Does “secularism” mean “favouritism towards Muslims”?
Now that The Economist has said it, is it “official”? Excerpts from “Bridging the divide” (Nov 7 ’07):
“…but what would have distressed Nehru particularly is the prominent role played by religion in domestic politics. India’s constitution writers tried to get round this in two ways.
The first was to embrace pluralism. The new country would be “a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic…Pluralism is the keystone of Indian culture and religious tolerance is the bedrock of Indian secularism.” (Not strictly true – please see note below*)
The second was to go out of their way to provide protection for the (generally poor) Muslim minority.
…How did things go wrong?
The short answer is that many Hindus, like Mr Togadia, came to see India’s “secularism” as a code for favouritism towards Muslims—especially by Nehru’s Congress party (which until recently most Muslims voted for).
Muslims are allowed to live by their own family law and enjoy plenty of positive discrimination, including subsidies to fly to Mecca. …”
See also this interesting chart from the main article in that issue which shows major religions in the world by population:
Source: In God’s name
Related Posts:
Of Subsidies and Politics of “Secularism”
Another fine example of pseudo-secularism
“Pseudo-secularism” at its best?
.
* This is not entirely true; As some of you know, “secular” and “socialist” were terms that were forced through an amendment during Emergency by PM Indira Gandhi – B Shantanu
Dear Sir,
Why are we blaming the Governments for any of this. What are we as people doing for it?
As per the understanding of Mr. Shahbuddin, it is wrong for a person to be paid for or subsidised if he is to go ahead with his pigrimage. So what are the “TRUE” leaders of Muslims doing?
Shouldn’t some one “Communal” like say the RSS or VHP point out that they are committing more sins than scoring brownie points with the Great Man when they accept this form of subsidy from the government?
I think it is a scheme by the true believers to let the subsidised to commit more sins as then there will be lesser people to contend with when they reach the “Pearly Gates”.
Regards,
vck
Dear Sir,
All appreciations for your efforts in bringing the truth to the fore.
This is mainly enquire one particular point.
Is secularism defined in the constitution of India, as to how it should be implemented?
India being the only country in the world following secular policies, if India does not give an apt definition to secularism, there is no other agency fit or interested in giving any guidelines.
Secularism is or should not be favouritism.
Now it looks like the definition is open to any politician or interested party to interpret secularism to suit his/her immediate selfish goals.
Comments please and any further informations.
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sachar-favours-muslims-alone-not-right-delhi-hc/65135-3.html
*** Comment Edited ***
AS PER INDIAN CONSTITUTION A CRIMINAL CAN NOT BE A POLITICIAN Y U MEDIA PROTECT THEM
Y CRIMINALS GETTING SEATS IN INDIA IF A LEADER KILLS THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS HE BECOME FAVOURITE OF HINDUS, AND GOVERNMENT.WHERE THE SECULARISM STANDS FOR TODAY.Y THEY R NOT RUSTIGATED FROM POLITICS.THIS WILL CREATE MORE PROBLEM TO INDIA DEVELOPEMENT.
MUSLIMS HAVING NO PROTECTION IN INDIA. THERE IS CREATION OF ANOTHER GUJRAT IN KARNATAKA WHAT DO U MEAN ANOTHER GUJRAT. OUR KARNATAKA IS BETTER THAN GUJRAT.AFTER MODI ENTERED INTO MANGALORE THERE IS TOO MUCH PROBLEM BETWEEN RELIGION.
…THERE SHOULD BE PROTECTION FOR MUSLIMS IN INDIA THEN THERE WILL NOT BE ANY PROBLEM.AND GIVE THEM THEIR RIGHTS.
BAN THE POLITICIAN WHO TALKS ALWAYS ONE SIDE.I WANT TO SEE REALY A SECULAR COUNTRY
EVERY RELIGION SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN RIGHTS EVERY ERLIGION SHOULD HAVE POWER
EVERY RELIGION SHOULD BE PROTECTED
*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***
Nadeem: Thanks for your comment but a few words of advice.. Pl. avoid using ALL CAPS when you write a comment.. When you make a statement, it helps to make your case if you are able to substantiate it by using facts/evidence. Finally, good and correct grammar enhances your arguments and writing…
Dear Sir,
I fully appreciate the angst of Shri. Nadeem.
It is not that Muslims are being targeted, it is that they target themselves.
Shri Nadeem should understand that it is not that the Hindus target the Muslims; he should understand that it was a Hindu, Gandhi, who in spite of overwhelming odds was willing to split a nation to provide Muslims a base.
It was a Hindu again who spoke to Hindus to stop the riots in Naokali during the partition.
It was a Hindu who called in the word “Secular’ into the constituiton of India.
Shri. Nadeem, should introspect and make his unbiased statements.
He should understand that it was not a voluntary act of the Hindus in Gujarat. It was a RETALIATION!
Shri Nadeem should understand that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
I appeal to Shri. Nadeem, to please look at some of the comments positively and enter into a healthy dialogue, which will strengthen relations, rather than destroy it.
Regards,
vck
VCK
I agree!
Dear Shri. Nadeem,
Let me assure you that no “Hindu” is against you. Some of the greatest poets , we “Hindus” have appreciated have been ‘True Muslims”.
Khalil Gibran, Rumi. OOH! what great philosophers have they been. It has been a pleasure for me to read them in English. Just imagine what a beauty it would have been for me if I understood the language they have been written in.
Kaifi Azmi. Where do we get Lyrics like that any more. The voice of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. The Tabla of Alla Rakha, the beauty of Madhubala, the grace of Waheeda Rahman!
The Big “B” became so because of the the duo Salim and Javed.
The Shenai of Bismillah. The voice of Begum Parveen Sultana.
Name them and each “Hindu” bows his head in front of all this greatness.
Does a “Hindu” hate then?
Please Shri. Nadeem. Think about it. Do not be carried away by the rhetoric of a few “Hindu” baiters like the Teestas. Shabnas, Javeds and the vote bankers.
Think of all the “Hindus” who think for the nation, including the people whom I referred to above. Think of all the unbiased sorrow each”Hindu” felt when we lost some of trhese greats.
Were they known as “Muslim” singers or just “Great Artists”. Each “Hindu” celeberated with them.
So it is not that the “Hindu” dislikes or likes, it is the feeling that matters.
Think unbiasedly and come to a conclusion.
Learn to appreciate life and you will understand that no “Hindu” knows how to hate.
There is no “Hindu”. There are only people who live a way of life!
Regards,
vck
@ vck: Great comments…especially the one today (10th June)… Very well articulated..Thanks.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are fixed deposits of muslims : we can’t touch them ! But India is joint account where mulsims can claim anything they want…fair game…eh ?
Nadeem and others,
Read this link, go to the bottom of the page i the link, http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/8420/1/
Go to the bottom of the page and read the news, Bharatnatyam dancers were not allowed to pay respect to Nataraja before the show on stage due to religion. Can we do this in India. I think its time to implement the same kind of thing with religion other than hinduism in India. You cannot perform your prayers on public places. The same Malay govt did that also on rare occasions like this.
Dear Shantanu,
I am very impressed with your website, and heartened too. Very nice to see someone with great scholarship, analytical skills, coupled with good writing skills and devotion to the nation.
A request, if I may: Could you kindly put links to new articles on usenet groups such as soc.culture.indian? Many Indians read those groups regularly, and I am sure they would benefit from knowing about your great website.
Kindly also tell other similar websites to consider doing the same.
Thank you.
This is the most blatant case of anti-Hindu prejudice practiced by the govt against minorities of Kerala, yes, last I heard Hindus are already a minority in Kerala, due “convert, kill or die” agenda of Christian and Islamic parties there!
http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2009/11/aparthied-in-kerala-continues.html
VoP: KSV left a comment on this on another thread.
I have not been able to verify the news though…Your link has reproduced an email without any references and KSV’s extract from Haindava Keralama does not mention any references either.
Does anyone have links to scanned news-paper reports? or any other supporting documentation?
Thanks.
Shantanu,
What do you honestly expect? In places like border districts of W Bengal, North East, Kerala, Kandhamal regions of Orissa Hindus have almost no voice and when they do MSM does not relay that. All we have left is blogs and HK like sites steadfastly trying to survive against all adharma ( HK is banned by Saudi Arabia I heard ).
OTOH that’s the exact strategy of Christists and Islamists.. when people ask for news-paper and other documentation there may be some for some time to come and there won’t be any at some point.
Shantanu @ 13:
There are no references as these matters pertain to different dates. There are more instances of discrimination.
(1) Yesterday Kerala government has announced writing off loans upto Rs.25,000 to converted Christians. Is this not discrimination on the basis of religion ? Is this not blatant pandering of minorities, active encouragement of backward castes towards conversion from hindu fold ? What is secular in in this. (This is reported in various local news channels yesterday and it is in the newspapers of today too).
(2) This is also from Haindavakeralam.”As per new directions Students who get good marks in Urdu will also be acknowledged along with those who gain good marks in Tamil in 10th Public Examination.” The DMK is against hindi. But what about this ? Is this not pandering to the religious sentiments of a particular community ? This is not accorded to any other Indian language. This is also not available to the very ancient Indian language, the mother of all languages, Sanskrit ? Is this not discrimination.
If this is secularism, even the Lord Almighty cannot save India.
VoP, KSV: Pl. don’t misunderstand me…There are numerous instances of the pseudo-secularism and outright appeasement that successive governments have indulged in…(and enough documentation to boot). Let us rely on solid arguments so that our case is unassailable…Let us not leave any chinks in the armour..
The incident you have cited does not appear improbable to me..My point was that it would be good to get supporting evidence if we are going to use it in an argument.
By the way, I had not heard about the “Urdu” directive…thanks for alerting me to that.
@ KSV’s comment at 15 and shantanu’s @ 16:
http://www.asianetindia.com/news/areekode-tragedy-5-lakh-aid-announced_97905.html
please find above the references to rs. 5 lakhs paid in case of the second and third tragedies. i am unable to find any references to compensations paid for the first tragedy though a few references to the tragedy per se is available.
similarly reg the comment on tamilnad:
the stand of tamilnadu govt on hindi is totally inexplicable. Madras was the only city/town in india which did not have a Mahatma Gandhi road but few years back the name of one arterial road was changed to gandhi’s name. the then chief minister shri karunanidhi named it uttamar gandhi salai (road) to avoid hindi “mahatma” little realising that “uttam” also has its root in sanskrit / hindi. simillarly “madras” has its roots in “madrassa” but he changed it to chennai which has telugu roots.
to support shri KSV’s contention please find below two references:
the “Directorate of govt. education’s” website which states that you can write your answers in any south indian language and urdu but not hindi (note: nearly all tamil muslims are local converts and talk only tamil or other s.indian languages and do not use urdu/hindi. example: our ex-president shri abdul kalaam who comes from the lowest in the rungs of muslims – the labbai or tamil speaking muslims who are treated as backward castes even before the reservation for muslims was brought in)
quote:
* Permitted medium for non language subjects are Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Urdu & English.
* However Question papers will be supplied only in Tamil and English.
unquote
http://dge.tn.gov.in/exams/hsc.htm
and the navodaya website whose banner itself says all states except tamilnadu – shri karunanidhi does not want a navodaya school as it has hindi as a language upto eighth
http://www.navodaya.nic.in/welcome%20sbs.htm
rgds/sridhar
Thanks a lot Sridhar…especially the links re. Hindi.
Trying to re-open this debate with a link to following blog-post:
http://tathagataroy.blog.co.in/2010/04/04/the-secularist-value-system/
That is what happened today on 26/11 in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi addressed a group of students where media and politicians where not allowed.
When one student asked a question, that why states where congress is in rule are legging behind in development. And the development seen in Gujarat is only because of Narendra Modi and BJP.
Rahul Gandhi tried to brain-wash student by replying “in Gujarat more riots has happened than development and Muslims have been killed’.
What a brilliant reply for non development in other state!
One student spoke to media that students did not agreed with what he said as many Hindus too have been killed in riots, not only muslims.
Thanks Indian…Just did a quick google search and came up with this link: http://deshgujarat.com/2010/11/26/a-girl-who-disagrees-with-rahul-gandhi-on-gujaratvideo/ Watchable…
Sid: Thanks…will have a look at the link…
Hard-hitting: Indian Secularism is Colour Blind by Tufail Ahmad from which:
But Kejriwal and Akhilesh didn’t invite our own Oscar-winning musician A. R. Rahman when his music show of 13 September in Delhi was cancelled due to a fatwa by the Barelvi group Raza Academy. Secularism does not like Indian Muslim singers; it does not like Indian writers like Salman Rushdie. Mamata Banerjee, another secular leader, supported Ghulam Ali, saying music has no international boundaries but she will not support Taslima Nasreen, the Bangladeshi writer.
….
Indian secularism is also Islamist.
In 2012, the secular Congress government did not allow Salman Rushdie to speak in Jaipur because secularism is in an incestuous relationship with Islamists. Mamata Banerjee does not support Taslima Nasreen because the West Bengal CM is in league with Islamists in the state.
Kejriwal’s secularism is in open alliance with Islamists. In 2013, Kejriwal visited Bareilly to meet Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan to seek Muslim votes. Last year, he sent Alka Lamba to meet Imam Bukhari’s brother to seek Muslim votes. In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi’s secularism surrendered before Islamic clerics in the Shah Bano case. Indian secularism is incomplete without its ideological cohabitation with Islamists.
On 1 October, secular gossip columnist Shobhaa De tweeted: “I just ate beef. Come and murder me.†The question also is: Will she draw a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad at the Gateway of India?
Placing this link here for the record: Secularism is a Threat to Indian Muslims by Tufail Ahmed, 11 November 2015