Communalism, in different forms, has always been a part of Indian politics, and probably will always be. It comes with the fact that diversity is present right in the foundation of our country. The cultures are so distinct that each state could be a separate country on it’s own. Despite that we exist and thrive as ONE nation. We’re so diverse, that India is the only country in the world which made geologist coin a separate term for it – “Subcontinent”. Every Indian should take pride in this fact.
Congress, being the parent political party of independent India, should have strengthened our sense of unity and should have strived to use it as an advantage. But post-independence, Congress brought with it the germs of divisive politics from the British. This was the birth of appeasement policies based on caste, region and religion. It didn’t bring us closer but divided us further. The mistrust today among communities is not overt like during partition but definitely is more bitter. Even the genuine acts of communal harmony is closely scrutinized and cleverly colored into some variety of communal politics.
On 28 April, during our rally at Jantar Mantar, someone came and placed an Aam Aadmi topi on my head with a lot of affection. “Main hoon Aam Aadmi” was written in both Hindi and Urdu on this topi. I gladly accepted it and kept wearing it the whole day. Since then, some friends have accused me of Muslim appeasement, tushtikaran etc. I am surprised at this reaction. I fail to understand how I hurt anyone’s feelings or appease anyone. I have been asked if there was urdu on the topi, then why not bengali or telugu etc?
Before my fast began, one Tamilian came to my house and he brought a Tamil cap for me. I readily and willingly wore that Tamil cap the whole day. No one objected to it. No one said that I was appeasing Tamilians. When I came to Mumbai once, someone put a Marathi cap on my head. I wore that cap for whole day. No one alleged that I was appeasing Marathis.
Last four months, I have been visiting several villages and localities of Delhi. In many areas, people take me to a local temple. I must have visited at least 30 temples so far. No one accused me of appeasing Hindus. No one asked why I didn’t visit a masjid or a church or a Gurudwara. In almost all villages, I have been honored with a pugri. No one objected why I hadn’t worn a Muslim or a Sikh attire.
But as soon as one wears an Urdu line or a Muslim cap, immediately you are flooded with objections and allegations.
I think we all need to introspect the reasons for the same. Politicians have divided us all this while. They have poisoned our minds.
It is an important part of our politics to cleanse public minds of this poison. we sincerely believe that all of us are one. We are all human beings. We are all brothers and sisters. We all can survive only by loving each other. Else all of us will perish. India is a home to all religions. Politicians have divided us to serve their vote bank politics. We should avoid falling prey to that.
You could have accused me of appeasement of a particular section if I had worn their symbol and refused others. I have respected everyone’s symbols and accepted their love with gratitude.
There’s no other country in the world where the noble concept of keeping religion and politics separate has been muddied so much. There’s no secularism left in India, at least no major political party practices it anymore. If you go by the trends it’s all sickularism. Should we let this happen? The constitution of India belongs to it’s people – and secularism is one of it’s pillars – overtime we have let it hijacked by political agenda. Times are changing, people today are realizing that religion and caste has got little to do with development and good governance. This is an interesting development. British would have never expected for India to become this mature.
India is on the path of development – though past decade has derailed us by a few miles – but few dents should be expected in the natural course of evolution. We need leaders who can bring communities closer – not for personal benefits, not for vote-bank politics – but to strengthen the very fabric of our democracy. As voters we should recognize such leadership and support it.
Secularism should not be forgotten – despite the bad name it has been given. It is the duty of every true democracy to keep politics separate from religion. Over the years, we’ve forgotten that. Secularism needs re-invention, this time in it’s true form. And with more aware masses, the ones who’d be lost into oblivion forever would be the parties like Congress, who’ve been duping India since the beginning. Jai Bharat!
Congress, being the parent political party of independent India, should have strengthened our sense of unity and should have strived to use it as an advantage. But post-independence, Congress brought with it the germs of divisive politics from the British. This was the birth of appeasement policies based on caste, region and religion. It didn’t bring us closer but divided us further. The mistrust today among communities is not overt like during partition but definitely is more bitter. Even the genuine acts of communal harmony is closely scrutinized and cleverly colored into some variety of communal politics.
Recently something happened which didn’t make to the newsrooms – except in a twisted form of communal mumbo-jumbo on social media. Arvind Kejriwal wrote about it on his blog:
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Before my fast began, one Tamilian came to my house and he brought a Tamil cap for me. I readily and willingly wore that Tamil cap the whole day. No one objected to it. No one said that I was appeasing Tamilians. When I came to Mumbai once, someone put a Marathi cap on my head. I wore that cap for whole day. No one alleged that I was appeasing Marathis.
Last four months, I have been visiting several villages and localities of Delhi. In many areas, people take me to a local temple. I must have visited at least 30 temples so far. No one accused me of appeasing Hindus. No one asked why I didn’t visit a masjid or a church or a Gurudwara. In almost all villages, I have been honored with a pugri. No one objected why I hadn’t worn a Muslim or a Sikh attire.
But as soon as one wears an Urdu line or a Muslim cap, immediately you are flooded with objections and allegations.
I think we all need to introspect the reasons for the same. Politicians have divided us all this while. They have poisoned our minds.
It is an important part of our politics to cleanse public minds of this poison. we sincerely believe that all of us are one. We are all human beings. We are all brothers and sisters. We all can survive only by loving each other. Else all of us will perish. India is a home to all religions. Politicians have divided us to serve their vote bank politics. We should avoid falling prey to that.
You could have accused me of appeasement of a particular section if I had worn their symbol and refused others. I have respected everyone’s symbols and accepted their love with gratitude.
***
There’s no other country in the world where the noble concept of keeping religion and politics separate has been muddied so much. There’s no secularism left in India, at least no major political party practices it anymore. If you go by the trends it’s all sickularism. Should we let this happen? The constitution of India belongs to it’s people – and secularism is one of it’s pillars – overtime we have let it hijacked by political agenda. Times are changing, people today are realizing that religion and caste has got little to do with development and good governance. This is an interesting development. British would have never expected for India to become this mature.
India is on the path of development – though past decade has derailed us by a few miles – but few dents should be expected in the natural course of evolution. We need leaders who can bring communities closer – not for personal benefits, not for vote-bank politics – but to strengthen the very fabric of our democracy. As voters we should recognize such leadership and support it.
Secularism should not be forgotten – despite the bad name it has been given. It is the duty of every true democracy to keep politics separate from religion. Over the years, we’ve forgotten that. Secularism needs re-invention, this time in it’s true form. And with more aware masses, the ones who’d be lost into oblivion forever would be the parties like Congress, who’ve been duping India since the beginning. Jai Bharat!
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