'Don't
display religion in public'
Sandesh Prabhudesai
2 December 2002
Religion
is a personal affair, feel secular-minded Goans,
demanding vociferously that public display of
religious sentiments and its interference in social,
educational and political fields be stopped immediately.
A demand in this regard was unanimously
raised at the fourth state-level Samajik Parishad
(social convention) held here on 1 December, at
the behest of Samata Andolan, a platform of secular-minded
organisations and individuals from all walks of
life.
Goa, known for maintaining communal
harmony even when the country had passed through
the worst ever riotous situation, witnessed a
gathering of intellectuals, writers, social activists
and even journalists to debate upon 'threat of
communalism to the Indian democracy'.
In the BJP-ruled tiny coastal state,
over 500 intellectuals and activists not only
analysed communalisation of Indian society and
its increasing impact on peaceful Goa but even
came out with a bold demand of complete insulation
of all the state functions from religious rituals.
A resolution passed in this regard
at the conference held in the northernmost Pernem
taluka demanded ban on display of religious photos
in government offices, stopping religious festivals
organised by the government departments and non-participation
of elected representatives and bureaucrats in
public functions organised by the religious or
communal organisations.
Dr A H Salunke, a scholar from Maharashtra,
while inaugurating the meet, asserted that aggressive
and violent actions by the majority community
couldn't be a solution to the terrorist activities
of a fanatic section within the minority.
"What is being encouraged in
the 21st century A. D. today is a replica of what
was vigorously promoted by Manu in the 2nd century
B. C.," he said, observing the way educational
and cultural scene is being reversed to capture
the human brain.
The meet thus also demanded to stop
parting religious instructions under the garb
of value education and instead inculcate constitutional
values of scientific temper, spirit of enquiry,
equality, secularism, fraternity and fundamental
duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution through
curricular and co-curricular programmes.
The state-level convention also
appealed to the entire nationalist, patriotic,
democratic and secular forces to fight unitedly
against religious fundamentalism, fanaticism,
penetration of communal thought in education,
media and cultural fields.
"We are struggling for the
soul of India", said Dr Peter de Souza, a
professor of political science. The emergency,
Indira assassination, Babri Masjid demolition
and the Gujarat genocide are the four milestones
that have destroyed India's secular fabric, he
added.
The meet thus expressed deep concern
over the exploitation and the misuse of religious
sentiments and the communalisation of social issues
by certain politicians, political parties, social
organisations, religious institutions and a section
of media.
"What concerns me more is that
the communalism of the majority community is being
fuelled as nationalism", stated Prabhakar
Timble, the state election commissioner. He also
blamed the regional media for playing in the hands
of the communalists, like the politicians.
The Parishad, in a resolution, also
appealed to the government, educationists and
media to inculcate progressive values through
textbooks and to delete discriminatory, biased,
orthodox and unscientific references from the
textbooks or other publications.
"It is the same fascist agenda
of Hitler and Mussolini that is being systematically
implemented in India", observed Christopher
Fonseca, Goa's leading trade union leader, equating
it with fundamentalism in Afghanistan and other
parts of the world.
To appreciate the right of choice
available to the youth in choosing one's life
partner, the Parishad has also appealed to promote,
encourage and support inter- religious, inter-caste
and inter-regional marriages, besides putting
an end to caste discrimination as well as inequality
directed towards women.
"We need to work towards even
amending Goa's unique common civil code further,
to make it totally free of any kind of discrimination,
including towards the womenfolk", felt Sabina
Martins, a women's activist.
Read
all 11 Resolutions
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