SHARED WISDOM

Every man is a human being. He becomes an enemy—only temporarily—when he is provoked. However, with wise handling, his temper cools, and he returns to the real nature he was born with. That same person, who had appeared in the guise of an enemy, can become your friend. SUCCESSFUL HINDU-MUSLIM DIALOGUE Hindu-Muslim dialogue held with full sincerity, cooperation, and acceptance of differences with an objective mind will open a new chapter in the history of India, making both partners on the path to progress. Islam and Hinduism, both representing two great traditions, have co-existed for more than one thousand years. It is very important to understand the relationship between these two religions. There are two divergent views on the subject of this relationship. One view is that both traditions are very similar to each other. I once happened to meet a Hindu scholar who with great enthusiasm said, “I do not find any difference between the two religions. When I read the Quran, I feel that I am reading the Gita and when I read the Gita, I feel I am reading the Quran.” The second view is that Islam and Hinduism are both very different from each other and that their only meeting point is (heated) debates. This view was particularly widespread during the British rule in India and reached its zenith at that time. It would be more intellectually and academically productive to assess the merits of the two religions in the context of