Thursday, April 19, 2012

Hindus – stepchild of Secularism in India

Is the chronicle of secularism doctored in the realm of India?  This single issue has been confounding Indians, in particular Hindus, through decades and truly, the dispute refuses to end as with each day it passes, the same is getting more baffling. And the role of political parties in India, regardless of their (alleged) ideological inclinations, has been no less in fuddling the issue. Secularism, to cut a log story short, as per western tradition, happens to be a doctrine that does decline religion along with religious considerations or does portray an institution where biasness  to any particular religion finds no place in administration. Moreover, the Secular State, on the whole, doesn’t have the right to mistreat or placate any individual or community on the basis of personal religion.

Are all these perceived in India? I am eagerly waiting for a favorable answer even if this prospect is as bleak as the sun rays in a cloudy day!

Secularism in India, these days, is being exemplified through mounting  minorityism – in short, the interest of minority communities, in particular Muslims, has got to prevail others come what may and in this respect, other minority communities (be it ethnic or linguistic or religious) can also be sacrificed.

Where are Hindus then? They are nowhere; the religion in spite of its ancient heritage and high-flown humanist values has failed to retain a clout in the dominion of post-1947 India. And this disrepute is also the consequence of its own humongous faults – inordinate generosity and failure to abide by its own martial ethics (and to change it to cope with the changing reality).  

And the situation is right before us. While following Hinduism is being looked upon as sheer animism, Islamists are being regarded as the followers of a triumphant ideology who must be provided the first position to evade vicious onslaughts. State power of India is infected with this notion posing a grave threat to Hindus altogether.

The following calendar depicting national holidays depicts it more.

Holiday
Date
Day
REPUBLIC DAY
26-01-2012
Thursday
PROPHET MOHAMMAD'S BIRTHDAY (ID-E-MILAD)
05-02-2012
Sunday
MAHAVIR JAYANTI
05-04-2012
Thursday
GOOD FRIDAY
06-04-2012
Friday
DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR'S BIRTHDAY
14-04-2012
Saturday
BUDDHA PURNIMA
06-05-2012
Sunday
INDEPENDENCE DAY
15-08-2012
Wednesday
IDU-UL-FITR
20-08-2012
Monday
MAHATMA GANDHI'S BIRTHDAY
02-10-2012
Tuesday
DUSSEHRA (VIJAYA DASHAMI)
24-10-2012
Wednesday
IDU-UL-ZUHA (BAKRID)
27-10-2012
Saturday
 DIWALI (DEEPAVALI)
13-11-2012
Tuesday
MUHARRAM
25-11-2012
Sunday
GURUNANAK'S BIRTHDAY
28-11-2012
Wednesday
CHRISTMAS
25-12-2012
Tuesday


In the said calendar, Islamic festivals revel in four holidays; Christian festivals have been rendered two national holidays while the majority Hindu community ought to remain happy with two national holidays only.

Secularism believes in fair treatment to all and appeasement to none. Isn’t it?

Do Hindus get fair treatment?  

If one says so, two words – partisanship and nonpartisanship – must be banished from English dictionary straight away. 





1 comment:

  1. What about Holi, Ram Navami? and if this is the case, why we do not raise voice against such discrimination? What I understand that the Babus who declare these holidays are mostly Hindu, why they are not raising voice?

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