These days we are witnesses of a colossal battle, taking place on the Indian subcontinent - the battle between Hinduism and Islam. On one side there are 850 millions Hindus, and on the other - 400 millions Muslims. For many this battle remains unseen, for others it is quite tangible, but in any case it is merciless and it's outcome is of key significance for the future of Asia and the world.

The collision between Hinduism and Islam is not new in history; it dates back to more than a millennium ago. However, nowadays it has reached its final stage when a winner must come out. For many centuries Muslims, whose religion is of foreign, non-Hindu origin, gradually gained ground in the Indian subcontinent and increased their number. As a result they are now one third of South Asia's population. On the other hand, Hindus' behavior can be characterized as passive and retreating.

But can this centuries-old process of Islam's advance and Hinduism's retreating be stopped and reversed? Although it may sound incredible, this is maybe possible. To answer this question, at first we must compare the two religions, their characteristics, advantages and flaws, and most of all, determine which of the two systems fits in greater extent in the requirements and spirit of the Modern Age. For in the last two hundred years, the world has changed radically in comparison to the past ages, when the principal human religions have been created.

In my opinion, to fit in the spirit of modernity, a religion must have four principal characteristics:

1. Intellectuality. It must correspond to the high intellectual aspirations of contemporary man, and has to logically explain its main postulates and phenomena, which no longer can be accepted by mere faith. In other words, it must stand the critics of the ever-mistrustful mind.
2. Liberalism. It must give enough freedom for individuals to chose their lifestyle and thinking. The religion must not forcefully impose decisions. It must be compatible with contemporary democracy.
3. Tolerance. It must be pacifistic, not fanatic, and must propagate among its followers' tolerance and understanding for other people's thinking and faith. Without this the planet will continue to be a scene of wars and religious conflicts, which is inadmissible in the 21st century.
4. And not in the last place, modern religion must popularize the idea for equality of all human beings and in no way tolerate class, national or sexual segregation. In other words, modern society does not tolerate ideologies, conceptions and theories that stand for inequality and privileges for some groups to the detriment of others.

Let's see if the two religions, subject of this article - Hinduism and Islam - fit in the four conditions above.

Without doubt, Hinduism conforms to the first three conditions: and in greater extent than any other religion of the world. Hindus' philosophy is very intellectual, and the philosophical system Vedanta is undoubtedly the highest level of mind, ever reached by humankind. Actually, it is able to give answers to every question that human mind could ask. The millions of Westerners that are now interested in Hinduism are a clear proof for this.

On the other hand, Hinduism has always been a democratic system, and India is the only Eastern country that has never known despotism and was never ruled with totalitarian methods. It has always been open and tolerant to all kind of foreign influence and ideology, and this is because of the great tolerance of Hinduism. Hindus are the only people in the world that has never begun conquering wars against other peoples.

However, when comparing the compatibility of Hinduism with the fourth condition, we run into serious problem. The caste system, which for thousands of years has been the fundament of Indian society, obviously is inconsistent with the spirit of equality of all human beings, which is so characteristic for our time. For many all over the world the caste system is a mark of slavery, unfairness and regression. This system is a big problem for India's image as a country, but is also a great danger for Indian society, because when they feel oppressed, humiliated and abused, people can easily abandon the religion that has caused this and convert to other, which will respect their dignity and human rights. Hundreds of millions of harijans and people of the lower Indian castes can be easily tempted to adopt another, more equalizing religion like Islam, Christianity or Buddhism. This is why as long as the caste system exists, Hinduism will continue to be in great danger, notwithstanding the successes and advancement in all other domains of life.

So, as a summary of the fitness of Hinduism to exist as a modern religion, it clearly is compatible with the first three conditions and not with the last one. Hence, Hinduism is rather in harmony than in dissonance with the spirit of our time. In other words, it has the chance to survive and adapt to the challenges of the third millennium - of course, only if the necessary social reforms are done.

How about Islam? Will it be able to adapt to the new reality?
Problems arise already with its compatibility with the first condition. Obviously, Islam and its philosophy are too simple and naive and they do not stand any intellectual critics. The power of this religion over the souls of its followers is based mainly on some inner feeling, intuition, on the voice of the heard, not on the voice of mind. Of course this inner feeling is of key importance for all religions, but in our time it is not enough. A religion must stand intellectual critics too, it must logically prove its postulates and cannot simply require that its followers blindly believe in them. And Islam is not able to achieve this.

This religion is in no way compatible with the third condition. Islamic civilization is based on the idea that as there is only one God every people must be ruled despotically by a sole person, which fully disagrees with modern democratic principles. Moreover, with its sacred law - the Sheriat - Islam forces its followers to obey moral and ethical principles that can be only voluntarily adopted; for every violation of these rules external punishments are imposed, with all severity of the law.

To speak about Islam and peacefulness is the same as claming that the Vatican and Comministic party of Soviet Union could be in friendly terms. An eloquent proof for this are the thousands of innocent people that every year are killed by Muslim extremists. Although Western politicians insist that Islamic aggression is not in the nature of this religion but is caused by isolated fanatic groups, this claim obviously is far from reality. Anyone can see the proof of it in the Koran and the suras about pagans and infidels.
So, with its inability to adapt to modern principles of religious tolerance, global all-human thinking and fraternity of all cultures, Islam meets its greatest challenge, and if it does not overcome this, it will be doomed to disappear as a factor in human history.

Islam is compatible only with the fourth condition. There is no doubt that this religion propagates the idea of equality of all its followers, it does not allow privileges of some social groups at the expense of others. Fraternity and equality of all Muslims are risen in cult and this is the greatest strength of this religion. That is why Islam is so dangerous for Hinduism. But even in this respect there is an obstacle - women rights. The discrimination towards women and their humiliating position is an open wound in the Muslim community.

As demonstrated above, Hinduism fits in three of the four requirements for a modern religion, while Islam is compatible only with one and is in complete disagreement with the others. In other words, Hinduism - at least theoretically - has considerably bigger chance to survive in the third millennium - of course if it copes with its caste conservativeness. In India, Hinduism has a greater advantage to Islam - it is the national religion of this country, its spirit and manifestation of its ancient history. On the other hand, Islam is no more than a foreign ideology, and is in most cases forcefully imposed. This fact remains to be fully understood by Muslim intellectuals not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the gradual education of the Muslim community on the subcontinent. Like seven hundred years ago, in spite of its religious fanaticism, Catholic Europe discovered its Antique roots and paid homage to the ancient "pagan" cultures of Greece and Rome, Muslims in India will sooner or later open their minds for the great and glorious past of their country and their history - and the most precious fruit of this history is Hinduism.

Of course, all this theoretical reasoning about the flaws of Islam and its possible displacing by Hinduism may turn to be mere speculations. The millennium-lasting advance of Muhammad's religion through the sacred land of the Vedas continues in full speed and if this process is not stopped, very soon it may turn irreversible.
What should do the Hindus and should they do anything of all to divert this danger and turn things in their favor?

There are two possible lines of attitude that at first glance may look equally profitable.
The first may be called Patience and Indifference Tactics, and the second: Tactics of Deliberately Caused Tension. What are they?

A well known fact is, that when a minority group is not put under open aggression for a long time these people are inclined to relax and demobilize, they more easily accept outer influence and adapt in the specific situation. In other words, if the Muslim minority in India is not exposed to stress, the surrounding Hundu majority can easily assimilate it; Muslims will more willingly listen to Hindus' reasoning and accept their influence. If Muslims in India do not feel Hindus' hatred, they will ease their expansion and will accept the politics of family planning, for high birth rates in Muslim families is an intentional defensive act for demographic dominance in perspective. So, at first glance, it looks that if

Hindus adopt the tactics of patience and tolerance towards the Muslims, the latter will diminish their demographic growth and eventually can be assimilated.
The truth however is different. History has shown that the millennium-long tolerant and in some extent indifferent attitude of Hindus towards Muslims has not done any good. The result is centuries-long humiliation and submission under the conquerors. Passiveness and tolerance did not help and failed completely.

In fact, currently another, much more powerful factor is being opposed to the Patience and Indifference Tactics. The European ideas for social equality, more and more spreading through India, tempt millions of Hindus to abandon their religion and accept any other that stands for equality of all individuals. If there is no religious tension in Indian society, Hindus will not mobilize, and if they are not mobilized and unified against the Islamic danger, they will more easily abandon their religion. That is why it looks as if Hindus could benefit from the forcefully imposed tension with Muslims because nothing causes the followers of a religion to unite more than a common enemy. The danger of the growth of Muslim population with 1-2 millions a year as a result of disobedience to the birth control program is a child's play in comparison to the danger of three hundred millions of harijans, shudras and vaishas abandoning Hinduism. Therefore the conclusion should be made that, in order to survive, the Hindu community in India must chose the Tactics of Deliberately Caused Tension, the confrontation towards Muslims - a regretful but the only right conclusion.

Not until the danger of lower castes abandoning their religion is over, Hindus can return to their traditional politics of tolerance and assimilate Muslims in their religion. At the very beginning Hinduism needs to be protected and only after that it will be able to get on the offensive.

At first the idea for a Hindu nation and Hindu belonging has to be created and consolidated, which will unite the whole community. A powerful instrument in this respect is the religious education in schools. The fact that in this course Muslims in Indian schools will study the Koran should not be a worry because they are taught in the spirit of fundamentalism anyway. On the other hand, secular education should not be neglected because thus a sense of national belonging and patriotism is being created in the Indian Muslims and in time this can be used as a powerful lever for their conversion to Hinduism.

Of course, to begin with, the pundits and scholars in Benares have to come out of their conservative shell and create a special ritual for the converting of non-Hindus to Hinduism like the rituals used by Christian missionaries and Muslim mullahs for centuries.