Prabhu Pattni, Secretary General, Hindu Council of Africa.
by Prabhu Pattni, Secretary General, Hindu Council of Africa
Africa looks as if it is burning but it was never so before. There is an underlying peacefulness in the people of Africa. Living close to nature in a continent that a few decades ago hardly had any population, Africans, more than any other people appreciated and enjoyed the harmony and beauty of nature.
Hindus have had close links with Africa for many millennia. At the moment there are just over 2.2 million Hindus spread over 33 countries in Africa. In all these countries, they have blended in well with Africans and become part of Africa. Hindus are peaceful by nature. They have rarely – if at all – taken part in any conflict throughout Africa. This does not mean that they have been aloof and passive. In fact, they have always fought for justice and freedom. In countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and others, Hindus fought for freedom for their countries.
In order to be peaceful, one needs peace within oneself. This peace can only come if there is a sense within that all humanity is one. This sense of unity will come from introspection and enlightenment. The Hindu scriptures say that for the enlightened, the whole humanity is one family. Each person is creation of God, each person is unique. Hindus see divinity in every person. There is respect for that person and her/his beliefs. Just as all rivers lead to the ocean, so do all the different faiths lead to the same God. When one understands this, there is peace within.
In Africa, religions have existed side by side peacefully over centuries. Only in the recent times there has been conflict – a conflict that is a result of event outside the continent. Politics always divide people in order to rule them and keep them under control. This happens specially when the literacy rates are low. With low literacy rates in a country, people are led by leaders who manipulate and use them for their personal gain and for political power. In Africa, such leaders thrive. The result is the suffering of people to an unimaginable scale. Over the last decade, democratic systems are taking root. Literacy levels are increasing with better education. Leaders are finding that they are more answerable to their people. Politicians have less tools to manipulate people. In spite of this, the leaders do manage to use religion itself as a tool for conflict. This is where it becomes the responsibility of religious leaders to see that religion, which has always been a unifying force, does not become a force that divides people – specially during conflict.
Hindus are working for peaceful Africa by being more relevant to ordinary people. They have a culture of charity. They are using this charity to transform people’s lives in many ways. One important way is transmitting skills. Other is putting projects on ground to make people more self-reliant. A person who does not struggle for food and water can think of higher things. S/he is inspired to help others and to better everyone’s lives. Food, water shelter and clothing are the prime requirements of humanity. It is upto religious leaders to use their skills and their compassion and learning to shed hope and light into people’s lives. Africans are peaceful people and it will be up to the religious leaders to bring that inner peace to them. It would require a great sacrifice on the part of leaders and an immense degree of tolerance for all other faiths. This is the only way to work towards peace and achieve the vision of a truly peaceful Africa.
