Realism:Failure of 'Power'
Tragic Joke of Indian Secularism
Summary:Since 9/11, India which joined the vile propaganda campaign of some Western countries including American Jewish lobby in equating Muslims with fundamentalism and in creating Islamic phobia is itself a real fundamentalist state under the shadow of secularism. Although violence against the other communities has been used by Hindu fundamentalists as a normal practice since partition, yet intensity of the anti-Muslim and anti-Christian bloodshed in the last decade coupled with the dissemination of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) has converted the Indian secularism in a tragic joke.
Since 9/11, India which joined the vile propaganda campaign of some Western countries including American Jewish lobby in equating Muslims with fundamentalism and in creating Islamic phobia is itself a real fundamentalist state under the shadow of secularism. Although violence against the other communities has been used by Hindu fundamentalists as a normal practice since partition, yet intensity of the anti-Muslim and anti-Christian bloodshed in the last decade coupled with the dissemination of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) has converted the Indian secularism in a tragic joke.
Apart from the previous massacre of Muslims, more than 2500 Muslims were killed in2002 in the BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat where horrible scenes of arson, mutation and rape were perpetrated by the Hindu extremists against the unarmed Muslims.Regarding that large-scale genocide, both Human Rights Watch in 2002 and Amnesty International in 2003 charged the “Gujarat state administration” for involvement in “a massive cover-up of the state's role in the massacres” and indicated “numerous police officials—specifically ministers, high officials, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party and Bajrang Dal leaders as participants in the violence.
In that respect, various investigations failed in pointing out the real perpetrators as they were high officials or police officers of the Indian government. Hence, the Supreme Court of India has ordered a fresh probe on March 25, 2008, but the same will also remain inconclusive due to concealment of evidence against the culprits who are members of the political parties.Besides that pre-planned assassination of the Muslim population, killing and harassment of Christians, entailing attacks on Churches by the Hindu fundamentalists have been continuing intermittently for the last ten years, adding a new dimension to Indian mask of secularism.Unlike the previous similar tragic events, Christian persecution rose to new heights in the state of Karnataka after the BJP and JD-S came to power in February 2006. Attacks on Christian holidays have become common in the state like other regions. On the Christmas Eve of 2007,Hindutvaextremists led a series of violent attacks on Christians and their property in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district, killing six Christians and razing at least 730 houses and 95 churches. In one of the latest events, occurred this year in the month of March, more than 150 intolerant nationalist Hindus stormed two Easter Sunday services and beat at least 16 Christians including two pastors in Bangaloreand in Shimoga district, reported the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
Before almost every assault, the mob of the Hindu extremist RSS (Rashtray Swayamsevak Sangh), VHPand Bajrang Dal, armed with bamboo poles, sticks and rods while beating drums shout slogans in Hindi—he “who talks in favour of only Hindus will rule the nation” and “stop conversions”. On the other side, Christians say that they often convert the low caste Hindus willingly because of their mistreatment as outcasts.When the BJP-led alliance was firmly in the saddle in 1998, the campaign of the Hindutva was intensified. This ideology ofHindu fundamentalism was encouraged by the government officials, manifesting in several forms such as dominance of Hindu culture, ethnic violence and intolerance of other religious communities particularly Muslims and Christians. Besides assaults on the Muslims and the Christians, including their religious establishments, appointment of extremist Hindus in top positions in various institutes and alteration of courses in accordance with the Hindu ideology reflected the intentions of the BJB rulers in various provinces.As regards Maharashtra, non-Hindu communities have lived in constant fear and awe since the advent of the fundamentalist party, Shiv Sena whose Chief Bal Thackerayhas organised army of hoodlums to beat up any religious minority, openly directing the Hindu extremists to loot and stone any of their shop or house. Silence of New Delhi on every challenge of Shiv Sena and lack of serious action against Thackeray’s vandalism have clearly defeated the secular echoes of India.More alarming point is that Bajrang Dal that has also been imparting arms training to its members near Ayodhya where the fundamentalist Hindus want to build Ram Mandir on the site of Babri Masjid which was demolished deliberately in 1992.The matter is not confined to the Muslim and the Christian communities, even low caste Hindus in India are still suffering in wake of modern era. Occasional murder of these castes by the upper caste Hindus has further exposed the false character of secularism.While Indian constitution declares the country to be a secular state, but in practice ideology of Hindu nationalism has been implemented even during the successive tenures of Congress party which purely claims to be a secular organization.We can conclude without any doubt in wake of the above tragic developments that Hindutva phenomenon is looming large on Indian horizon, damaging the other religious communities in India. Despite the silence of the US and other European countries in relation to Indian fundamentalism due to their common strategic interest, it is quite clear that the country is following Hindu nationalism under the mask of secularism which has become a tragic joke.
The writer is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
My own article, published in Pakistan’s English daily, The Nation on May 22, 2008
Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
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'Power factor' in International Relations as emphasized by realist theorists have failed in coping with new brand of Islamic militancy. Non-sovereign entities like the Muslim radicals are checking the power of the US-led allies in another way through ambush attacks and suicide missions as noted in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere in the world. Infact, they are checking the ongoing international system and the 'status quo' which protects the interests of the most powerful countries at the expense of the weak states. Situation is becoming very critical day by day. There is already low intensity conflict and cold war between the Muslims and Western Christians. If such a practice of 'power' continues by both the state and non-state actors, present drastic events of the 'different war' may culminate into clash of civilizations or World War 111. We must realize that mow the days of Machiavelli, Hobbes and Morgenthau are over in an era of peaceful settlement of disputes and economic development in a rapidly changing world. The right hour has come to prevent any greater war especially between the Muslim and Christian worlds. So efforts must be made by the intellectuals and media of the two major communities including Israel to follow a peace based upon idealism, not realism. This is the right hour to save the world peace though compromise- adjustment of interests of both the big and small states alike in a manner by wihich the same could be reconciled peacefully, otherwise global security as maintained through power factor in sense of realism would be at a greater risk.
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