The binding link, though occasionally fragile, among all religions, is the perennial aspiration for union with Godhead or salvation of the soul. But today's world is ravaged by religious intolerance and strife. In this context, the Canadian novelist, Yann Martel, stresses the urgency of religious harmony in his intensely moving novel, Life of Pi. Pi Patel, the chief protagonist of the novel, careers through the entire gamut of the religious practices of multiple faiths Hinduism (into which he was born), Islam and Christianity (which he picked up and welcomed unreservedly)and lives a life of glorious synthesis, fully realizing the oneness that lies beneath all the apparent dissensions, made much of by pseudo-secularists. The ethos of integration would hopefully provide a corrective course to the modern world.
Every
human being is endowed with an insatiable thirst for
God, for which he seeks gratification through religion.
Religion is the medium that facilitates realization
of God through certain beliefs, customs and practices.
A glimpse of India will open before us a plurality of
religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity
are a few among them. All religions aim at union with
God or salvation of soul.
India,
the land of diversity, was known for its religious tolerance
and national integrity; but now one is shocked by the
reign of anarchy evolving out of religious strife. Even
in the midst of these dark demonic actions, men of ideals
and vision shed some light. Yann Martel's novel Life
of Pi is a classic example of this. This article
is an attempt to explore the religious elements which
invigorated Pi Patel, the protagonist of the novel,
to confront the bitter realities as a castaway in the
Pacific Ocean. An
acquaintance with the central aspects of Hinduism, Christianity
and Islam is of immense help in perceiving the role
played by each religion in Pi's life. Every religion
pursues different paths in their conception of God and
personal salvation.
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