Toshi Ao, Dimapur
The recent outbreak of Coronavirus on the face of the earth has activated different religions of the world (and its believers) to do selfless charitable works especially for the needy human beings (and even doing good works beyond the man-made religion/denomination boundaries). “For If You Love Those Who Love You, What Reward Have You? Do Not Even The Tax Collectors Do The Same? (Matthew 5:46, The Holy Bible). Is it not the time to do good works by going even beyond one’s own religion’s boundary?
Under the Nagaland State scenario, different religions and its believers are also voluntarily starting to help those suffering people who have been caught unaware in the present crisis. The total number of population in Nagaland was 19,78,502 (2011 census), which may be divided religion-wise as follows:(1) Hindus - 1,73,118 (8.75%); (2) Islam - 47,484 (2.47 %); (3) Christian -17,39,696 (87.93 %); (4)Sikh-1975 (0.10 %); (5) Buddhist - 6,726 (0.34 %); (6). Jain - 2,572 (0.13 %); and others - 5,539 (0.28 %). In a time like this, helping only those needy people who comes within the purview of one’s own religion/denomination will not reflect well for that particular religion/denomination. The poor believers of different religions in Nagaland and elsewhere have been contributing for the enrichment of their respective treasuries for the past many years. Now, it is time for different religions to extent assistance to its needy members; and (if possible) even to other fellow human beings who are practising another religion/denomination.
