During every election season we get to see politicians take refuge under the umbrella of "Secularism" . In this thread let's see as to what climate gave rise to the word "secularism".
In Medieval Europe the popes claimed that there was no activity of the state ,or even individuals, that did not come under the control of the church or its agents.700 years ago Pope Boniface VIII asserted :"Both swords,the spiritual & the secular, are in the power of the church"
" the spiritual is welded by the church ; the secular for the church, the one by the hand of the priest : the other by the hands of the Kings & Knights at the will & sufferance of the Priest. "
Even the greatest scientists & thinkers felt the pressure of religious authority, Galileo was put in confinement for life for his discoveries which contradicted Church doctrine.Giordono Bruno, another scientific thinker, was burnt at stake for ideas that violated church doctrine
The people & the rulers of Europe had to carry on a thousand year struggle to free themselves from the theocratic hold of the church. Over non religious (secular) institutions & activities. This is the historical & social milieu in which secularism evolved in Europe
Secularism therefore essentially means negation of theocracy, breaking the hold of priesthood on the affairs of the state. In particular it means : denial of the role of religion or any religious scripture in the affairs of the government.
In India , the situation as claimed by self-styled Secularists is the exact opposite of this . Interest groups are demanding religious law & religious practices to be enforced by the Government in the name of Secularism ; minorities in particular.
Even worse, those demanding a form of government or a legal code that disregards religion (UCC), are denounced as ' Communal' & 'anti secular'.
This is the case of Orwellism immortalised by George Orwell in his classic Ninteen Eighty-four, which means , using words in the sense opposite to what they actually mean.
One can understand uneducated people like Sonia , pappu , Lalu & their political ilk use this word , what is unforgivable is the conduct of the so called intellectuals calling themselves as secularists. They have used the word Secularism to deliberately confuse the issues.
These so called Secularists have used Secularism as a stick to beat tolerant Hindus & whitewash the conduct of Muslims & Christians. These deceptions & evasions of the secularists have led to reactions like Ayodhya. If they continue to persist, Kashi & Mathura are not far
