The Great Indian Political Debate - 3

[Guest]

I have taken note of the points mentioned in the Constitution of India. There is nothing in these provisions that prevent me from following my religion. The restrictions on religious freedom are similar to the restrictions imposed in the Constitution of other democratic countries. Most of the major countries in the EU have a State religion yet they have granted religious freedom to the citizens and non citizens resident in those countries

Since pre independence period, the political leaders have been debating as to whether India should be a nation without a religion or a Hindu Rastra as the majority of the citizens are Hindus. Even after declaring India to be a Hindu RASTRA it is still possible to provide religious freedom to those who are not Hindus. The Hindu community in India has always been a divided lot and as such incapable of providing a united front. The same situation must have prevailed in the Constituent Assembly and as such the majority community itself decided to have the present type of political system in the country. The debate still continues but new elements have got added to it as time has changed. Today, as the things stand , influenced by the Western oriented electronic media, the religious feeling and identity of the younger generation is fast diminishing, particularly in the urban areas. The dilution of the religious and cultural values is taking place very fast but unfortunately it is not taken due note by the religious leaders and people who are still strictly religious. Most of them try to live in a fools paradise. No amount of constitutional amendment is going to retard the situation.