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OPINION
HOW SECULAR IS INDIA TODAY?
By ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER
THERE IS always a big gap
between theory and practice, theology and history. Indian
constitution, no doubt, is one of the best in the world. It is truly
secular in spirit so much so it was secular even when word secular was
not added to it until 1975 i.e. during emergency. If it were truly
implemented India would be an ideal country to live in especially for
minorities, both religious as well as linguistic.
However, as we all know
there is big gap between theory and practice, constitution and
governance of the country. India was far more peaceful after
independence for number of reasons. Firstly, nationalist leaders who
had participated in freedom struggle and were instrumental in framing
the Constitution were still around and despite various pressures,
stuck to ideals and values to a great extent.
Secondly, due to idealism
and nearness to spirit of freedom nation as a category and national
identity was of great importance and often caste, linguistic and
religious divisions mattered less. Thirdly, the process of economic
development had just begun and yet people’s demand for share in
development on caste and communal lines was not very articulate and
loud.
Because of all this identity
politics was still subdued and Marathi versus non-Marathi, Tamil
versus non-Tamil sentiments were not so prominent. Hindu versus
Muslims feelings were not so subdued due to memory of partition but
due to other factors communal violence was still limited and had not
assumed proportions of ethnic cleansing or genocide like in Gujarat in
2002.
It all began with series of
communal riots in sixties assuming great proportions in Ahmedabad in
1969 and Bhivandi in 1970. In Ahmedabad nearly 1000 people were killed
in Ahmedabad in 1969 and around 400 people in Bhivandi. But then
communal violence remained in check until 1977 when again some major
riots took place in several places like Jamshedpur, Aligarh and
Varanasi etc.
Again whole of decade of
eighties was full of communal violence climaxing in Mumbai riots in
1992-93. The Ramjanam bhoomi movement once again polarized as on the
eve of partition. Again there was lull in communal disturbances from
1992-93 to 2002 when Gujarat took place in 2002. Gujarat riots once
again made communal situation quite fragile and weakened secular ethos
in the country.
Now the identity politics
soared quite high and national ethos considerably weakened. Today
everyone prioritize once caste, communal and religious identity over
national one. National rhetoric, as if, has almost disappeared and
even Hindutva forces talk more of Hindu religion than of patriotism or
nation. For them too Indian nationalism has been replaced by Hindu
nationalism.
For Shiv Sena of course
Maharashtra was always more important than the Rashtra (nation) and
those Hindus too who spoke Hindi the Rashtrabhasha (national language)
came under attack. Several Hindus from U.P. and Bihar were mauled by
Marathi speaking zealots belonging to Maharashtra Navniram Sena (MNS),
a splinter group from Shiv Sena.
Now recently Christians who
were never targeted before by the Hindutva zealots have also come
under attack. Christians, a mere 2.2 percent minority and which has
contributed so richly to the country in the field of education and
health services are being killed ruthlessly. What is going on in
Kandhmal district of Orissa and some adjoining districts, is indeed
hair raising.
More than 40 Christians have
been killed, a nun mass raped, a woman burnt beyond recognition, more
than 400 houses burnt and looted and 35 thousand have fled from their
villages to relief camps. And what for? A myth has been spread by the
powerful machinery of Sangh Parivar that all Christians convert.
Remember RSS propaganda “All Muslims are not terrorists but all
terrorists are Muslims”?
Orissa is another Gujarat
both in brutalities and terrorization of minorities. When Christians
and Muslims are being so brutally targeted the RSS Chief Sudarshan
says that both Muslims and Christians convert and Muslims want every
one to become Muslim and Christians want all to follow Christ and so
Hindus must give fitting reply. And our rulers just look on.
When BJP was ruling over the
country and whole country was communalized we were feeling suffocated
and felt liberated when UPA took over and the BJP led Government
defeated at the hustings. We celebrated UPA’s victory specially
because it was supported by the left which is the only hope for Indian
secularism. However, left has withdrawn its support on nuclear issue
and once again we are feeling suffocated in the communally surcharged
state of affairs in India.
However, what is most
worrisome is that it is happening under UPA Government which is
supposed to be a secular outfit. Perhaps today there is more
suffocation than even under the BJP-led NDA Government. The UPA has
forgotten all its promises made to the country and is betraying
minorities and jettisoning its secular commitment. Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh is more occupied with his pet nuclear pact with America
than the communal explosion back home.
The communal forces are
growing stronger and stronger everyday and the ruling coalition of
secular forces is quite indifferent. The Home Ministry is functioning
quite in a lackadaisical manner. It has given complete liberty to
these forces and they are riding roughshod over our secular values and
constitutional forces. They never got such license to function freely.
The NDA Government liberally
recruited RSS inclined candidates in all key positions and they
captured important academic positions too. Also, RSS trained teachers
and journalists also were recruited on large scale. It is because of
this that we find communally minded people in all walks of life. The
media also has been communalised as never before.
Today be it communal riots or terrorist attacks most of the newspapers
and T.V. channels publish police version unabashedly as if it is
ultimate truth. No questions are raised and it appears as if
investigative journalism has become story of the past. Media plays
most important role in strengthening democratic values and democracy
cannot survive without a critical and alert media. But it seems except
for few papers and magazines media has been completely communalised.
Even a well-known Daily from
south which was known for its strong commitment to secularism appears
to have developed, of late, subtle communal slant. It is indeed very
critical period for India. India is well known as largest secular
democracy in the world. But first Gujarat and now Orissa has dented
its secular image thanks to Hindutva forces. Manmohan Singh was faced
with the most embarrassing situation abroad and he had to admit that
what is happening in Orissa is ‘shameful’.
But having described
developments in Orissa shameful what has he done to redeem it? He is
quite hesitant to ban Bajrang Dal and resisting demand of some of his
own Congress party colleagues to ban it saying we are watching and
waiting for reports from Chief Minister of Orissa. It is indeed more
shameful than communal carnage in Orissa. Any truly secular government
would have dismissed Navin Patnaik Government for its complete
inability to control communal violence.
So far I never believed that
Indian communalism could take form of fascism as many leftists had
been saying all along. Today we see the footprints of fascism in
India. The situation is very similar to that of Germany in the
thirties. The unemployed hordes of lower middle classes have joined
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad in large numbers and hailing
Hindutva leaders. Some of the text books in Rajasthan and Gujarat,
both BJP ruled states are praising fascism and Hitler.
Also, the Central Government
is appeasing these communal forces. It appears though the Government
at the Centre is of secular UPA but agenda is of Sangh Parivar. The
police appears to be taking orders from Sangh Parivar rather than from
ruling Congress or UPA. Riot after riot be it in Orissa or Digras,
Pusad or Dhule the police just looks on when mobs loot and burn even
during curfew hours.
It is indeed very very
worrisome situation. The UPA Government is assisting the Sangh Parivar
in every way possible. The police is riding absolutely roughshod over
minorities and latest example is Batla House ‘encounter’. Though the
print and electronic media abdicated its responsibility the human
rights groups raised questions and pricked holes in the police claim
of encounter of ‘dreaded terrorists.
The situation is indeed very
grave and unless secular forces unite and play determined role things
can get far more worse.
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