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Making Decisions Based on Fear
This way lies disaster
I recently wrote an article on the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence:
One thing that was tragic about the birth of India — it led to partition of the subcontinent.
Why?
Because of fear.
The Muslims, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were afraid to live in a majority Hindu country. Some Hindus and Sikhs were afraid of Muslims. These groups had lived together in relative peace for centuries, but they made a decision based on fear.
One person who was not afraid — Mahatma Gandhi.
He wanted India to stick together. He thought that all Indians were brothers and sisters regardless of their faith. He was so unafraid of the Muslims that he proposed giving the Muslim League the leadership over the first Indian government.
What if Indians had been ruled by reason and common sense instead of fear?
Think how much more powerful India would be today if it hadn’t split up.
