#philosophy
Sardar Patel on Secularism.
“Do not be led away that Hinduism is in danger. Hinduism can never be in danger in India.
Have we not produced men of religion in the past who spread religion and culture all over India?
What did Shankracharya do? When he died, how young he was! But did he raise the cry that Hinduism was in danger?
Religion is a matter between man and his Maker. If you forget your citizenship and talk of religion, it is a cloak. Therefore, when I hear some people talking about Hinduism in danger, I feel that they are going a wrong way.
Do not indulge in scare mongering for selfish ends . Do not employ wrong methods for catching votes or forming the parties. It is a very dangerous game. After all, we too want to serve our own people.
Let us build our strength and reputation from this Union which in India’s map is posited like the feet of Mother India. If the legs are shaky, the whole edifice will topple. Let other Unions emulate your example. I wish you godspeed and good administration”.
– Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,
Speech in Thiruvananthapuram ,
Travancore,
July 1949.
In June 1947, when B M Birla suggested to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that India should be declared a Hindu state, with its official religions as Hinduism; he rejected the suggestion and advocated Secularism for India.
He said that “we must not forget that there are other minorities whose protection is our primary responsibility“. He also said that the State must exist for all, irrespective of the cast and creed, and the talk of a Hindu Rastra was a mad idea.
In 1950, he declared that “Ours is a secular state and we cannot fashion our politics in the way Pakistan is doing it. Here every Muslim should feel that he is an Indian citizen and has equal rights as an Indian“.
Patel further said that “If we cannot make a Muslim feel like this, we shall not be worthy of our heritage and our country“.
