A SECULAR RETHINK
Can India
survive as a secular democratic country? It can
and it
must! With the country beset with political
turmoil,
violence, and polarization, the solutions, although
sometimes not apparent, can be found if will and
vision permeate and overpower vested interests.
King
Ashoka,
who ascended the throne of Magadh in the year 273
B.C.,
had
a vision for the future. A vision that we would be
wise to
emulate. During his reign, diverse religious
sects,
such
as the Brahamas, Sramanas, Nirganthas, Ajivakas,
etc.,
bore
great hostility and sectarian rancor against one
another.
Ashoka's formula for peaceful coexistence, for the
elimination of mutual mistrust and hatred, and for
tolerance and concord consisted of several
fundamental
directives: These directives (as listed in'
Studies in
Ancient India' by Provatansu Maiti, 1969 edition)
are:
1. All sects must dwell at all places
so
that
they could know one another and develop tolerance
for
each
other.
2. All sects must observe restraint
of
speech
and purification of heart when they
deal with each
other.
3. The exaltation of one's own
religion
and
condemnation of others' creed is not
permitted.
4.
Different sects should study of the scripture of
other
sects and develop concord among them.
5. All
people
must practice Ahimsa (non- violence) towards each
other
and
towards animals.
6. Ashoka renounced the
policy of
conquest by sword and urged people to adopt the
policy
of
conquest by law. The US invasion of Iraq was
supposedly to
fight the menace of terrorism and to
destroy 'Weapons
of
Mass Destruction' (WMD) but the fact is that it was
only a
cover. The real intention was to dominate Middle
East
politics, as it is an oil rich area. After invasion
no
WMD
were found and instead of reducing terror it has
increased
many fold in Iraq. One cannot establish peace in
Iraq
without understanding the role of US interests in
the
Middle East.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION Conflict
resolution is an extremely challenging job. It
requires
not
only correct understanding of the causes of
conflict
but
also inexhaustible degree of patience. To deal with
the
conflicting parties great deal of objectivity and
patience
is needed. The nature of the conflict differs from
case
to
case. It is also necessary to understand that every
conflict is not necessarily
violent. Non-violent
conflicts
could also play a positive and creative role in
many
cases.
But here we are mainly concerned with
violent
conflicts. Our aim should be to resolve the
conflict
and
bring reconciliation. To attempt to resolve the
conflict
one should acquaint oneself thoroughly with the
history
of
the conflict and its historical, political, social
and
economic roots, if any. One should also be very
clear
that
real resolution of the conflict could be brought
about
only
through a just solution what some people describe
as 'win-
win' situation. . First one has to strike at its
very
root i.e. the
education system. The communal forces in
perpetuating
colonial conflict are using our education system.
The
medieval history is being taught on a divisive
communal
basis. Our education system also lacks value base
and
without sound value base we cannot create healthy
mindset.
Critics want the German state to stop supporting
religious groups in this way.
In the United
States
the constitution explicity calls for the separation
of
church and state. However, the overwhelmingly
Christian
population allows for some lapses in this policy:
for
example, money bears the words "In God we trust",
and
the ge of Allegiance includes the phrase "under
God".
BHARATKUMAR H
OJHA
S.Y.BSc
(COMPUTER SCIENCE).
PUNE – 33.
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