The battle of ideas
THE seminar organised recently by the Forum for Secular Pakistan on ‘Democracy and Secularism’ drove home two basic truths.
First, there can be no democracy without secularism. Secondly, democracy needs a national democratic movement to survive and develop further. The keynote speaker I.A. Rehman, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, elaborated this very succinctly.
On the occasion all the speakers did an excellent job of highlighting the dangers faced by the advocates of secularism in a Pakistan that is under threat of Talibanisation.
For the audience, mostly likeminded liberals who had turned up in sufficient strength — by the standards set by such intellectual exercises — this did not provide new food for thought. The slogans for secularism have been raised again and again for a long time now. Read Sibte Hasan’s book The Battle of Ideas in Pakistan that appeared in 1986 and you know secularism is not a new demand.
Yet, I would say it is not bad strategy to revisit such ideals since this serves to strengthen the conviction of those who stand for them and refresh the memories of others who may have forgotten their history.
However, the core issue calling for attention is what Mr Rehman identified as the failure of the liberals to create mass awareness about the importance and advantages of secularism. Many may have missed the point because the focus of the seminar was on convincing an already converted audience that democracy could not survive if the state did not remain neutral in matters relating to religion.
I wish more had been said about why we have failed in spreading this message. It is the strategy that needs to be re-considered. The fact is that secularists today find themselves on the defensive because religious parties have cleverly trapped them in a groove which requires them to prove that they are not anti-Islam as their antagonists make them out to be.
They have a simple demand: let the state be neutral and let its policies be defined by democracy, the rule of law, human rights and social justice. What secularists need to realise is that if they want to strengthen their hand they will have to muster popular support for their ideas by mobilising the masses. People have to be told what secularism is all about. We have lived under dictatorships for so long that we seem to forget that to gain currency any idea must have the support of the masses.
Moreover the myth has been propagated that our people are bigots — intolerant, rigid and extremist in matters of faith. I do not subscribe to this point of view. True, there is a fringe minority that will fit this description but the majority is still reasonable enough to give the pro-secularism lobby a fair hearing. But for that we will have to talk to them and take the initiative to connect with them.
Taking a more positive view of our people — the silent majority — I feel nobody has ever asked them for their point of view on such matters. They may be conservative and religious but most are tolerant and rational about matters of public concern. We may be surprised to find the views of the man in the street more rational than those of educated middle classes that tend to have too many hang-ups from their past.
Certainly the discourse will have to be at the common man’s intellectual level. Remember, the masses are not educated; many of them are not even literate. But they can think and understand their own problems better.
In this context, the case of Dr Roop Rekha Verma, a modest and unassuming Indian scholar of philosophy, is most relevant. I met her six years ago in Lucknow. Dr Verma was the head of the Philosophy Department and Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University when she bowed out of academia in 2003 to pursue social activism in earnest.
From writing research papers prolifically in Indian and foreign journals of repute, she went on to work at the grass roots for communal harmony, the empowerment of women, basic education and secularism. After joining hands with Saajhi Duniya, an organisation that had been in the field for several years, Dr Verma chalked out a strategy to enlist public support for her causes.
“We are not a mass organisation but we work with the masses. We mobilise the public by distributing pamphlets, walking through markets and talking to the shopkeepers and the people about the issue [we are working on], and holding rallies. Also, if we need to involve the youth more, we go to schools and colleges to talk to them. Our activities include awareness and training sessions with both educated and uneducated people.” Above all, Saajhi Duniya does research at the grass roots and that is where its advocacy is focused.
Some groups and parties in Pakistan (the newly formed Awami Workers Party and the Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research come to mind) have tried to take their message to the people but so far their reach has been limited. The spirit of secularism was captured by Sibte Hasan in the book mentioned above, in which he links the future of secularism in Pakistan with “the abolition of imperialist-controlled feudalist social structure, represented by comprador bourgeoisie, the big landlords, the military junta and the mullahs”.
These are formidable enemies. Only the masses have the numbers to resist them and thus destroy their power.
India was divided due to two different nations. 1. Hindus 2. Muslims They had different cultures and beliefs. A nation gets Independence to live according to his culture and religion. There are problems in all countries which relates to their own nationals. Their rulers solve their matters smoothly. I am surprised why other nations are so interested in Pakistan. They always create problems for Muslim nations. Somebody impose one thing upon this nation and the other wants to impose their religion to this nation. Who they are and who has given this right to them? They claim to teach us human rights. Our religion has taught us rule of law, human rights and social justice. Still air or Silence has great storms. Allah S.W.T has inspired good and evil to the humans. Every child is born on Allah S. W.T’s Nature. It is the parents or society that makes him Hindu, Musilm, Christion, Seculer, Budist etc.
@ Matthew George: Democracy needs secularism to suceed but that does not mean that Violence does not exist in a Democratic society or that Democracies do not go War as is evidenced by the
number of wars that the military- industrial complex, the US has engaged in. Instead of hurling stones
at us, you should be concerned about the glass house that you live in. Secularism in India is only skin-deep. You still have a long way to go before you can point accusing fingers at others. Pakistanis, as the author has amply demonstrated recognise there is a problem. You are living in a delusionary glass- bubble.
Brilliant and Well Analyzed, Zubeida.
Now, the hard part – implementing it.
Let preach that the World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
And then preach democracy. Democracy will not last unless we have harmony, love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.
Only one comment to offer. You said, “Only the masses have the numbers to resist them and thus destroy their power”, true.
But it is not that simple. Only “numbers” is not enough, what needs to be inculcated in these “numbers” is the “determination” which cannot be polluted by time. In that case even smaller “numbers can bring the results. Think how vested interest works – is it not lacking in “numbers” but still prevalent?
Reason I think is that usually what makes Evil prevail more in “real life” is its capacity to streamline (organize) available individual effort for personal gains. Good on the other hand, in general, fails to achieve this organization, hence remains short of resources otherwise available for its promotion- because it falls prey to pseudo morality and excludes ‘shades of gray’ to exploit for its purpose- thus remains a minority in number and effect. Whenever and wherever it overcame this problem “Peace” (the face of Eden) prevailed proportionally.
Small groups or individuals can not change public attitudes. Only a great leader can really influence public opinion. Suharwardy tried but the environment was not favorable at that time. Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto had the power but could not move ahead of Yahya Khan’s legacy of “Ideological Frontiers” and indeed capitulated to the Mullahs on the Ahmadi Question. Benazir Bhutto remained constrained by the acceptable framework.
So what Rekha Verma or me or you do has little meaning until the society by natural evolution brings forth a great leader who gives direction to the currents that already exists in a society. Without such currents born of bitter experience. and misery and pain all efforts are fruitless- except in small groups like those of mystics as envisaged in the book “The Grey Eminence” by Aldous Huxley. So it is these small groups,which if maintained will prevent the society from disintegrating into chaos and we should try to nurture them rather than change society en masse and patiently wait for Spring .
Can PAK be a true democracy? I dont think so. The country where Christian, Hindus, Atheists, Shia – Ahmeddi muslims are killed almost hourly for their religious origin. The country where girls are shot for supporting education. The country where even children are trained to bomb others. How can that nation be a true democracy? It may be a democracy for 2 – 4 years and after that – back on original track. I wonder why USA still hopes for peace with such a barbarian nation? Something is wrong with USA.
Yes, something is wrong with USA, nothing at all is wrong with India. India is always shining.
You sound like an indian…the exagerations when it comes to Muslims is astounding but at the same time it is also amazing how you down play an ills of non muslims. Look at your own hatred first before commenting on others.
What to talk about secularism? Even the most secular parties PPP and ANP have turned religious. I dont think secularism has any place in our society.
Please tell us which country or csociety is really secular…? American Currency even says in God we trust.
several west european nations,like denmark,sweden,etc. are really secular
The USA constitution clearly mentions that the State will not make laws which infringe on the religious rights of individuals, even those belonging to minority religions such as Islam or Jews. Also, The State shall not promote any religion. Every American, irrespective of his or her religion has the right to seek any political office, provided they satisfy legal requirements. All Americans are subject to the same law, have same responsibility and rights.
We can talk as much as we like.Excellent articles have been written without positive results..Solution lies in an open minded,honest,well informed group of individuals, who are willing to steadfastly work towards developing an institution.They should be ready to face great challenges from the corrupt,and the religious fanatics.