Thomas Harris, author of ‘I Am OK, You Are OK’, describes four states of human mind that explain the worldly conduct. These are: I am OK, You are Not OK; I Am Not OK, You are OK; I Am Not OK; You Are Not Ok, and I am OK, You are OK. The first state of ‘I’m OK, You’re Not OK’, explains the ‘self-righteous’ attitude of a person. Such a person or organisation believes in the divinity of their righteousness. Indian secularism is one such phenomenon in the political system. 

 

 Self-righteousness is reflected in the daily conduct of Indian politicians as well. In its practice, they often blame others for whatever goes wrong in the country. The recent speech of the former Congress president in the parliament on Budget-2022 shows as to how false narrative was built to mask own blunders? He blamed the present regime for having had brought China and Pakistan close to each other. Perhaps, he has no idea of 1962 war and Pakistan giving away Shaksgam valley (5180 sq km) of the POK to China in 1963. He had conveniently forgotten that it was the Congress party that was ruling India at that time. It is a matter of great shame that such a tall leader of the grand old Indian party spins a web of misinformation to pursue a wrong narrative. He also called India, a ‘union of states’ and not a ‘nation’. One hopes that he knew the difference!

Rahul Gandhi’s fakery is a reflection of a human tendency not to accept that one itself might be at the centre of the ordeal one faced in everyday life. Take the case of jilted love stories in today’s ‘virtual world’. More often than not, the ‘other person’ is cast as the devil for the betrayal. One hardly looks at one’s own attitude. Most often problems occur because of attitudinal disorder among people who keep finding faults with others.   

 

Look at the election scenario in India. All political parties and English news channels keep accusing Narendra Modi of the ills India faces today. What Modi has achieved during the last seven and a half years is unimaginable for a man who was once denied a visa by most of the Western countries. Today, they are lining up to shower praises on him.   

Modi is winning hearts of various countries just by his diplomacy. Wherever Modi goes, he receives a ‘rock star’ like welcome from the people of that country. It is on record to see that whichever country Modi visited, say the UAE or Saudi Arabia among the Muslim nations, he just made sure that the diplomatic ties got better. How can anyone blame him of being anti-Muslim?   

 

Since India’s independence, India has seen many prime ministers. Similarly, the USA has seen many presidents. But never in the history of India and the USA, a president of the USA (Obama) called the Indian prime minister when he bid adieu. Former US president Donald Trump called Modi a true friend. President Joe Biden too has good personal relations with Modi.    

Never in the history of Indian and American politics, diplomats advised the US president (Donald Trump) to meet the Indian prime minister within 100 days of his government. Never in history, has anyone of us witnessed a Muslim country (UAE/Abu Dhabi/Burj Khalifa) celebrating India’s Republic Day. Therefore, whatever Modi’s personal beliefs, his public conduct justifies his slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas’ (All move together, Development for all and Trust of all). 

The liberals/pseudo-secularists and communists say India doesn’t need a ‘communal man’ like Modi at the highest level. But just check the facts that even when the so-called ‘secular’ forces were in India, none of the Muslim-dominant countries celebrated India’s National Festival.

On the occasion of India’s 68th Republic Day on January 26 in 2017, Mohammad Bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was the chief guest. After arrival, Mohammad Bin Zayed said: “I am very happy to be in this great country and with the warm reception of my friend Narendra Modi.” 

It reminds me of my visit to Dubai in July 2018. In one of the expensive carpet-selling shops, which had gold art-work on the carpets, I expressed my concerns of such expensive articles being stolen. I was surprised when the shopkeeper responded, “You should not worry when Narendra Modi is your prime minister.” Such is his reputation among the Muslims outside India. It is only deliberately orchestrated anti-Hindutva propaganda that accuses him of being partisan. If he says that he is a Hindu and he religiously practises it, why should it be a question mark?    

But neither the English TV channels nor most of the politicians in India relish this. They continue to harp about their ill-founded perceptions of Narendra Modi. They accuse him of being communal while they themselves are fully soaked in communal politics. Everyone forgets that for the major part of the 75 years of post-independence India, the country was ruled by people who claim to be ‘modern saints’. They have personal motives lacerated in their claims of being ‘secular’.  

Secularism is the most misused term to fool the poverty-ridden and uneducated Muslim minority of the country. Religion and caste are misused by those who cry hoarse about secularism. One is reminded of the ‘law of inverse relevance’ enunciated by Sir Humphrey Appleby. He explained this law to say: Less you intend to do a thing, more you have to keep talking about it. This is what exposes those who talk of being ‘secular’ at the top of their voice. 

The caste and religious combinations have become the ‘governing principles’ to win elections. The Samajwadi Party (SP) was the spearhead of caste and religion ethos while (Muslims and Yadavs) practising pseudo-secularism. Mayawati rides the ‘Dalit’ wave and talks of secularism. The Congress party is not far behind when it says that a Hindu cannot be the chief minister in Punjab. Surprisingly, out of the three crore population of Punjab, 38 per cent are Hindus. Similarly, the Congress can never have a non-Jat CM in Haryana. 

What a practice of secularism. Each one is blaming others for the poor plight of their clansmen and co-religions. Mayawati can spend hundreds of crores on her elephant statutes but could not spend the same for the upliftment of the Dalits. Mamta, Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal and many others bank upon these caste and religious combinations to romp home in electoral battles. 

But if others do the same, it is communal politics that is dividing India. Muslims are openly asked en masse to outvote the Hindu candidates of a particular party. But when a similar call comes from a Hindu party, it is communalism and polarisation of society. The policy of ‘reservation’ was evolved not to uplift the SC/ST but to divide the majority community votes and perpetuate the dynastic rule of a political family. And today, dynastic families dot the length and breadth of the country from J&K to Tamil Nadu. We are going back to the feudal system of medieval times India. Dynastic overlordship of Indian politics has to be destroyed, if India does not want to slip into another 900-1000 years of vassalage!  

-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda