Course: Ideological Foundations of Pakistan (9352)
Level: B.S. Pakistan Studies (8665) Semester: spring 2020
Total
Marks: 100
Pass
Marks: 50
ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Unit
1-5)
Q.1 Critically evaluate the history of Muslim rule in India. How far
Muslim rulers tried to develop harmony and understanding with their Hindu
subject? Discuss in the light of prescribed study material. (20)
Q.2 Examine the role of caste system in Hinduism. Was it possible for
the Hindus to outgrow their caste system? Discuss. (20)
Q.3 How far do you think Hinduism as a body of ideas allows contacting
with members of other faiths? Discuss the ideas which describe the Hindu Social
system even more important than the system itself. (20)
Q.4 Critically examine the Muslim community is different in texture
and outlook from Hindu community. Discuss in the light of Percival Spear’s
observation in the prescribed study material. (20)
Q.5 Identify the salient features of Shah Waliullah’s political
philosophy. (20)
Q.1 Critically evaluate the history of Muslim rule in India. How far
Muslim rulers tried to develop harmony and understanding with their Hindu
subject? Discuss in the light of prescribed study material. (20)
Ans
Ans
Q.2 Examine the role of caste system in Hinduism. Was it possible for the Hindus to outgrow their caste system? Discuss. (20)
Ans:India’s Caste System
For generations of Indians, the ancient code of social stratification known as the caste system has defined how people earn a living and whom they marry. Despite reform efforts, deep-rooted prejudices and entitlement hold firm among higher castes. while those on the lowest rungs still face marginalization, discrimination and violence.India;s government has a strategy that purports to look beyond caste and focus on improving the lot of all Indians. His approach has won overwhelming backing from voters. but critics say it risks exacerbating the plight of the most disadvantaged.
Seven decades ago, the founders of postcolonial India outlawed caste discrimination and enshrined affirmative action in the constitution.
It included reserving government jobs and places in higher education for Dalits — a group at the bottom rung of the caste system who now number more than 200 million. Yet caste remains a significant factor in deciding everything from family ties and cultural traditions to educational and economic opportunities, especially in small towns and villages.
Most menial jobs are carried out by Dalits; few office jobs are. Hate crimes against Dalits have proliferated in recent years, prompting criticism of the ruling Janata Party for allegedly stoking social divisions. The party is the natural home for Hindu hardliners, some of whom have attacked Muslims for eating beef and lower-caste Hindus over their links to the beef trade.
Dalits have taken to the streets by the tens of thousands to demand protection of their rights. Yet, for the second straight election, India;s government led the BJP to a resounding victory in 2019, even securing a larger share of Dalit votes. Parties with policies aimed in particular at promoting lower castes were trounced, as India;s government’s appeal to a common Hindu heritage trumped caste consciousness.
While there’s disagreement over its origins, the caste system was formalized in a legal treatise called Manusmriti, dating from about 1,000 B.C. The text defined karma (actions) and dharma (duty) for Hindus, who today represent 80% of India’s population. In it, society was divided into four strictly hierarchical groups known as varnas: the Brahmins priests and other intellectuals at the top; then the warriors; then the Vaishyas, or traders; and lastly the Shudras, those who did menial labor. The texts laid down laws on marriage, property and even food. For instance, if a Brahmin consumed food prepared by a Shudra, he’d be born a pig in his next life.
The system has since evolved to include some 3,000 castes and 25,000 subcastes. Over time, as social segregation and caste prejudice deepened, another layer of Shudras emerged at the base of the pyramid: Dalits, meaning “divided, split, broken, scattered” in classical Sanskrit. Not only were they barred from sharing food with or marrying people from higher castes, some couldn’t even brush the shadow of a Brahmin. They got their other name “untouchables” because their mere touch could supposedly defile. Not all of them are Hindu; Dalit Muslims, many descended from lower-caste Hindus who converted to Islam in an effort to escape the repression of the caste system, continue to face prejudice from Hindus .India;s government stated aim is to make traditional castes irrelevant. He says there are now just two castes: the poor and those who will contribute to eradicating poverty. It’s a message that resonates with voters desperate for faster progress in a country where salaries are less than one-quarter of those in China. Skirting the issue of caste, India;s government s critics say, risks allowing prejudice to fester and violence against Dalits and Muslims to thrive. The strategy may also mask the economic plight of lower castes.
A study in 2018 by the Paris School of Economics concluded that they were failing to close the gap with other groups, means they’re likely to fall further behind. Numerous studies point to entrenched caste prejudice in rural India, yet there are signs of change as more Indians move to cities and younger people show greater tolerance. While just 5% of Indian marriages are between different castes, a study in 2019 identified a “generational shift” in attitudes, with almost a quarter of profiles on matrimonial websites showing an openness to inter-caste marriage.
Q: 3 How far do you think Hinduism as a body of ideas allows contacting with members of other faiths? Discuss the ideas which describe the Hindu Social system even more important than the system itself.
Ans:
What
Is Hinduism's Relationship With Other Religions?
Hinduism originated
among Aryan from Central Asia, who brought it to the Indus
Valley around 1500 B.C. While most modern followers reside in India or
Nepal, the religion migrated throughout Southeast Asia. Hinduism has influenced and
interacted with most major religions. In some cases Hinduism has even
adapted the deities of other cultures into its pantheon. Buddhism and Hinduism
Based on the teachings of the Shakyamuni, Buddhism began in northern India, by some accounts. Like Hinduism, Buddhism is a Dharmic religion, and both believe in a cycle of reincarnation, based on one's actions in life. The goal of Buddhism, however, is to escape this cycle by reaching enlightenment and freedom. Hindus may achieve the same through spiritual growth, which allows followers to divorce themselves of ego and become one with the god Brahman.Hinduism and Christianity
Hinduism accounts for a huge pantheon, sometimes absorbing deities from other traditions such as Christianity. Most of Hinduism's gods are believed to be incarnations, of three primary gods: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva . This allows Hindus flexibility when they gain knowledge of other deities.According to the Hindu pries, Ishu, one of Vishnu's avatars, "was born in a cowshed, was visited by three holy men, performed many amazing miracles, walked on water and spoke a wonderful sermon on a mountain." Some Hindus choose to worship the Jesus-like Ishu as their primary god, though they still maintain belief in other members of the Hindu pantheon. Others, particularly the members of the outcast Dalits, choose to convert to Christianity entirely as a means of removing the social stigma of their status at birth.
Hinduism and Islam
Islam was introduced to India by the Ummayad Dynasty of Caliphs in the 700s. Today it is the second-largest religion in India; Muslims make India their home. Dalits in particular are drawn to Islam to escape the stigma of being "untouchable," though they may also convert to Christianity, Buddhism or to accomplish this. Muslims and Hindus sometimes ignite violent, deadly conflicts, and India also has a history of contention with Islam-majority nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Relations between these countries, have thawed in recent years due to improved diplomacy.Sikhism and Hinduism
Sikhs are the majority population in the region of Punjab, India, though in India as a whole, they represent only 1.9 percent of the population. Sikhism is monotheistic, viewing God as a genderless, ubiquitous, benevolent, invisible force. Sikhs believe time is cyclical rather than linear and, like Hindus, they believe in the concepts of Dharma and Karma, but they do not have a caste system. Despite some similarities, Sikhs consider themselves ethnically and culturally distinct from Hindus. Violent conflicts have erupted between members of the twoQ:4 Critically examine the Muslim community is different in texture and outlook from Hindu community. Discuss in the light of Percival Spear’s observation in the prescribed study material.
Ans:
Q: 5 Identify the salient features of Shah Waliullah’s political philosophy.
Ans:Shah Walliullah was a great Muslim reformist of 18th century . He was a brilliant thinker and scholar with critical insight of political scenario . He worked for the betterment and true education of Muslims on right Islamic norms.
At that time in the Muslims after ruing India magnificently were going to lose power. The decline of Muslim rule in India had already begun . Muslims were being exploited at every facet of life. In order to bring Muslims on right path and help them Shah Walliullah worked really hard.
He was born on 21st February 1703 in Delhi and died in 1762. His father was a famous religious personality at that time .His name was Abdur Rahim .He was a famous educationist who was running a Madrasah called Madrasah –i-Rahimiyah.
Shah Walliullah got his early education under his well educated father who taught him well and he was also enrolled in Naqshbandiyya Sufi order to enrich his spiritual insight. Soon he got permission to teach at father’s Madrasah, where he continued teaching for next 12 years. In 1730 he got a chance to go to Mecca where he performed pilgrimage and got lucky to get education from the leading Muslim scholars of that time.
It was a time when a new thought got roots in his mind that the position and predicament of Muslims at home was overwhelming. That it was a time for Muslims of India to adopt true spirit of Islam, This is because of their religious decline Muslims of India were facing decline in social, political. And economic aspects as well. Shah Walliullah decided to take a lead and started working to show Muslims actual spirit of Islam in rational manner.
He contributed literary fields as well like; in 1738 he translated Quran into Persian despite of opposition he faced by orthodox Ulemma. worked to bring together Shiites and Sunnis and Ulemma and Sufis. Shah Walliullah proposed ways like Ijtihad in Islam and denounced blind Taqlid.
Shah Walliullah believed in grooming of Muslims as a society and educated them to live up as a society in which economic and social justice would prevail. He educated Muslims of India to emancipate Muslim society from economic injustices and social biases.
Shah Walliullah wrote almost 50 books on various subjects he trained a group of Ulemma to spread the true knowledge of Islam.
Shah Walliullah opened many branches of his school in Delhi to spread his school of thought. His versatility was his main asset; he worked on every prospected field which could raise the standard of Muslims as a nation or individual entity.
Shah Walliullah laid the foundations of all political, religious, and intellectual movements which would initiate in Indian sub-continent by Muslims in future.
Shah Walliullah was an authentic theologian and scholar of Islam; he had great understanding of Quran and Hadith. He also gave many economic theories which gave reasons which became the cause of decline of Muslims. Politically Shah Walliullah was a vibrant personality. He ran an indigenous political movement of its kind in India.
Shah Walliullah tried to unite Muslims as a single entity. His main political agenda was a retain Mughal Empire; he became the cause to invite Ahmad Shah Abdali to India in order to fight Marathas who were undermining Mughal rule at that time.
Thought his efforts to maintain Muslim rule in India did not capitalize but it would provide an insight for future political, intellectual and religious movements in India.
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