Teachings to Maintain Coexistence in a Plural Society: An Indian Perspective with Reference to Hinduism and Islam.

Coexistence is a state in which two or more groups are living together while respecting their differences and resolving their conflicts nonviolently. Coexistence has been defined in numerous ways i.e.to exist together (in time or place) and to exist in mutual tolerance, to learn to recognize and live with difference, to have a relationship between persons or groups in which none of the parties is trying to destroy the other, to interact with a commitment to tolerance, mutual respect, and the agreement to settle conflicts without recourse to violence. Coexistence is only a first stage that necessarily has to be followed by more progressive steps of equal integration on the way to constructing a multicultural society At the core of coexistence is the awareness that individuals and groups differ in numerous ways including class, ethnicity, religion, gender, and political inclination. A state of coexistence provides psychological and physical conditions for individuals, organizations, and/or communities to reduce tensions, and for peacemakers to attempt to resolve the causes of the conflict. Teachings for coexistence refers to the process through which society members are supposed to acquire the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that are in line with the ideas of coexistence The objectives of education for coexistence are to form values, motivations, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and behavior patterns among children and adolescents that are conducive to coexistence. On a practical level, teachings for coexistence requires transmission of knowledge, creation of experiences, and development of skills which can help to develop the psychological repertoire that accepts, recognizes respects, legitimizes, humanizes, and personalizes the rival or discriminated group. The present paper will discuss the role of Hindu and Islamic teaching to maintain a culture of coexistence in a plural society. The main question of this article is what methods, principles and strategies have been offered by these two major religions to its followers to enable them live with other human beings in peaceful manner. On the other hand this paper explores the provisions of Indian constitution for peaceful coexistence. In the end I will discuss what are the threads and challenges of peaceful coexistence in Indian society and how we can resolve it.