A new perspective to the much maligned word 'secularism' emerged at a seminar on 'Secularism in Modern India' organised by Society for Promoting Rationality (SPRAT) at Ahimsa Shod Bhavan, Gujarat Vidhyapith on Thursday. The seminar was attended by more than 100 participants including dancer and social activist Mallika Sarabhai, veteran Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya, law students and professors.
Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, political scientist and centennial professor, London School of Economics, Sudarshan Iyangar, economist and vice-chancellor of Gujarat Vidhyapith and Prof. Ghanshaym Shah, chairman, Centre for Social Studies, Surat and former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, expressed their views on the subject.
Lord Bhikhu Parekh, in his key note address talked about the meaning of secularism according to the preamble of the Constitution of India and its relevance. He said, "The constitution has not talked about the word - secular, but it is secular in nature." Referring to the secular nature of the Constitution he said the word 'secular' was included in the constitution during emergency though the word was inserted a corresponding change in the Constitution was not required as the it was already secular in nature."
Parekh also talked about how painful it is for him to hear educated people casually making non-secular statements. He said that many educated people talk about 'Apana Desh', instead of 'Hamara Desh' and talk about Muslims in third person. Iyangar, took the debate further and talked about role of state and the necessity to allow the people the freedom to practice their own religion and not interfere with it, in the context of secularism.
Talking about minority and secularism Prof. Shah said, "As per the constitution, the term minority does not refer to religious minority alone." Summing up the talk, M Hasan Jowher, president of SPRAT said, "While constitution has provided secular freedom, failure in its implementation has created issues."
Apart from the lectures, participants also raised questions on various aspects and issues of secularism and its socio-political effects.
