A new model of secularism.

A new model of secularism.

Bhikhu Parekh in his op-ad, Cracking India, ( IE, Aug.27) has rightly pointed out the religious fault-lines in the secularism practiced in India. While religion was a moral force for Gandhiji, it was a divisive force for Nehru. Historically both are right. The humanistic ideals of the constitution namely, liberty,equality and fraternity which are also the ideals of all religions are the real pillars of secularism. As Parekh says, 'real touchstone is whether state respects all citizens equally, makes them equally welcome, and respects their identity'. The only way secularism can succeed or a modern state can function is by promoting mutual understanding between religions. Every citizen has to accept and respect the religion of his neighbour. This is possible if every student in India is taught the essentials of all religions – their ideals, their practices and the saints who represent their vision. When people find that all religions have proclaimed the same values of love, service, truth and non-violence, and especially, brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God, mis-understanding and hatred which has marked our recent history, would be a thing of the past. It has to be brought out to people that same values have been written in various languages in different times and climes. As has been well-said in the preamble to the UNESCO charter, " since wars begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defense of peace must be constructed."

A letter to The Indian Express, 28 August, 2008.

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India minus K-word.

 

India minus k-word.

Jug Suraiya has surpassed himself in his piece, India minus k-word (TOI,20/8). He can apply for Nobel peace prize along with Arundhati Roy ! Years ago I had read a book, Mission with Mountbatten written by his secretary, Alan Cambell-Johnson where he quotes Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as saying, ' cut the head to get rid of the head-ache' with reference to the division of India. The partition has not solved any problem. Pakistan has still to find a proper identity – the only identity it has is that of anti-India. At that time the slogan was, 'Islam in danger'. Now the slogan is, 'azadi'. With this slogan, Kashmiri pandits have been driven out of Kashmir – in the true spirit of 'ethnic cleansing'. Sufi Islam, the tolerant Islam, has been converted into Wahabi Islam, thanks to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Do these bleeding-heart 'liberals' want our country to surrender to every black-mail ? Do they want India to be a soft state – bend at every demand by die-hard fundamentalists ? Is giving some land to Amarnath Yatra, an act of colonialsm ?

India has been a democratic state for the last 61 years where every segment of the population has been given freedom of thought and expression, voice their grievances and get justice. It might not be an ideal state but has strived to be one. It has been well-said that when there is a general election, there is no need for a general strike. Similarly, when there is representation, there is no need for secession.

A letter sent to the Times of India, August 20, 2008.

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