Thread by @shrikanth_krish

A key ideological fault line in Indian politics

Liberal POV: Sees Christianity / Islam as "faiths" - no different from Vaishnavism / Shaivism...Just a matter of personal choice

Conservative POV: Sees Christianity/Islam as long term civilizational challenges to Indian nationhood

I don't believe the twain shall ever meet.

At a very fundamental level, this is what Indian politics is about.

Is religion personal? Or does it have civilizational consequences?

And there is no consensus on that in India

Historical experience backs the conservative POV

Indian demography had changed in a drastic way in two frontier regions - Punjab and Bengal over centuries

And it had consequences. It resulted in Partition of the land
And the end of Indian civilization in the parts that seceded

Demography determines nationhood. Particularly in a country like India whose unity is not predicated on ethnicity or language. But on a way of life fundamentally rooted in religion

Liberals may disagree with this.

But again, the Partition is a case in point.

Partition is a v v inconvenient data point for the Liberal POV.

So it is explained away using alternative explanations...

Oh...Partition happened because of Jinnah...Because of the greed of Congress leaders. Because of British connivance and chicanery....etc

But all these proximate liberal explanations for Partition miss out on the more fundamental reason -

And that is - change in religious demography - an irreversible change in the two regions of India - Punjab and Bengal

Maybe there is a valid Liberal counter to what I said...

In which case I would like to hear it.

I grew up subscribing to the Liberal POV, but lost faith in that POV as the study of history proved sobering

Liberals who are more intellectually honest, do not provide spurious explanations for Partition

But instead base their argument on - "This time it is different".

Partition was a long time ago. An age when we were 90% illiterate and a destitute nation

Today we are about to join middle income ranks.

We have transcended the passions that the multitude was susceptible to back in the 40s

We are now capable of having a nation that derives its strength from a Constitution, not religion

Constitutional Patriotism so to speak

I don't totally disrespect that POV.

But to my mind it is up against the Conservative POV that bases itself less on reason and ideals, but on history and experience of the not so distant past.

The next 50 years will tell us which POV will be proven right