Prof Ram Puniyani, former faculty at IIT, Mumbai and President, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai called for a “multilayered struggle against communalism, poverty, unemployment, and persistent campaign for the rights of workers, farmers, small traders, marginalised communities and women’s security.” Prof Puniyani was delivering the ‘Distinguished Web-Lecture’ on “Challenges to Indian Democracy” organised by Vakkom Moulavi Memorial and Research Centre (VMMRC) in association with CSSS in connection with India’s 75th Year of Independence.
Prof Puniyani said that our democratic rights are undermined today both covertly and overtly. “Critiquing the government is a course correction. If critiquing the government is labelled as anti-national, obviously our democracy would be on a decline. In the global space, the freedom of the press and freedom of religion are the two markers of our freedom. And India is constantly and rapidly sliding down,” he pointed out.
Prof Puniyani said that Nehru had foreseen the danger of the use of religion in politics. In our contemporary times, the use of religion has increased to a dangerous level in India. Issues related to religious identity touch the cord of emotions. As such, emotive issues based on religion pose a major challenge to democracy. Politics today comes under the garb of religion. Consequently, democracy is stifled by such trends from multiple sources.
Prof Puniyani noted that communal politics is based on a distorted version of history. Spreading misconceptions of history has become part of social common sense, grounds on which hatred can be constructed. We cannot save democracy unless we remove the hatred that has been drilled into our minds. He said that even as communal violence was on the increase, the victims hardly get justice.
Prof Puniyani warned that when communal violence polarises society along religious lines, democratic norms cannot be sustained. The marginalisation of minorities (both Christians and Muslims) and Dalits is an everyday reality. Communal violence is downgrading democratic values. He said that “We must have constant campaigns at the grassroots level. We must get connected to society and communicate the values of pluralism and diversity. Unless we fight against hatred, which is so deep-rooted, democracy cannot flourish. If minorities, Dalits and women are marginalised, democracy cannot progress,” she added.
Irfan Engineer, Director, CSSS chaired the session. He said that India is so diverse that if this pluralistic character is to remain, democracy must play an important role. A danger threatening this diversity is the rise of ethnolinguistic nationalism which has played havoc in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, and we should not allow this to happen and sharpen in a complex country like India. This calls for internal reforms in all religions and communities and this self-critical process will only strengthen a democratic culture in India. Engineer also said we need to be active citizens to place ourselves to be responsible for sustaining a vibrant democracy.”
Prof K.M. Seethi, ICSSR Senior Fellow, welcomed the gathering. Prof Hargopal, Prof Mathew Kurian, Dr Ravi Raman and others participated.
