We don’t need the U.N. freedom of religion investigator, Asma Jahangir, to tell us that religious strife is a perennial problem for India. Coming from Jahangir, a Pakistan national, robs some of the gravity of the statement. Pakistan’s record on religious rights is nothing special to write home about. It has been a blatantly Islamic nation since its birth.

But the warning that Jahangir has given cannot be wished away. Hindu-Muslim riots have been a recurring feature even before partition. The rule of the strictly secular Nehru and Indira Gandhi had put somewhat a lid on the phenomenon. Communal incidents also did occur during this period, but timely police action had prevented a larger conflagration. But the rise of the Hindutva parties and the organization in the late 1980s has stoked the flames again. The weak governmental stand on the Shah Bano case only strengthened these forces.

The ultimate threat to Indian secularism arose in the shape of Narendra Modi. His blatantly majority-biased ideology and success in projecting an image of clean and strong governance has found many takers not only in Gujarat, but all over the country.

The problem has been partly because the Indian Muslim community has not been able to bring itself instep with the Hindus, partly because of its poor leadership and partly because of confusion of identity.

The problem of communalism has spread to conflict between the hardline Hindu elements and the Christian missionaries. Just a few months back there was much unrest in Orissa.

Whatever the cynics and doomsayers may say about the secularism in India, one thing is certain - it has withstood the test of time. Its roots are deep, being watered by greats like Gandhi and Nehru. Also the tradition of tolerance and peaceful co-existence with all is one of the basic tenets of Hinduism. Many say India is secular because India is largely Hindu. This belief is true to a large extent.
Reuters