A future historian might record 5 August 2020 as the day secularism died in India. She would no doubt mention that the patient was always sick and rather ill for over three decades. She may note many critical dates when wounds that proved fatal were inflicted by the RSS-BJP and their affiliates. But she would also note that the last nail in the coffin of secularism was not put by the BJP.
Today marks the death of secularism, not because there is a bhoomi pujan for a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. The construction of a temple — or gurudwara, a church or a mosque for that matter – should not cause grief, much less death, for a secular State. A magnificent temple, especially for Lord Rama, and that too at Ayodhya, should normally be an occasion for celebration, just as the construction of a pilgrims’ corridor to Guru Nanak’s birthplace. A politician presiding over a religious ceremony is not the best of practice in a secular State, but there is nothing unusual about it in India.
Today marks one year of the scrapping of Article 370 and the dismantling and diminution of Jammu and Kashmir. This must concern secularism. It is hard to overlook that this was the only Muslim majority state of the Indian Union. It is harder to imagine a Hindu majority state being sliced up overnight and the civil liberties of the ordinary citizens as well as top political leaders suspended for a year. At the same time, the regional dimension of the Kashmir issue is more salient than the religious one. The tragedy of Kashmir is more a failure of India’s federalism and our counter-productive notions of national security than a sign of the death of our secularism.
Also read: This Hindi book on Indian secularism could have exposed liberals, but it was ignored
The triumph of majoritarianism
Today, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath preside over the bhoomi pujan at Ayodhya, the function marks the triumph of majoritarian politics. Yet, the future historian would remember that majoritarian politics began its triumphant journey way back in 1989. If there is something new here, it is the stamp of legality. Unlike 1949 or 1986, this time the deity would make a legal entry, certified by the Supreme Court of India, no less. (She might also note, in passing, that the Supreme Court marked this day by prosecuting an outspoken public interest lawyer for contempt of court). Our future historian would underline the fact that a few months after passing that strange order, the Supreme Court had also refused to stay the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which provided for unequal treatment of future citizens on religious grounds.
Today’s ceremony in Ayodhya is not a religious or sacred ritual. It is a purely political one, a ritual of conquest. The ceremony symbolises the fusion of multiple forms of power: State power, the power of the dominant political party, the brute power of the majority community, the power of modern media, and the power of religious authority. The only thing missing so far was a wholesome participation of opposition parties. The Congress, this time formally led by Gandhi family and duly followed by other leaders, has filled that gap. A feasible version of Hindu Rashtra, compatible with the fiction of a secular Constitution, has been inaugurated. And the Congress party has hammered the final nail in the coffin of secularism.
Also read: Idea of India wasn’t demolished at Ayodhya. That happened in our ‘liberal’ homes
The defeat of secularism
Today is the culmination of a long journey. Our future historian would find out that the battle for secularism was not lost in the courts or elections. This was a battle of ideas. Secularism was defeated in the minds of the Indian citizens. The proponents of Hindu Rashtra must not get the credit for their victory. They were just the beneficiaries of the colossal failure of secular politics. Above all, the custodians of secular ideology were responsible for this defeat.
Today, we must recognise that secularism was defeated because its custodians refused to engage in a battle of ideas among the people. Secularism was defeated because the secular elite talked down to its critics in English. Secularism was defeated because it disavowed our languages, because it failed to connect with the language of traditions, because it refused to learn or speak the language of our religions. Specifically, secularism was defeated because it chose to mock Hinduism instead of developing a new interpretation of Hinduism suitable for our times. The secular ideology was defeated in India because it failed to distinguish itself from knee-jerk pro-minorityism, even as it learnt to turn a blind eye to minority communalism. Secular politics was discredited because it turned from conviction to convenience and then to a conspiracy to keep minority voters hostage.
Today, this cultural vacuum has created a condition in which anyone with a tilak and trishul can claim to be a leader of Hindus. This created an ideological space where the idea of secularism could be demonised and attacked. This created a political void where the Congress could shift from supreme indifference to Hindutva to a complete surrender.
Today is the right day to begin a new journey, a journey to rediscover the lost language of religious tolerance, to reconstruct Hinduism, and to reclaim a future for our republic.
The author is the national president of Swaraj India. Views are personal.
Secularism seeks to ensure freedom of religious belief practice and traditional values for all and respect to others religious beliefs. Which means
• No religious conversion by preaching or forcing others
• No demolition, deface and disrespect for religious places, idols or symbols
• No religious interference in affairs of state.
Why Hinduism is the purest form of secularism without any Conflict with religious faith belief and culture unlike others who believe in destruction of others faiths and culture
• Believes that God is everywhere in everything, freedom to worship from idol to infinite universe (brahma) to a point or in any other form, hence respect to other beliefs.
• No historic evidence of mass forced conversion, no global preaching unlike missionaries or Islamic organisations
• No historic evidence of mass destruction, deface or disregard to other religious places or beliefs. Unlike enormous historical incidents of mass destruction, deface, disrespect of Idols, Temples, Gurudwaras, Churches and Mosques by other religious groups.
• No religious interference unlike 26 Bishops in House of Lords, Halakha and Sharia Law in affairs of state
Hinduism, a true secular culture because it is not confined to any book but a culture practiced by generations for thousands of years.
After seventy years Indians have seen and understood the real face of pseudo secularism. The so called secularism has been forced on to the Indians by the fake mogul dynast fmly, nehru, in the garb of secularism, the antinational dacoit congress, its allies leaders and fake dynast family supported, maintained and pampered separatists, terrorists, underworlds, all sorts of mafias, muslims and chritians at the cost of majority Hindus! Secularism is a big fraud and must be scrapped. India must be declared Hindu nation. Because secularism has served the interest of antinationals and not of the nationals and patriots. Must be scrapped. Earlier is better.
Well said. The author is crying foul about the dismal state of Kashmir as if It was caused few years ago by BJP or RSS. The author is oblivious to the fact that it was the indecisiveness of Nehru’s and subsequent governments. As a result of which Kashmiri Pandits suffered, so many soldiers laid down their life in 65,72, 99 wars, so many innocent people lost their life as collateral damage. Not to forget so many innumerable lives ruined.
Instead of appreciating the decision, these pseudo secularists will always complain. I know it was very hard decision pushed down their throat but when you are seriously ill you need to take a lot of bitter pills.
well said
Poor Yadav, the writer. He’s so sorry for all of us because he has failed. What’s it with these seculars who have such hatred for all except muslims? In the US, christians are targeted and in Israel, jews are targeted and in India Hindus are targeted. The problem for seculars is that they turhed their cause into a religion itself – a violent and blind one; it’s sympathy for Islam is hence understandable – siamese twins !!!
Well said.’The Print’ is Congress mouth piece so what do you expect?
WE don’t have Real SECULARISTS.The so-called secularists were keen to APPEASE minorities.Actually there are only TWO religions.One of RICH and other POOR. The so called Secularists never bothered about poor.
‘knee-jerk pro-minorityism, even as it learnt to turn a blind eye to minority communalism’. Not ‘even as’ sir but due to sir.Who do you fooling? It earn you a few bucks could not fool single reader,sir. Why don’t speak Kashmiri pandits genocide but speak about lost librarty of killers . Pro muslim opinion oozes from you and pseudo seculars . Delhi riots done by PFI but blame Hindus.
This fellow is a pseudo-secularist – a failed, frustrated man, good for nothing. Any media giving him space hardly has any standing or respect.
Pseudo secularist who are shedding tears now, should have died of shame when pandits were driven out Kashmir, butchered, raped and looted. Or when Sikhs genocide was perpetrated by the so called secular government. It is a shame that they live this day when Hindus have been given justice which was denied to them for centuries. Fortunately today as a Hindu I do not feel apologetic.
I have to agree. This kind of “selective secularism” that is convenience-based must be shunned.
Even now when Kashmir problem became prominent they don’t speak of Pandits but killers rights. Local muslims seem helpings or may be terrorists themselves. If not how they killing BJP people only. How could elections be conducted. If conducted Pak people take over administration. Elections reflect popular opinion if all Pandits only. So elections should be conducted after resettlement.
Yogendra Yadav says – Specifically, secularism was defeated because it chose to mock Hinduism instead of developing a new interpretation of Hinduism suitable for our times.
That is exactly the vision of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo etc. It is already well-articulated.
Our despondent left leaning thinkers dont need to reinvent the wheel. They just need to read Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo.
“There are two religions in earth, which have distinct enmity against all other religions. These two are Christianity and Islam. They are not just satisfied with observing their own religions, but are determined to destroy all other religions. That’s why the only way to make peace with them is to embrace their religions.”
Original works of Rabindranath Vol. 24 page 375, Vishwa Bharti; 1982.
But, don’t he now this much? Still doing this, why? Gulf petro dollars, Vatican dollars making them as they are now, I wonder.
Indian secularism was an instrument for political gains encashing minority vote banks. Secularism never practiced properly. Rather we should have French type of secularism where religion is banned to enter in to politics. In France any political party built on a religious sect is banned. So Indian political parties like AIMIM, Muslim League, BJP, RSS all these parties must be banned in French secularism. You can practice your religion at home but not outside.
I am really sick of listening to this utter nonsense of people like Yogendra Yadav. They just dont get it, do they? Please stop going on and on about secularism. Indians are sick of it. And you have the right to keep spewing venom at Modi, but he is here to stay. And most Indians are very happy with abrogation of 370 and Ram mandir. So please stop all this rubbish.
I felt compelled to write and congratulate The print for this excellent analysis. Mr. Yadav has the best analytic mind who has been point at seculars own mistakes for quite some time. I expect a more detail and open discussion from him about how the ‘seculars’ gave away secularism in this country. Remember the day when Allahabad high court gave its verdict, and along with Muslim side few ‘seculars’ (ex Mr. Rajeev Dhawan) were criticising the verdict. This, despite many prominent muslim figures accepting that verdict. What happened after that is before us!
One request I have from seculars, please dont make Indian muslims weaker anymore, if you want to be their true friend. This is the time which will test your friendship to our countries’s minorities who are totally cornered. I feel that as a proud hindu, and I am very sad today that all of us failed them.
Utter nonsense. Islam should be driven out of India along with its sympathisers.
The fretful king dismounted from his throne to go
Where the hermit sat beneath the tree. Bowing, he said,
“My lord, why have you forsaken god’s mighty abode,
The royal construction of gold that pierces the sky,
To sing paeans to the divine here on the streets?’
“There is no god in that temple,” said the hermit.
Furious,
The king said, “No god! You speak like a godless man, Hermit. A bejewelled idol on a bejewelled throne,
You say it’s empty?”
“Not empty, it holds royal arrogance,
You have consecrated yourself, not the god of the world.”
Frowning, said the king, “You say the temple I made
With twenty lakh gold coins, reaching to the sky,
That I dedicated to the deity after due rituals,
This impeccable edifice – it has no room for god!”
Said the tranquil hermit, “The year when the fires
Raged and rendered twenty thousand subjects
Homeless, destitute; when they came to your door
With futile pleas for help, and sheltered in the woods,
In caves, in the shade of trees, in dilapidated temples,
When you constructed your gold-encrusted building
With twenty lakh gold coins for a deity, god said,
‘My eternal home is lit with countless lamps
In the blue, infinite sky; its everlasting foundations
Are truth, peace, compassion, love. This feeble miser
Who could not give homes to his homeless subjects
Expects to give me one!’ At that moment god left
To join the poor in their shelter beneath the trees.
– Rabindranath Tagore
“There are two religions in earth, which have distinct enmity against all other religions. These two are Christianity and Islam. They are not just satisfied with observing their own religions, but are determined to destroy all other religions. That’s why the only way to make peace with them is to embrace their religions.”
Original works of Rabindranath Vol. 24 page 375, Vishwa Bharti; 1982.
The only future historian who might say these is Yogendra Yadav; but he wouldn’t be in the future…
Utter nonsense. Secularism never dropped the word of religion. It stood by the beliefs of minorities without ever letting those beliefs to be evaluated by the scales of equality in general and for women in particular. For eg: If Hinduism were to mandate women to wear burquas secular monkeys would have conducted demo dress-removal show led by congress. Besides, seculars stood by those predatory beasts who cannot survive without hunting.
This is exactly what the author has written and criticized. Do you have critical thinking faculties?
Generally in journalism, a journalists means people look at the issue and take stance. Based on that issue people write articles. The print is one such media where the stance is first taken ie. Against Hinduism and Modi, then the articles are written based on that, toxicity level is based on the writer. But one thing is sure it is not journalism but a paid propaganda
The fact that Muslims are still living in India even after the hindu community faced 800 years of humiliation is the proof of our secularism . Hindus are secular by nature.
Very true !. Thank you sir for a very brief and most apt answer to this long and hollow claims of so called SICULARISTS . Hindus have really shown resilience for so many centuries
The print is agent of Pakistan. It’s Pro – Pakistani agenda is clear now. How dare you to wrote this article. When temples and Gurudwara are broken in Pakistan, why you don’t write anything? Are you getting money for this shit? akistan chala ja…djhcfhdhdjxjj
You shouldn’t blame all of print for this atleast. It is this one guy, who is pseudo secularist
Tu kon hai re? Desh ka baap? I am a proud hindu and proud to be a progressive one. We are ashamed that we have shitty people like you and your leaders in my beloved country. Your leaders are blasphemous, insulted our religion, ideas and values! Yogendra Yadav is not a Pakistani that he has to shout against breaking of temples in Pakistan!!!! But I am sure your head is full of gobar so you will not understand where to ask justice. Your leaders will take India decades backwards, we can foresee that.
The Ram ji have finally received his place where he was born which was forcefully taken over by muslims as their was muslims rule.I guess ‘the print’ is paid by someone.Jb masjib bani toh aap log kuch ni bolte aur ek mandir bn raha hai after alot of struggle toh bhot bura lg raha hai jal rahe ho!PAIDDDDD!So cheap attempt because of money!
I am delighted to know Prof. Yadav was alive 500 years back! And it was pseudo seculars like him who did not stop breaking a Ram temple.
Are you saying that secularism existed only amongst the “English speaking elites”. If yes, than is it not better for the nation that it’s dead.
Paudi Intelligent guys like Yogendra Yadav are responsible for the sorry state of Secularism
Those who wail for Secularism and abuse Hindu community day in and day out conveniently forget that Secularism and it’s votaries are safe only as long as Hindus are in a majority.If they still have illusion take a look at parts of India that have broken away and are today Muslim majority.
Time to usher in true Secular values that donor encourage appeasment of minorities .
Secularism by definition is the separation of state and religion. By suggesting molding secularism to a new Hindutva, the self-proclaimed intellectual, the great Yogendra Yadav details a formula for its death, not resurrection. Conspicuous is the absence of suggestions for other religions in his essay. Nehru was the true secularist who led the first assault on secularism by allowing evil Islamic practices of triple talaq and polygamy at a time when the Hindu law was designed to be more equitable to women. He set the precedence and next was Somnath temple construction with funding from Indian Union, pardon for Razakars, collusion with the Abdullahs, Sikh genocide, infamous Shah Bano, Temple gates, Ram Janmabhoomi and the emergence of political Hindu. 80% of India’s population is Hindu, for many years it was divided by castes but as caste boundaries diminished religious frontiers became more prominent. There is much to blame esp the secular elite who took Hindus fro granted and carried on their politics. The original Ram temple demolition, Crimes of Muslim invaders, Pandit exodus were questioned that were immediately junked. Chickens have finally come home to roost. Majoritarianism is real and not always right but it is an unbeatable force. You provoked them by not listening to their cries. Muslims are the biggest losers because these weasels sold them out to the highest bidders. Lalu was roaming with a Osama Bin laden dummy during the Bihar elections and yet no-one questioned. Now see the condition of his party in Bihar. THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN TIME.
Fully agree with your assessment
A factual correction:
The corridor was not to Guru Nanak’s birth place as Mr Yadav states.
It was to his final resting place.
Secularism didn’t die when the victims of partition in the East were denied aid.
Secularism didn’t die when Refugees, Dalits, Jammu and Ladakh were discriminated against.
Secularism didn’t die when temple control was ceased by the State. It didn’t even die when the temple finances were appropriated for government causes.
Secularism didn’t die when Hindus were persecuted in Punjab.
Secularism didn’t die when the political party in power organised pogroms against Sikhs.
Secularism didn’t die when a parliament voted to deny a woman alimony
Secularism didn’t die on 19th January 1990, when minority Kashmiri Hindus were given the options to “Convert!Leave! Or Die!”
Secularism didn’t die when historians lied brazenly in public.
Secularism also didn’t die when Reang were chased out of their land by a hoarde of fanatics.
Secularism didn’t die when the victims of the Godhra massacre were accused of being responsible for their brutal demise.
Secularism didn’t die when a shameless government falselyimplicated it’s political adversary in a horrendous terror attack.
It didn’t even die because of all the pro minorityism.
The reason Secularism didn’t die during any of these times was simply because it was already dead. It was a still birth. We were never a secular country. If we were, we would have had a stronger answer against these pressing issues that do in fact have a religious angle to them.
What is being mourned is the waning power of an entrenched elite and it’s vote banks.
The future historian, will note how the self proclaimed champions of secularism were the most divisive and opportunistic cynics.
It for not for when minority educational institutions were exempted in RTE.
Excellent comment sir ! ! ! Although one could easily add another 100 + incidents in the above mentioned list !
Jai Sri Ram