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Fwd: INDIA AND HER 'SECULARISM'
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Anadiranjan Biswas
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anadiranjan Biswas
Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 11:26:43 +0530
Subject: INDIA AND HER 'SECULARISM'
To: onjaiswal1 , echopress4
Cc: baakprotima

INDIA AND HER SO-CALLED ‘SECULARISM’
- Anadiranjan Biswas

It was quarter past six in the evening of 26th May 2014. A large
gathering of reportedly 3,000 distinguished VVIP guests consisting of
the Heads of SAARC countries as well as the
administrative/constitutional Heads of Indian States and UTs,
diplomats, representatives of all Indian political parties including
newly elected MPs, was waiting in the fore-court of Rashtrapati
Bhawan, New Delhi to witness the historic swearing-in ceremony of Shri
Narendra Damodardas Modi as the 15th Prime Minister of India. So were
we, the ‘Aam Aadmi of India’, who quench their thirst of such national
programme by viewing it on the television screen.

We watched on the television set that after the arrival of His
Excellency Shri Pranab Mukhopadhyay, the Hon’ble President of India,
formal swearing-in ceremony commenced with the Indian National Anthem.
When the National Anthem was over, we heard ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ in
chorus at least twice. Then came the ‘surprise’ (even not to others
but to me). If I can rely upon my listening capacity, a slogan
uttering ‘Jai Shri Ram’ was clearly heard (that is also, at least
twice) which came off the television set kept before me. I don’t
know, from which segment of the gathering came the sound, but it
surely came. And I have sufficient reasons to believe that the sound
was made by certain extremist MPs of that particular political party –
which has got clear mandate to rule India for next five years. But,
was that a proper place to make that slogan – ‘Jai Shri Ram’?

Yes, the vital question lies here. When a political party is all
along alleged of being ‘saamprodayik’ (non-secular) by almost all the
political parties in opposition – was it necessary for its MPs to
utter that sound ? When the swearing-in ceremony is going on in such
a place and in presence of such a Constitutional Head of India, who,
according to the Constitution of India is ‘impartial’ and ‘neutral’
insofar as political belief is concerned – was it justified at all to
utter such religious phrasing ? When a large number of foreign Heads
and/or Ambassadors are present in the ceremony, was it the signature
of intellect to utter such slogan in front of those distinguished
guests ? Which message is sent to their minds by doing so ?

As a matter fact, ‘secularism’ is just like an ‘orphan child’ in
India, who has nobody to take proper care of. And that is why
‘secularism’ is only used by the Indian political parties just as a
playing card to gain voters’ favour. And that is why, a number of
state/national level functions in our country commence with
enchantment of Vedic slokas. And that is why high-ranked Indian Navy
Officer dedicates a newly built ship to the Nation after offering puja
according to a particular religious rite. And that is why a National
Leaders of a century-old political party of India takes shelter of
Imams just before the election. And that is why ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan
is uttered in the swearing in ceremony arranged for the 15th Prime
Minister of India in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.

Now, let us see what the word ‘secular’ means. As per Oxford
Dictionary, ‘secular’ denotes to be (1) ‘not religious, sacred or
spiritual’; and (2) ‘not subject to or bound by religious rule’. From
these points of view, undoubtedly it can be said that (a) either a
‘secular’ country should not be subject to or bound by any particular
religious rule and/or rites of that country theocracy . (2) Or, if
religious rite is inevitably essential, in that case, rituals followed
by all the religions of the country should be followed. But,
unfortunately, none of the above is followed in India. Most of the
Indian national functions/activities follow theocracy. Nevertheless,
we say – India is a ‘secular’ country.

Now, an obvious question may arise here. That is – how did then India
become ‘secular’? A portion of ‘aam aadmi’ is of the notion that
India remained ‘secular’ from the very inception its first Republic
Day i.e. 26th January 1950. But those who have more or less, gone
through the Constitution of India and aware of Indian
post-independence political events very well know that India was not a
‘secular’ country immediately on becoming ‘Republic’. It took at
least 25 years for India to become ‘secular’; and that also not under
an Act passed in any normal session of the Parliament. During the
emergency period (25th June 1975 to 21st March 1977) the Constitution
(42nd Amendment) Act 1976 was passed by Parliament on November 11,
1976 and received Presidential assent on December 18, 1976. Under
that controversial 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India,
changes in the Preamble of Indian Constitution were made from
‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’ to ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular
Democratic Republic’. Thus, India became a ‘secular’ country.

But, as much secular as we be in our political speeches, unless all
our national activities/acts are confined to the very meaning of the
lexicon as referred to hereinabove and are not effected by the
theocratic activities, India’s ‘secularism’ will remain as nothing but
a square peg in round hole.
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