Redefining ‘secularism’
JYOTHIRLLATA GIRIJA
According to Chamber’s dictionary, secularism means – “not connected with religion” while the Oxford says “not involving or belonging to religion”. Therefore, a secular state is one that doesn’t give importance to the religions practised by its peoples. This shouldn’t mean, however, a secular nation should ignore when its peoples do such things as would cause rifts among various faiths. All religions came into being in this w
orld at various stages of its evolution only with a view to making the people more cultured. While this is true in respect of all religions, according to Mahatma Gandhi, Hinduism is the most tolerant of all and its followers had never preached conversion. He concluded thus only after going through the scriptures of several prominent religions in an unbiased manner, typical of him, and, in fine, decided to remain a Hindu.
Spirit of Hindutva
When once an American approached Shri Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi mutt (called maha periyavar) for getting converted as a Hindu, saying he’d been attracted by the tenets of Hinduism, he advised him to remain a Christian as Christianity was also a noble religion and no one need get converted as all the religions preached universal brotherhood and love. A few Hindu militants emerged here and there only after the aliens who arrived in India provoked them or forcibly converted them. But their number has been too insignificant as otherwise India won’t be the multi-religious country that it is.
To show the other cheek also when one thrashes you on one may be a laudable motto but it shouldn’t be practised where national security is involved. Most probably aiming at Nobel Peace Prize - or wanting to be called nobler ones – our rulers are running buses and trains between India and Pakistan! This must have obviously helped Pakistani militants arrive in India in the garb of commoners. The former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, criticised Jawaharlal Nehru for having taken the Kashmir issue to the Security Council, but what did he do when there was an attack on the Parliament by Pakistani militants? He reported the matter to Mr. Bush! Why should Mr. Bush or anybody else decide the fate of our country?
Ridiculous reactions
So, when it comes to getting the acclaim of other countries for being secular, these rulers will follow the tenets of Hinduism to a ridiculous extremism, while misinterpreting it in their own country by demolishing Babri Masjid! Would they do that to Taj Mahal too?
TV channels should be banned from telecasting religious programmes that would hurt the feelings of followers of other faiths. Religious telecasts should be restricted to events in churches, gurdwaras, mosques and temples and other places of worship alone. Preaching with a view to conversion should also be banned everywhere in India.
Secularism is not shutting one’s eyes to whatever happens in the country in the name of religion, as in the long run such things would split peoples of different faiths and cause worse havocs. So, as Rajaji, the oldest statesman, and Rajiv Gandhi, the youngest, said once it is high time “secularism” is correctly defined so our country doesn’t fall into the hands of insane and madcap religious fanatics.
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