This follows the first part: Secularism Redefined.
So, what is the big difference between original definition of Secularism as “No importance to any religion” and the Indian definition of “Equal importance to all religions”? Some people don’t see much difference.
Unfortunately, Religion does not just come with philosophy, rich literature, spirituality, great buildings, moral code, universal brotherhood, altruism, love of mankind and colorful festivals, which are all considered good.
It also comes with blind belief, superstition, orthodoxy, fundamentalism, irrationality, illogic, stupidity, idiocy, which are not necessarily the tools that you want to include in running the state and its machinery.
Since one cannot just filter out good things about Religion from the bad things, it is best avoided by the state in its daily functioning while allowing its people to celebrate the goodness and revel in its badness. That is called the separation of state and church.
It’s like saying: People, do what you want to do. If you want to believe Tuesday is a bad day for meetings and taking decisions, don’t take them up. If you believe water shouldn’t be drunk on a Saturday, don’t drink it. It’s up to you. But please don’t push those beliefs onto the state making it a universal rule where in everyone has to abide by it.
When we say the above, what we actually mean is: We understand that you are being foolish. We allow you to be foolish. But don’t expect everyone to be foolish. That’s a little too much to expect.
So, what a secular state wants is to separate foolishness from the state so that foolishness is confined to individuals as part of their freedoms. It’s like saying: You have the right to be foolish, but don’t expect us to create rules and laws based on your foolishness. Hence, the definition – ‘No importance to any religion’.
However, Indian definition of secularism – ‘Equal importance to all religions’ translates to ‘as a state, we promote foolishness, encourage it, and employ it in our courts, legislature, executive and daily working. In fact, we embrace all your foolish ideas with equal vigor and interest as long as you belong to a religion.’
While the actual version of secularism tries to keep the foolishness out of state machinery, the Indian version of secularism includes foolishness to celebrate it and institutionalize it.
That’s when our courts will give verdicts like, ‘You have dug a well in your backyard. You have raped Mother India. You are convicted of rape’. Or the government will take decisions like, ‘Lord Rama along with thousands of monkey friends constructed this dam across the sea nearly 2 million years ago, and henceforth, it shall be considered a man-made construction’.
Sujai
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of disingenious. Indians have a different definition of secularism because they have a different idea of religion than the west. It is NOT considered foolish at all. Your view of secularism is a very western one. Western secularism came from a turning point in history where the conflict between religion and state came to a head. India had no such conflict. Hence, when India took on secularism it didn't quite take it with the same connotations as western secularism.
~ Vinod
It is misleading, and has become such practice or rather an induced tactic by those at the receiving end of power, to stall any attempts to examine, let alone bring changes to any aspect that threatens the power it wields.
ReplyDelete"Western" is such a word, used to shy away from introspection, and it has been successfully thrust upon the public to dispel any thought for the better.
The kind of secularism we practice is to secure the power religion wants to wield. As the society progresses, this indeed will create a conflict, as has been observed in many parts of India. The recent conflicts in the educational sector in kerala is an example. Sethusamudram project, the rise of cultural fascism marked by the sheer display of intolerance, and the propagation of intolerance as a virtue, are all pointers to the conflict that we face as a result of our version of secularism.
Secularism is a Western concept, yes. But so is the Indian constitution which was produced by an amalgamation of the constitutions of various Western countries such as U.K., U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Ireland and Germany. Our constitution is not by any standards an "Indianised" version. There was no question of an Indian version of secularism as the drafters of the Constitution did not intend it that way when they drafted the constitution. Secularism to them was pretty clear " a country with no state religion and which is free of all religious dogmas". However subsequent political parties have warped the meaning of secularism to "appeasement of all religions". This is more a politician's take on secularism rather than the constitution's or the law's.
ReplyDeleteRags
ReplyDelete"Secularism to them was pretty clear " a country with no state religion and which is free of all religious dogmas".
This definition accomodates both the ideas - (i) state has nothing to do with religion (ii) state gives equal treatment to all religions (with a qualification on 'treatment')
You are right in strict constitutional theory on the meaning of secularism. But I doubt that that meaninig is what the Indian masses got of it. It is no surprise that the elected leaders have not been able to internalize the constitutional meaning of secularism.
~ Vinod
That is called the separation of state and church.
ReplyDeleteAre you making the case that there was a combination of state and mandir in India with pernicious effects, the same (or similar) way state and church had in the West?
-chirkut
Unfortunately, Religion does not just come with philosophy, rich literature, spirituality, great buildings, moral code, universal brotherhood, altruism, love of mankind and colorful festivals, which are all considered good. It also comes with blind belief, superstition, orthodoxy, fundamentalism, irrationality, illogic, stupidity, idiocy,
ReplyDeleteEverything has two sides. Going to the prostitutes also does not come only with the good things like pleasure and fun, but also things like AIDS and other STDs.
But please don’t push those beliefs onto the state making it a universal rule where in everyone has to abide by it.
ReplyDeleteYeah rite, let me give an example of dry day. Well during religious festivals dry day are observed in state, where there is complete ban in sale of liquor. Well this is ridiculous, if you don't want to drink that day then don't drink but why are u forcing the rules on everyone.