Conceit: the most evil trait

Conceit the most evil trait

1991 7 July 8 Conceit: the most evil trait (69) The Prophet mentioned three saving graces and three destructive traits. The three saving graces, he said, were “fear of God in public and in private; speaking the truth, at times of both calm and anger; and moderation, whether one is affluent or poor,” And the destructive traits he mentioned were following one’s desires, miserliness and conceit. “And the fast one, that is the worst of all,” he said.

(Baihaqi)

The Right to Choose

1991 7 July 8 The Right to Choose (258) The Times of India (11 August, 1990) carried an article by Mr. Aloke Roy under the heading, ‘Only Bigots Feel that Conversion Follows Invasions.’

The writer states that the VHP strongly advocated a ban on the telefilm, ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’. The reason advanced by the VHP was that in the eighteenth century, Tipu Sultan had forcibly converted many Hindus in the Malabar region.

The writer ridiculed the VHP’s demand. He said that even if the conversion story of Malabar ‘was accepted as being true, it would, arguably, be the people of Malabar who should have raised this issue. But the fact remains that neither the Muslims nor the Hindus of Malabar have voiced any protest against the screening of the film.

He also cites the conversions at Minakshipuram, when some Harijans of Minakshipuram entered the fold of Islam, the Hindus alleged that the conversion had taken place with the lure of money. The writer argues that if the allegation be true, the easiest solution would be for the concerned Hindus to outbid the converters.

In his article, Mr. Aloke Roy goes on to advocate total freedom in the matter of religious belief. He feels that it should be left to individuals to decide what religion they want to follow. Every man has a right to do so.

What the writer has said is absolutely correct. If we pride ourselves on having opted for democracy, we have to give full freedom to our people to choose their religion too. Without this freedom, democracy will be a mirage.