The Times of India
15 Sep 2007
EDITORIAL
Myth and Reality
Epics should be read as epics, not as authentic histories. Unfortunately, our politicians, many of them wilfully, refuse to do so. The current controversy over the Sethusamudram project is a fallout of the political class confusing mythical geography for the real. What is at stake is the future of an ambitious infrastructure project that promises large economic benefits.
Of course, we need to know if the project is worth the money. Geologists and marine biologists should inform us how cutting a deep channel for ships through the shallow waters of the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve will impact the ecology of the region. Economists have to confirm if the projected business opportunities can be realised.
Instead, we have a controversy raging over the historicity of a Hindu god and a Union minister's sweeping remarks on what constitutes Indian culture and ethos. It is easy to rap the Archaeological Survey of India for making a gratuitous remark about Ram. Perhaps, the ASI, advised as it must have been by its lawyers, did not have much of a choice after it was asked to testify on an issue that is more about religious faith than scientific evidence. Now that BJP has turned the affidavit filed by ASI in court into a political weapon, the government has gone on the defensive. But Union law minister H R Bhardwaj has gone one step too far to say, "Lord Ram is an integral part of Indian culture and ethos and cannot be a subject matter of litigation in court... We have equal faith in Ram or Shiva".
Bhardwaj, as a representative of the people, is bound by the Constitution to uphold secular values and not identify with any one religion. Yes, he may only be trying to ward off any potential damage to Congress's electoral prospects if BJP succeeds in mobilising Hindus over the issue. However, in the process, he has indirectly endorsed the view that the viability of the Sethusamudram project should be judged not merely on environmental and economic grounds, but should take into account mythological concerns as well. In fact, he is talking the language of his political adversary.
The secular credentials of the Indian state have just taken another knock. Unfortunately, Bhardwaj is not an exception. Most politicians crawl when the religious extremists ask them to kneel. They rarely argue; instead they walk the path of appeasement. The sangh parivar as well as fundamentalist outfits claiming to represent Muslims, Sikhs and Christians realised this weakness of our secular system long ago. Parties like Congress have had to pay a political price for refusing to confront attempts to mix religion with activities of the state. Respecting one's right to religious belief is not the same as allowing that right to override the secular character of the Indian state. Indian secularism is not irreligious.
But it is also not about equating mythology and geology.
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