One of my 'friends' had to say this after watching this news-documentary: " This is Left's Gift to India".
My point was very simple... there is no need to say anything that the documentary doesn't say itself. I had a debate with this 'friend' and it was not a pleasant one, owing to his Right Wing lineages and mine just the opposite. However, among the things that I argued, there are some that I think are worth replicating here.... to put my ideas about communalism, secularism and the state in context.... (I am copy-pasting it here.. so little instances here and there might feel odd, but they might just preserve and demostrate the tenor of the debate until then)
Obviously I took the report seriously. I am not the one to believe in obscurantism, and I thought that this particular documentary was quite decent in its coverage and its presentation of facts. I just wanted to say that this shouldn't be made a matter of panic or frenzy, but as a moment that is needed to focus on the phenomena of radicalization in a better way.
And I think my point about the misplaced sense of your argument has been corroborated by your last statement (to pat islamic-radicalization on its back and to cry foul when "any other group comes together")...
Radicalization of any religion is problematic, claims of 'orthodoxy' of religions are in my perception even more dangerous.... therefore religion itself should be ideally tied with the secular/ democratic requirements of a sovereign, which should not let it (religion) degenerate to a level that it becomes a menace or becomes antithetical to the democratic ethos of its society.
And I think my point about the misplaced sense of your argument has been corroborated by your last statement (to pat islamic-radicalization on its back and to cry foul when "any other group comes together")...
Radicalization of any religion is problematic, claims of 'orthodoxy' of religions are in my perception even more dangerous.... therefore religion itself should be ideally tied with the secular/ democratic requirements of a sovereign, which should not let it (religion) degenerate to a level that it becomes a menace or becomes antithetical to the democratic ethos of its society.
This involves a constant process of secular, ethical and moral education of the population (through growth in literacy, cultural and political engagements etc.) that any government should indulge in, throughout. It should not be a matter of when and how and by whom.
Yes, it is unfortunate that Kerala, a left ruled state, which has had a progressive record in terms of socio-economic indicators is seeing a spurt in religion violence (Thomas case being one example)... however the situation I am sure is not grimmer (maybe only better) than other parts of the country. The related news-documentary by the way should (therefore) be cut to size and understood only as that and not a harbinger of great tragedy.
Nothing but progressive secular politics can be the right thing in such a situation and in fact we can hope that this would be the case atleast in Kerela to a certain extent. (Atleast with its more secular face of politics, if not really the most progressive)
I firmly believe there is no alternative to secularism in democratic India if the system is to work. Otherwise you will only have more of this, and you can blame the left or whoever for 'not stopping' it."
No comments:
Post a Comment