Ancient Secularism

Secularism literally means the separation of religious matters from the spheres of the state. The term “SECULARISM” has been coined by an British agnostic writer George Jacob Holyoake. Holyoake defines secularism in a different way from its usage. His definition is more akin to the modern definition of secularism and humanism. If we take a look on the history of secularism in India, Ashoka was the first great emperor who promulgated that the state would not prosecute ,discriminate or follow any particular religion. In this 12th rock edict, Ashoka requested people not only to tolerate all the religious sects but also awake a spirit of brotherhood among the people . In the ancient India, the Santam Dharma (Hinduism) was actually to develop to as a holistic religion by welcoming different people with different beliefs in order to live with peace and harmony.
Besides that, taking the Muslim rulers in view Babar had advised Himayun to shed religious prejudice, protect the religious components of Hindus. After Humayun, in the medieval period Akbar abolished the individual tax that the non-Muslims had to pay for living in an Islamic state referred as Jizya. He was always in the way to completely finish the discrimination and the gaps between the people which emerged due to the religious differences among the people. He wanted Sulh-i-Kul among the mankind of his Kingdom. He even had Hindu ministers and the participants in his debates included theologians who were Buddhists, Janis and Zoroastrians. This proves that in ancient India both Muslim and Hindu rulers were in the support of secularism. As said by the Former Chief Justice of India P B Gajendragadkari that “Secularism is defined as that the state does not owe loyalty to any particular religion as such; it is not irreligious and anti-religious but it gives equal freedom to all freedom”
As everyone among us that how the British converted their trade into territorial colonial rule and the reason how they got empowered was the disunity and non-corporation among the rulers and kingdoms of India. So , in order to segregate them further they applied the DIVIDE and RULE policy which resulted in the formation of various rebellions and revolts which finally compelled Britishers to leave India and in this long run the spirit of secularism was enriched and Partition of Bengal in 1905 was one such example when Britishers wished to imply the DIVIDE and RULE policy.


PresenT Secularism

NOW, looking towards the present secularism of India reveals the truth of presence of pseudo secularism in the state. The demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists 0n Ayodhya on 6th-december-1992 is an example of pseudo secularism which resulted in the rise of Hindu-Muslim conflicts as it violates one of the main objective of the secularism that is one religious community cannot dominate another. It also violates the constitutional right under ART.16(1) that there will be no discrimination on the basis of religion. Transforming from the secularism to pseudo secularism , India is going through a drastic change due to which India in future can turn into a non-secular country. Debates on how it was transforming lead to the Hindu-Muslim leader separation . The current attacks on Muslims in different parts of India arises question in every Muslims mind. Why ain't I feeling safe here ? Why am I treated like an outsider ? Why am I being discriminated on the basis of my religion ? And besides all this “AIN’T I LIVING IN A SECULAR COUNTRY?” Who is going to answer all these questions? Who is going to return the lives of those innocent people who were killed in the Masjid attacks ? And who is responsible for all this ?
As quoted by Ibrahim Lincoln “Democracy is by the people, of the people, for the people.” By means of this definition, if a country implies democracy and secularism then the government of the country has to completely be a secular and a democratic country but the exact opposite of it is being plasticized by the government of India. Stating itself secular and dominating minorities, stating itself democratic are ignoring the development of J/K. Was this the reason why people chose them as their representatives . Here I don't want to point out any particular political party but it has to be a lesson for the whole parliament . The word ‘SECULARISM’ which was added to the Preamble of Indian Constitution under 42nd amendment act of 1976 highlights the proof of no discrimination on the basis of religion and also declares that India has no official religion.
No doubt, the Constitution framed by Pandit Moti Lal Nehru had the concept of secularism as it was penned in it like “There shall be no state religion nor shall the state endow the beliefs of any religious community or the Gandhi’s concept of secularism which signified that brotherhood among the people shouldn't decrease with the distribution of people in different religions. But the opposition of Sharia Law and the day by day abolishment of Islamic Law is directly giving rise to conflicts among Muslims and Hindus. In addition to it, forced conversion to Hinduism is also such a campaign which is a black mark on the name secular India. By doing these acts and violating these rules, they are going against the constitutional and fundamental rights of a community.
Taking the secularism from the Islamic point of view, so Allah(S.W.T) says in the Glorious Quran :
La Ikraha Fi Deen
Which means that there is no compulsion in religion. Its Quranic meaning is that “Do not force anyone to become , for Islam is clear and pure and its proofs and Surah Al Baqarah 2:256At present scenario, India is heading towards pseudo secularism which in future can have a devastating effect on the future generation and put also stains on the image of India. India is currently among the countries which are heading towards pseudo secularism. So, in conclusion it can be said that if the government of India won't take action on the current transformation of secularism to pseudo secularism, that time may not be far when India will either be again divided into territories and again under the territorial rule . Or it may be the cause of World War 3 which either will be a cause of Indian annexation or a reason of division of India into territories

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