Then Why Should I Worry?

I increasingly hear noises that India is slowly drifting towards far right to eventually a one-religion nation.  This could be an unfounded fear.  I sincerely hope so. But there is this perception prevailing and there are events in recent times that form basis for such apprehension.

If India were to be a theocracy, a Hindu Rashtra, the makers of of its  Constitution could have easily done so.  After all, 80 percent of the country’s population was at that time, and still is, Hindu. An overwhelming majority of members in the Constituent Assembly drafting the Indian Constitution too were Hindu. But they all unanimously chose secular principle as the main theme of governance in the Constitution.  It is one of the finest piece of document reflecting pluralism and diversity and equality of opportunity as the main foundation on which to build a modern, liberal India.

  

There was a rationale behind  enshrining such a foundation. The members in the constitutional assembly had gone through pains inflicted by oppressive, quasi-dictatorial British rule. This had made them avowed believer in democracy.  They had also seen many religious riots, the bloodiest being at the time of the Partition.  They were wise people.  They knew only way India could stay united as one Nation amidst vast regional, religious, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity was by establishing a system of democratic and secular governance.

Many pundits had predicted that India could not stay as one nation for longer in view of its diversity.  Winston Churchill had even said that to call India as a united nation was to say the Equator was one.  They were all proved wrong.  The reason? The gift of such a far-sighted Constitution by Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly -   WHEREIN shall be guaranteed and secured to all the people of India justice, social economic and political: equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law; freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action….

The tone and tenor of the texts of the Constitution was always secular but it was in 1976 that the word “Secular” was added in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment.

The people of India are so fortunate.  We don't have to go far to realise the folly of theocracy, majoritarian rule and authoritarian governance. A religion-based governance inevitably throttles democracy. What mess Pakistan today is in has its root in its wrong choice in the beginning of their journey as an independent nation.

          

India stood steadfast on the path of democracy and secular polity.  It rendered the country peace and stability, the necessary condition for development.  It is a matter of another debate that why then India had very abysmal growth rate until early ‘90s. It was more due to policy choices rather than anything else.

       

Theocracies throttle freedoms of its own people and stymie the growth of a state. In spite of many flaws, today, India is a major emerging economy (as per US President Trump it is an economic giant) and on its way to becoming just the fourth nation to put its flag on moon is all due to condition created by embracing liberal thoughts, respecting varied opinions and beliefs of all hues and scientific temper.  Democracy in India is not just a system of governance, it has deeply entrenched in the hearts and minds of its people.  There could be temporary set backs but the people are same and the same wisdoms that prevailed at the time of writing its Constitution still influence and shape our thoughts and actions.  Till this remains deeply rooted in our psyche, perceptions or even attempts to tweak democratic or social order will ultimately proved wrong and fail.

  

Then why should I worry from obstreperous atmosphere that pervades the air over India today?