(CHAKRA) The Western faiths have always catered to a difference in Science, Government and Religion; especially the latter two, wherein each tries to supercede the other. This struggle of power led to the rise of a concept called ‘Secularism’. Classically speaking, secularism, in plain words, was a separation of Church and State, where both entities aimed to gain dominion over the people. This power struggle led to a tug of war between these two entities. The conflict between King Henry II and Thomas Becket is a stellar example of this very fact; depicted prolifically in Literature and popular media.
In our Indian context, Dharma did not aim to rule society, rather it tried to explain the forces that makes society work, allowing Dharma to pave its natural course, hence Science, Faith and Government evolved hand in hand in an undifferentiated manner, as one smooth continuum; neither one in conflict with or threatened by the other. Therefore, Dharma is non-separate from its cultural/regional practices. In fact, the culture itself evolved to incorporate the values of Dharma, because it is Dharma itself that explained it.
Secularism, on the other hand, is an ideal handed down to us unwittingly. Ideals should evolve as a need to serve us better, they are not to be inherited from a colonial power without discerning. Most complex living beings have an immune system fortified by a battalion of antibodies, that will identify and neutralize a foreign object and prevent bodily harm. If the immune system fails, the body is susceptible to disease. Extrapolating the same principle to society, we are stricken by an
intellectual disease, and the resulting illness is socio-cultural decay.
The reason is simply this: In India, Secularism aims to separate the culture of the nation- which is inherently Dharmic in nature- from its people. This form of Secularism only facilitates to destroy the nation morally from within, by doing away with the dharmic carpet which forms the basis for our cultural ethos. And of course, if secularism n India isn’t clumsy enough, we have to further contend with it’s more rancid manifestation- pseudo secularism- the dangers of which we all know only too well.
We may accept rights and individuality. We should not, however, accept a forced ideal of sameness. It would be unwise for Indians to fall under such narrow, impaired, imposed and socially awkward definitions such as ‘Secularism. Rather, we must strive to preserve our ‘soft-capital’ through all means possible, in all areas of life, and provide that social ‘immune system’ which we all sorely lack.
I sincerely thank Mr. Rajiv Malhotra ji, for inspiring us to “reverse the gaze” and look at the world from a Dharmic perspective, and also my friend and fellow writer, Karthik Vaidhinathan ji, for his valuable inputs.
By Prashant Parikh
The Nehruvian Preamble of Constitution had, “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic” and currently only Socialist and Secular words have been deleted. In true sense and strictly speaking, India is only, “Sovereign Democratic Republic” since the 42nd Amendment, Constitution Act, 1976, s2 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977). Earlier the Constitution was initially adopted on 26th November 1949 and finally passed on 26th January 1950.
Hence both secularism and pseudo-secularism is only a media or political slang used for befooling the masses. How many of MPs or MLAs or MLCs have even looked at the face of our constitution? Yet you can hear and see every Tom, Harry and Dick splattering it every now and again.
“Sab chaltaa hai”
Sorry, Prashant. Forgot to complement you for innovative concept as usual.
hariH Om, sorry for the late reply. Thanks very much uncle, for your kind encouragement 🙂
Secularism is SECLUDING THE PAST FROM THE PRESENT.
So hiding Islamic and Christian slave trade and genocide of Indians, Chinese, Africans, North Americans, South Americans, and Australians.
Abrahamic faiths did not have SIGHT TO SEE INTO FUTURE, So 1000years of slavery, oppresion, etc was seen as NORMAL, working for God, However REALIZATION took PLACE when the TRUTH was revealed, that the Muslim and Christians enslaved the world. Now having conquered/converted 80% of the world, they NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING OF THEIR PAST, which enabled the massive wealth and accumulation of land. So what they did was created, Secularism. Seclusion of the past. Distortion of history, ideology, and previous cultures, then to create a NEW SOCIETY based on those distortions, its called the New World Order.
Think about, can Muslim and Christian convert more people, if the past is not hidden? IF the past is hidden then people are not aware of the genocide and brutal slavery christians and muslims did, which means christian cant use ‘christ is love” or muslim use ”allah is truth”, because their OWN HISTORY SHOWS that they are right wing intolerant racist, empires.
So they created SECULARISM!…..In India it works like this, the islamic and christian genocide and plunder of India is, hidden, diluted, distorted to PROTECT ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY from their OWN past. So that means Indian history is completely distorted, to then promote islam and christianity were actually NOT THAT BAD!..LOL……Which means the current secular position in India, is A RIGHT WING INTOLERANT position created to protect and hide the past. So ANYONE who claims to defend a secular position is actually supporting the denial and distortion of the past.
First of all India is not a secular country.
Indian government treats its citizens differently based on their religion.
There are separate laws that govern the citizens of certain religions.
Citizens of certain religions have the right to pass their own laws separate from rest of the citizens.
Government interferes with the personal laws of Hindus in order to control them and subjugate them.
Muslims and Christians have freedom to operate their religious institutions which ever way they like.
Additionally, the government gives them tax payer money for free.
On the other hand, the government suppresses the religious freedom of Hindus.
Government has direct control of the Hindu temples. Nothing can happen in the temples without the consent of the government agents. Governments takes away the money donated by the devotees in the temples and gives it away to its favorite religions. The government has suppressed all cultural, religious and spiritual activities in the temples that used to take place since ancient times.
Yet, the sorry part of all this is that the Hindus do not realize that they are free in their own country. They blindly believe that the country is secular. They think, the politicians will take care of them. They do not realize that the system is set up to work against them. The fact is that Hindus never really fought for freedom and they therefore they never got it even after the British left. You do not get freedom because somebody lets you have it. You have fight for it and keep it.
Very good article. Thank you for giving us insights. Please keep writing these type of works and share.
Thank you,
Shanker