DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.611#0138
CHAPTER VI.
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE AND SIGNIFICANCE
OF BENARES.
IT is quite clear that in attempting to deal with this
phase of the life of Benares we must concentrate
our attention on those features of it which appear
to bear on the general tendency of the religious life and
destiny of the people of Benares and of India. Much
must pass unnoticed, which, though deeply interesting,
does not appear to have important bearings on this.
It is on this ground that we propose to pass over
the Mahommedan community, numerically strong though
it be, constituting about one quarter of the population.
In thus passing it over there is not the slightest implica-
tion that the Mahommedans are an unimportant factor
in the general life of Benares. This is far from being the
case. From the industrial standpoint, they are very
important; in the Courts (and litigation looms large in
Indian life) they are quite prominent and efficient; in
civic life, moreover, they are taking their full share.
Yet to one living in, and familiar with, Benares, there
comes the strong feeling that in trying to grapple with
the religious life of this city of Kashi, and to read its
significance, the Mahommedan section of the population
does not mean all that the number of its followers might
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE AND SIGNIFICANCE
OF BENARES.
IT is quite clear that in attempting to deal with this
phase of the life of Benares we must concentrate
our attention on those features of it which appear
to bear on the general tendency of the religious life and
destiny of the people of Benares and of India. Much
must pass unnoticed, which, though deeply interesting,
does not appear to have important bearings on this.
It is on this ground that we propose to pass over
the Mahommedan community, numerically strong though
it be, constituting about one quarter of the population.
In thus passing it over there is not the slightest implica-
tion that the Mahommedans are an unimportant factor
in the general life of Benares. This is far from being the
case. From the industrial standpoint, they are very
important; in the Courts (and litigation looms large in
Indian life) they are quite prominent and efficient; in
civic life, moreover, they are taking their full share.
Yet to one living in, and familiar with, Benares, there
comes the strong feeling that in trying to grapple with
the religious life of this city of Kashi, and to read its
significance, the Mahommedan section of the population
does not mean all that the number of its followers might