IS INDIA A SECULAR STATE:...? Secularism in theory means that religion and state cannot occupy the same space. The state in its governmental capacity does not promote any religion or religious group, nor does it intervene in religious affairs. It cannot even be involved in interpretation or reform of any religion much less favour one over any other Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said: I swear by my religion, I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The State has nothing to do with it. The State would look after your secular welfare, health, communications, foreign relations, currency and so on, but not your or my religion. That is everybodys personal concern!! In India for long Hindutva forces have been accusing that secularism pampers the Muslims . It is precisely on this charge that the Father of Indian Nationalism, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated by one of the votaries of Hindutva. In post independent era interpretation of Secularism differs from individual to individual. Different political parties define secularism in their own way. Congress Party though claimed to be most secular party of India yet during Congress rule Muslims faced discrimination in almost every field . Written Constitution of India though guarantees equal rights to all its citizens but how far Congress regime implemented the constitution is debatable. Although freedom of religion is granted under the constitution’s Article 25 (1), a Congress government of Madhya Pradesh pioneered anti-conversion legislation during the heyday of Nehru in 1954. Since then as many as 7 state legislatures (Arunachal, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tripura) have passed laws severely restricting conversion from Hinduism to other religions while facilitating conversion to Hinduism.In 1982, when a few hundred Dalits embraced Islam in Meenakshipuram, the central government took measures to curb conversions. No less than Indira Gandhi characterized conversions as a threat to national security. Article 290A of the Constitution, which was added in 1956, provides for Kerala state funds to be paid for the upkeep of Hindu temples and shrines in the territories of former princely state of Tranvancore. What state but a denominational one would spend government funds to promote a particular religion? The states of Gujarat and UP spent government funds to rebuild the Somanatha Temple around the same time when Babari Mosque was locked up. It was President Rajendra Prasad who inaugurated the rebuilt temple in 1951 amidst official fanfare. As Per Presidential orders of 1950 and 1956 the beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes’ reservation can only be Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists but not Christians and Muslims. If an Scheduled Caste changes religion after obtaining employment or admission to school, he or she must forfeit job and withdraw from school as has happened in numerous instances. But if the Scheduled Caste reverts to Hinduism, he or she can resume his/her status as an Scheduled Caste as courts have ruled. Textbooks of history and social studies are replete with gross distortions of Indian history of all eras, ancient, medieval and modern, The biggest area of concern now , is that the state has emerged to be complicit, as an actor and player in mounting this challenge to Indian pluralism, which goes under the name of Hindutva. In a country with over 140 million Muslims and million of Christians, to say nothing of hundreds of other castes and communities, this can have very dangerous consequences.All efforts at making India a powerful and progressive nation will be useless until secularism is not practiced in its real spirit.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:03:59 +0000
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