Dialogue in the Indian Plural Society

The newly elected Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, in a recent interview, has emphasised the need of dialogue among different religious communities in the plural Indian society. The learned Maulana is not only a scholar of international repute but also a Dawah expert. He has been engaged in religious dialogues with a view to presenting the Message of Islam to the crores of people who belong to different religions and who together make the kaleidoscope of India.
Explaining the broad outlines he proposed to follow in the coming years he said that particular attention would be given to inter-faith and inter-community dialogue.
There can be no two opinions that India presents one of the best examples of a multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. The last census of 2001 states that our country has 80.5 per cent Hindus, 13.4 per cent Muslims, 2.3 per cent Christians and 1.96 per cent Sikhs. Besides this India is home to Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and others who together constitute 1.9 per cent of population. Thus India presents a unique example of multi-religious pluralism. No doubt this pluralism sometimes gives way to casteism and even misused by vested interests for communal and parochial conflicts and for achieving sectarian political ends. Yet, by and large, India has been successfully moving towards togetherness and fellow-feelings. There has been, and will be, greater need here for promoting mutual understanding among the adherents of different faiths.
In this respect sometimes Islam, thanks to its denigrators, has a very bad press. Certain elements are always hell bent upon tarnishing the image of Islam and spreading all sorts of misunderstandings against it. They portray Muslims as a thorn in their flesh. You cannot tackle these elements except by engaging them in a dialogue. If they refuse to see the light of reason and do not agree for a dialogue, at least they should be exposed and contained.
Dialogue has been a means of promoting understanding in different periods of history. But dialogue as a means of promoting understanding and discovering the truth was introduced and promoted, for the first time in a big way, by none other than Islam. The Holy Qur’an itself is a book of dialogue. God speaks through the verses of the Qur’an to human beings, taking into consideration their doubts, apprehensions and reactions and answering their queries. It presents effective arguments to explain its worldview, the ideal way of life it presents for the welfare and salvation of human beings in this worldly life and in the everlasting life hereafter.
Muslims have been a part and parcel of this country for over 14 centuries. Islam made significant contributions by presenting divine values and raising moral standards in this country. It substantially influenced art, culture, ethics, philosophy and every other aspect of life in India.
In today’s India the degeneration of morality, onslaught of capitalism, deepening influence of secular-materialism and harmful influence of decadent western culture can be seen in every aspect of life. In this distressing situation Islam stands apart as a beacon of divine guidance. Muslims are the upholders of this torch. It is time they came out of self-imposed seclusion, reformed themselves, re-armed themselves with Islamic character and engaged in meaningful dialogue with their brethren who are increasingly in need of the life-giving message of Islam. India requires guidance of God as the Supreme Authority. India needs respect for life and promotion of human dignity. Every citizen here requires equality in status and opportunities. They need justice and inculcation of sense of responsibility. They need disciplined political parties and deep social sense. Islam can contribute all these provided that the Muslims stand up and do their duty. Dialogue is the means for opening the doors of good for one and all.