Reflections on Communal Riots

suggested to him that he should take to court the man whose bathroom was leaking. But he soon found out that this would be such a costly and time-consuming affair that, in practical terms, it was utterly useless. Finally, he was forced to agree to pay for the repairs himself! This story illustrates the approach that most people adopt when it comes to their personal affairs. In such situations, people do not get into the debate about who is right and who is wrong. They know that in this world there is often nothing weaker than logic. No matter how clearly you may prove someone to be guilty through the use of logic, in practical terms it does not solve any problem, because few, if any, people these days are willing to cheerfully accept logical arguments. There is no difference in this regard between Muslims and others, and between supposedly religious and irreligious people. Everyone knows this to be the case as far as their own personal matters are concerned. That is why when it is a question of someone’s personal interests—in other words, when, as in the story recounted earlier, ‘water starts dripping from the floor above yours into your home’—you at once realize that citing evidence, offering logical arguments and engaging in debate with your opponent are all useless. Instead, you accept the responsibility and at once take steps to try to rectify the situation. Strangely, however, no one is willing to adopt this very same basic principle of life when it comes to the problems of the community as a whole. On this issue, almost every Muslim reacts in the same way—by accusing other communities for their woes. The obvious and clearly undeniable fact that such a response, tirelessly repeated over a period of several decades, has produced no practical benefit whatsoever has failed to make any dent in the Muslims’ zeal in reacting in this useless fashion. This situation has not come by chance, though. Rather, it has deep roots. The easiest thing to do is to blame others for one’s miseries. In contrast, accepting the responsibility for one’s conditions is enormously difficult. To