Michael Messana

            Ever since the invasion of india by the  Mughals, there have been continuous tensions between Muslims and Hindus in India. Ranging from failed ancient attempts to reconcile the two religions to the modern divisions between these groups, their are many reasons for the Muslims and Hindus to dislike each other. However, past these differences, their base teachings not only allow for them to acknowledge each other, it also tells them to acknowledge each other. While both the ancient and modern conflicts cause dissent between their faiths, the solutions to these problems can be found in their own texts.

              Since the beginning, these two religious groups have been in conflict over their differences. Besides the fact that the Muslims conquered the Hindus, their were many religious issues separating  these groups as well. In an attempt to rectify the situation as Akbar, the third ruler of the Mughals, tried to combine all of the religions into one, central. Naturally, this failed to succeed, causing heavy dissent. This eventually calmed down, but soon resurfaced after the Indians gained independance. The Muslims began to realize that the hindus felt superior over them when they should be working together. This caused a major divide between the two religions, resulting in discrimination on both sides, leading to the spread of poverty.

Despite their differences, however, in terms of their basic tenets they should be working together. One of the basic tenets of many religions is “know your fellow man.” However, many religions discriminate against others over political issues, or simply social discriminations. They must remember that, as religions that focus on peace, they must extend this hand of peace to other religions as well. For example, in the Qur’an, Muslims are required to “know each other.” (el Fadl, ch.10) This does not focus on just Muslims, but all the peoples of the world. They are supposed to get to learn from other people of the world, and get to truly know them. Maybe then, can change occur in India.

Work Cited

Abou, El Fadl, Khaled. The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists. New York, NY: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005. Print. Chapter 10.

Stacy Castillo
Religion plays many roles in the Indian society. Religion can not only be the solution to poverty and hunger but is a major contributor and cause of poverty and hunger. Religion, depending on the followers, can harm India even more than it already has when it comes to poverty and hunger. In India there are many religions and they all come in contact and have conflict which can cause discrimination which can be one way that religion causes hunger. There are about 6 religions in all of the country of India and they all have different affects on the society and they all harm it but can also help to be the solution.
  The caste system is one of the results in society in India from the religion there. The caste system contributes hugely to the poverty in India because of the way it is set up and the views they enlist. The caste system promotes discrimination against people and causes people to look down on others because they are on a lower level in the caste system. The caste system does not promote helping the less fortunate, in fact it promotes avoiding them completely. In a website, the author wrote "Poverty is deepest among members of scheduled castes and tribes in the country's rural areas" (IFAD) which shows that the caste system creates poverty in society. Along with this website, an article published online stated that for a Muslim religious leader the Muslim community is largely to blame for its poverty (Carvalho) which just furthers show that religion causes poverty because even religious leaders believe it.
Although religion causes poverty in society in India, it can also be the solution for poverty. Many religions promote helping the less fortunate but if people don't follow the religion correctly discrimination can be a result instead. If certain beliefs that religions have that discriminate against people were changed then religion can be just a solution instead of a problem as well. If one religion changes and becomes better for society as a whole, major changes will be seen in the poverty of the country. Change as a whole can not happen until small changes in religions that discriminate don't occur.


Work Cited
 Carvalho, Nirmala. "INDIA Some Muslim Practices Cause Poverty, Muslim Religious Leader Says - Asia News." INDIA Some Muslim Practices Cause Poverty, Muslim Religious Leader Says - Asia News. AsiaNews.it, 18 June 2010. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Some-Muslim-practices-cause-poverty,-Muslim-religious-leader-says-18719.html>.


 IFAD. "Powered by IFAD." Home. IFAD. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/web/guest/country/home/tags/india>.

Radhika Kapadia

Religion is a major factor that causes poverty and hunger in India.  Home to a socially divisive caste system, though virtually eliminated within major cities, India still discriminates harshly in rural villages.  There are designations given to the lowest caste, consisting of those formerly associated with the designation of “untouchables” amongst others.  The untouchables often receive the dregs and leftovers of the upper class’s meals, and sometimes do not receive anything.  With the major members of the upper class holding on to a majority of the food and wealth, members of the lower castes are beyond starvation.   

 The country of India is home to religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.  “The majority of the country identifies with the Hindu faith, about 82 percent.  Islam represents about 12 percent of all Indians, while Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism represent much smaller percentages of people – 2.5 percent, 2 percent, .7 percent, and .5 percent, respectively.”  (Ghosh)  The multiplicity of religions in India can contribute to the poverty issues in the area.  With religious conflicts, particularly between Hindus and Muslims, poverty is increased as one religion may withhold food and other necessities from another. For example, Muslims, whose religion is centered on charity as one of the five pillars of the faith, restrict help to only other Muslims and choose not to aid other religions.  Resentment by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, is clearly sown in this religious exclusion by Muslims.

Religion, despite being a factor of major poverty issues, can also be a platform for major social change in India.  The multiplicity of religions can be used to the advantage of the Indian people, if they only realize that religious rituals and ways of worship are different, but that devotion remains the same.  Taking the example of the Muslim charter that serves only other Muslims, it is evident that if Muslims help alleviate the problems of other Indian citizens by aiding them as well, religious tensions will dissipate and the issue of poverty can begin to recede.  Beginning at the individual, religion can help be a force for major change, if only Indians are willing to look beyond the confines of rituals and traditions and are willing to help one another on a devotional basis rather than a ritualistic one.  

Works Cited: 

Ghosh, Bobby. Poverty in India: An Empirical Analysis. Docstoc. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.docstoc.com/docs/49827803/Examining-Poverty-in-India>.

Catherine Rong

India is home to a variety of religion's, from Hinduism to Jainism. With this information, it can be assumed that India is religiously tolerant. A common misconception is that religion's purpose is positive on society. This is false; today there are hunger strikes that add to the hunger crisis in India.

India in the twentieth century started the use of hunger strikes, which were “in tune with new ideas about hunger, vitamins and famine, as well as with the prison reform movement” (Lennon). The strike would enable the use of the press, bringing government and public awareness to the issues in India. (Lennon) With this strategic thought, the use of starving oneself seemed like a solution to resolve state problems. However, a hunger strike is essentially based on the premise that the stakeholder will give up as it is a life and death situation. If the stakeholder decides not to act, a life is lost; it is sad and depressing if death happens due to a hunger strike. What India requires in the case of corruption and other evils is not so much pressure tactics through hunger strikes, but nationwide movements in solidarity with all citizens to create awareness about issues at stake.

 The role of religion in today's society is to help heal the individual. When individuals are healed, families are healed, and when families are healed, society is healed. Most of the problems of today's society can be repaired through following religious moral codes, one example is Jainism, “While Jains comprise less than 1% of India’s population, they contribute more than half of all the money donated in India to provide medical and other social assistance to India’s poor people” (Lam). The principles of many religions lead to aiding the less fortunate, who do not have access to basic necessities. With selflessness and service action, the helping mentality can make people donate to a worthy cause and move towards an end to Indian hunger.

Works Cited

Lam, Victoria. "Vegetarianism and Religion." Mar. 2008. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~soa29/Religious%20Issues.htm>;.

Lennon, Joseph. "Spartacus Educational." Spartacus Educational. July 2009. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Whunger.htm>.

How has religion been the major contributing factor to the mass hunger issues in India?  How can it become the force for change?

Hunger and Disease With Women in India.

Michael

As a whole, India is the second-most populous country in the world, and faces severe problems with poverty and disease. However, both of these problems have a major driving force in the treatment of women in India. Oftentimes, especially in rural India, women are considered to be second place to men. Women are the last to eat, the least educated, and the most (Coonrad).  As a result of these discriminations, many women live at the worst end of the spectrum of Indian life, due to the social status given to them.

In Indian tradition, women are always treated as second-class. Although the Indian constitution considers women as equals to men, social traditions are much more difficult to remove from the people. These traditions are what keep a woman in India down in many rights which they should share equally with men. According to Coonrad, the main rule governing women is that “nothing must be done independently, even if it is her own house.” These rules, passed down from patriarch to patriarch, show that this prejudice is long-standing and hard to remove. However, it is one of the main sources of India’s problems.

This treatment of women supports disease and poverty in India. Women, being the ones that the last and the least, are always the ones who are the most malnourished. This then leads to the malnourished children they give birth to , perpetuating the cycle of hunger (Coonrad). Also, they are also in charge of taking care of their entire families, meaning that they must continuously work all their lives, leading to stress related issues. And finally, they always receive less health care than men. These problems and more perpetuate the condition of women in India, and demonstrates the brutality of these social standards.

Work Cited

Coonrad, Carol S. "Chronic Hunger and the Status of Women in India." Empowering Women and Men to End Their Own Hunger. The Hunger Project, June 1998. Web. 08 May 2012. <http://www.thp.org/reports/indiawom.htm>

Deaths Caused by Poor Healthcare

Catherine Rong

     Over the past few years, India has displayed growing self reliance and has gained more acknowledgements from other world powers. However, even after more than five decades of self-governance, India’s health progresses are not outstanding. The causes of death are due to large-scale poverty and failure of government healthcare policies.

     According to Gethin Chamberlain, India’s state healthcare was supposed to be opened to all and supply both the rich and poor with the necessary healthcare, but to date they have failed to do that. (Chamberlain) They have not been out to reach the slum areas and get them the healthcare they deserve. While government hospitals offer high standards of care, are overcrowded, and if they are short of the required medicines, patients are asked to pay for themselves. (Chamberlain) Under the circumstances for the poor, receiving medical attention is near impossible. As a result India’s death toll rises. This is something that should not be happening but unfortunately it is, due to the healthcare being unattended by the government. In the meantime, private health care has surged and now accounts for the majority of India's medical provision, giving access to the best facilities one for those who can afford to pay for it.

     Healthcare is considered a luxury in India. Economically, people who live in slums are too far from the hospitals to receive treatment. With no way to use public transportation, the Indian people turn to “cheap, unreliable, and unregulated” (Chamberlain) doctors for a cure. There, they are being vaccinated with syringes used more than 10 times on different people with different diseases. (Aparajita) This leads them to get more illnesses and exposes them to death much faster. While "India's economy will be the fastest-growing by next year… it ranks 171st out of 175 countries for public health spending” (Chamberlain) the poor are disproportionately affected due to the country’s failing to provide adequate healthcare for the low income majority of its one billion people.

Works Cited:


Aparajita, A.V. Ramanakumar: Burden Of Disease In Rural India: An Analysis Through Cause Of Death. The Internet Journal of Third World Medicine. 2005 Volume 2 Number 2 Web. 07 May 2012


Chamberlain, Gethin. "Two Million Slum Children Die Every Year as India Booms." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 03 Oct. 2009. Web. 07 May 2012.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/india-slums-children-death-rate;. 

Diseases in India

Stacy Castillo

        India, unfortunately, struggles with huge problems that affect most of their people and leaves many of them dead. Issues that India struggles with that affect their country include issues such as hunger, poverty, diseases, inequality, human trafficking, etc. Hunger is not the only major issue within India, disease is one of them too. Diseases affect the people of India just as much, if not more, than hunger does. Diseases are everywhere in India,  but the diseases in the slums of India are the ones that are doing the worst damage. There are many causes for the spread of such terrible diseases in India but the major causes are clearly the environmental issues in India and the increasing poverty in the country.

         The primary environmental issues in India that cause diseases are the various types of pollution in the country. India has the worst air pollution in the world, causing its citizens diseases like asthma and other respiratory problems. The air pollution in India can cause diseases such as heart disease  and cancer and the causes are mainly from globalization. The causes of India's pollution,  according to Ganapti Information Technology Services are specifically emissions from vehicles, thermal power plants, industries and refineries (Ganapati Information Technology Services). Water pollution can also cause many diseases because the people are not using or drinking clean water.  Instead, they are using and drinking contaminated water that can cause numerous diseases. The horrible environmental issues they struggle with are a huge cause for the spread of diseases.

           The increasing poverty in the country is also a huge cause because now there are more people living packed in the slums of India and there is less food for people. The more packed living environments, the faster diseases will spread because there is constant contact between people in these living environments. The lack of food in the slums causes the people to look for food and eat what they can find, which might sometimes be food off the ground or left-over food. Eating food off the ground or eating someone else's left-overs that were found in the garbage  cause a huge increase in diseases because some food may even contain diseases (Cultural Intelligent Collaborators). The increasing poverty in the country is a major cause of the diseases in India because of the living environments and the lack of food there is for the people. 

Work Cited

Cultural Intelligent Collaborators. "Food, Pollution and Money." Living Conditions in Indian Slums. Google, 2010. Web. 04 May 2012. <https://sites.google.com/site/livingconditionsinindianslums/introduction-to-sl/environment/food-pollution-and-money>.

Ganapati Information Technology Services. "Environmental Pollution in India." Welcome to Gits4u.com. Ganapati Information Technology Services. Web. 04 May 2012. <http://www.gits4u.com/envo/envo4.htm>.

Addressing Hunger: What's the Problem?

Radhika Kapadia

As an emerging global powerhouse of the early 21^st century, the subcontinent of India is home to over 1.2 billion citizens of the world.  Despite a flourishing economy and a growing commercial empire, India continually fails to feed its poor, making it home to the hungriest people in the world, superseding China, the world’s most populated country.  A variety of factors can be attributed to the cause of hunger and poverty in India, but it is evident that economic failure and bad investments, coupled with a severe lack of political will are two major issues that lead to starvation, disease and death within Indian society.

Despite housing one of the fastest growing global economies of the world, India is home to half of the world’s malnourished children.  A factor of this growing crisis can be attributed to the fact that India fails to invest in agriculture and small farms, and instead focuses on western industry and business (Gethin).  A clear influence of the British Raj in India, it is evident that the British’s own insistence on westernizing their former colony led to its current focus on industry and business and its failure to invest in the small farms of its country. The failure of the government to invest in the small farms of its country leads to the inevitable failure of these farms and a cycle of debt arises that puts these farms out of food, eventually leading to starvation and death (Gethin).  Reports by BBC News indicate that “"Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh.”   The Indian failure to focus on the agricultural sector of the economy is one of the major factors that leads to the continual starvation and death of its people.  

A lack of political will is also one of the central reasons for the poverty and death within Indian society.  Statistics by the Indian government itself indicate “around 60% of more than 10 million children in the state were malnourished” (BBC News).  The Indian government is clearly aware of the situation of its people, and fails to properly address it.   The Indian government lacks the will to provide for the hungry citizens in villages, and focuses primarily on big business cities such as Mumbai.  For example, when the Supreme Court of India directed the government to release 2.5 million tons of grain to feed the poor, the government cited high transportation costs as one of the reasons it could not carry out the mandate (Shreyasi).  A government that lacks the will but has the resources to provide for its people is clearly one of the primary reasons for the poverty that plagues Indian villages such as Mritigand, India (Shreyasi).    Despite promises of a new food security bill to provide cheap food for the poor, there continue to remain starving people in villages.  A lack of political will is one of the main reasons for disease, death and starvation in India.