Secularism Under Siege: A Threat to India's Unity

A person can strongly believe in the tenets of his religion, and there is nothing wrong with it as long as he acknowledges that people of other faiths too have space in society and can coexist. Human rights are equal to everybody. But it seems religious intolerance is increasing in many parts of the world, particularly in my beloved country, India. Divisive tendencies based on religion have existed in this country for some time now, stoked by communal elements spreading hatred against other communities.

Of late, it is being used as a political weapon openly aimed against minorities. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, even prominent national leaders from the ruling party maliciously targeted a particular community in election speeches, calling them infiltrators. Unfortunately, the Election Commission of India chose to ignore this. Secularism suffers when one religious community weighs its rights against the rights of another community.

So far, secularism is on a firm foundation in the Indian Constitution, but from time to time it is questioned not only by a majoritarian community but even by the party who are currently ruling the country, and while taking oath in the name of the Constitution. Some political leaders have even expressed that the Constitution needs to be changed to ensure that India becomes a Hindu Rashtra.

It is not easy to shake the national foundation of a country that coexists with diverse faiths (even within its religions) through ideological encroachment disguised as cultural correction. Elsewhere, not far from this region, we have seen how religious ideology has been used as a conquering war machine to sweep away everything that does not concur with it.

Religion as a ruling doctrine has been the cause of many destructive wars in the Middle Ages, and now there is a resurgence of this tendency. We must be aware of the fact that our nation has progressed through the harmonious existence of diverse religious thoughts through the ages. Even Vaishnavism and Shaktism have differing tenets within Hinduism, with wide differences in outlook.

The concept of nation transcends religion, seeks the underlying unity of common cultural heritage, finds a common bond in belonging to one motherland (a geography uniquely distinguished by a tall mountain on the north and vast seas and an ocean on three other sides, seeking political destiny by multi-lingually tolerant existence, in a shared geo-body of common continuing existence in a multicultural setting). This common destiny, above all, is an economic destiny.

The Idea of India as a nation transcends the idea of religious communities and the future of the nation belongs to all members of the nation as a whole. The fruits of its economy need to be shared equally by all people to strive for a state of happiness. Any attempt to treat one section of its citizens as an intolerable minority will drag this country, aspiring to become one of the three major economic powers, into a strife-torn political state where peace will elude.

The destiny of this land lies in striving for common happiness, not only ignoring religious and ethnic differences but any kind of sectarian intolerance so that political unity leads to economic progress in a peaceful atmosphere. We are a political nation composed of people of different religions, different cultural customs, and different ethnicities, but with a common citizenship, striving for a place in the sun. In an atmosphere of hatred, peace eludes, and the happiness of all people suffers.

Harekrishna Deka is a former DGP of Assam and a renowned critic and poet. He can be reached at: deka78@gmail.com