Is India secular? – Part 2

On August 5, 2020 Bhoomi Pujan of the Ram temple in Ayodhya took place. This was followed by unveiling by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of the Kashi Corridor on Monday, 13^th December, 2021, is being severely criticized by the opposition, terming it as an attempt by the government at the Centre, to polarise the Hindu votes in the elections to be held shortly in five States.

It needs to be noted that, these events have, at the same time, brought the debate on the policy of Secularism being practiced in India at the centre stage. It is pertinent therefore to dwell at length on the topic & ascertain whether the practice of Secularism being practiced at present is genuine Secularism.

The separation of Religion and State is the foundation of Secularism. It ensures that, Religious Groups do not interfere in the affairs of the State, and the State does not interfere in the Religious Affairs. It stipulates the Separation of Religious Institutions from the State Institutions and public sphere, where Religion may participate, but not dominate.

It also stipulates that, the individuals/groups, should neither be accorded privilege, nor disadvantaged because of their religion, belief or non-belief.

The Oxford Dictionary defines privilege as:

“A special right, advantage, or immunity, granted or available only to a particular person or group.”

To be Secular in the truest sense of the word, the Indian state is therefore expected to remain away from certain of its actions which fall in the religious domain.

It can be asked in this respect:

1. How could Indian State recogniseSharia-based Muslim Personal Law, while claiming to be secular?
2. How could Central and State governments take over themanagement of Hindu temples, if they were secular?
3. How could a secular governmentprovide financial assistance to educational institutions run by religious organisations?
4. How could a secular governmentcodify and modify Hindu personal law?
5. How would the government extend the existingcaste-based reservations to minority religions, if it were secular?

These and many such actions are clearly not expected from the government, which claims to follow the policy of Secularism. The framers of the Constitution or more correctly, those who were to don the mantle of power, were aware, that this was not possible & hence, deliberately did not add the word, Secular.

Precisely for this reason, the word ‘Secular’ was therefore not part of the Preamble to the Indian constitution, when it was originally adopted?

Then, just before the midnight of June 25, 1975, Emergency was declared in the country. During the period of Emergency, the words, Secular & Socialist were inserted into the Preamble of the Constitution, in effect implying that India till then was not Secular.

India is Secular means that, the State remains equidistant from all religions. Unfortunately, this equidistance of state from all religions was never experienced. Rather, over the years, the test of secularism was judged from, whether India’s minorities, particularly Muslims, perceived an action as secular or not.

Few examples will suffice to prove this:

1. The government exercises very little day-to-day control over the Central Waqf Council or over Christian Institutions, but exercises control over Hindu temples.
2. The government headed by late Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru decided to pass the Hindu Code Bill, while abandoning the objective of a Uniform Civil Code.
3. In politics, seeking Muslim votes by appealing to the Imam of Jama Masjid was considered a smart move, but appealing to Hindu seers was termed a communal act.
4. In the country, speaking for minority rights is considered noble, but speaking for Kashmir’s abandoned Hindus, who suffered genocide in 1990 & had to flee their native place is considered ignoble.

This is not secularism. L.K.Advani, Ex-Deputy Prime Minister termed this as pseudo-secularism.

We need to ponder over, what has this achieved, except to create a majoritarian backlash. Because of the flawed use of the concept of Secularism, the Hindus have started feeling that, is spite of being the majority community, the original inhabitants & those who were the pioneers of the great Hindu Civilization, they are being given step-motherly treatment.

It must be acknowledged that, the majority community, which believes in the precept, “Vasudhaiv Kutumbam” and in true sense, is an acknowledged Secular Community, if feels threatened by the flawed use of the concept of secularism, that’s not a good sign. There is an urgent need therefore to do away with this flawed concept & usher in an era of Secularism in the true sense, with a ban on its use for petty political interests, as has been the case so far.