The Indian Constitution was written keeping in mind the smorgasbord of cultures, languages, religions, and ethnicities that live in this land. The Constitution is the DIY manual that the founding fathers handed down to future generations.
Interestingly, all religions speak of respecting the other – there is ‘love they neighbour as thy self’, Vasudev kutumbakam (the world is one family), it is written in the Quran ‘to you be your religion, to me be mine.’ All faiths acknowledge diversity and provide ways for people to live in harmony just like the Indian Constitution. However, there are some followers of these religions who shy away from practising this one particular tenet – respecting others.
Today, the ideal and practice of secularism, is vilified. For many, the connotation of this word is appeasement which they believe has many consequences. As per these people, secularism demoralises the upper caste, disrespects the majority, destabilises their concept of social fabric, and threatens their notion of the Hindu way of life.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political organ the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently governing India have been successful in giving secularism a bad name. We all have heard the term ‘sickular’ coined and used by their leaders and supporters derogatorily against those standing up to them. Simultaneously, they promote their saffron hued version of secularism. Thus, they have formed the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) with the expressed goal of bringing Muslim and Hindu communities closer. The attempt to form a Christian wing in Kerala failed. The concept of ‘bringing communities together’ would have been lauded if it were not an insidious way for the RSS to get support for its Hindutva affirming activities. This brings us to the new version of secularism that is being promoted in India – communities will be accepted if they accept Hindutva. This is in line with what Golwalkar, the RSS ideologue, had ideated.
Christians and Muslims, as per Golwalkars plan, ‘must lose their separate existence to merge in the Hindu race, or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu’. That is why rightwing groups force Muslims to say Jai Shri Ram and recite the Vande Mataram and promote the socio-economic boycott Muslims.
In these circumstances, Christians, Muslims, and those belonging to lower castes joining the RSS and the BJP can be perceived as secularism. They are not letting their beliefs prevent them from working for an ideology that is disrespectful towards them. It can be argued that minorities choosing to join these saffron organisations have an open mind. Possibly they may want to change the organisation from the inside. On the other hand, joining the organisation may be an acknowledgement of the threat from them, they assume that their association with the Hindutva ideology is protection.
There is another motive, as ulterior as the unstated rationale of the BJP and the RSS accepting minorities into their fold. These members believe they are privileged – given their minority status – and therefore these organisations will accede to their demands for power and pelf as proof to the larger community of how much minorities are valued.
Unfortunately, even though it is a win-win for the BJP/RSS and those joining these organisations it dilutes the essence of the Constitution and the country’s secular ideals.
No doubt, a person from the minority community defending the actions of the Hindutva organisation, party or their followers can be construed as secularism in action. The minority spokesperson is going beyond his personal parochial ties to speak for the larger group. However, the question to be asked is whether they have a voice and opinion which is acceptable to the RSS/BJP when it is not in line with their work and ideology? Another important point is where does morality and conscience fit into all this.
Any murder or lynching is a stain on human society. Such deplorable acts must be denounced in no uncertain terms. Therefore, the MRM condemning the murder of two sadhus in Palghar was the right thing to do.
But, there has been no condemnation from the MRM or from Christian members of the BJP/RSS post attacks on Christians and Churches.
So, there is an ideological imperative for the silence. But where is the conscience?
Of course, political party spokespersons are selective in their outrage and target their opponents for brownie points. But these are instances of the pot calling the kettle black and must be called out for its hypocrisy.
But here we are speaking of minorities being used by the RSS/BJP to blunt the anger of citizens post minorities being targeted. Do the RSS/BJP believe that targeting minorities becomes okay if their minority spokesperson stay silent, provide alternate facts or defend bigoted actions? Then the issue is not only about these minority spokesmen but also of citizens who accept these people as representatives of the entire community.
The secularism that the RSS and BJP demand begins with the suspension of conscience and morality.
We are all living through a social experiment where the basic tenets of humanism and respect are being subverted. In relationship counselling couples are often asked whether they accept each other for who they are, or for who they can be. There is a similar question for citizens- do they want to be accepted for who they are – Indians, or for who the Hindutva Brigade moulds them into?
(Samir Nazareth is an
author and writes on
socio-economic and
environmental issues)
