A national TV channel selected an elite political panel recently to debate on the occasion of Dr B.R. Ambedkar 125th anniversary that " India is a truly Secular Nation ". Being a political issue the viewers I am sure had no respite from fierce, animated, almost 45 minutes of sheer lung power exhibition of political scoring agenda. I now solemnly swear never to aimlessly surf on TV and get hooked to such TRP based debates. However decided to express my limited study on the majority religion and the impact of secularism in our country. To me " Secularism " is the most misused word/ term in Indian politics.The framers of the Constitution of India, its main architect Dr B.R. Ambedkar originally had no reference to Secularism and this word was introduced by the then ruling party only in 1976. All along the framers of the Constitution of India were imbued with the secular spirit, fully aware that this particular word will be misused by the politicians and carefully avoided, but the 42nd amendment in 1976 made it EXPLICIT.
Hinduism has never been a crusading religion.We had about 1000 years of Muslim and British rule; before that there lies two to three thousand years vague but distinguished Indian history. During this period two cities in the eastern end of northern plain- Patna and Benaras were associated, with the heartland of the Indo-Aryans. This period also includes classic age of Indian culture and developed highly religious traditions to which the majority of Indians represent, the genius of the nation. Emperor Ashoka was Buddhists while Guptas were Hindus and most cave temples were of Jains and Buddhists, yet each were part of the same religious tradition. They never used the term Secularism, nor there existed any such concept, Ashoka respected the learned the Brahmins and recognized the caste-varna in the society which was flexible in accordance to ones talent and choice of work.The caste system in Hinduism is essentially more than a religion " A way of Life " Although it was in the North that Hinduism was established but the subsequent growth took place in South. The saints like Sankara Acharya,Ramanuja and Madhavacharya to whom can be attributed the prominence of Shiva, Vishnu and Krishna in the Hindu pantheon never once uttered a word like secularism when Huns,Scythian's,Afghans,Mongols,Tibetans,Khoja, Parsi and indigenous Tribal and Dravidian's all assimilated, possible only because of Hinduism being the most and only practical religion on the planet a real way of life and certainly not due to secularism or the 42nd amendment.
