The case of Lt Samuel Kamalesan was a rare clash between an officer’s beliefs and the Army’s traditions, but today’s climate of politicised religiosity and a hierarchy pandering to it makes reform urgent.
Balancing freedom of religion with tribal rights, HC endorsed gram sabhas’ powers under PESA Act to curb inducement-based conversions, which it said were a ‘social menace’.
From devout believers to atheists, agnostics, and ‘rationalist believers’, humanity’s quest for meaning is shifting from divine surveillance to the power of ethics and reason.
The US panel said policies like anti-conversion laws create a 'culture of impunity' for harassment and violence towards religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
Being critical of religion and religious practices is a must for an evolving society to free itself from archaic practices of the medieval era, writes Col KL Viswanathan.
Courts have applied ‘essential religious practice’ test over the decades to decide which practices are protected by the Constitution, and which ones the state can regulate.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken in support of the Karnataka govt's stance on the hijab row, but BJP leaders are worried about its repercussions.
By confronting everyone who comes in her way, even the Election Commission or crime-fighting agencies like the ED, Mamata Banerjee has shown that for her, everything is personal.
The countries signed a memorandum for co-development of UNICORN masts in November 2024. India has been second Asian nation to have such an agreement with Tokyo, after Philippines.
The author is a retired Army Cdr, one of the top 6 in the hierarchy. Hard to fathom this post retirement empathy on such a silly issue when he was in a position to change things. Did he? Nopes. Why does all this gyan and enlightenment boil to the surface post retirement in the top brass? Let’s address this issue first and leave cases of insubordination to the organisation and the courts.
I’m sorry but I’d disagree with the claim that this dismissal reflects a ‘colonial mindset’.
Such narrow-mindedness belongs neither in politics, nor in the armed forces. The officer’s misconduct lies not in his Christian faith (or someone’s hypothetical Muslim faith), but in the idea that religion, to them, is conclusive, exclusive, separative, and competitive (explained below). This view of religion underlies reactions like his, and it is precisely why the common all-faiths worship tradition of the military was anathema to, and ill behoves, an officer.
(Explanations of terms)
Conclusive: One’s faith is God’s final word.
Exclusive: No other belief system is valid or, as often implied and sometimes stated, even respectable.
Separative: All beliefs and practices not conforming to God’s word must be shunned and condemned.
Competitive: Different faiths are in a perpetual mutual competition as a means of salvation.
The author is a retired Army Cdr, one of the top 6 in the hierarchy. Hard to fathom this post retirement empathy on such a silly issue when he was in a position to change things. Did he? Nopes. Why does all this gyan and enlightenment boil to the surface post retirement in the top brass? Let’s address this issue first and leave cases of insubordination to the organisation and the courts.
I’m sorry but I’d disagree with the claim that this dismissal reflects a ‘colonial mindset’.
Such narrow-mindedness belongs neither in politics, nor in the armed forces. The officer’s misconduct lies not in his Christian faith (or someone’s hypothetical Muslim faith), but in the idea that religion, to them, is conclusive, exclusive, separative, and competitive (explained below). This view of religion underlies reactions like his, and it is precisely why the common all-faiths worship tradition of the military was anathema to, and ill behoves, an officer.
(Explanations of terms)
Conclusive: One’s faith is God’s final word.
Exclusive: No other belief system is valid or, as often implied and sometimes stated, even respectable.
Separative: All beliefs and practices not conforming to God’s word must be shunned and condemned.
Competitive: Different faiths are in a perpetual mutual competition as a means of salvation.