Topic: DMK

What is your secularism ? Vedic domination?
Muslims, Christians and tribals feel absolutely safe in Tamilnadu. And the Hindus in TN are perfectly ok with that. Go on make Karnataka an exemplary Hindutva Lab of the South but please don’t dream about doing that with the rest of the South.

“.. For a society to be secular the religious leaders should periodically come together .. and proclaim “Your God(s) is as good as mine; your path to reach him is as good as mine”. Period. If this is done in a society no politician can use religion to garner votes ..”

Additionally, your utopian idea of secularism does not exist in any country in the world.

Most definitions of secularism regard the term as the degree of separation between the state i.e. government and the religions that operate in a given country. The religious freedoms in a country also come under the ambit of secularism. Thus, you have several variants of secularism in the world today.

1. ACTUAL OFFICIAL RELIGION: In primarily Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia etc., the official religion is Islam and the clergy have immense say in the affairs of the state. You also see this in some Catholic countries like Philippines, Argentina, Ireland, Poland etc. where the Church does influence state policy in many areas such as marriage, divorce, abortion, gay rights, same sex marriage and so on. In many Islamic countries, there is limited freedom of religion for non-Muslims. But generally in Western democracies, religious minorities are not persecuted.

2. SYMBOLIC & DE JURE OFFICIAL RELIGION WITH DE FACTO & DE JURE SECULARISM: In countries like Norway, UK, Sweden etc. Christianity is the official religion from a purely ceremonial and historical point of view. However, the Church does not interfere in the affairs of the state and people are free to practise other religions.

3. DE JURE SECULARISM WITH DE FACTO OFFICIAL RELIGION: You see this in places like India and Bangladesh. Whilst the Constitutions of these countries enshrine secularism and the state has no religion, in reality, the majority religion influences policy making. In both Bangladesh and India, there is a drift from the original intent of secularism. Additionally, the space for religious minorities in both countries is seen to be shrinking.

4. LAÏCITÉ: No official religion and complete separation of state from religion as seen in France. The French state does not encourage any religion, nor does it discourage any religion as long as the religion in question does not trample upon the rights of citizens. In France, it also means that when in the employ of the state, the representative if the state cannot display religious symbols such as a prominent rosary or cross, the Sikh turban, the burkha etc. etc. Although there are no issues with sporting a Sikh turban or wearing a prominent rosary whilst in the streets. The French version is built on the 4 principles of liberté, égalité, separation & neutralité. The French approach which allows full religious freedom contrasts with the former USSR version of secularism where religion was actually suppressed.

For an excellent explanation in French see the link: “La Laïcité en 3 minutes”. I have also linked to the English version “Ask a French Teacher – What is LA LAÏCITÉ?”. If you wish to hear English spoken with a thick French accent, head over to the second version !

Most countries fall somewhere between these 3 models. But it is worth noting that today, one witnesses a gradual erosion of religious freedoms in de jure secular countries like India, Indonesia, Bangladesh etc. and they are becoming more and more like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The nexus between mullah, Military & Minister in Pakistan is a fait accompli. But the nexus between baba and mantri in India creates in India a Hindu Pakistan and the intolerance that goes with copying an intolerant Islamic country. And I doubt that an alliance of religious leaders batting for tolerance is the answer to this essentially political power grab by netas riding on and exploiting religious intolerance.

REFERENCES

La Laïcité en 3 minutes, ref: bit.ly/2P1L3kt
Ask a French Teacher – What is LA LAÏCITÉ?, ref: bit.ly/2PmdzwX

Mr Nagasamy: Excellent comment Sir !

To your question: ”

So what exactly is BJP bringing to the table?”

let me try some answers.

The entry of the BJP in Tamilnadu will surely usher in the following:

1. Religious strife
2. Hindi imposition through backdoor methods
3. BIMARU culture
4. Caste violence

It is imperative that these fascist North Indian forces are kept out of the South. TN has come far ahead in many socio-economic indicators and that can’t be jeopardised.

Mr Vish: You are right when you say that the DMK is nothing more than a profit chasing family firm with some of the most corrupt people in Indian politics. The Congress Party is another such family firm as are the Reddy firms of AP and the Patnaik firms of Orissa. And as you rightly point out, the AIADMK is not much better either.

But your family does not have to own a political party to control it. Crony capitalists like the Ambani and Adani families do not own the BJP but they nonetheless run the BJP. What do you say to that elegant method of democracy capture Mr Vish?

Sadly, India is run by family dynasties or one man outfits such as the Kejriwal, Mamta Bannerjee or Mayawati groupings. And voters don’t seem to care. Therein lies the tragedy of democracy in India – there is serious a lack of choice.

As the French philosopher and diplomat Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821) said:

“Every country has the government it deserves”