ISLAM'S ENCOUNTER WITH HINDUISM IN SECULAR INDIA
Keywords:
Muslims in India, Concept of Religion, Concept of Secularism, Religion and Secularism, Intellectuals and SecularismAbstract
Islam came to India with a handful of its followers and has
stayed here as a very powerful religion of the country. In a multistructured. Indian Society where religious pluralism and cultural dualism, no religious group can retain its original identity in tact. Changes in its style of operation, pressure to adjust and readjust to local environment become inevitable. What is ultimately required is peaceful co-existence without diluting its basic structure. Christianity which is also an alien religion has adopted an all together different approach and faces less problems today. Islam is not opposed to any other religion. On the other hand, it permits its followers to adjust to local situations wherever possible. Its encounter with Hinduism ultimately does bear a greater degree of impact on both Muslims and Hindus. Today, neither Muslims nor Hindus can boast of retaining the original cultural behaviour expected within the parameters of the concerned religion.
References
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Mushir-ul-Huq, Islam in Secular India. Simla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study. 1972. p. 2
M. A. Karandikar. Islam in India's Transition to Modernity. Connecticut. Greenwood Publishing Corporation. 1969. p. 279.
M. Mujeeb. The Indian Muslims. London. George Allen and Unwin. 1967. p. 57.
Mushir-ul-Huq, op. cit. p. 15.
S. Abid Hussain. The Destiny of Indian Muslims. Bombay. Asia. 1965. p. 170.
S. Alam Khundrniri , "Secularism a Religion and Education" in V. K. Sinha(Ed.) Secularism in India, Bombay. 1966. p. 90.
