CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS?

The violent events that are unfolding all over the world are being dubbed as a prelude to the “clash of civilizations”. But I wonder if “civilizations,” which are based on the very foundations of civility can clash. As the former President of India Shri K.R.Narayanan articulated, “it is not civilisations that clash but barbarism. Civilizations give rise to dialogue, cross fertilisation of ideas and the confluence of different streams of mankind.”

Having said that, it is important to take cognizance of the fact that “dissonance between creed and deed is the root of innumerable wrongs in our civilization… which gives institutions and men split personalities.” This requires correction and that can be achieved only through peaceful means and pasive resistance, by establishing a harmonic relationship between doctrine and deed.

Misconstructing and integrating barbaric acts of violence to certain cultures or civilizations only lays the foundation for pitting the “our” against the “other.” A discourse on such a constructed dichotomy and clash between the perceived otherness further deepens the chasm. This can have catastrophic consequences. Therefore, such an approach is misconstructed and it is important for us to take cognizance of this, as “it is imperative that, for a better tomorrow, interaction among nations be based on coexistence not conflict, co-operation not confrontation, concord not coercion”.

Shrenik