are you religious or communal

1. Are you
Religious or Communal ?

2. Constitution of India

3. “Religion and state will be separate.
I swear by my
religion , I will
die for it . But it
is my personal
affair the state
has nothing to
do with it.
Pic: Hindu Chauvinist Godse just
The state will look after your secular
before assasinating Gandhi, a relegious
welfare, health, communications,
but secular person who fought and died
foreign relations, currency and so on,
for his cause.
but not your or my religion.
That is everybody's personal
concern”
Gandhi quoted in Madan, 1997,4
IJS).

4. It is often wrongly assumed that
SECULAR ‘SECULAR’ is the opposite of
‘RELIGIOUS.’ However, if
anything, the opposite of
Maulana SECULAR is COMMUNAL,
Abul Kalam while the opposite of the word
azad RELIGIOUS is ATHIEST.
opposed two A religious person is
nation theory
not necessarily
communal. Gandhi,
stood for
hindu-muslim
Maulana Azad were
unity
religious but not
“indias real
communal.
problem
economic not
An atheist can also
communal”
be extremely
communal
COMMUNAL ( Savarkar, Jinnah,
Advani, Thackrey )
are examples.

5. Secularism : History
Historically, secularism as a
concept emerged in Europe
in the 17th century not
against religion but to
resolve the bloody wars
between different sects of
same religion Protestants,
Catholics etc.
In countries where the official religion of the
state was Protestant, Catholics were
discriminated against and persecuted; and
vice versa.
To resolve this problem, initially the idea
arose that while a State may have an official
religion, the spirit of tolerance should govern
its attitude to people of other sects.

6. Religious / Theocratic - Countries
By communalism is
meant not religiosity
Pakistan is a semi-presidential
federal democratic republic with
but the use of religion
Islam as the state religion.
as the basis for
Islamic Republic of Iran - the
quot;central axisquot; of the theocracy
political mobilization,
shall be Quran and hadith.
or for nationhood.
Israel : There is a
significant amount of
intertwining of Jewish law (
Halakha) and civil law .
Another promoted
institution is that of the '
yeshiva'- an Orthodox
Jewish seminary, often
funded to a large extent by
the state

7. These states do not profess any
state religion, and are generally
secular .By secularism is meant the
insistence on a clear separation
between religion and politics.
Cuba Australia Azerbaijan Canada Chile
People's Republic of China France
Germany Hungary India Ireland Italy Jamaica
Japan Mexico Nepal New Zealand Nigeria North Korea
Philippines Portugal Romania
Russia Singapore South Africa South Korea Spain
Sweden Turkey Uruguay Venezuela Vietnam

8. COMMUNALISM – TERRORISM CONSTANT
THREAT TO SECULARISM
When religion is twisted and
skewed to preach that hating
those that do not believe as you
do then it is not the religion
itself but those that mushroom
hate that create a communalist
who is a terrorist or vice versa.
It is not possible to fight Hindu
communalism without fighting against
Gujarat :
Muslim communalism, nor is it
innocent
muslims burnt
possible to fight Muslim
by hindu
communalism without fighting against
fundamentalists
Hindu communalism
because the different
communalisms feed on each
Kasab : Bombay
Terror attacks :
other.
mindless killing

9. RIOTS A METHOD TO FUEL COMMUNALISM
RIOT
This time the riot
was massive, horrific
Next year
there will be
a good harvest
Harvest of
votes
Gorakh Pandey, Gujarat Ki Aag

10. From Hindu/Muslim
to
Hindu Warrior/ Muslim Warrior
the problem starts with assumptions and
construction of the image of the 'other'
vis a vis the other the question of who you are is raised
you answer – i am a proud hindu or a proud muslim
you are made to feel vulnerable and threatened – hinudusim in danger in its own
land – muslims appeased and so on

11. From Hindu/Muslim/Christian
to
Hindu Warrior/ Muslim Warrior/christian warrior
hate propoganda
this is fuelled by organised
this is fuelled by communal riots and terrorist attacks
the problem is to make you believe that you are in threat all the time – a fear psychosis is created
problems – like education – economics – literacy –
health – development – disappear and
relegious identiy becomes the main issue

12. Creating a single identity
There is a surge in neo – conservatism – relegion getting back at science - Use
modern technology – but revive conservative ideas – this happens across
There is a
releigions – castes and languages .
consolidation of identity – creation of
one 'hindu' identity – the fundamentalist
hindu of sorts of gujarat – or a pan
arabic islam identiy singularly identified
with 'osama bin laden/taliban' -christian
is associated with 'conversion' in the
local context All Muslims are not Terrorist
but all Terrorist are muslim
And most muslims have a
beard
And so anyone who has a
beard could be a terrorist

13. Defending Secularism - Ensuring Communal Harmony
how ?
Is starts from you / us
Introspect the other identity which is put up as a anithesis
refuse the clash of civilisations idea
if you are a muslim look and read into hinduism
if you are a hindu then read about islam and understand
so that you dont fall prey to constructed identities
“And this means,” says Gandhi, “that because
other civilisations are my interlocutors they are
the sources of my inspiration. I wish them well. I
want them to flourish.” So this dialogue results in
universal sympathy for different points of view
and a desire to see them grow and flourish.
MK Gandhi
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

14. Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, a member of
the Arya Samaj, was eager to explain the
greatness of the Hindu religion to those
belonging to other religions, though he never bore
any prejudice against any religious community,
and so, Ashfaq who was a devout Muslim
befriended him, and they both had the common
objective of a free, united India.
Nevertheless, the common goal of Pandit
Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaq was India's
freedom. This helped him to win over the
friendship of Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil.
They died on the same day, as martyrs
for India, but in different jails.
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

15. Gandhi regards Islam as a religion of
peace in the same sense as Christianity,
Buddhism, and Hinduism. No doubt, there are
differences in degree. He says in this regard that
he knew the passages that can be quoted form
But it is
the Holy book Quran to the contrary.
possible to quote from the Vedas
to the contrary.
quot;My reading of the Quran has
convinced me that the basis of
Islam is not violence but is
unadulterated Peace. It regards
forbearance as superior to
vengeance.
The very word quot;Islamquot; means peace, which is
nonviolence. My experience of India tells me that
the Hindus and the Muslims know how to live at
peace among themselves. I decline to believe
that the people have said good-bye to their
senses, so as to make it impossible to live at
peace with each other, as they have done for
generations. The enmity cannot last forever.quot;
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

16. http://www.mfsd.org/msddeclaration.htm
5 lakh muslims took a oath of alleginace in Delhi
against terrorism

17. I received initiation and instruction from the Sufi Master
Govinda Rai. He transmitted to my heart the beautiful
Divine Name Allah, which I then repeated with every
breath.
I visited the small mosque behind the Temple Garden,
learning to make the Call to Prayer and to perform namaz,
the graceful cycle of prostration and praise offered by
devout Muslims five times every day – Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Ramakrishna
practised islam
intensely
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

18. The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda
/Volume_6/
He wrote to Sarfaraz Hussain - described in The Life of
Swami Vivekananda as quot;an Advaita Vedantist at heartquot; who
became a disciple of the Swami and took the name
Mohammedananda: quot;I believe it (Advaita Vedanta) is the
am
religion of the future enlightened humanity...I
firmly persuaded that without
the help of practical Islam,
theories of Vedantism, however
fine and wonderful they maybe,
are entirely valueless to the
vast mass of mankind...For our own
motherland a junction of the two great systems, Hinduism
and Islam - Vedanta brain and Islam body - is the only
hope...quot; I see in my mind's eye the future perfect India rising
out of this chaos and strife, glorious and invincible, with
Vedanta brain and Islam body. Ever
praying that the Lord may make of you a great instrument for
the help of mankind, and especially of our poor, poor
motherland.
Yours with love,
VIVEKANANDA
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

19. Indonesia 88.0% muslim nation
Indonesia revers mahabaratha
Arjuna Krishna in Jakarta
Wayang Golek rod puppets, used to tell stories
from Ramayana and Mahabharata
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

20. Turkey a 99% muslim – secular -democratic nation
has the same tensions for secularism and democracy

21. GOD BE PRAISED
Secret testament of Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad
Babar Badshah Gba-zi to Prince Nasir-ud-Dm
Muhammad Humayun.
May God prolong his life!
For the stability of the Empire this is written.
The realm of Hindustan is full of
O my son !
diverse creeds.
Praise be to God, the Righteous, the Glorious,
the Highest, that He hath granted unto thee the
Empire of it.
with heart cleansed of all
It is but proper that thou,
religious bigotry, should dispense justice
according to the tenets of each community.
And in particular refrain from the sacrifice of cow, for that way lies the
conquest of the hearts of the people of Hindustan; and the subjects of the realm
will, through royal favour, be devoted to thee.
And the temples and abodes of worship of
every community under Imperial sway, you
should not damage. Dispense justice so
that the sovereign may be happy with the subjects and likewise the subjects wi*h
their sovereign. The progress of Islam is better by the sword of kindness, not
by the sword of oppression
Ignore the disputations of Shias and Sunnls ; for therein is the weakness of
Islam. And bring together the subjects with differenl beliefs in the manner of
the Four Elements, so that the body-politic may be immune from the various
ailments. And remember the deeds of Hazrat Taimur Sdhib-qirdni (Lord of the
conjuction) so that you may become mature in matters of Government
And on us is but the duty to advise.
Understanding the Eco System of Pluralism that exists

22. Dont Fall Prey to
Violence
●
Spreading Relegious Hatred
●
Distorting Facts
●
Clash of Civilsation theories
●
Slowly built up fascism
●
Challenge : Are you willing to work on
the image of the other inside you
http://seculardemocracy.blogspot.com/

23. Constitution of India
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA
having solemnly resolved to
constitute India into a
SOVEREIGN
SOCIALIST
SECULAR
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC