As the request for removal of only one word from the constitution would boomerang, the Hindu Adhiveshan held in Goa recently also resolved to exclude democracy and communism. The question here is, what is the reason for apprehensions about the word secular. Secularism in our country is not only a word in the constitution, but is a thought to understand mind and brains.
The country is not only multilingual, multi-cultured, it is multi-religious also. Christian, Parsi, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, Muslim are altogether 25 crores in number. Every religion lives its personal and social life differently. It is for everyone to understand this, and live a peaceful life based on values of brotherhood-friendship.
It is therefore necessary to keep religion at home and love each other as human beings, follow the principle of live and let live, for cordial social relations and peace. Therefore, the word secular is indispensable to the constitution. It is not an Indian word. British writer George Holyoake used the word Secularism in 1851. He opined that secularism can emphasise on cultural and carnal development of human beings. Now with the latest demand, the question arises whether the country doesn’t want Secularism that promotes interfaith harmony and tolerance.
Constitution has bestowed upon the citizens of this country the basic rights equally, irrespective of religion, cast, creed, sex, place, or quality. State or administration cannot suspend it. If at all this happens, or any law suppresses basic rights, one can challenge it in court. Courts can suspend such laws or regulations. Hence, basic rights are fully secular. Repercussions of exclusion of this word from the constitution should also be thought upon. Secularism is the basic core of the constitution, the Parliament has no right to change it or make laws for changing it, and this has been upheld by various judgements of the Supreme Court of India. It is argued that this word didn’t exist in the original constitution. There may be two reasons for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to do so. It would be difficult to digest modern concepts for religious people, the Indian social and religious situation, would be one of the reasons.
Secondly, during that time, the meaning of secularism was defined in America, and its implementation in Indian society wasn’t beneficial. It was a wall between the government and religious institutions. Religion shouldn’t interfere in governance and vice versa. Babasaheb was well aware that, for social reforms and establishment of social wellbeing, it was necessary for the government to interfere and amend laws. In order to understand secularism, we need to go deeper into the past. Despite every effort to avoid it before independence, division of the country was inevitable after independence. India and Pakistan were two different countries. It was evident that Pakistan would be a Muslim country, and as a reaction to it, India could have been a Hindu nation. If this happened, it could have been an invitation for breaking the country into several pieces. However, with a assurance that the remaining part of India would belong to Indians, whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi; and it would be a secular country of all these people, the idea of multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural India was brought into practice successfully.
It would have been politically immature to decide the formation of India on the religious basis for the formation of Pakistan. Hence, Gandhi-Nehru-Patel formed India on the basis of secularism, and this shouldn’t be forgotten. If ignored, the country might have to pay a heavy price for it. It is easy to incite the society, but difficult to unite for constructive agenda. Nationalism is not pleasant spontaneous patriotism, it is more than that, and one should always be aware of it. In a continental country like us, social fabric and security of minorities are important factors. Only a secular government can achieve this. The Indian constitution is facing the challenge of religious fundamentalism. To face this, secularism is a must.
