ভারতে রাষ্ট্রপতি ভবনে মোদীর শপথ গ্রহণ অনুষ্ঠানে স্লোগান 'জয় শ্রীরাম'(একটি প্রতিবাদী ই-মেল)

২৮ শে মে, ২০১৪ দুপুর ১:৫৭

1 of 30





Fwd: INDIA AND HER 'SECULARISM'

Inbox x



Anadiranjan Biswas

13:00 (16 minutes ago)





to me







---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Anadiranjan Biswas <[email protected]>

Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 11:26:43 +0530

Subject: INDIA AND HER 'SECULARISM'

To: onjaiswal1 <[email protected]>, echopress4 <[email protected]>

Cc: baakprotima <[email protected]>



INDIA AND HER SO-CALLED ‘SECULARISM’

- Anadiranjan Biswas



It was quarter past six in the evening of 26th May 2014. A large

gathering of reportedly 3,000 distinguished VVIP guests consisting of

the Heads of SAARC countries as well as the

administrative/constitutional Heads of Indian States and UTs,

diplomats, representatives of all Indian political parties including

newly elected MPs, was waiting in the fore-court of Rashtrapati

Bhawan, New Delhi to witness the historic swearing-in ceremony of Shri

Narendra Damodardas Modi as the 15th Prime Minister of India. So were

we, the ‘Aam Aadmi of India’, who quench their thirst of such national

programme by viewing it on the television screen.



We watched on the television set that after the arrival of His

Excellency Shri Pranab Mukhopadhyay, the Hon’ble President of India,

formal swearing-in ceremony commenced with the Indian National Anthem.

When the National Anthem was over, we heard ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ in

chorus at least twice. Then came the ‘surprise’ (even not to others

but to me). If I can rely upon my listening capacity, a slogan

uttering ‘Jai Shri Ram’ was clearly heard (that is also, at least

twice) which came off the television set kept before me. I don’t

know, from which segment of the gathering came the sound, but it

surely came. And I have sufficient reasons to believe that the sound

was made by certain extremist MPs of that particular political party –

which has got clear mandate to rule India for next five years. But,

was that a proper place to make that slogan – ‘Jai Shri Ram’?



Yes, the vital question lies here. When a political party is all

along alleged of being ‘saamprodayik’ (non-secular) by almost all the

political parties in opposition – was it necessary for its MPs to

utter that sound ? When the swearing-in ceremony is going on in such

a place and in presence of such a Constitutional Head of India, who,

according to the Constitution of India is ‘impartial’ and ‘neutral’

insofar as political belief is concerned – was it justified at all to

utter such religious phrasing ? When a large number of foreign Heads

and/or Ambassadors are present in the ceremony, was it the signature

of intellect to utter such slogan in front of those distinguished

guests ? Which message is sent to their minds by doing so ?



As a matter fact, ‘secularism’ is just like an ‘orphan child’ in

India, who has nobody to take proper care of. And that is why

‘secularism’ is only used by the Indian political parties just as a

playing card to gain voters’ favour. And that is why, a number of

state/national level functions in our country commence with

enchantment of Vedic slokas. And that is why high-ranked Indian Navy

Officer dedicates a newly built ship to the Nation after offering puja

according to a particular religious rite. And that is why a National

Leaders of a century-old political party of India takes shelter of

Imams just before the election. And that is why ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan

is uttered in the swearing in ceremony arranged for the 15th Prime

Minister of India in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.



Now, let us see what the word ‘secular’ means. As per Oxford

Dictionary, ‘secular’ denotes to be (1) ‘not religious, sacred or

spiritual’; and (2) ‘not subject to or bound by religious rule’. From

these points of view, undoubtedly it can be said that (a) either a

‘secular’ country should not be subject to or bound by any particular

religious rule and/or rites of that country theocracy . (2) Or, if

religious rite is inevitably essential, in that case, rituals followed

by all the religions of the country should be followed. But,

unfortunately, none of the above is followed in India. Most of the

Indian national functions/activities follow theocracy. Nevertheless,

we say – India is a ‘secular’ country.



Now, an obvious question may arise here. That is – how did then India

become ‘secular’? A portion of ‘aam aadmi’ is of the notion that

India remained ‘secular’ from the very inception its first Republic

Day i.e. 26th January 1950. But those who have more or less, gone

through the Constitution of India and aware of Indian

post-independence political events very well know that India was not a

‘secular’ country immediately on becoming ‘Republic’. It took at

least 25 years for India to become ‘secular’; and that also not under

an Act passed in any normal session of the Parliament. During the

emergency period (25th June 1975 to 21st March 1977) the Constitution

(42nd Amendment) Act 1976 was passed by Parliament on November 11,

1976 and received Presidential assent on December 18, 1976. Under

that controversial 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India,

changes in the Preamble of Indian Constitution were made from

‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’ to ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular

Democratic Republic’. Thus, India became a ‘secular’ country.



But, as much secular as we be in our political speeches, unless all

our national activities/acts are confined to the very meaning of the

lexicon as referred to hereinabove and are not effected by the

theocratic activities, India’s ‘secularism’ will remain as nothing but

a square peg in round hole.

----------

০ টি +০/-০