Politics and Secularism in India. Ananth Rao, Flinders University

Transcription

1 Politics and Secularism in India Ananth Rao, Flinders University

2 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PREAMBLE WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, beliefs, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

3 What is the assessment after 60 years on Democracy & Secularism? Democracy: Universal adult franchise ensured mass participation -sanctity of the electoral process as a means of gaining office, free media. A criticism: The state in India was unable to become the vehicle/inheritor of the values and aspirations of the national movement. The political leadership of the newly independent state simply stepped into all the institutional and administrative apparatus left by the colonial power; most of it is still intact (Javeed Alam).

4 A major threat: The Emergency However the event seems to have strengthened democratic institutions -media became even more assertive and free. Verdict:Successful with the usual reservations applicable to all democracies. (i) Incumbency no guarantor of electoral success (ii) Large scale involvement of rural women and disadvantaged-pancayats, that is village councils

5 Secularism: What does it mean? No universal definition (i) Separation between state and Religion? (ii) Equidistant form all religions? Symmetry External perceptions: Hindu India, Muslim Pakistan (Amartya Sen) Some practical issues: Constitution explicitly provides for making laws to remove disadvantage in Hindu society (includes Sikhs and Jains) but not in others.

6 Mainconcern of Indian Secularismis to do with Hindu & Muslim perceptions of it. Question of personal law and uniform civil code. The relationship between the two communities is a paradoxical mix of peaceful co-existence at the people level marred by occasionally violent clashes. Response to colonial rule seems to have been similar within each community seeking to rediscover a pure past and redeem past glory.

7 Mutual suspicion also part of the collective subconscious of the two communities. Recent developments with implications for Secularism: (i) Decline of the Congress party and the growth of the BJP (backed by Hindu right) as a viable alternative (ii) The Babri Masjid incident (92), Godhra atrocities (02), Anti Sikh riots (84) (iii) Neither Congress nor BJP can claim moral superiority

8 Redeeming features: can be traced to democratic institutions. Verdict: Secularism is intact (although aberrations have taken place) owing to (i) a free media (ii) legal machinery (iii) active social organizations (iv) lack of absolute power with political parties has meant that issues are brought out to the fore (Several commentators including Nussbaum)

9 Conclusion (i) Both Democracy and Secularism were part of a vision splendid of the elite constitution makers. (ii) Democracy found expression in the masses through universal adult franchise. (iii) Secularism, an inherently more vague concept had no simple mechanism for mass engagement. As Akeel Bilgrami notes secular policy should have emerged from below through negotiation between different communitarian voices. A grass roots level Truth and reconciliation may yet be the way forward in articulating an Indian vision of Secularism capable of practical expression.

10 Readings 1. Secularism and its critics, Ed Rajeev Bhargava, 1998/ India s Living Constitution, Ed Zoya Hasan et al 2002/ Islam in the Subcontinent, Muslims in a Plural Society, Mushirul Hasan The Clash Within, Martha C Nussbaum 2007