They say India is a Secular Republic just like US but with a subtle difference. US govt is not supposed to interfere in religious affairs without any exception while Indian secularism allows Indian govt to interfere in religious affair and most of the times this interference becomes a nemesis for the growth of Secularism in India.
Every time when Indian govt had tried to interfere in religious affairs it had attracted its share of criticism. It started with the abolition of inhumane Sati practice, abolition of polygamy, abolition of untouchability (this abolition has to be respected and implemented in every corner of the country, its a shame that untouchability is still prevalent in many parts of our country). But if i look at all these reforms, i can easily observe the absence of any such reform in Muslim society of India. They say polygamy is allowed in Islam but polygamy is also not prohibited in Hinduism then why Hindus are not allowed to keep multiple wives while on the other hand Muslims have that rights. I totally abhor the concept of polygamy but why Indian govt has not made any law so far to ban polygamy in Indian Muslim society. Does that make them less Muslim?
I have digressed a lot from the topic of my post, lets start with India as a country. They say India as a country did not exist before 18th century but so was the case with US, Italy, Germany, Iraq, Malaysia etc. Nation state is a modern concept and we became a nation state and Indians on 26th Jan 1950 but what about the history and people of India before that date. What is the base civilization of India. They say its a synthesis or a fusion of various streams of creeds, religions and people who continuously migrated to this region since the advent of last interglacial period or before that. So who were Indians before Aryans migrated to India (although the migration concept is now hotly debated and Mrs. Romila Thapar has modified his theory of Aryan Invasion from Aryan migration)? A logical answer is the Dravidians or the indigenous people of India or the inhabitants of Indus Valley Civilization. I respect that culture and all places from Harrapa, Mohen-jo-daro to Kalibangan, Lothal etc are very close to my heart and not even in my remotest dreams i will plan to destroy the remnants of that culture. Every Indian should feel attached and proud of that glorious civilization. This is the fundamental premise of Indian identity as well as the bedrock of Indian civilization.
Every time when Indian govt had tried to interfere in religious affairs it had attracted its share of criticism. It started with the abolition of inhumane Sati practice, abolition of polygamy, abolition of untouchability (this abolition has to be respected and implemented in every corner of the country, its a shame that untouchability is still prevalent in many parts of our country). But if i look at all these reforms, i can easily observe the absence of any such reform in Muslim society of India. They say polygamy is allowed in Islam but polygamy is also not prohibited in Hinduism then why Hindus are not allowed to keep multiple wives while on the other hand Muslims have that rights. I totally abhor the concept of polygamy but why Indian govt has not made any law so far to ban polygamy in Indian Muslim society. Does that make them less Muslim?
I have digressed a lot from the topic of my post, lets start with India as a country. They say India as a country did not exist before 18th century but so was the case with US, Italy, Germany, Iraq, Malaysia etc. Nation state is a modern concept and we became a nation state and Indians on 26th Jan 1950 but what about the history and people of India before that date. What is the base civilization of India. They say its a synthesis or a fusion of various streams of creeds, religions and people who continuously migrated to this region since the advent of last interglacial period or before that. So who were Indians before Aryans migrated to India (although the migration concept is now hotly debated and Mrs. Romila Thapar has modified his theory of Aryan Invasion from Aryan migration)? A logical answer is the Dravidians or the indigenous people of India or the inhabitants of Indus Valley Civilization. I respect that culture and all places from Harrapa, Mohen-jo-daro to Kalibangan, Lothal etc are very close to my heart and not even in my remotest dreams i will plan to destroy the remnants of that culture. Every Indian should feel attached and proud of that glorious civilization. This is the fundamental premise of Indian identity as well as the bedrock of Indian civilization.
