In a post-9/11 world, where the secular space shrinks every day, the very definition of secularism needs to be constantly refreshed and contemporised.
If indeed my country professes to practice a secularism that is founded on the theory of neutrality or equal distance from all religions, then surely it should follow that either we remove the use of Hindu traditions to mark non-religious gatherings or ensure all religions find equal expression in all forums. Consider the 'arti' done on foreign dignitaries when they visit the country- The lamp-lighting ceremony at government-sponsored cultural festivals- Advertising films selling motorcycles to the chant of Hindu scriptures. Admirable symbols of tradition, piety, sanctity, but clearly, religious symbols. These symbols have now taken on a pan-Indian significance. The growing concern is not with the use of ceremony to mark an occasion. It is the use of religious symbolism. That they are accepted and practised not as Hindu traditions but as Indian traditions. A soothing, tempting position, but not entirely correct.
Clearly the case for removing religion from the non-religious sphere is a strong one. Any step to erase feelings of alienation that Indians who are not Hindus might feel both within and without this country is a step towards peace, not to mention prosperity. Underlying all of this will be the quiet belief that religion has no place in the public sphere. It will require the correct interpretation and implementation of our Constitution to firmly steer the nation away from this sense of divisiveness so deep-seated that questions that should be asked lie unspoken.
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- http://refresh.blog.co.uk
- Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 @ 22:20:48
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- Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009 @ 17:13:43
Secularism as per your opinion(being equally distant from all) can be implemented only if our politicians don't treat some religion more equal than others and more importantly if other religions stop selling themselves to Indians. If the president of US has to go through a ceremony conducted by a catholic priest on getting elected then what is the issue with lighting lamps on an inauguration, I mean how is lighting lamp, a symbol of hinduism. Before electricity was invented everyone were lighting lamps. Why be ashamed of your culture. Yes Hinduism is more of a culture than a religion, its a way of life. All those who have roots in India can be traced back to a Hindu ancestor. It were the "others" who came here and marketed their religions heavily here. I don't agree that marketing a product with vedic chants in the background amounts to violation of the concept of secularism. Try doing the same with islamic ayaats in the background, you might end up counting the number of days left in ur life. One cannot think of secularism unless all the religions are equally tolerant. Today, 3 years after you wrote the post, with all the terrorism in the world you might be in better position to judge the tolerance that different religions preach and practice.
Dear Padma ,
Secularism ,a faulty concept introduced by Indira Gandhi , has been hallmark of Hinduism.The Upanishdic portion of the Vedas is aimed at introduction of feelings , which allow an individual to view the whole cosmos as extension of
Self or Brahman .Being unware of its real attributes , for some individuals it has become source of sectarian ideals and thus comes into origin so-called demand for secularism ! .I think the best way to reduce the complexities associated with secularism would be to make Hinduism part and parcel of everday affair instead of having 'selective association 'at selective spots.Distortion of religious symbols is different thing than having 'boxed view' of religious symbols.Former is the result of crass commercialisation while the latter emanates from ignorance .
Yours Arvind