K. N. Panikkar, chairperson, Kerala Council for Historical Research, on Wednesday mooted a human development initiative at the national and grassroots level using panchayati raj institutions as a counter to communal and divisive forces.
Chairing a session at a two-day national workshop on “Sixty Years of Secularism and Pluralism,” organised by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai, and the Department of Political Science and Development Administration, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Prof. Panikkar said a strong grassroots movement for inclusive development was central to any programme to weaken communal elements.
Panchayati raj institutions, Self-Help Groups and neighbourhood groups could be utilised to channel the energy of women, youth, Dalits and other sections in building a strong grassroots programme for inclusive development, he said.
Prof. Panikkar said complacency about the defeat of communal forces in the previous general elections could be dangerous as these elements were capable of mobilising people on communal lines. That communal forces were lying low at the moment did not mean the end of communalism, he said.
Advocating cultural intervention to uphold and strengthen secularism, Prof. Panikkar pointed to the example of Mahatma Gandhi using the charkha and the salt as symbols for rallying the masses for a common cause.
Prof. Panikkar sought the teaching of authentic versions of history in schools as communal interests had twisted history in textbooks in a bid to taint young minds.
He also commended the tireless efforts of Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai in bridging communities and advocacy of internal reform within Islam.
In his valedictory address, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu said secularism was not just about doing away with communalism or the political mobilisation of the people on communal lines, but more about an uncompromising commitment to the principles of secularism and adherence to the equality and fairness doctrine of the Constitution.
Secularism was also about issues such as how women are treated in majority or minority communities, Mr. Ram said. He pointed to a recent instance when the organisers of a seminar on Islam and non-violence came under attack by some so-called moderates for taking a stand against domestic violence in the community. The organisers had merely suggested a correct interpretation of a word in the Quran because the word was wrongly being taken as religious sanction for domestic violence against the woman.
Drivers of secularism
Pointing out that the country's history, ethos of the freedom struggle and the Constitution were among the drivers of secularism, Mr. Ram said the great imperative of secularism, apart from being a value in itself to be cherished, was its instrumentality in holding India together.
“Any attempt to ride roughshod over the pluralism and diversity of the country works against the fabric of nationhood and national integration.”
It is also important to understand history — from which derived the country's multicultural and pluralist tradition — to come to grips with the current challenges. It was equally important to protect the integrity of history, and the work of a few outstanding historians in “wresting control from communal hands” was a positive feature in the Indian situation, he said.
Pointing to the contrasting assessments about India — one bullish and upbeat about economic growth rates and robustness of democratic institutions and the other sceptical and downbeat and rooted in the preoccupations about livelihoods and human development issues, Mr. Ram called for a reality testing across the various domains on key issues that would help an objective evaluation of India's position in the world.
Vasundara Mohan, executive director, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai; Irfan Engineer, Director, Centre for Study of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mumbai; and V. Raghupathy, workshop coordinator, Gandhigram Rural University also participated.
