How far any country respects democratic norms and maintains a secular character is determined by the extent of freedom enjoyed by the opposition and the minorities. The objectivity and independence of the judiciary adds to the strength of a secular order. Ever since the British transferred power to the Congress Party in India, the judicial verdicts by Indian courts unfold a distressing chronicle of might is right. The judgements on important issues relating to the religious, cultural and linguistic rights of the minorities have regretfully been motivated and influenced by an unconcealed antagonism and in tolerance towards minorities in general and Muslims and Sikhs in particular.
‘The judgement permitting Hindus to worship in a Mosque at ‘Ayodhya is the latest in the unending series of violations of the constitutional guarantees and is in the nature of the worst judicial pillage aimed to reduce minorities to mere serfs and slaves. Even if the argument that the disputed Mosque was originally a Lord Krishna temple and was forcibly converted into a Mosque by the first Mughal emperor, Babur, is treated to be historically correct, though Muslims contend this argument and claim it to be a Mosque from he day of its construction, it does not follow that Hindus have developed ‘a legal right over it. Much water has flowed down the bridges since its conversion and centuries of Muslim possession cannot just be written off in a whimsical manner. The fact that the Hindus never questioned the right of the Muslims even during the Jong British rule is a material determinant in favour of Muslim claim. Hindu argument is as preposterous as would be the demand that ‘Muslims and Christians of Indian origin should reembrace Hinduism as their ancestors were either forcibly converted or seduced to accept Islam or Christianity,
Some Hindus have also started a half serious campaign to claim back the gates of the Somnath Temple that are currently installed in the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Sikhs had recovered these gates from the Afghan invaders but the puritanical pundits of Somnath had refused to accept them back declaring that the gates stood defiled and hence could not be reinstalled in the sacred temple. Sikhs, however, sanctified the rejected gates by making them part of their holiest shrine.
Similarly some Hindus have claimed that the world famous ‘monument to love, Taj Mahal, was also a Hindu Temple and there ‘occur occasional demonstrations for its restoration to Hindus, even though ll available historical evidence contradicts this claim. The fabulous amount spent on its construction is recorded in the official account statements of Emperor Shah Jahan and is there other irrefutable evidence relating to the details of its construction that totally falsify this atrocious claim. Yet some research books have been written to prove it to be a Hindu Temple. These claims reflect a Psychology perverted by power. Hindus have realised and tasted the Power that numbers give in a democracy. The consciousness that in the game of numbers they cannot be defeated has emboldened and communalised their behavior resulting in a discriminatory and derogatory treatment of minorities.
Unfortunately, the ruling party is primarily responsible for this sad situation. To remain in power, it has been resorting to electoral Politics rather than democratic politics, and in the process has so poisoned the atmosphere that minorities have begun to feel extremely insecure in a State that swears by secularism. Hindu chauvinism has exploded the myth of the so called Indian secularism, If Indian Government is sincere in maintaining unity in diversity, then, it will have to arrest the destructive chauvinistic trend and win the confidence of the minorities through deeds and not through empty ‘words or meaningless assurances, Let it tell the ardent advocates of Hindu chauvinism to develop tolerance and construct alternate temples rather than judicially or otherwise occupy what really belongs to the minorities. The degradation of a thousand years of slavery cannot be compensated or negated by taking it out on the fellow countrymen belonging to other faiths. The minorities have been pushed too long and they are on the brink of losing their patience. The day is not far when they will rise to reshape their destiny and, then, it may be too late to seek remedies.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1986
