By Babet Sten
Today as Narendra Modi strides across the country like an old Colossus, I find myself asking about how the future of Indian secularism will fare in the long run. After the stampede of RSS, VHP, ABVP goons and the slow but deliberate injection of fear and hatred has taken place, where is Ambedkar’s dream headed? Everyone wants to ride with the winners because that is supposedly a sign that you too have won. In reality though there are only a few winners and it is certainly not the Indian Public. Today the media houses of the country have either been bought or coerced into accepting these goons onto their screen and stages. Now they come online proclaiming all Indians as Hindus- disregarding the vast tracts of non-Hindu peoples as non-Indian or even ‘un-Indians’ – which is equivalent to traitor. By that logic, are all Hindus, Indians? Of course not! What it really comes down to is that this is a travesty that spits in the face of all who fought and died for this country to become secular.
But enough about national politics because we are close minded bigots and only our own affairs are worthy of consideration, hence let us proceed from there. It is sad to say that though the non-tribals seem to be woefully and tragically off (in the secular sense) we from Meghalaya can claim no better moral position for ourselves. We are quite plainly monsters when it comes to being secular. Some local idiots could beat the raucous pseudo intellectual Swamy Subramanian in their ability to spew diarrheal matter onto innocent bystanders. Much like Ebola their words are viral and deadly. I recently came across the most pungent refuse I have had the misfortune of reading by one Apol Mawniuh in his “Ka Jaidbynriew Shahrah Umsaw”. Islamaphobic, orthodox and sexist to the core his work shall be remembered as a classic in Khasi Hate Speech writing for the future generations to come. It deserves to be enshrined in some Hall of Shame. Maybe we can approach this “Christian State” Government for funds.
One of the most ludicrous and dangerous proclamations that any Government can be labelled by is that it is anything other than “secular”. The State has no business being Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or Whatever. It should in effect be atheistic or rather, agnostic. It should not favour one religious group over another. It should maintain the Law while being sensitive to religious groups of varying intensities of idiocy and tolerate them as such. That would go a long way to making the lives of its people more bearable. However, this is ever hardly the case. In Meghalaya especially, since we have made it a profitable business. Our beloved pastors, bishops have all found that special someone in the Secretariat to shower blessings on and be showered in turn. It is not the parish, pastorate that draws the attentions of the Church administrators but rather the Finance departments of various government organs. For “God”, they acquire public money and avail donations. There is a joke that if you ever want a road to your village, just try really hard to get a big Church Service hosted in your general area; magically a week before the Service a new road would have materialised inexplicably! Truly, another case of Divine intervention!
One could go ahead and say that it is quite alright for religious institutions to do this. They, after all, are large unions or welfare organisations that seek to help their members. This is of course acceptable. But the show does not stop merely at that point. These Churches are just getting schemes and money they also invariably change the structure of our political scene and our politics as well. Once again, another majoritarian section of society gets to have its way because of essentially retrogressive vote bank politics. A Presbyterian minister is expected to help out his team, same with a Catholic MP or an Adventist IAS officer. This is done quite often much to the disadvantage of other more important work. Even if you are a useless and corrupt MLA/officer, the Church perhaps can cleanse you with its holy waters. It really is not good to have such diffusion of power and religiosity together. Perhaps the best example of this was the late JJM Nichols Roy who famously would end his political rallies with a prayer. Many today follow his large shoes and every political event seems more akin to a Revival service. Where is the dividing line?
Many people had a problem with PBM Basaiawmoit contesting for the MP seat this year because he was a pastor. People opined that State and Church should not mix. In reality, both have been in bed together for a long time now. From the first missionaries one can argue at length, but we will save that for another time.
Public spaces are often times the sites for competition where Jesus and Mary can go head to head with Durga and Mahishsura. Why do we need shrines when we really believe and cherish our beliefs? I think God would appreciate a bench for tired walkers at street corners, much more than a mini church. Thinking upon idols, another thing at big sermons is that we generally idealise/idolise white speakers. A “foreign-again” reverend once told a story about his dinner with George W Bush. People wowed and exhaled heavily; I was not impressed. Bush is a war criminal, plain and simple. But for them, he was the epitome of Christian spirituality coupled to worldly power. A good Christian, a politician – and a war criminal- what a mash-up!
Anyway in closing I must offer my congratulations to the present CEM for his lovely display of inter-faith sensitivity when he got into the Muslim prayer position, in gratitude, on being chosen as the new top man of the KHADC. We need more sensitive souls like him in key positions! Alaikum salaam to you, Sir.