Keep State And Religion Separate – The Citizen
Posted: July 1, 2024 at 2:34 am
As the dust settles on what has been the most toxic, regressive, and religiously divisive elections, time to reflect on the relationship between the State and the proverbial Church. It is an ironic call to introspect for a nation that is constitutionally secular, and was borne out of an opposite impulse and rationality to the only nation to be created in the name of a religion i.e., Pakistan.
As has now become increasingly fashionable to question even the father-of-the-nation, Mahatma Gandhi, in the land of his janam, dharam, karam (land of birth, faith, and work). Many talk half-mockingly about the ostensible hypocrisy in Gandhis known religious beliefs, or conversely, of his supposed appeasement of the other.
But unlike the ill-informed and bigoted sections of society, Gandhi was an extremely well-read and knowledgeable individual who had read almost all religious texts, of all faiths. His was a very nuanced, erudite, and sophisticated position on religion per se, and on Hinduism in specific.
He was to famously state that his Hinduism was, all-inclusive. It is not anti-Musalman, anti-Christian or anti-any other religion. But it is pro-Muslim, pro-Christian and pro-every other living faith in the world.
Indeed, when conflated with the modern flag bearers of faith, Gandhis large-hearted interpretation of his Hinduism is in stark contrast with the aggressive and exclusivist understanding, today. Befittingly, the Mahatma was to die with Ram on his lips as his last word, despite paying the price for defending the other.
Today, that vital difference in interpretation of faith, or in this case, Hinduism (as mirrored by the distinct partisan divide prevailing) is exemplified by those who genuinely revere the Mahatma, versus those, who do make a mealy-mouthed case with his assassin.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who was to seed and nurture the Idea of India and define the subsequent question of national identity, was also inspired by Gandhi. Like Gandhi, Nehru was a man-of-letters, an aesthete and profound intellectual. He was given to a diachronous understanding of Indias civilisational and cultural past, which was enmeshed with modernist and progressive instincts.
He was extremely proud of the rich past, but even more concerned about the present, and the future. He knew that he couldnt be bound by history, which was given to certain dark and complex corridors, as is the case anywhere in the world.
Therefore, he too defined his lofty interpretation of Hinduism in what he called the widest sense of Indian culture and not in its narrow and suffocating sense that proximate a Pakistans, albeit, with another religious denomination. A deliberate effort to cherry-pick elements of religio-cultural syntheses were institutionalised in the Indian consciousness and therefore, in its identity.
Befittingly, Nehru was to instead coin the term Temples of Modern India to invest the raw sovereign emotions and national resources towards science, technology, infrastructure, public sector entities and institutions of educational excellence.
Both Gandhi and Nehru were proud and practising Hindus, but both firmly believed that religion could never be the basis of nationhood, like in the case of Pakistan.
Understandably, the inclusivist legacy of a Mahatma or a Nehru is at variance with the alternate truth that is sought to be supplanted, today. Part of this project is to take certain things that were either said or done out of the context, or even attribute things or statements that never happened or were never stated.
One recent falsity bandied was about how Nehru supposedly dissuaded President Rajendra Prasad from attending the inauguration of the Somnath temple in 1951. Like most accusations about Nehru these days, it wasnt a fact, as President Rajendra Prasad did attend the temple function.
What is true, however, is that Nehru did believe that for the State to partake a religious function was avoidable. In Nehrus mind, it perhaps made India look like Pakistan, as it violated the spirit of the Constitution, which had just been framed.
One only needs to read Nehrus letters (none of which were ghostwritten) to understand the impulse behind his discomfort with the State associating itself with religiosity. Newly independent India was staring at crippling economic, social, and infrastructural inequities, herein to be spending (State Government had sanctioned monies toward the same) on religious sites tantamount to splurging in Nehrus eyes.
Nehru wrote to the Chief Minister of Saurashtra, U. N. Dhebar, querying, Whatever the importance of Somnath temple might be, this is not a governmental matter and it is for private individuals to collect money for it. I doubt if it is a proper use of public funds held by Governments to be spent in this way.
Nehru was to write to K. M. Munshi, the force behind Somnath Temple reconstruction, echoing the same concern, I think this is improper expenditure for a government at any time, and more especially in view of the circumstances in the country today.
But Munshi had gone ahead nonetheless as disagreements were commonplace in Nehrus era, and he wasnt petty enough to hold grudges. Later, Munshi was appointed as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
Nehru then wrote to the Jam Saheb Digvijay Singhji, who was not just the Chairman of Somnath Trustees, but also the Constitutional Rajpramukh of Saurashtra.
To him, Nehru clarified that he had written to the Chief Minister to express concerns on spendings and even on fundamental optics, with the President of India agreeing to attend the same. He feared, All this naturally confusing to the foreign mind and leads them to draw certain inferences which are not really justified by the facts.
Nehru alluded to such optics militating the inherent Idea of India by specifying, Pakistan of course is taking great advantage of this to prove that we are not a secular state. The reports that the Jam Saheb had written directly to Indian missions abroad to collect water and soil from different countries for Somnath installation, too had sent confusing signals.
Lastly, not shy to express his contrarian opinion with the Rashtrapati, Nehru wrote to the President explaining the event, it is assuming a certain political importance and added, we are asked how a secular Government such as ours can associate itself with such a ceremony which is, in addition, revivalist in character.
He then pointed to the inherent prolificacy, At any time this would have been indesirable, but at the present juncture, when starvation stalks the land and every kind of national economy and austerity are preached by us, this expenditure by a Government appears to me to be almost shocking.
We have stopped expenditure on education, on health and many beneficent services because we say that we cannot afford it. Any yet, a State Government can spend a large sum of money on just the installation ceremony of a temple.
Issues from financial, optical, to constitutional irked Nehrus conscience, but perhaps the gravest issue was one of the principles involved. One that necessitated a dignified and deliberate distance from private matters of individual faith, especially so given the historical residue of wounds, violence and diminishments from the past, which were best not invoked or scratched further, as the State needed to look at the present and future.
The past was the past. The future could not be compromised by invoking the darker side of the past, even if it meant sacrificing the electorally gratifying polarisation of society.
Decades later, President K. R. Narayanan, arguably the most accomplished, constitutionally versed, and profound Rashtrapati, had decided to uphold that hallowed distance from religiosity.
Narayanan was one who had refused to be confined to the political monikers like First Dalit President, as it was very patronising and condescending, and not definitive of the constitutional tasks and responsibilities that he upheld.
He felt it important to rise beyond monikers and vacuous platitudes to uphold constitutionality. He was after all a most accomplished individual after having been declared the best diplomat of India (served as Ambassador to USA, China etc.), three consecutive time member of the Lok Sabha, Vice Chancellor of a Central University with many books to his name, Central Minister, and even the Vice President no one had a more distinguished curriculum vitae.
Narayanan therefore understood the sensitivity and necessity to walk the path of distance from religiosity, for a Constitutional appointment.
During his tenure he studiously avoided Godmen/Godwomen or their likes from all religions and refused to visit religious sites, not out of any particular or personal disagreements with any of them, but just out of sheer respect for the healthy distance from the proverbial Church.
He could therefore view societal dissonance, unrest and tensions owing out of political machinations by looking the leadership in the eye and questioning, as should be the norm for leadership.
Narayanan did so during the 2004 riots and the equally concerned Prime Minister, A. B. Vajpayee, had concurred with his concern. Everything aside, both men reflected the finest constitutionalists, patriots, and men of immense dignity, despite their ideological differences.
We must ask ourselves if our leadership today is maintaining a similar distance from religiosity or succumbing to the electoral lure of pandering to the same?
As the wise Vivekananda once said, An empty stomach is no good for religion with over 800 million Indians sustaining themselves on rations provided by the Government, shouldnt the national discourse be focused on far more pressing and meaningful things. Doesnt seem so if the discourse in the recently concluded election is anything to go by.
Lt. General Bhopinder Singh is the former Lieutenant Governor of The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry and an Indian Army officer who was awarded the PVSM. Views are the writers own.
Cover Photograph - Late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurating the Bhakra Nangal dam he described as the temple of modern India.
Go here to see the original:
Keep State And Religion Separate - The Citizen
- Muslim-Hindu demography of Jammu and Kashmir: What the Census numbers show - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Hindus urge Malta government to subsidise cremation abroad - Times of Malta [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- University of Sydney to seriously look into article in its paper ridiculing Hinduism - NewsPatrolling [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Ramayana retold: Here are some of the most popular versions of the epic - Financial Express [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- IAS Officer Ritika Jindals Interference In Maa Shoolini Temple Rituals Shows Why Hindus Must Oppose Government Control Of Temples - Swarajya [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Election 2020 Preview, Hinduism 101, India and the Role of Indian Americans in US Elections With Ramesh Kapur - India New England [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Plea in SC seeks SIT probe into 'forceful conversion' of Hindus in Haryana's Nuh - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- 'Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Shahnawaz Hussains wives are Hindus; is this love jihad', asks Digvijaya Singh - Times Now [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- How Hindu Nationalism Could Shape the Election - POLITICO [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Pakistan: Homes of Hindus burnt down by Islamists in Sindh to force them to convert to Islam - OpIndia [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Fraternity in the basic spirit of Hinduism - Avenue Mail [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Interview: Romila Thapar on the history of dissent and how it shaped Hinduism and India - Scroll.in [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Navaratri and how Indic religions are intrinsically federal - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2020]
- Why dont we give credit to Hindu festivals for reviving the economy? - OpIndia [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Samir Kalra on Islamists and Hinduphobia in America - Middle East Forum [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Heres Why Ban Laxmmi Movie Is Trending On Twitter - SheThePeople [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- 'Tribals are Hindus, don't divide them' - Daily Pioneer [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Dalits & Religious Conversion: Tracing The History Of The Neo-Buddhist Movement - Feminism in India [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Dear Maneka Gandhi, attempts to curb animal sacrifice is a direct assault on Hindu Dharma and it is time to stop such efforts - OpIndia [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Etsy removes Sexy Ganesh Panties within few hours of Hindu protest - NewsPatrolling [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Gandhi Land Scam; Dhaka Hindus attacked for backing France? | Nation Wants To Know - Times Now [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Mathura: Four Hindus arrested after reciting Hanuman Chalisa in Eidgah Masjid to promote brotherhood - OpIndia [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Jihad in Hinduism, Bible and Torah | KashmirWatch - Kashmir Watch [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Adhir tells Centre to raise issue of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- We must applaud Thol Thirumavalavans stand on Manusmriti. BJP attacking the messenger - ThePrint [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Congress urges Centre to take up with Bangladesh attacks on Hindus - The Hindu [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- India takes up with Bangladesh attack on Hindus - The Hindu [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- Hindus in N.J. who voted for Trump in 2016 say their support is waning - nj.com [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2020]
- 1,300-Year-Old Hindu Temple Dedicated to God Vishnu Discovered in Northwest Pakistan's Swat - India.com [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Yogendra Yadav is wrong to assume Owaisis AIMIM will be a Muslim BJP - ThePrint [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Muslims react with caution to UP govt's ordinance against conversion for marriage - Mint [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- 10 Stereotypes Indians Are Tired Of Seeing In Western Films And TV - Screen Rant [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Lawyer writes to PM, urging the addition of Section 493A in IPC to stop conversion and love jihad - India Legal [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Banning Fireworks on Diwali: A Window Into Money and Politics in India - The Diplomat [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Biased Media Reporting in India Helps Fuel the Persecution of Christians - International Christian Concern [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- UP Police Investigation of 'Love Jihad' Concludes What We Already Know -- It Doesn't Exist - The Swaddle [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Not Ram Mandir, the love jihad laws are the foundation of Hindu Rashtra - ThePrint [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- KTR should also question Akbar on his hatred towards Hindus: Vijayashanti - The Hindu [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- Hinduism, like many great religions, is about feasting and fasting, praying and eating prasadam - Cond Nast Traveller India [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2020]
- If Modi really sees India as a democracy, then he must stop the labelling exercise - ThePrint [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- A New Central Vista, and the Political Conceit of the Ruling Classes - The Wire [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- BJP repeating Congress blunders of dividing Sikhs and Hindus in Punjab: Akali Dal - Sikh24 News & Updates [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Punjab Of The 1980s: Nehruvian Laboratory Versus Healing Hindutva - Swarajya [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- It is 2020 and Mullah Mulayams son Akhilesh has turned Ram Bhakt: Read Samajwadi Partys history of insulting Hindu sentiments - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Letters to the Editor - Sentinelassam - The Sentinel Assam [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Hindus beat pastor in India, threaten to sacrifice him to false god over Bible tracts - The Christian Post [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Faith: What if Jesus had not incarnated? - Kamloops This Week [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Hindu religion was never so narrow: Karnataka HC dismisses pleas seeking strict implementation of section of Act that requires Temple officials to be... [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Persecution of religious minorities continue in Pakistan as Islamists attack homes of Hindus in Sindh, forcing them to leave - OpIndia [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Hinduism | Origin, History, Beliefs, Gods, & Facts ... [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Hinduism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2020]
- Govt of India removes the word Halal from its Red Meat Manual: Here is what it means - OpIndia [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- The religious composition of the 117th Congress | Pew Research Center - Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Project [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- UN urged to probe killing of Pakistani Hindus in India - The News International [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- From the Dara Hua Hindus of Maujpur to Manavs tragic death and Shaheen Bagh ground report: Top 10 exclusive OpIndia news breaks of 2020 - OpIndia [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Redefining Aurangzeb...more sinned against than sinning - Free Press Journal [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Govt's Agri-Export Promotion Body Drops 'Halal' From Its Red Meat Manual After Outrage By Hindus, Sikhs - Swarajya [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- India deals another blow to religious freedom - Mission Network News [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- The Hindu gods of Buddhist Thailand - Nepali times [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Lincoln County Commission to open with Hindu prayers at upcoming meeting - Lincoln County Record [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Al-Biruni and Hindu-Muslim Relations: Lessons from Malaysia - The Wire [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Uttar Pradesh: Muslim mans family reverts to Hinduism in Rae Bareli, members of madarsa, village head try to burn them alive - OpIndia [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Reflecting on Hinduism as a Religion: A good read - Star of Mysore [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Reflecting on Hinduism as a Religion and a Way of Life ! - Star of Mysore [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- Warping a great faith: Both hard and soft Hindutva are expedient uses of religion for political ga - The Times of India Blog [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- 5 booked for torching house of family that converted to Hinduism in UPs Raebareli - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- 'Comparing RSS with Taliban is disrespectful to Hindu culture': Shiv Sena on Javed Akhtar - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Hindus urge Odessa National Theatre to drop culturally insensitive ballet La Bayadre - NewsPatrolling [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Hindus denounce extremist ideologies and hatred - indiannewslink.co.nz - Indian NewsLink [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Hindus Are the Majority. And Yet the Future of the Constitution Has Become Cause for Concern. - The Wire [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Scientists believe cow only animal that inhales, exhales oxygen: Allahabad HC - The Hindu [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Hindus to hold chariot-procession in Harare - NewsPatrolling [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Christians, Sikhs, and Hindus... | Editorial Columnists | dailyadvance.com - The Daily Advance [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- C T Ravi: Constitution, women will remain safe as long as Hindus in majority - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Afghan Sikhs, Hindus to be allowed to travel: Taliban - The Tribune [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Reading Savarkar: Was the Hindutva icon actually Hinduphobic? - Scroll.in [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- A conference against Hinduism 'Dismantling Global Hindutva', supported by 38 US universities. Speakers are the usual leftists mainly with Hindu names.... [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- HAF on a campaign to dismantle negative image of Hinduism - indica News [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2021]
- Right Word | The Great Calcutta Killings: Hindu genocide and the road to Indias Partition - Firstpost [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2022] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2022]
- Rajiv Gandhi Urged VP Singh Government To Stop Exodus Of Hindus From Kashmir: Congress - NDTV [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2022] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2022]