Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Modi promises secularism' that was published in Newsband

Modi promises secularism

One word conspicuous by its absence from the election campaign was secularism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought it back in his victory speech. His great achievement, he implied, was to have unmasked these fake secularists and single-handedly dismantled secularism.

But the insecurity amongst minorities is created largely by Mr. Modi’s own political supporters. Is the secularism propounded or implied by the Prime Minister genuine? At least in theory, ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ gets one thing right: no individual citizen should face discrimination on grounds of religion. Basic amenities, good health, education, housing and employment should be available equally to all, regardless of their religion. If he succeeds in this endeavour, he would make great strides towards realising secularism.

Secularism combats exclusion, oppression and humiliation, and opposes intra-religious domination. Equally important for secularism is opposition to religious fanaticism and bigotry. There was a time when people viewed secularism first as a tool to protect the interests of Muslims and Christians, of no relevance to Hindus, and then for twisting it to appear as pro-Muslim and anti-Hindu.

Secularism is needed as much to protect Hindus from intra-religious domination, from their ‘fringe elements’. It is required equally to protect minorities from their own orthodoxies and extremisms. Genuine secularism plays that role. Fake secularism protects fanatics and legitimises gender and caste-based domination.

What then must be expected from real, genuine secularism? Justice to all citizens, affirmation of all reasonable religious identities, rejection of majority communalism, careful defence of legitimate minority rights only when accompanied by a robust critique of minority extremism, and a critical appraisal of religions with a deeper, empathetic grasp of their traditions. The government’s primary business is to prevent religion-based violence, oppression and discrimination. Perhaps, those outside the government should attend to its other functions. Together, we may just rescue our genuine secularism.

Fake secularism is due to the presence of insufficient amount of employment opportunities to all. Hence they hope from all the political parties that at least they will be provided employment opportunities. Reservation system has been one of the worst system in Indian society that basically arises the feeling of majority and minority. When people's needs will be fulfilled they can think in a more innovative way and can differentiate between good and bad also the meaning of minority will be futile for them. Reservation system should not be present in the Indian society. Until and unless it is there, the sense of real secularism will not prevail.

Religions were created throughout human history for the benefit of humans to preserve “HUMANITY” but unfortunately politics crept in slowly in all religions and exploited it for power.

Now is the secularism propounded or implied by the Prime Minister genuine? At least in theory, ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ gets one thing right: no individual citizen should face discrimination on grounds of religion. Basic amenities, good health, education, housing and employment should be available equally to all, regardless of their religion. If he succeeds in this endeavour, he would make great strides towards realising secularism