Przemoc religijna w Indiach na przykładzie sytuacji społeczności chrześcijańskiej

Abstract

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) was an important Indian thinker, statesman, and nationalist leader, who was also known as Mahatma Gandhi. After his return to India in 1915 Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for necessary social reforms and for achieving the independence of India from the British domination. Gandhi practiced non-violence (ahinsa) and truth (satja) in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. This was the reason Gandhi also came under some political fire for his criticism of those who attempted to achieve independence through more violent means. The constitution of modern India provides for freedom of religion and the national government generally respects this right. However, some state governments enacted and amended „anti-conversion” laws and the forces of law and order often do not act enough to counter attacks against religious minorities, e.g. Christians. Christianity, which has been part of India for nearly two thousand years, affirms and contributes to the pluralism of India. Of late the Christians are victims of extremists. Members of their community have been murdered when they were serving the poorest in the land. Some have been humiliated, raped, insulted and their properties have been destroyed. Some extremists promote „Hindutva”, the ideology that espouses the inculcation of Hindu religious and cultural norms above other religious norms. Although the „anti-conversion” laws do not explicitly ban conversions, but in practice they favor Hinduism over minority religions, and represent a significant challenge to Indian secularism.