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Sonia Gandhi has voiced her apprehensions regarding the diminishing importance of secularism in India’s democracy.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has voiced her apprehensions regarding the diminishing importance of secularism in India’s democracy, stating that the term is now used pejoratively by those in power, leading to heightened polarisation in the society.
In a signed article for Manorama Yearbook 2024, Gandhi emphasised the integral connection between democracy and secularism, likening them to two rails guiding the nation toward a harmonious society. She expressed concern over the weakening of safeguards meant to ensure the smooth functioning of democracy, leading to visible polarisation in society.
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Secularism, as per Gandhi, holds a unique interpretation in India, influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of ‘sarva dharma sama bhaava,’ recognising the essential unity of all religions. She highlighted the efforts of Jawaharlal Nehru and the Constitution makers, led by B R Ambedkar, in establishing a secular democracy that protects the religious beliefs of all, with special provisions for minority welfare.
“In fact, in our society, it makes more sense to speak of ‘diversities’ instead of just ‘diversity’ since they encompass faiths and beliefs, languages and cultural practices, regions and ecologies, histories and traditions. Yet there has always been a sense of overarching unity that led our Founding Fathers to give us the legacy of Unity in Diversity,” she argued.
“Diversity strengthens our unity and solidarity when it is celebrated as indeed it is in our magnificent Constitution that is now under assault,” she said.
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Gandhi underlined India’s extraordinary diversity, arguing that unity in diversity is under threat, given the current challenges to the Constitution. She raised critical questions about the functioning of democracy, especially in a diverse nation like India, where protecting the core interests of various groups is essential for peace and harmony.
Quoting Nehru, Gandhi acknowledged that democracy is imperfect but stressed the need to find solutions to contemporary challenges while upholding the principles laid down by the freedom fighters. “Democracy is good. I say this because other systems are worse… It has good points and also bad,” she said.
The freedom fighters knew from the experience of democracy in other countries that the system is prone to ailments and laid down principles to guard against these illnesses, such as a written Constitution, Fundamental Rights of citizens against the government, and the principle of secularism.
She urged progressive minds to contribute to finding solutions, emphasising the importance of serving and honouring the nation in the process: “It is time for us too, to find our own solutions to the challenges of today, and in so doing, serve and honour our nation.”
