Right Deed Wrong Reason

Posted by Harsh Nevatia Oct 28, 2006

This week I would like to digress from the subject of Hinduism to put down some thoughts on religion in general. These thought came to mind as I was reading through T.S.Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. These lines said by Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury towards the end of Part I made me put down the book and think a while.

“The last temptation is the greatest treason:

To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”

The Archbishop was contemplating whether he was on a collision course with the King for the good of the church alone or was the desire of fame as a martyr spurring him on. Only when he was convinced beyond doubt that there was no personal element involved was his mind at ease.

Today the world is facing severe religious strife. And India is no exception. Here we have several religious bodies (and bodies who seek support in the name of religion) from all religions – Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism – who do not lose any opportunity for raising religious fervor. No one denies that such organizations have every right to support and defend their subscribers. But the strident tones and confrontationist postures they display are most unreligious. More and more one is beginning to doubt the intentions of such organizations. It is apparent that they are doing perhaps “the right deed” for definitely “the wrong reason”. Maybe they are seeking media mileage to promote themselves and hence increase their funding. Maybe they are garnering a vote bank for their political affiliates. This is what I have seen in India but I guess it is the same everywhere else.

I believe that religious organizations need to tone down their statements, whether active or reactive. I believe that they need to do this voluntarily. I believe that before they take a stand they must introspect and be sure that they are acting not for the wrong reason. However I do not see religious organizations acting in the aforesaid manner. Hence it is up to us as individuals to create the balance. Before we support any religious stand or activity we must be clear in our minds that it is the right deed and that it is not being conducted for the wrong reason.