(Read the note before you read this post: This image has nothing to do anything with the post. It has been added to bring humor before you attempt to read this real serious & thought provoking post by Mr. Shashank Chowdhury).
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It has been the most debated subject in the Country for a long, long time now. The current generation has been exposed to this debate forming a clear view of Secularism as a tool for preferential treatment to people belonging to a certain creed or caste. Preferential treatment is deemed to be needed due to the historical reasons that have caused a lack of material prosperity for the people belonging to those creeds or castes. At a time when every kind of a politician is trying to give a new definition to Secularism, it is indeed a very difficult subject to discuss. Nonetheless, this is the most appropriate time to discuss it as it is a very relevant topic in the din of Election 2014.
When we try to understand why this difference in the status of material prosperity arose in the first place we are confronted with some very basic questions. Why did a particular set of people become victims of exploitation? Who were the people to perpetrate the act of exploitation? Who were the mute spectators of this continuous exploitation? Who are the people who, over a period of time, further started exploiting the by putting up a façade of rational, humanitarian attitude resulting in further weakening of the economic status of the already exploited. Every succeeding carrot was apparently coming out of a greater philanthropic intent surpassing the previous . The entire story of human civilization is the creation of this chasm between the Depriver and the Deprived. People born as much a child as any other, ascended position of power by acquiring assets beyond proportion by manipulating the prevailing trends of Religion, Caste, Creed, Colour and Sex and have attained Rulership over other Children of Nature who were less manipulative, less cunning and perhaps less greedy. Treachery has been a prominent tool of the intermediaries who have contributed the concept of ‘minority’.
What is a ‘minority’? A smaller group of people having a common set of beliefs? Beliefs that have been thrust upon them by virtue of their birth to parents subscribing to the inherited beliefs just like their child ! So, once a child is a part of a minority, he is made to realise that he is less privileged. Seeds of expectation of sympathy and lifelong dependence on the groups of superior ability are sown carefully. The human ability to transcend the disadvantages of a birth to a poorer environment is never taught to them. If they have to survive they have to look upto the munificence of those who are the Lords of the Society.
The Word ‘Secular’ as per Oxford English Dictionary means “Not connected with religious or spiritual matters”. A very simple meaning, that has been brought to mean in the Indian Society as “Preference, Protection and Privilege on the Basis of Religion”. Set against the two meanings above we would try to see which definition fits the Natural Secularism that prevails around us.
The Sun, which is the single largest source of energy is completely secular in its distribution. It does not prefer the Christian’s farm any more than that of the Muslim. It in fact, does not concern itself to the acquired identity of the human being. It does not concern itself with the age, creed, colour, sex or for that matter any defining profile of its beneficiary. Equal for all. No appeasement. The sun does not discriminate.
Air, Water, Fire, Earth lead us to the same conclusion. Nature in any form is “Not Connected with Religious or Spiritual Matters’. Similarly Rains, Floods, Earthquakes, Tsunamis affect equally without any exception. Exception is an Artificial Method of Dispensation. Therein lies the fallacy of Governance that models itself on Exception ( some prefer to call it Reservation! ). There have been many social scientists who have devoted considerable time to defend the Model of Reservation. The one thing that has never happened is the emancipation of these ‘identified’ minorities from the ever crippling dependence. It is undoubtedly a social challenge to break away from this mechanism of enslavement perpetrated by the Powerful. But it is not impossible. The Basic and simple step to be taken is to provide a Uniform Governance for all subjects of a state. Let the children grow under the Natural Secular Governance of the Nation and make uninhibited contribution to the society without any discrimination based on Religion, Caste, Creed, Colour or Sex.
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Excellent Post by the author…..Thank You…..
Unfortunately,secularism is the most exploited term in our Constitution,not defined any where giving scope to its misuser.Parties have used it to win the support a section of the society and most interestingly Hindus have exploited this term who call themselves pragmatic.Hindus are seculers but exploiter of this term to befool a small section of the society.It started with Mahatma Gandhi wanted to win the hearts of Muslims even at the costs of Indian economic condition,passed it to Nehru and his congress.Nehru became Hindu baiter for Muslims vote.Since then all parties are misusing the term.
OK ! It is a balanced article starting with humor and telling the reading that the country of India has been mired with mist of definitions of Secularism.
Nice article must read.
Very nice way of defining secularism. Reservation is most unfair as much to the beneficiaries as the others. If we provide enough (schools/colleges/jobs), there is no need of reservation. Thank God there is no shortage of food-grains otherwise under our govt., many upper castes would have gone without food. BTW, this definition of secularism perfectly accords with BJP’s and specifically with NM’s oft-repeated mantra of producing plenty of everything for all.
From your Shashank Chowdhury last para >>> HatsOff
Let the children grow under the Natural Secular Governance of the Nation and make uninhibited contribution to the society without any discrimination based on Religion, Caste, Creed, Colour or Sex.