Book on Indian Constitution
is the right National Book
External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj proposed that Bhagavad Gita be declared a ‘national
scripture’. What Swaraj calls into question is the secular nature of India,
whether a holy book of one religious community can be imposed as the national
book of Indians of all faiths. BJP vice-president Dinesh Sharma too expressed
his opinion that the Gita is not a religious book, but is meant for the whole
of humanity.
Mahabharat is a Hindu
epic and Bhagwad Gita is the derivative of this epic and both these great works
were written when India consisted of only Hindus. Even Bible was written when
there existed only Christians at a place during a particular time. Koran was
also written at a place where only the Muslims existed during a particular
time. Similar is the case with all the other religious scriptures. But today,
almost all over the world, and in India particularly, people belonging to all
the religions co-exist. In such a case, it wouldn’t be advisable to have a
scripture of one particular religion as a National Book, particularly when there
exist a book for members of all the religions. This book is the Book on Indian
Constitution which has been written after considering all the religions of the
world. This book was written to enable people of all religions to co-exist
peacefully. When this is the case, introduction of a scripture of any one
religion as the National Book will have disastrous result. It is like going far
back in time which will be harmful for our country.
Freedom of
conscience that is guaranteed under the Constitution includes the right to
practise any or no religion, and seeking to elevate a sacred scripture of any
one religion as India’s national scripture is tantamount to undermining the
secular basis of the Constitution. If
indeed there is felt a need to hold up one book as a national book, then it
should be the country’s Constitution, and nothing else.
Bhagvad Gita is
definitely one of the most pristine philosophical books in the world. Nobody
would ever challenge the philosophical nuances of Gita. Gita is not a Hindu
religious text but rather a great book on spirituality - a rare book of solace
when some one is struck with a personal tragedy of loosing a loved one and made
to think deeply on life and death - the mystery that science cannot unravel
even after thousands of years. It is great book of humanity -every verse is
dripping with humanity and if world peace is goal then all leaders of every
country must read Gita. It is more of a book on psychology as there are several
chapters discussing mind. Gita is a national treasure Indians must be proud of.
The Gita is a
wonderful book-- full of both speculative and ethical wisdom. Countless people,
mostly Hindus but including some Muslims and many other non-Hindus find it a
fountainhead of thoughtful guidance in life. A former Muslim president of
India, Dr. Abul Kalam, was reported to be an admirer. Precisely for such
reasons, it's dangerous to "officially" proclaim it as the national
scripture of India.
Let’s put things
in simple words. Gita is a brilliant book, No one is against the Gita.
Secularism is defined and redefined by parties and groups for their own
benefits. Gita according to some might not be religious but a way of life but
the common man who usually reads a Gita is religious and belongs to Hinduism. A
national book should portray the nation as a whole. We as a one need
development and less of religion in the public sphere, only then we can be a
super power.
Declaring Gita a
national book can hurt people's sentiment in a secular country like India,
instead it must be a mandatory part of school curriculum which will serve the
real purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment