Future Of Secualrism In India-
Down But Not OutBy Ganesh S. Iyer
18 March, 2004
countercurrents.orgIndia attained freedom from British rule after more than 50 years of patient, determined struggle, the guiding principle being the doctrine of non-violence and accommodating the aspirations of all faiths and creeds in the Post-British political dispensation. The leadership of the freedom movement instinctively realized that it made sense to involve all sections of the population in this great enterprise. This was reflected in the composition of the Indian National Congress, where political opinion of all shades from right, left to the moderate variety was sought to be accommodated. The emphasis on the middle path of peaceful struggle against a colonial power was, to my mind, the single biggest factor which rallied Indians around the Congress. The same spirit of accommodation was evident in the drafting of the Indian Constitution, which guaranteed minorities the freedom of worship and the right to establish educational institutions of their choice. Secularism was thus given the pride of place in our scheme of things. The horrors of partition notwithstanding, India managed to remain wedded to this lofty concept, thanks to the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
This does not mean that religion ceased to play a significant role in politics. The champions of right wing Hindu nationalism, led by the RSS had made several attempts to influence the policies of the Congress. There was a strong pro-Hindu lobby within the Congress, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who advocated merger of the RSS with the Congress. This was staunchly opposed by Nehru who sensed the dangers inherent in such a move. It was his strongly pro-secular leadership which kept the communalists at bay. The rapid industrialization of the country with a strong emphasis on the public sector ensured that the fruits of development in post independence India were available to many people. The reorganization of the states on linguistic lines also ensured that regional aspirations were met. All round economic development, with the state playing the role of guardian of the nation, was another factor which helped to keep divisive issues (read communalism) from becoming dominant in the minds of people.
GROWTH OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
A golden opportunity presented itself to the RSS in 1977, when the post emergency developments saw the emergence of the Janata Party as a credible contender for power, with the Congress having been routed in the elections. The Freedom of Religions Bill was sought to be introduced in Parliament, ostensibly to curb the activities of Christian Missionaries in the tribal areas of the North-East & Madhya Pradesh. This was in line with the thinking of the RSS, which viewed missionary activity as a threat to the Hindu faith. In these efforts, they were helped by the sympathetic attitude of the Prime Minister, Mr. Morarji Desai. The issue of dual membership of the Jana Sangh constituents of the Janata Party resulted in the premature demise of the anti-Congress coalition and frustrated the efforts of the RSS to grab the levers of power.
The eighties saw the awakening of the communal sentiment, exemplified by the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation at Ayodhya, which was launched by the Sangh Parivar in its quest for power. The Congress leadership, in its anxiety to garner the Hindu votes in the assembly elections in UP, permitted the gates of the mosque to be opened and allowed worship of the idols of Ram, which had been surreptitiously installed by Hindu fundamentalists in the Babri Masjid in 1949. The typically short-sighted move was hailed by the Sangh Parivar as a vindication of their stand that this structure was indeed the birthplace of Shri Ram. The rest is history. Ayodhya continues to fester like an open wound and defies an amicable solution. It was the vehicle that launched the BJP to power.
The nineties witnessed the beginning of the decline of the Congress as a credible, truly representative political force. The demolition of the Babri Masjid and the onset of liberalization combined to create a political space for the RSS & its political offspring-the BJP. The electoral harvest reaped by the BJP in the name of Shri Ram has been plentiful. The bloodbath in Gujarat demonstrated to the world the horrors of politics inspired by religion. Despite the loud proclamations of the BJP about its commitment to development, religious nationalism continues to be its core belief. The biggest casualty has been the principle of secularism.
THE FUTURE-DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
In these changed circumstances, can secularism hold its ground? The answer, according to me, is a resounding yes. We must remember that the concept of India as a nation succeeded precisely because our founding fathers had the vision to accommodate every Indian, irrespective of his beliefs. Our history shows us that those who ruled this vast, diverse country by the principle of accommodation could succeed in their task.
Take the question of the elections. In the 1999 elections, the BJP was able to garner only 20% of the popular vote. It had a tally of 182 seats as the prize for its efforts. This is nowhere near the 50% mark and is likely to remain so in the future. In the event, its future coalition partners will exercise a moderating influence, however limited its effect. The diversity of political opinion will ensure that India does not become a theocratic state, but will be guided by secular principles.
Lastly, we must also remember that resistance to the erosion of secular values is slowly but steadily gathering momentum. Communalism has been challenged by right thinking, liberal Indians-whether it is in the sphere of education or public life. The verdict of the Supreme Court in the Bilkees Yaqoob gang rape case is a case in point. Secularism, despite the reverses, is down, but definitely not out.