A few days before, while being engaged in a social media argument, I was heavily abused because of my liberal point of view towards Muslims in our country. I faced a barrage of questions from many people, especially the followers of Hindutva. Okay, don’t get surprised – absolutely not. it isn’t any new religion, but I don’t think they are Hindus – just like people who believe jihad is synonymous with Islam, aren’t Muslims in its true sense, .
I was being literally probed for my secular thought process. I was being questioned for my liberal, humanist perspective. It was a cultural shock for me. I’m unaccustomed to this social norm where being secular is more like being a ‘gaali’. What I’ve been taught throughout my life about secularism was being challenged by those whose religion is supposedly of a superior status and considers only those aspects that have privileges and advantages, like those of the majority religion.
Suddenly, it felt as if talking about secularism was more like insulting any divinity. But isn’t secularism beyond religions and inclusive of a society of citizens, all of whom have equal rights? I don’t think that the meaning of secularism supports a ‘Hindu rashtra‘ or an Islamic caliphate, where people belonging to either religion have a primary and privileged citizenship.
At one level, secularism stands for the need of coexistence between religions. It seeks the equal status of all religions. Yet, the idea of citizenship has to be based on equal rights.
Many of us might not agree with some of the things that the others have to say. Personally, I think that the problem with most Indians is that we don’t read. In many cases, most of our knowledge comes from parents, relatives and friends. Oh, sorry, a new source has been inducted into the education system of Indians, that is, WhatsApp messages. Furthermore, poorly cooked, factless stories from different websites are also being run to fulfill agendas. Basically, for most of our lives, we subsist on an ‘oral tradition’, otherwise known as ‘kahi-suni baatein’. The populace needs to read – read profusely. And fill their brains with knowledge backed by logics, facts and ethics.
Today, while scrolling down my Facebook feed, I was struck by this picture shared by ADGPI- Indian Army.
In 2017, a total of 322 officer cadets, including 266 men and 31 women, were commissioned as officers of the Indian Army, following the completion of vigorous training at the academy. The cadets took an oath – and it’s beautifully depicted in the picture. They might have sworn to distinctive gods, but they are all represented as one, single individual – all of them ready to safeguard the honour of India. And if anyone genuinely thinks that being a secular is being anti-national, then I’m genuinely sad about the kind of education the ‘social media Vir Chakra Awardees’ might have received.
Secularism is a part of my constitution. And as the PM of India said – the Constitution is our only holy book.
I shall abide by this.
Jai Hind!