Thought for the Day – Decoding the Argument of Relative Secularism

In the intolerant times we currently live in our country, I have often complained that we are becoming increasingly polar in our attitudes to different faiths. This new culture of othering is extremely concerning to the very idea of India which has always stood as a shining emblem of social and communal harmony. I have lampooned the current ruling dispensation which is effectively championing a distorted version of Hinduism and Hindutva which is merely a political doctrine that is deeply imbued in an ethno-centric, illiberal and bigoted version of an agglomerative, flexible and inclusionist religion. One of the greatest religions known for its acceptance and capaciousness to accommodate differing views of spiritual beliefs, Hinduism has been narrowed down to a re-fashioned virulent avatar, which goes against the very ethos of pluralism and diversity whose cause it has so eloquently espoused for millennia.

Almost immediately after I have uttered thus or words to the above effect, the immediate rejoinder that follows, from friends and relatives whose views have changed colour in recent years and who now sport a firebrand version of themselves, is a pathetic hate-spewing diatribe -  “If you were a Muslim in Saudi Arabia and if you said similar about Islam, you would be tried guilty of Haraam and subjected to one of the most inhumane form of death – A blood-curdling decapitation in broad daylight in the Deera Square of Riyadh to enthrall a blood-thirsty crowd that would throng to catch hold of the spectacle. Instead we tolerate anyone who insults Hinduism, including Hindus like you. This should tell you how secular we Hindus truly are. We are several times more secular and tolerating of such open blasphemy, than the Abrahamic faiths.”

My rejoinder to that:

Firstly it is a shame that you would term the democratic questioning of the most perverted version of Hinduism which has been fanned by you as blasphemy. In reality it is folks like you that have been perpetrating blasphemy by going against the very constructs that undergird the greatness of our religion.

Secondly, let us for the sake of reasoning hypothesize that I have indeed been blasphemous. Here is my response:

Consider two students, let’s give them names – Shiva and Ahmed. Shiva has been the perennial topper of his class and has been acing all his exams with 95+ scores. Ahmed is a relatively less bright student, who has been notching up 50’s and 60’s but has never been able to better these scores.

However in recent months, we have been witnessing a new trend. Shiva has been keeping bad company, and his distractions have paved way for a drop in his scores to the early 90’s, the 80’s and in the most recent exam he hit a record personal low with a score of 70. Ahmed continues to languish in the 50’s and 60’s.

The rational argument that spouts forth is - Will a good teacher, be more concerned with the drop in scores of Shiva or will she continue to train her efforts on Ahmed whose scores are inferior but more consistent. Or to reframe it better, will the teacher merely derive satisfaction that Shiva’s scores despite plummeting are still above Ahmed’s or will she be focused on efforts to improve Shiva’s performance to get back to his ‘A’ Game?

Think about it.