India needs to redefine democratic pluralism
By Isha Khan • Feb 11th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 7 CommentsIndia celebrates its 59th republic day on 26th January 2009. However, even after such a long time, India is unable to define a correct roadmap of nation building. Societal brakes are pulling down the rapid scientific advancement and communal tension is kept alive.
As a nation India harps on secularism but in practice this word remains sandwiched between intrusiveness, neutrality and indifference to religion. As a result, neither the majority nor the minorities feel comfortable in this country.
At the time of Independence , there were five routes to nation building. The Muslim league model wanted Hindus and Muslims to be mobilized as separate groups and then wielded into a national unity on the basis of distinctiveness but equality.
Second, was the Nehruvian model, where state got to have no truck with any religion, but the minorities’ rights has to be protected through constitutional guarantee.
Third was the Gandhian model that visualized religion and politics to be enmeshed with each other and the state should pay equal respect to all religion: “Sab Dharam Sambav.”
Fourth the “Hindutva”, model that equates nationalism with Hindu culture and calls for merge all diversity under the umbrella of Hindutva.
Fifth, is the “melting-pot culture” of the US , where different identities are homogenized under a pan national identity?
Given the complexity of the Indian politics none of the above models of nation building fits as an ideal format of national integration.The Muslim league model of treating minorities as fixed entity could not be held valid because in democracy there are no permanent majority or minority, they keep on shifting and the ruling coalitions is formed of several minority groups.
The Nehruvian model too can not fit into Indian societal map where religion dominates on every walk of life and it is very difficult to separate religion from politics. This model which is inspired by communism has not worked out even in those states.
The Gandhian model of paying equal respect to all religion is too flawed. It tries to pay lip service to different religion for the sake of equal treatment but nothing concrete come out of it other than pandering to majority religious symbolism.
The Hindutva model of homogenizing Indian society under cultural nationalism of Hinduism is the diabolic design to extinguish the vast cultural specificities that makes the Indian mosaic. In such case the local and self grown traditions among Hinduism is on verge of annihilation by the adherents of the Hindutva ideology.
The melting pot culture of the US also can not be imitated in India for the fear of secessionism. This model instead of uniting the country may lead to vivisection by all kinds of group in the country.
So what should be the roadmap for nation building? If we go by the statistics India houses some 4, 599 separate communities. How this vast majority of diversity could be integrated into the Indian polity and society. Is there a need to redefine democratic pluralism in India ?
Democratic pluralism in India could be deliverable only by adhering to the principle of secularism.. Secularism should be based on citizenship and national boundaries as the organizing principle provided by the Indian constitution.
There is some confusion regarding interpretation of secularism and in the process certain core principles such as equal protection for all religions is ignored. The state should not in any way support or oppose any particular religion but at the same time should protect the religious and cultural rights all the religions particularly religious minorities.
Secularism should be prompted with courage and conviction and every one has stakes in restraining those who adopt confrontationist approach using religion as their shield.The other approach should pan Indian identity should based on multiple layers the people have, such as state, family, city, profession and organization. Forging such identity would foster amity and harmony among all the citizens of the country.
The next approach should to build secularism on citizenship rights that’s based on equality and provides a strong foundation to keep the country together.
On the eve of Republic day, the challenge before every Indian is how to imbibe spirit of secularism as a way of life, how to get rid of its imperfections, how to set into motion a process that could be easily grasped and followed.
All this requires a redefinition of democratic pluralism and a new revolution. As an Indian if we all like to enjoy the fruits of rapid development there are little choices for the road ahead.
Source: Global Politician
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Isha,
Good article. Something different from what you have written earlier. I understand the point that you are trying to make from this article, but isn’t it true that people are shouting for reservations everywhere and want to tag themselves as minority and backward so that they can get benefits from the status that these groups carry.
I know people who took these kind of certificates so that children can get admissions in school and colleges, with less hassles.
To be secular and to redefine democracy in India the mindset and provision in constitution needs to be changed. While drafting the constitution in 1950’s Dr. Ambedkar had reserved the right of reservation for starting few years only. But the politicians have tried to make use of this rule to get more votes and play politics of vote bank and divide people. Also the person who has more following from these kinds of groups get more weightage in political parties as they give them seats when elections come.
You also belong to one of the minority communities in India, as per the government norms, but can I ask you one question, should the reservation for education and jobs and things like that be based on ones religion or on the basis of his economic status?
The purpose for putting reservation during the initial years after independence was to bring people to the same economic level. But in today’s scenario they have become means for political and social benefits. There are many people in India who are not economically ahead can benefit from the reservation systems but the benefit does not reach them as the people who have money and brand themselves with these communities take benefit and the needy has to go empty handed back to the same hell from where he came.
Today if you see many people who fall under the reserved are placed at higher posted in government offices, they earn good money, their children are placed well in good organizations, who are also earning well, but when the time of enrollment of their children in school comes they show their caste and try to take benefit of reservation provided to them. Is this right?
To redefine democracy and democratic pluralism as you ask here, people from these sections who enjoy the reservation benefits needs to stop taking these benefits and should be ready to let go of the privileges associated with it. Are they ready for that? Are people ready to stop the politics of vote bank by sticking to the party who represent them rather than following a party who can uplift them and change their life.
Are they will to do this? If they ready to this then the thing you are asking is possible and things can and will change in India.
Your views Isha.
Secularism is one of beauty of Indian culture that was little of bit also inherited by Pakistani culture in the start of journey.Now this has been faded in our side due to worst political policies and India some how trying her best to secure it under its boundaries.Being a democratic state for last 60 years and having strong vision of Gandhi like leaders ,India still lacks in true culture of secularism where religion and cast system are still very volatile issues .Indians even having so democratic norms always behave in orthodox manners when ever tension develop between two nations.They always blame ISI for their all disturbances but they never dare to point fingers on US who is taking control of ISI for last 30 years.No ISI DJ is ever selected until Washington give consent on his credibility.So it clearly shows that US enjoys this tension and when ever peace process takes one step, a simple horrific terror activity delayed this effort.Latest events are samjhota express and then mumbai attack.Samjhota express clearly reveals that Indian forces or its individuals some how acted on same principles as our ISI is adopting for last many years.Mumbai event was also planned to create catastrophic results on the basis of religion but luckily India narrowly escaped from another chain reaction So who master plan this program surely know the weakness of Indian system that should be re mold and redefined .
Nazia,
Accept your points to a certain extent but not fully. The orthodox thinking that you have mentioned has been there for sometime now, but things are changing. Today when the people of country are talking about the Mumbai incident they are not looking at each other internally, they are asking questions to the people who govern us on how many times does Mumbai has to suffer for people to open their eyes.
If you can remember since 1993 riots and bomb blasts in Mumbai things have changed. Mumbai became the first target for bomb blasts and other things that can harm the harmony here. But this time people have lost their patience and are asking for better security and good governance.
Also the problem that you are talking of divide and rule has been there from the time of British rule in India. In history the problem of people looking at others with suspicion grew more as when ever a blast used to happen some or the other terror group who used to claim responsibility where from Islamic background. The problem was that people with prominence in the Muslim community in India never came out and made statements and shown their protest when these things used to happen. Thus people were seeing that Muslims who used to be so loyal and patriotic to this country are not coming out to protect the country.
But after the Mumbai incident they have made strong statements and for sometime now they Imaam’s and Maulana’s from big mosques have asked people start counseling sessions and religious session for youth so that they are not brainwashed in the name of religion and don’t get mislead by the people from these terror groups.
These kind of steps have helped India to hold steady after the recent terror attack on the city.
The word “DEMOCRACY” doesn’t sounds good coming out of a pakistani mouth. And specially you Isha, you have no right to put your opinion on democracy for India. How can you define or judge democracy when you yourself don’t know the about it practically? Pakistan will have to learn first A B C D of democracy first, implement practical use of demoracy in their country and then cast your opinion for India about democracy.
Samjhe beta.
Adi
This is big tragedy in two sides that most of liberal activities and mass development only cover 30 to 40 kms circle of big cities and as long as we leave our civic culture and go to remote areas, both Indians and Pakistanis are facing same type of lawlessness,deprivation and serious religious constraints.In our side we can blame prolonged military rule but on your side your continuous democratic process surely lacks in fulfilling its actual goals.Most of population is still unaware of exact meaning of democracy and following the” might is right” rule throughout their life span.
Nazia,
I don’t completely agree with the view, here things hanged a lot and are still changing. People in big cities do have got the big share but due to the spread of information technology network across the country many small towns and places are now getting the main stream of activities (please ignore areas of Bihar).
Also with education taking roots in small towns many have started to understand the meaning of the things that affect their lives. They may or may not know about what actually democracy is but they surely know that is going to impact them.
The key here is education, it should reach the masses. Once this is done things will start changing and life will improve.
Dear Nazia and all the Pakistanis,
Yes Nazia, I agree with you on your point that once we leave our city limits, to some remote areas, the people are deprived of law and their rights. But in India, this used to be 10 years ago, not now. Because of vast network of electronic media, all the injustice and plight of the people, including their basic human right or injustice on them, gets exposed within a few minutes. The media questions the administration on behalf of such people. So the administraion takes the approrpate steps to see that justice is served for such people. It is not just because the administration cares about the people but also because of the awareness of the people. The people nowadays are aware of their rights and they know how to get their rights.