
by hate against minorities.
From the decades of the 1980s, issues like This, in turn, is the product
Shah Bano and Ram temple raised the of misconceptions that are
emotive pitch of the communities and
also derailed the direction of our republic, regularly spread against
from the one committed to progress to one these communities. This is
which embarked on the divisive path in the done through communal
name of religion.
organisations, which operate
Attacks on religious minorities became the in the name of religion.
norm. The anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984 was a
tragedy of immense proportions. The anti-
Muslim violence and later anti-Christian
violence became regular and repetitive.
In 1992-93 Mumbai, 2002 Gujarat, 2013
Muzzafarnagar and 2020 Delhi riots the
Muslim community suffered grievously. promoting amity between diverse sections
of society. It is a service to the poor and for
The brutal murder of Pastor Graham Staines those struggling for their human rights.
and the anti-Christian violence of 2008 in
Kandhamal became prominent, but the sub- We have seen people like Swami Agnivesh
radar anti-Christian violence has become struggling for the rights of bonded labour.
an ongoing phenomenon in today’s India. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer and many like him
struggled for peace and amity in society,
The violence is preceded by hate against especially for the rights of the women and
minorities. This, in turn, is the product of the marginalised sections of society.
misconceptions that are regularly spread
against these communities. This is done Fr. Stan Swamy is a glorious example of the
through communal organisations, which struggle for the marginalised sections of
operate in the name of religion. Many society. While others have misused religion’s
regularly held programmes and training identity for narrow political goals, these are
camps; intellectual sessions are the core the examples that stood for peace, harmony
of this phenomenon. This is enlarged by and rights of the weaker sections of society.
social media and a large section of TV and
print media. Religion is primarily the spiritual strength
to struggle for welfare, dignity and rights
We need to return to the values which united of the poor and the marginalised. That’s
us. While we can take a lot of inspiration precisely the path for peace and justice for
from Bhakti and Sufi traditions, we can which we have to strive.
enhance the moral values coming from all
religions. We can also draw from the syncretic (Ram Puniyani is the former Professor of Biomedical
Engineering and former Senior Medical Officer
culture which has developed through the
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology,
interaction of diverse religious communities. Bombay)
What is important is to communicate to the
people that religion is a moral path, a path
24Interview
Syeda Hameed Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 /25-27
“Women are
the Worst
Sufferers”
An interview with
Syeda Hameed, an Indian
social and women's rights
activist, educationist,
writer and a former
member of the Planning
Commission of India.
She is the founder trustee
of the Women’s Initiative
for Peace in South Asia and
the Centre for Dialogue
and Reconciliation.
She was formerly the
Chancellor of the Maulana
Azad National Urdu
University, Hyderabad.
The Government of India
awarded her the Padma
Shri, in 2007, for her
contributions to Indian
society.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
25?
Many factors affect
the state of peace of a
community, a society, a
country and ultimately
the planet itself. How
does religion play a role in
maintaining or disrupting A religion that gave property rights to
peace at different levels of women 1436 years ago is presented
society? in a harsh anti-gender frame. My
organisation, the Muslim Women’s
Although religions were meant to pull Forum has been holding workshops on
down the walls of separation which understanding Islam across the country.
imprison human hearts and minds and We derive our teaching from the word
to promote the idea of one humanity, of the Quran to explain Islam as it was
they have been used for conflicts and revealed to the Prophet in the first year
wars. The promise of heaven and fear of the Islamic calendar i.e. 680 AD.
?
of hell is invoked to lure people into
committing the worst violence on fellow Is it true that in
human beings. countries where religion
does not play a very
?
Is religious active role in society the
fundamentalism on the level of peace is better?
rise in other regions
leading to instability Sadly, the contention is true. Islamic
and violent marginalisation States which enact Sharia laws are
of the weak and the oppressive and totalitarian regimes. In a
unprotected especially parallel manner, if rules of Manusmiriti
women and children. What are enacted and Hindu law becomes
about the situation in South the edict, India will become a mirror
Asian countries? image of its neighbouring countries.
For Islam, I can aver that if its teachings
Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise were enacted in a state which calls itself
globally. Hindu fundamentalism is the Islamic Republic, there would be
equally on the rise in India. Outcomes of universal peace. Peace is at the heart of
both fundamentalisms assail our senses Islam. The universal Islamic greeting,
every day through all media platforms. ‘As-Salam Alekum’ means ‘May Peace be
The Taliban are in Afghanistan and their upon you’.
?
mirror image is closer to home. Violence
is the norm of both, whether it is against How do inter-religious
a bangle seller in Meerut or the LGBTQ conflicts compounded by
community in Kabul. Even Christianity economic, ethnic, social,
is tainted. cultural and political
facts pose a threat to peace?
Women are the worst sufferers. In its
second phase, the Taliban may be no This question contains its answer within
different than what it was in its first itself. The Indian media is our daily
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
phase. All Quranic injunctions about reminder of the inter-religious conflicts
women are violated in the name of Islam which are tearing to shreds the fabric of
itself. our society.
26W omen are
the worst
?
sufferers. In its Advancement in
second phase, the technology can ideally
Taliban may be no lead to peaceful
cooperation and
different than what it was co-existence of peoples,
in its first phase. All Quranic societies, and nations. Does
injunctions about women this also lead to the violent
are violated in the name of assertion of religious, ethnic
and racial identities? Can
Islam itself. religion provide a solution?
While the advancement in technology
can lead to peaceful coexistence, the
reverse is happening across the world.
Technology is used to foment hate at
?
an alarming speed across the globe. The
In the present scenario
adverse use of technology is leading
of intolerance and
to its rejection by some who foresee
violence what are the
its deleterious effect. The unfortunate
religious initiatives for
outcome of this dichotomy needs to be
peace that have emerged in
confronted and tackled.
different parts of the world
?
which provide humanity with Any other ideas or
hope? experiences that you
would like to share with
Peace initiatives have been taken all the readers?
over the world from times immemorial.
Islam, for example, was a peace initiative In Surah Al Maidah (Surah 5 Verse 32)
at a time when the Arabian peninsula The Quran says: Anna man qatala-a
was fraught with every conceivable nafasun u fasaad fil arz. The seven words
ingredient of violence. Peace initiatives from the Surah offer the essence of
have been the creed of all religious Peace in Islam. The verse itself is the best
denominations. Jesus was the Prince of argument for peace; its explication below
Peace, hence churches across the world is echoed in all faiths.
have adhered to his appellation. The
founders of Buddhism, Hinduism and “If anyone kills a person except by
Sikhism were the original harbingers retribution for a murder he is as guilty
of peace. Closer to home despite three as if he has killed the whole human race.
wars and unending border skirmishes, And he who saves the life of a single
there have been many peace initiatives person is the one who has saved the
between Pakistan and India. Women whole human race. Our Prophets have
have been at the vanguard of many. For come with clear arguments against
example, Women’s Initiative for Peace in fighting and murder. And yet many have
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
South Asia, and more recently, the South committed excesses on earth.”
Asia Peace Action Network, to name just
two.
27International
Each one has
to find his peace
from within. And
peace to be real
must be unaffected
by outside
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
circumstances.
- Mahatma Gandhi
28Asim Shaukat
asimshaukat23@gmail.com Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 /29-32
Religion,
Conflict and
Pakistan
The Way Forward
The partition of India in 1947 had a
drastic impact, not only on the course of
history but also on the lives of millions
of people. Religious fundamentalism,
intolerance and communal violence have
impacted India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
in different ways.
C
onflict is a component of human Inter-religious Conflict
existence. But conflict does not in Pakistan
pose as great a threat to human
civilisation as does how it is The idea of Pakistan, the word translates
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
dealt with. Conflict’s inevitability has led into The Land of the Pure, has led to
humankind to explore mechanisms to contested claims of religious purity.
deal with it. It was this notion of purity that led
29The ethos of ingroup affiliation and
outgroup discrimination have also led
to conflict among members of the same
religion.
to communal violence in the 20th Pakistani society at large has grown more
century and the partition of India. intolerant of its religious minorities and
The same notion continues to impact the different sects within Islam.
contemporary Pakistani society.
Religious Fundamentalism,
The construction of a self-image based on Women and Children
religious purity by belonging to a group
leads to positive self-esteem. But it also Religious fundamentalism is intertwined
leads to social comparisons with other with violence and marginalisation. In the
groups. This translates into ingroup midst of growing religious intolerance,
favouritism and discrimination against the weak continue to suffer. Women and
other groups. children continue to be the victims. Their
rights to education and work, freedom of
It is this ingroup affiliation that leads to movement and to make choices of their
economic, ethnic, social, cultural, and own are not recognised as priorities.
political discrimination of the religious
minorities. Thus, it poses a serious threat Religious views determine cultural
to peace in Pakistan. Some groups have values and are often used as a means to
resorted to violence to maintain this justify acts of violence against women
religious purification. and children. What is noteworthy is that
T he construction of
a self-image based
on religious purity by
belonging to a group leads
to positive self-esteem.
But it also leads to social
comparisons with other
groups. This translates
into ingroup favouritism
and discrimination against
other groups.
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
30often discussions on religion and the
rights of minorities, women and children
W hat is noteworthy is
that often discussions
on religion and the rights
are overshadowed by differing religious of minorities, women and
opinions and a lack of a balanced
approach vis-à-vis religion and women children are overshadowed
empowerment. by differing religious
opinions and a lack of
However, the resistance against this a balanced approach
marginalisation is gaining momentum.
vis-à-vis religion and
The Initiatives in Pakistan women empowerment.
The conflict born out of religious
intolerance is an opportunity for
dialogue. This dialogue remains the key
in any attempt for sustainable peace
and coexistence in Pakistan. As an
undergraduate student, I have witnessed I have been part of a group that
a growing interest in exploring what comprised students from different
‘others’ believe: their ethnic differences, ethnicities, religions, and sects within
cultural values, religious outlook, and Islam. The university was the space
views on moving forward. where students could talk about social
issues, the role religion plays and can
In educational institutes today, teachers play, and their differences. More such
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
and students are creating spaces to talk spaces need to be created, where people
about their differences in a respectful can share their views without fear of
manner. violence.
31T he other solution is peace
education. This remains
almost absent from the
Pakistani curriculum. This During these meetings, members of
different faiths can relate to one another
leads to the otherness of not as strangers but as human beings
communities from an early with their problems, values, insights and
age. It is by addressing ways to deal with conflict.
this issue that students The other solution is peace education.
can relate to one another This remains almost absent from the
with respect. Pakistani curriculum. This leads to the
otherness of communities from an early
age. It is by addressing this issue that
students can relate to one another with
respect.
Pakistan has suffered from religious
intolerance. It does not lack the space
Different religious organisations seek nor the potential to create tolerance.
to create that space where dialogue Any attempt to create peace needs to
can take place. The Jesuits in Pakistan use these local spaces, with a bottom-
deserve praise; they have invested their up approach and a focus on peace
energy and resources in their inter-faith education.
dialogue initiative. The Jesuits organise
symposia where religious scholars from (The author is pursuing Masters in Peace and
the two religious communities engage
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
Conflict Studies at University of Manitoba,
in scholarly discussions. The Robert A Winnipeg, Canada)
Butler SJ library offers access to rare
scholarly materials.
32Thomas Cattoi
tcattoi@scu.edu Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 /33-36
Enchanted by
Extremes
The Search
for the Lost Centre
in America
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
33The impact of Covid on the economy, with
millions of people facing unemployment or
a significant loss of income, exacerbated yet
another fracture in American society: race.
The Black Lives Matters (BLM) movement
led to numerous protests across America.
Cities like Portland experienced rioting
almost daily for weeks on end. While many
protests were peaceful and motivated by an
authentic concern for racial justice, some
degenerated into violence and distraction,
causing even more damage to an economy
already weakened by the pandemic. The
BLM was protesting the disproportionate
S
use of violence by the police towards African
ummer and fall 2020 saw the United Americans.
States go through one of the most
difficult periods in its recent history. As the presidential election neared, the
While the country was in the grip political conversation became ever more
of an unprecedented pandemic, political strident. Each side increasingly viewed
polarisation was pushed to a breaking point. the other side as a manifestation of ‘pure
evil.’ President Donald Trump’s refusal
So-called ‘blue states’, ruled by Democratic to concede the election and the endless
Party representatives, introduced strict recounts that took place in November and
regulations about social distancing and December monopolised everyone’s attention
wearing of masks, often closing down large for two months, until the assault on the
sectors of the economy in an attempt to Capitol on January 6. This marked one of
limit the spread of the virus. the lowest points in American democracy
since its founding.
‘Red states’, under Republican rule, were
often reluctant to introduce restrictions One year later, it would be tempting to say
of any kind. If they did so, they were met that all of this is in the past. This summer
with considerable resistance from large has hardly seen any rioting. The BLM no
swathes of the population. They viewed longer appears in the news. While Congress
them as unacceptable violations of their remains as divided as ever, the public appears
constitutional rights. to be less focused on domestic politics.
Rather than bringing the country together, The crisis in Afghanistan seems to have
Covid intensified its division almost to redirected the attention of political pundits
a breaking point. The wearing of a mask to a more long-term evaluation of American
–- or the refusal to do so -- would turn foreign policy (and its shortcomings). And of
into a symbol of one’s political allegiance. course, Covid is still present in the country,
Conservative media commentators claimed despite growing rates of vaccination, forcing
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
that the obligation to cover one’s face in Americans to confront basic questions: will
stores or public was dehumanising and an my children be able to go to school this fall?
oppressive government imposition. Will I have a job a year from now?
34In this perspective, the Catholic Church
has not always been up to its vocation as a
reconciling force. Many of its priests and even
T
bishops have taken highly partisan stances,
he impact of Covid on the embracing the agenda of one political party
economy, with millions of and accusing supporters of the other side
people facing unemployment of having betrayed the Gospel.
or a significant loss of
One side will foreground the classic ‘non-
income, exacerbated negotiable’ issues of sexual morality and
yet another fracture in abortion, and avoid all discussion of economic
American society: race. inequality or injustice, let alone the pressing
question of ecological and climate collapse.
The other side will campaign for social justice
and the rights of the immigrants, at the cost
however of passing under silence pro-life
matters such as the rights of the unborn. The
election of President Joe Biden, the second
Catholic president after John F Kennedy,
did not bring together the Catholics. Many
The tyranny of the need to make ends traditionally-minded Catholics are strongly
meet, to raise one’s family, and to run one’s opposed to his domestic policies and the
business cannot erase the profound division overall direction of his presidency.
that characterises American society. Often
it appears that two societies are living America is a society fascinated by extremes
together in the same country, with radically in 2021. Fifty years ago, Catholics and
different visions of the world. Protestants would hardly countenance any
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
35of their offspring marrying a person of In many ways, the moderate centre has
another religion. Today, interdenominational evaporated. Each party espouses ever more
or interreligious marriages barely raise any extreme versions of its policies. In several
eyebrows, but a majority of US citizens would cases, religion has become subservient to a
never want one of their children to marry a political agenda. The acceptance of certain
supporter of the opposite political party. political positions or the support of certain
political candidates becomes a criterion of
membership in a particular religious group.
The challenge Catholicism faces is to once
more become a unifying factor in society to
heal this exacerbated political divide. Many
representatives of the Church hierarchy
have stoked the fires of division instead of
F ifty years ago, Catholics
and Protestants would
hardly countenance any of
trying to build a broader consensus. In this
context, the role of Jesuit institutions of
higher education, and all Catholic colleges
and universities, is to become venues where
their offspring marrying a open conversations are possible and where
person of another religion. all positions can be voiced and listened to
Today, interdenominational or with respect.
interreligious marriages barely Without a sustained effort to reach out to
raise any eyebrows, but a one’s opponent, the Catholic Church will
majority of US citizens would only continue to reflect the divisions of
never want one of their broader American society.
children to marry a supporter (The author is Associate Professor of Christology
of the opposite political party. and Cultures, Jesuit School of Theology at Santa
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
Clara University and Graduate Theological Union,
Berkeley, California)
36Sali Augustine SJ Pax Lumina 2(5) / 2021 /37-41
Japan’s Nuclear
Position and Religious
Response to
Peace
H
iroshima marked the
76th anniversary of the
atomic bombing of the
city on August 5, and of
Nagasaki on August 9, 2021, calling
for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
In Hiroshima, the updated register
of the names of atomic bomb victims
was dedicated to the Cenotaph for
the atomic bomb victims.
According to the Yomiuri newspaper,
with the addition of 4,800 atomic
bomb survivors, whose deaths were
Pax Lumina 2(5)/2021
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