Suresh was watching Bajrangi Bhaijaan when I dropped in. “It is easy to peddle hatred,” a TV reporter in the movie was saying, “love gets few takers.” But the movie ended in the victory of love over hatred with the Pakistani Muslims and the Indian Hindus gathering on either side of the international border clamouring for love. “Why does a meek creature like the cow instigate so much aggression among people?” I asked when the movie was over. “Why the cow, even an inanimate thing like a piece of cloth cut in a particular geometrical shape can instigate aggression the moment religion becomes fanaticism,” said Suresh. “And religion becomes fanaticism only when the character of the person is domineering and aggressive.” Suresh went on to explain that the submissive person who is religious surrenders himself to whatever virtues his religion teaches him such as compassion or selflessness. The surrender can go to extremes depending on th...
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