IDEA OF UNIVERSALIZATION OF FAMILY IN ISLAM AND HINDUISM IT’S RELEVANCE IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

Abstract

 India is known for unity in diversity and remained abode of multitude of faiths since long. The communal violence between two major faiths of India, Hinduism and Islam was not absent and the history of India since medieval times is inked with the bloodshed caused due to such conflicts. During the freedom struggle, perhaps the topmost contribution of the freedom leadership was binding together the duo and bridge the gap due to conflicting belief system. But the dark episode of partition shattered the efforts and perhaps the gap became never to bridge gulf. Within India, Muslims are the major minority and even after independence, the inter communal conflicts have been reported. Recently the mob lynching over beef suspicion was nothing but the revival of the age old conflict between the two communities over cow. Since Medieval times, cow has remained a bone of contention between the two, while one considers it merely a commodity while the other sacred to be worshipped. But the question is whether both these religions authorise such conflicts or they have something that can rather bridge the gulf. This paper is an effort to understand the role of religion in making peace between the two rather than airing the fire of hatred which ultimately leads to loss of precious human lives. For this purpose one theme from both the religions has been selected for analysis, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the entire world constitutes but a family) from Hinduism and Al Khalq Ayaalulah (All the creation is the family of God) from Islam.