Unique Secularism and Socialism of India

BY: RANBIR MANHAS PUBLISHED ON APRIL 17, 2018

Some of my friends and well wishers are upset with me on to pretext that according to them I have abandoned my ideals of secularism and socialism and become a blind Modi bhakt. In this connection I am hereby quoting one such post which is both emotional and touching as well. Dr. Akash Khajuria is not my true well wisher, he is also son of my teacher and one of political mentors Prof. PR Khajuria. I therefore feel compelled to respond to his politely presented sentiments. However, before that, I would like to reproduce his comment on my post reading ‘Modi ji is doing great work. He should go ahead with his progressive reforms ignoring opposition by the Opposition.

He says, “ Manhas uncle, please don’t be Modi Bhakat blindly. I have seen you as a person of ideology and principles who always stood for secular and tolerant ideals. That heart can’t be changed overnight by lies of Modi who says nothing happened in 70 yrs and everything happened in last 4 yrs. Matter of big debate what he did except taking that too all lies . He is disaster for secular and tolerant India. My father will be really pained to see you today sacrificing those principles and ideology. I bet uncle you can’t be BJP, RSS man or Modi bhakat. In short be the person who actually you are sir. Regards”

In the first instance let me assure my well wishers that I have not changed my cherished principles which are dear to me even now the manner in which they were to me half a century ago. However before elaborating my view point I would like to tell something about both secularism and socialism that I had read about during my school time which hopefully hold good even now.

SECULARISM :

There are various definitions of secularism being practiced in different secular counties like Russia, China, UK, Australia and US which finally converge in to one essence: Someone who respects the religious beliefs of others is a secular man and a state (country) where nobody is discriminated against in terms of the law of the land and its resources irrespective of his or her religious belief is a secular person. The most important factor of a secular state is that the government will have no religion whatsoever. (If I am wrong I will be happy if my friends take pains to correct me). I quote, “Secularism is simply a frame work for securing equality throughout the society – in politics, education, the law and elsewhere”.

“Secularism is the best chance we have to create a society in which people of all religions and none can live together fairly and peacefully”. “A secular state is an idea pertaining to secularism whereby state is to be officially neutral in matters of religion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religions and claims to avoid preferential treatment for a citizen from a particular religion over other religions”.

SOCIALISM :

Established definitions of socialism goes as under:
“A political and economic theory which advocates that means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole. And a socialist country is one that distributes its resources equitably among its citizens irrespective of their religious faith”.

But unfortunately, in India the cherished principles of both secularism and socialism are conveniently thrown to dogs by none else than their believers calling whom as pseudo would not be unfair. For past so many decades the words secularism and socialism have been twisted times and again by Congress and the Communists for their convenience. By granting preferential status like personal law and first share of national resources to a particular community over others, does not only violate Indian constitution but also negate the very spirit of secularism and socialism. If spending crores of rupees from the public exchequer on educational and religious institutions of a particular community ignoring other communities thereby violating the very spirit of the constitution and basic ethics of secularism and socialism then I am better without it. For me Modi who wants ‘sab ka saath sab ka vikas’ is more secular than Manmohan Singh who claimed first share of national resources for minorities against the wishes of the constitution . Modi haters will not admit but let them quote an instance where Modi has said ‘this scheme is for Hindus’ in particular? Also for me Modi who initiated bold economic reforms like demonetization and Goods and Services Tax, is more progressive than Congress and the Leftists who as champions of socialism should have gone for years ago.

Dear friends I am what I was but sorry to say I don’t subscribe to the Congress and Leftist kind of secularism and socialism. Let me be clear that I don’t mind my friends calling me as Modi Bhakt believing that a snake in the grass is more dangerous than a Cobra in the open. I also believe that one day all the true secular and socialist thinking people will also become Modi Bhakat and that time is just around the corner. Surely a man who demands rational share of national resources for both qaberistan and shamshan as enshrined in our secular and socialist constitution cannot be termed as a communal mind.