By Syed Suhail Yaqoob
From the last few weeks Aligarh Muslim University is organising a series of lectures on the “Idea of India”. This programme has attracted best and fertile minds of India. From Irfan Habib to Yogendra Yadav every one has spelt his views on the topic. It seems interesting that this idea is still debated after 60 years of this country. This signals something is not good in the country and of course it is not. These debates on the India stand for and what it is still rages throughout the country. This soul searching has become essential after there have been various horrific incidents across India. The attacks on the rationalists and the minority have become acute. These incidents forced many writers and imminent persons to return their awards. They were objecting to the incidents and trends occurring in Indian society. It all started with the murder of rationalists who swimed deep into the society to remove some misgiving and superstitions. The shocking murder of 77-year-old Kannada writer, scholar and rationalist Dr MM Kalburgi sent ripples through the Indian literary community. This was the third instance where a renowned author was murdered.
Indian constitution is built on the freedom of speech which is a fundamental right to every citizen of India. This fundamental right has been engraved deliberately in the constitution to provide space for the rights of all sections of the society. This right is more important to scientific community as without this the hold of government on science will be disastrous. There is no restriction on the print and electronic media. Even the fundamental duties of India stress its citizens to cultivate scientific minds and be curious. There is of course no impediment to scientific development and scientific community can delve into any ocean as they like. However the science is under constant threat due to extreme forces that still stress old ideas. On one hand India has made strides into space and on the other there is a group that represents traditionality devoid of any reason and logic. The duality in the ideas has resulted in decline of scientific progress and growth of India. It is astonishing to find that India has more than 70% of population literate. However the culture has remained dominant and attached to past has not been loosened up. Indian government has to do more than to just literate people. Even though education has reached people, but it seems good education has not. There is of course this fact as well that India has produced great and fertile minds. Aryabathaa, Ashoka, Kutaliya, Akbar to name a few. Aryabathaa is famous for the development of the number zero, Kutaliya has written the most famous book Arasthra which is still read and followed in politics. The spiritual gurus like kabir, Buddha and many others are spread throughout this place. However the extreme reliance on a particular religion and culture will lead to a decline in the progress of India. The stability and progress of India is depending on its diversity of cultures residing here.
Unfortunately the diversity of cultures is often weighted between the Hindus and Muslims even though these communities form the better part of India. This is a misnomer created deliberately. Its development goes back 60 years ago when Sub-continent was partitioned and the present trends in the Muslim world. The terrorism in the world today is squarely blamed on Muslims which is nothing but the imagination of media and intervention of foreign in the Muslim lands. This has affected India as well. There have been many instances in the history where millions were killed by non-Muslims. In china millions were eliminated in Cultural Revolution, in Russia more were killed due to collectivisation of lands and Europe eliminated millions of souls in world wars. In fact there have been more deaths due to invisible wars throughout the world. The sanctions by developed countries on medicine, used as a part of diplomacy, resulted in deaths of millions of children. India has been more humane in terms of diplomacy and promotion of culture and power. There is much more diversity that people thinks of in India besides religion. There are more than 20 languages, different dialectics, different dances and even art of clothing. Since India is home to a more than one billion population, this diversity has become even more acute. From north to south and from east to west everything changes. These cultures are even fluid as many people have felt the presence of others idea in their cultures as well. It is astonishing to find that these extreme forces have relied on only religion as the basis of exclusion and inclusion. These inherently support the “Clash of civilization” in the society. Identity of any community is not at all restricted by their names. There are a various type of these which people attribute them to. They define themselves with their region, language and culture. However the singling out religion is the art which politicians are good at. They are best at it. It is of course true that Indians have a great past but it is no less than truth that Indian Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and Sikhs have been essential to its growth and development. Kabir from Muslims, Lord Buddha from Buddhists, mother Teresa from Christians and Guru Nanak from Sikhs. There have been a wide range of people from different communities that have worked for the progress of India. However interested persons in politics always pounce on the opportunities to wreck society apart by stressing the faultiness that exist between communities. It is a fact that diversity brings conflicts as well. The idea of India rest on the diversity which is inclusive not which is exclusive in nature.
It is necessary that the government has to take part in the diffusion of idea of India that is based on inclusion of all communities. It is their constitutional duty to come in support of it. It is disastrous that it is always the minority that has to defend the idea of India which is based on secularism. In fact it should have been opposite: majority defending the idea as compared to minorities. It is necessary that education system must be tilted towards promoting the idea of India that is based on progressive thought and respect of all cultures and communities. This is what is enshrined in the constitution of India and it is what Indian leaders have strived for. And this is what Indian national leaders have strived for.
—-
The author is pursuing Ph.D at Aligarh Muslim University in dept. of Economics and can be emailed at suhail029@gmail.com.
Patriotism is a favorite device of persons in India with something to sell;