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Political Slogan WBBKBEEEELEOWW “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” [SSN Coined by Mahatma Gandhi in September 1930 Prof. G.C.ASNANI Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava /1 “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” was a political slogan coined by Mafiatma Gandhi in Yervada Jail in September 1930; fie has unwittingly done great harm to Hindu Society. This Slogan fias been mistakert as Vedic Mantra- Part 1 INTRODUCTION 1. While in Pune Yervada Jail in 1930, Mahatma Gandhi used to write weekly letters to the inmates of his Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad. The letters were written in Gujarati. In this series, Mahatma Gandhi wrote two letters titled “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava”, Part 1, on 23” September 1930 and Part II on 30% September 1930. A general belief has been floating around in Hindu society that “ Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” is a Vedic Mantra. THIS BELIEF IS TOTALLY WRONG. This slogan “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” was coined by Mahatma Gandhi in pursuit of his dream of Hindu-Muslim unity. Seeing the rising demand for Independence from British Rule in India under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Britishers played a game, incited the Muslim leaders to demand separation from Hindus and also demanded Hindu-Muslim Unity from Mahatma Gandhi as a pre-condition for considering Independence of India from British Rule, With apparently good intentions and always inclined towards Peace, Mahatma Gandhi was searching for ways to fulfill the condition of Hindu-Muslim Unity imposed by the clever British Rulers. Mahatma Gandhi’s Khilafat Movement in 1921-22 failed miserably, caused untold misery to Hindus in Kerala Region; Hindu-Muslim relationship had become worse than before. Hindus had become very angry with Mahatma Gandhi, who now searched for a way to cool down the annoyance of Hindus against him. In his craving for love and non-violence, he coined this slogan “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” during his Jail-term in Yervada in September 1930. The slogan looked like a spiritual Vedic Mantra of a religious ature and as such, would appeal to Hindus. When Mahatma Gandhi consulted Kaka Sahib Kaletkar, who was his companion ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava /2 in the Yervada Jail, on this slogan, Kaka Sahib immediately cautioned Mahatma Gandhi against the new coinage, since he saw lack of truth in this new coinage and also great danger of misguiding the Hindus. Mahatma Gandhi was adamant, stuck to his new coinage, and repeated his newly coined slogan “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” in two continuous weekly letters to Sabarmati Ashram inmates, first letter on 23 September 1930 and the second letter on 30 September 1930. The slogan soon became very popular with Mahatma Gandhi's followers in the Congress Party. The slogan appealed to many Hindus outside Congress Party also, considering it to be a Vedic Mantra, Gullible Hindus became victims of a wrong slogan, coined with political intentions. Now-a-days, this wrong slogan goes around as a Vedic Mantra, which it is not. It is highly misleading, 2. Every Religion has three aspects ‘qj Relationship between man and God. ) Relationship between man and persons of the same religion. | Relationship between man and persons of other religions. In respect of aspects (a) and (b) above, all Religions teach about the same thing. But aspect (c) is the cause of all inter-eligious wars, including Hindu-Muslim problem. As Hindus, we are particularly interested in aspect (c) of other religions. Islam is absolutely clear that as per Allah’s Command, there shall be no other religion allowed to exist on the surface of the Earth, except Islam; Hinduism is totally against this destructive dictum of Islam, So also is Christianity opposed to the existence of Hinduism on this Earth. How can we then say that all religions ihe same thing? How can we ignore aspect (c) of other religions towards Hindus? 3. AS a result of the wrong advice and slogan “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” coined by Mahatma Gandhi and frequently quoted by many Hindus as a sign of tolerance, it has been going around with an equivalent addition: “All religions teach the same thing”. Having had great respect for Mahatma Gandhi, Hindus have got totally confused in their minds. Quite often, Hindus forget that the statement that “All religions teach the same thing” is true only in respect of aspects (a) and (b) stated above; itis absolutely untrue in respect of aspect (c) of other religions towards Hinduism. Hindus have been and are being misguided and confused on this subject. Even in official translation from Gujarati into English, the objection of Kaka Sahib Kalelkar including his name has been

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