An Easy Solution

INSIGHTS OF THE WISE This method is not confined to a single situation. In whatever matter the strategy of silent patience is adopted, it ultimately proves effective. Some Christians youth wrote in black letters on Delhi’s bridges and walls the phrase in English: “Jesus is coming soon.” Afterwards, some Hindu youths, stirred by a spirit of retaliation, added words everywhere so that the phrase read: “Jesus is coming soon to become Hindu.” The construction of the sentence itself showed that this was not the work of educated Hindus, for grammatically correct English would be: “To become a Hindu.” If a similar incident had taken place with Muslims, at once a certain superficial class of people would have begun shouting that it was an insult to the Prophet, an affront to Muslim feelings, and a challenge to their religious honour. Then some Muslim youths would have been provoked into retaliation, and soon the city would have descended into Hindu–Muslim riots. After that, so-called Muslim leaders would have issued statements proving the incompetence of the administration. Relief funds would be opened, and some would begin to claim credit for services to the community. Hot headlines would be printed in Urdu newspapers, increasing their circulation. And as for the Muslim masses, their share would be nothing but further ruin. But the Christians took no notice of this “provocative act.” The result was that the whole incident simply became a non-event.