By Dr. Ram Puniyani
During the last four decades India has witnessed the rising intimidation and targeting of religious minorities. After the demolition of Babri mosque the country witnessed unprecedented violence in Mumbai leading to the loss of nearly one thousand lives. In 1999 the most horrific act of burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains, labelled ‘most ghastly incident from the inventory of black deeds’ by the President of India Dr. K.R. Narayanan, took place. Gujarat carnage was orchestrated on the pretext of Godhra train burning, leading to massive polarization along religious lines and victory of BJP in subsequent elections. Later the massive Kandhamal violence on the pretext of Swami Aseemanand’s murder by Maoists in 2008 led to attacks on Churches and loss of lives. The violence in Muzzafarnagar in UP 2013 and in Delhi 2019, are few other major acts of violence; which tormented the country.
This is not all, the violence in the name of cow slaughter, love jihad added to the fire of anti minority hatred. The CAA added to the woes of the Muslim community. The attacks on scattered prayer meetings of Christians on the pretext that these meetings are meant for conversions has kept up anti minority hate and is getting intensified during the last few decades.
There is a gross violation of the rights of minorities and violation of the ‘Freedom of Religion’ in various forms. Freedom of Religion acts have been implemented recklessly in various states. These laws as such are a big hurdle for the practice of one’s religion. This suppression of practice of religion added on with the hate against minorities has led to the total intimidation of religious minorities. We also witnessed the hateful rhetoric used during the 2024 national elections, the ongoing demolition of Muslim homes and the government’s renewed push to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)—a law that, especially when coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), risks rendering millions of Muslims stateless and without legal protection.
This image of India being created by the acts by the BJP Government and Hindutva politics has an adverse effect on India’s International image and standing. Attempts are on to bypass this image which reflects India’s falling position on various indices’ related to freedom and democracy. How does the Government and ruling ideological outfit of RSS deal with this abysmal image? To begin with, India at official level does not recognize any of the agencies monitoring rankings related to human rights in particular. The government states that this is interference in the ‘internal matters’ of our country. The same Government shouts hoarse when the atrocities on Hindus take place in neighbouring countries. To raise the concern about these atrocities is absolutely on the dot but the Government displays double standards on this.
To add up to the strategy of undermining the deteriorating condition of Indian minorities, now Mr. Ram Madhav, leader of RSS-BJP, in an article argues that this way of looking at violation of religious freedom is through a Eurocentric lens. In an endorsing way he presents the report of a US based think tank, “Changing the conversation about religious freedom: An integral human development approach”. As per this report “a crucial component of overall human flourishing and sustainable development has to be based on Integral Humanism”. He comments that religious freedom should not just be treated as relating to Human Rights. (I.E. June 14). This is a clever ploy to undermine the freedom of religion in the country.
As per Madhav invading Mughal armies persecuted Hindus. He puts the blame of partition exclusively on Muslim League. In contrast to Madhav’s understanding the leader of India’s freedom movement, Gandhi saw diverse religions rooted in India and thriving with harmony. On similar lines Nehru saw our civilization as a syncretic one. He writes “She (Bharat Mata) was like some ancient palimpsest on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed, and yet no succeeding layer had completely hidden or erased what had been written previously.”
Madhav tells us about the concept of ‘Integral Humanism’ which was first propounded by Jacques Maritain in 1936. He was a Catholic Christian and has been appreciated by the highest priests of the Church. As per Madhav his concept of Integral Humanism argued to rise above religions to secure not only the material but ethical, moral and spiritual well-being of individuals. Articulating this in the context of Catholic Christianity, it might have aimed to oppose those who were trying to opt for non Catholic sects of Christianity. He also argued for “The freedom which Christian democracy seeks to promote…”
In India this phrase was presented by BJP leader Deendayal Upadhaya, who also had RSS background. He was part of a political outfit which is working for Hindu Nation. This ideology regards that India was enslaved by Muslim kings and then the British. This political ideology attributes many ills of Hindu society to atrocities of Muslim king in particular. The fact is that many of the ills regarding caste-Varna and gender hierarchy are mentioned in the earlier tomes regarded holy by Hindus. They are also unmindful of the fact that the administration of Muslim kings was full of upper caste Hindus at various levels.
In the four major lectures given by Upadhyay 1965 the ideology of Integral Humanism was presented. This ideology argues against the federal structure of India and calls for ‘Dharma Raj’. As per him the Dharma is above parliament. It does argue for the predetermined role of Individual, i.e. subtly upholding caste-Varna system. It stands for status quo in society. Maritain advocated ‘Christian democracy’ while Upadhyay is part of the agenda of ‘Hindu Nation’. BJP has adopted ‘Integral Humanism’ as its ruling ideology.
The results of the Integral Humanism, which claims to be above religions, in practice adopts the values o Brahminical Hinduism and is taking up issues of temples (demolition of mosques), holy Cow (Lynching) Love Jihad and conversions as the core part of its agenda.
Integral Humanism is being put forward to undermine the values of Indian Constitution, rights of minorities, low caste and women in the present times. It may be a more sophisticated name for the agenda of Hindu Rashtra, something totally in opposition to the Indian Constitution. (IPA Service)
