SECULARISM
I find leaders from west and northern region of our country excessively use the term “Secularism” as their main theme of public address and also highlight in their election manifesto the same sentiments; further expressed while debating on national TV with their political foes. I was therefore compelled to do some research on secularism following its liberal use in various forums and political arena, Oxford Dictionary defines secularism as “Not concerned with religious belief or not bound by religious rule”. Our nation is a secular state by its written constitution unlike in the West where secularism came mainly out of conflict between the Church and the State. It can be also defined as a general separation of state politics and administration from religious matters and therefore I can assume that the essential principle of secularism was to seek human improvement by material means. In my eagerness wanted to find out its interpretation during" Middle Ages". Hazrat Amir Khusran who stood unequalled for volume of his writing and the originality of his ideals a person of comprehensive ability observed in his prose works during 14th century of Delhi sultanate that the fundamental social and political principle of the Middle Ages was loyalty to Salt. It overrode all social, communal and religious considerations. The Hindu Raja’s Muslim servants followed him against Sultans, just as the Sultan’s Hindu servants followed him against Raja. Loyalty to the Salt (Namak halali) was synonymous with patriotism; disloyalty to the salt (Namak harami ) was crime Blacker than Treason. Irrational as the principle may seem it prevented communal friction and worked for peace. Conversely, for the ruler all his subjects stood on an equal footing. The out look of the age was essentially secular. Religion was a war-cry and “nothing more”.
Since independence our leaders have divided the society having introduced several caste based reservations, subsidies and claimed all under the banner of ‘SECLURISM’. The generation of initial independent india believed the rhetoric of secularism to be assured safety from religious domination but now the youth and citizen of the nation must realize that Secularism of 21st century India has to be redefined its much misused theme and insist its leaders of LOYALTY TO THE NATION “NAMAK HALALI AND NOT NAMAK HARAMI” the 14th century dictum; as a hallmark towards progress of our national development and culture.
I find leaders from west and northern region of our country excessively use the term “Secularism” as their main theme of public address and also highlight in their election manifesto the same sentiments; further expressed while debating on national TV with their political foes. I was therefore compelled to do some research on secularism following its liberal use in various forums and political arena, Oxford Dictionary defines secularism as “Not concerned with religious belief or not bound by religious rule”. Our nation is a secular state by its written constitution unlike in the West where secularism came mainly out of conflict between the Church and the State. It can be also defined as a general separation of state politics and administration from religious matters and therefore I can assume that the essential principle of secularism was to seek human improvement by material means. In my eagerness wanted to find out its interpretation during" Middle Ages". Hazrat Amir Khusran who stood unequalled for volume of his writing and the originality of his ideals a person of comprehensive ability observed in his prose works during 14th century of Delhi sultanate that the fundamental social and political principle of the Middle Ages was loyalty to Salt. It overrode all social, communal and religious considerations. The Hindu Raja’s Muslim servants followed him against Sultans, just as the Sultan’s Hindu servants followed him against Raja. Loyalty to the Salt (Namak halali) was synonymous with patriotism; disloyalty to the salt (Namak harami ) was crime Blacker than Treason. Irrational as the principle may seem it prevented communal friction and worked for peace. Conversely, for the ruler all his subjects stood on an equal footing. The out look of the age was essentially secular. Religion was a war-cry and “nothing more”.
Since independence our leaders have divided the society having introduced several caste based reservations, subsidies and claimed all under the banner of ‘SECLURISM’. The generation of initial independent india believed the rhetoric of secularism to be assured safety from religious domination but now the youth and citizen of the nation must realize that Secularism of 21st century India has to be redefined its much misused theme and insist its leaders of LOYALTY TO THE NATION “NAMAK HALALI AND NOT NAMAK HARAMI” the 14th century dictum; as a hallmark towards progress of our national development and culture.
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