A Nehru and a Modi
The ideal of secularism is under threat in the biggest democracy of the world because Narendra Modi is expected to become its prime minister in the next summer. In a religiously plural society like India dominated by an overwhelming Hindu majority yet inhabited by about half a dozen minorities professing different religions, a secular state seems to be the best hope for equal rights as well as social integration for all of its citizens. This is only possible if the ruling party is secular in its guiding principles and its prime minister is fully committed to the secular ideas. Unfortunately, Modi and his party, the BJP, are die-hard opponents of secularism.
It is not that the Indians do not know how Modi will act as chief executive of the country. On the contrary they know his credentials perfectly well because till to-date, he has been the longest serving chief executive of Gujarat province and intends to rule India the way he has governed Gujarat. In the process, he has built the image of not a conciliator but of a leader, who is controversial, divisive and polarizing.
Criticism over Modi is not totally unfounded. His political birth, nurturing and grooming have been among the most virulent and violent communal Hindu organizations: as a member he has received training from Rashtriya Swayamsavak Sangh (RSS) in Nagpur. He has been in charge of Sangh Parivar’s student wing and an organizer of covert agitation. Yet another religiously extremist Hindu organization, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) claims that he is the ‘creation of VHP’. And what is the end objective of all these communal outfits? It is to take control of the Indian state and make it “100 per cent Hindu” because their cardinal principle is that India is the land of Hindus, only.
How threatening the religious rancor could be to the stability of the Indian society might be understood from the July 1926 letter of Jawaharlal Nehru in which he warned that “religion in India will kill that country and its politics if it is not subdued”. The allusion was not to the Muslims only because he felt that the communalism of the Hindu majority was much more dangerous as it could masquerade itself as the Indian nationalism. Exactly this is happening in India, now, because with all the trappings of communalism, Modi is calling himself a Hindu nationalist, which automatically excludes from the national polity all those who are not Hindus.
Nehru as the founding father of independent India served as its first prime minister for almost seventeen years. In the ever widening sea of Hindu-Muslim religious hatred before and after the Partition in 1947, any political leader could have easily lost his moorings but not Nehru, who told the nation in an unambiguous public broadcast in 1948 that “We are building a free secular state, where every religion and belief has full freedom and equal honour, where every citizen has equal liberty and equal opportunity.” Such a society could only be established if the state totally dissociated itself from all religions and did not exhibit the slightest hint of being an agent of any type of creed.
Nehru was immaculate in upholding the secular principles in personal as well as public life as the premier of the government. He knew India was a very religious country and being an Indian it was impossible for him to not to be influenced by religion in any way. His religious views could best be understood in his response to a question, when he elaborated, “I am not attracted to the dogmas and conventions of religion, but I have certainly been attracted to the spiritual values in life… I have no doubt that the great religions of the world contain vital truths. But unfortunately these vital truths are often forgotten and some superstructure is emphasized.” A few years before his death, he clarified to a British journalist that “I am not exactly a religious person, although I agree with much that religions have to say.” Whatever his personal religious understanding, he was careful as a prime minister not to associate with any public activity that was non-secular. On the other hand, Modi openly patronizes and participates in the Hindu religious functions and a VHP leader Ashok Singhal has declared that on becoming the Premier, Modi will build the Ram temple in place of the demolished Babri Mosque at Ayodhya. The issue of Babri Mosque was also instigated in the time of Nehru when some images smuggled inside the mosque were proclaimed as the manifestation of the avatar Rama in December 1949 but the issue could not grow due to a censure from Nehru to the Uttar Pradesh government.
While the minorities had unflinching confidence in Nehru’s leadership, the situation is reverse in the case of Modi. Sajan George, a leader of the Global Council of Indian Christians is on the record to have said that “religious freedom in India will be in danger”, if Modi ascends the throne of power. Just like the Christians, the Muslims are equally apprehensive. While a leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind has stated that “The BJP is fundamentally an anti-Muslim party and Modi proved that with his role in the massacre of the Muslims in Gujrat;” another leader of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Lucknow said, “Narendra Modi is the No 1 enemy of India’s Muslims.” If such are the feelings of the two leading minorities about the future premier of India, one may expect worse from his coterie ministers.
Herein lays the seeds of mayhem and anarchy. While a BJP rally honoured two of its politicians, who have been accused of fanning the Hindu-Muslim riots in the town of Muzafarnagar in UP in September 2013; Nehru always snubbed and condemned such characters and occurrences though not always with much success. There are at least two instances on historical record- one in 1948 and the other in 1961 in the wake of communal riots- when Nehru directed his government to ban the communal parties but the law ministry dithered that not only was it difficult to define a communal party, the issue of ban could be construed as an infringement of fundamental rights.
Nehru even did not shirk from showing open disapproval of some of the actions of Rajendra Prasad, who compromised the secular standing of the office of the Indian President. Immediately, after attaining freedom, President Prasad proposed a ban on cow slaughter in August 1947 which was summarily rejected by Nehru. A few years later, he reproached Prasad for holding a conference in Rashtrapati Bhavan in which missionaries were criticized. Nehru was visibly unhappy, when one of his cabinet ministers, K M Munshi actively patronized the rebuilding of the Somnath temple and President Prasad inaugurated this rebuilt temple.
For decades, Nehru had fought for democracy but he attached even greater importance to the ideal of secularism, which he intended to pursue through the Congress party at every cost. That is why, when the democratically elected President of Congress, Purushottam Das Tandon stated that the Indian Muslims should adopt ‘Hindu culture,’ Nehru forced Tandon’s resignation and made a public comment that “If any person raises his hand to strike down another on the ground of religion, I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, both as the head of government and from outside.”
If India is to progress as a well-integrated multi-religious polity, it needs another Nehru and certainly not Narendra Modi because latter’s ascension to the top slot will exacerbate both internal fissures and external tensions, possibly war, particularly with Pakistan because one of the leaders of BJP has sounded the tocsin by saying, “Small countries like Pakistan… are issuing threats because we are unable to take action. Narendra Modi is a man who is capable of breaking anyone’s jaw if it comes to that.”
With militants on the loose in Pakistan, a party spewing venom and fire in India is likely to stoke the smouldering fire than cooling it. The idea of liberal Pakistan was hijacked immediately after her creation; the reality of a secular India is also in jeopardy, should the radical Hindu nationalists adorn the garb of power in Delhi under the leadership of Modi next year.
The writer is an academic and journalist. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article is so much written with hate, I can't but express pity on the writer, who should have been unbiased…..It is true that the muslims in Gujarat are most prosperous an Gujarat is most developed state in the country. I can't believe you praised Nehru who is a british stooge! So if pakistan sends terrorists to India, should it remain calm and take the attacks ? According to this writer, a hindu should not attend or go to vedic temples ? What a joke…
Muslim can never be secular
Except Muslims, no other minorities have problems in India. But then wherever there are Muslims, there are problems.
interesting to note a paki where hindus, sikhs, christians are brutally persecuted talking of secularism.
This is totally biased article written by fascist Pakistani….. Namo is secular and best for India
Dear Sir, I have gone through the article and feel that the author has lost mental balance and cannot be taken seriously thank you
If you liked Nehru so much, why did 85% of Indian muslims vote against Nehru and for Jinnah in 1946 and if Nehru was good for Indian muslims, why is Nehru not good for Pakistani muslims
In the recent elections, 15% of Indian muslims voted for BJP. Gujurat has had peace for 11 years, whereas thousands of muslims have been killed in Congress ruled Assam and Samajwadi ruled Muzaffarnagar
How about the Minorities in Pakistan? Mr. Q'Bash you dare to raise finger against Modi under whose leadership not only Muslims, everyone has got a piece of pie of the tremendous development. Shame on you and your biased journalism!! Shame!!
Typical napakistani MUNAFIQ……
This sort of petty fear mongering and predictions of doom and gloom were prevalent before Atal Bihari Vajpayee became PM too. The Islamists said he was “dangerous Hindu extremist”, “against secularism” and other such slander however in the end, the BJP chose Abdul Kalam – a muslim to the post of President. Today muslim leaders look back at him as a “friend” to Muslims.
Now that Modi has risen to the forefront, he is being demonized by others based on shoddy reasoning and plenty of rhetoric about India’s “ideals” and whatnot. Fact is, even the most rabid Hindu nationalist is more tolerant of Muslims than even a moderate Muslim is of other religions.
It is time leader like Modi comes to prove to rein in the minoritisma which is running amock.do the majority do not seem count at all or are they to wait in apprehension.Nehru in his 'secular' approach has engendered the very foundation fo Hindu which is liberal and tolerant.Nehru had wooly ideas and was more Marxist than 'secular'
Good Boss. Can you please explain Minorities situation in Pakistan. Ok then go to Google.com and Type Famous Hindu Personality in Pakistan. You will found 04.
Now type Famous Muslim Personality in India, you will find thousand.
Pakistan people talking about secularism. What a Joke?
Minority people living life like hell in Pakistan.
You know what is secularism.????????
Author of this article should be the most idotic person in the world . Think about Pakistan …. Finish writing all the controversies in pakistan then come to Hindustan
IT'S A STUPID ARTICLE WRITTEN TO INFLAME EMOTIONS…..SO SAD.
how many minorities are left in pakistan after independence. look at india and u will get the answer. no need to interfere in our country issues, muslims are our brothers, u mean we should keep quiet even after pakis attack us. sorry boss that was being done in italian congress rule not in indian modi rule! i bet u will not even shoot a pebble when modi becomes pm. the change has already begun. just wait and watch.JAI HIND
For your kind information, there have been more communal riots during Congres rule in India than during BJP's rule. India has a secular fabric because the people there cannot allow religious fanaticism of any kind. All the political parties are aware of the fact. India is not Pakistan. We are well aware of the plight of Hindus in Pakistan. Narendra Modi has the vison and the determination to lead the country on the path of development, which not other leader seems to have. It is better for you to focus on Pakistan politics and set your house in order before trying to peep into others' through a tinted glass.
well this is way beyond facts . If modi become PM . India will excel with all community together
Soore ke olad !!!!!!!!! pahle apne giraban mein dekh
How about the Minorities in Pakistan? Mr. Q'Bash you dare to raise finger against Modi under whose leadership not only Muslims, everyone has got a piece of pie of the tremendous development. Shame on you and your biased journalism!! Shame!!
If India needs to progress and get out of its mediocrity, it disperately needs Mr. Narendra Modi. India does not need another Nehru, atleast not at this time.
Why are Ghazni, Ghori, Timur Lang, Muhammad bin Kasim et al all deified in Pakistan? Because they massacred cow worshipping, cow urine drinking Hindus?
So why the Pakis are massacred now? It is the descendants of Ghori who are cleaning the stables.
And what do you drink, urine of the camels from Saudi arabia?
Whose urine you Muslims drink in the form of Aaab E Zamzam…I guess it's a mixture of a Mulla's and camel's urine.
That's why you mentally deranged Pakis will get wiped out soon.
modi is best
It is really disgusting to see Pakistanis complaining about secularism vs Hinduism when Pakistan itself is a islamic republic and secularism has zero value.
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