Secularism- Difference between Indian and Western concepts.

Secularism is the policy of Non-Discrimination on the basis of faith and religious belief. The west’s idea of secularism is one in which there is no interference of religion in the secular matters like governance and similarly a person is either religious or secular. For a person or organization to be called secular, it must not have anything to do with the religion. In India, we have a slightly different meaning; we do not forbid our government to have any sort of contact with the religion. The government here can openly provide subsidies for pilgrimages like in case of Hajj and Kailash Mansarovar yatra and yet it maintains its status of a secular Government. There is a very thin line between discrimination and help/ Upliftment and we are capa our people and society. We, Indians are basically religious people and so it is present in every walk of oble of maintaining that. We can call people with large tilaks or turbans or beards to be secular.

 The difference in the concept lies in the nature ofur life. We never take a step without mentioning the name of God, any new venture, release of a movie, Purchase of a vehicle; nothing can materialize without the name of God mentioned in thanks and prayers thus it is practically not possible for us to carry a west like rigid stand on secularism. Secularism in India is a way of living; we need not be nonbelievers or non practicing to be secular minded. We also need not believe in divinity of others Gods, prophets, holy men to be able to respect them. A Hindu may not believe that the Jesus was the son of the God but still he will love and respect him similarly a Muslim may not believe that the God himself came down to earth in the form of human but still he will respect Lord Krishna. It is not uncommon to see Hindus securing the shoes of their Muslim brethren while the later are observing their Eid prayers and Muslims participating to make Durga Puja festivities in their locality a success.

We do not require to be taught or disciplined to be secular, it is in our blood and our great history is a testimony. Apart from a one or two rulers it is full of Kings like Ashoka, Sher Sher Shah, Akbar and Shivaji who were all religious to the core and yet liberal and tolerant. It was a common sight of soldiers belonging to one community fighting for the King of another and that too against the king of their own. Large number of Muslims faught for Guru Gobind Singh or Shivaji against the Mughals, who in turn had valiant Rajputs with them. Writers and philosophers are the mirror of a society, while Muslims like Ras khan, Rahim, Jaysi and Kabir praised Hindu Gods, Guru Granth Sahib is full of chants for Farid and others and Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda never shied to show their admiration for Prophet Muhammad and Jesus. We are spiritual and yet Secular, We therefore need not be restrained by law to be able to respect others feelings, it is part and parcel of our lives. Our Culture and civilization is thus the reason why we Indians can be followed throughout the world on this front.

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai