| Whither secularity? |
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Events before, during Dasain and generally have cast doubts on the much touted secularity of our leaders. Like the "moon-reaching" budget, is secularism another pie in the sky?
Secularism means that the state has to treat all religions, including atheism, equally. It cannot favour any religion and disregard devotees of other faiths. Secularism also implies that no citizen will suffer discrimination on the basis of faith. His/her promotion in work should rely merely on merit and not religion. As a secular country, Nepal has two choices: either finance the religious activities of all religions or dole out funds to none. No secular government can back every religious community and its activities. Too many religions and sects exist. Support one, and the government will have to help all. Religious participation is a voluntary matter. So, the devotees themselves should pay for their rituals. Voluntary contributions keep religions alive. The sacrifices during Indra Jatra, Dasain and other festivals too should function on the same basis. This means the government shouldn’t use tax money to pay for animal sacrifices that benefits advocates of a particular religion. Some tax-payers don’t even believe in such rituals. Why should taxes of non-believers purchase sacrificial animals? State funded animal sacrifices cost the country’s treasury dear. During last year’s Dasain, Hanuman Dhoka and other religious sites sacrificed 250 goats and 190 buffaloes that cost 1.8 million rupees. Other rituals came to 3.2 million. The Guthi Sansthan spends a total of Rs 60.5 million during all festivals. The secular government should remain religiously neutral, and use the money on other projects like schools, roads, that benefit the entire society, not only people belonging to a particular religion. The argument that some traditions surviving for ages should continue doesn’t hold. The monarchy too existed in our country for 240 years. Now, we have happily gotten rid of it. The same with animal sacrifice. It offends many, and benefits only a few. So, in the spirit of secularism, we should happily bid it goodbye. During Dasain, the President blundered by offering "tika" to those interested. Many had suggested that he should remain neutral, and do away with this tradition. He didn’t heed this advice. The former king Gyanendra too was plastering "tika" a few blocks away. As the first president of our country, Dr Ram Baran Yadav has the difficult task of defining what a president should and shouldn’t do. King Gyanendra, during his autocratic rule, visited many temples within the country; and went on expensive pilgrimages to India. Whether he is in Janakpur or Kathmandu, Dr Yadav does the same with sickening regularity. Gyanendra ruled a Hindu state. Dr Yadav should promote our newly won secularity. As an individual Dr Yadav has every right to practise his piety. However, as the president of the country, he has obligations to members of every faith. Will Dr Yadav show similar zeal in the visiting all the Buddhist monasteries, the Muslim mosques, and Christian churches? He doesn’t have enough hours in the day to do this. So, the best option will be to remain neutral. He has another Dasain and other festivals to practise this neutrality, and prove his secular credentials. In religious matters, he shouldn’t merely function as another king. While the President should remain religiously neutral, he should "cut ribbons" more; and free the PM and his cabinet to tend to important office matters. As the ministers compete with each other to release music CDs, grace school anniversaries, sometimes getting to five such functions in a day, office work suffers. "Frog-leaping" budget, fast-track roads, east-west railways make good, newspaper-headlines. However, even to scratch the surface of their good intentions, the concerned ministers should start humbly. Just getting potholed, Kathmandu roads repaired or immediately implementing free lunches for school kids will make people believe that the Maoist-led government means business. The PM and the cabinet should leave the non-religious, ceremonial duties to the President; and concentrate on applying the lofty budget. Generally, the government has yet to adopt polices that reflect the new, secular spirit. Why do Radio Nepal, Nepal TV and others play early-morning hymns of one religion only? The government offers free air-time for such programmes, while devotees of other religions have to pay to broadcast their own. The government has to bring in noise-pollution laws that apply to all. Many religious groups use deafening public address (PA) system that blare hymns/sermons day and night, sometimes for weeks. The sick, students, and ordinary citizens of other faiths suffer quietly because such noise-pollution has religious backing and protesting could earn such the tag of being an "infidel". Then, come the holidays. Although the government has added special days of some minority religions as national holidays, it has to advance further. One day per year as a holiday to every religion should suffice. Presently, some religions enjoy more days as national holidays than others. This shouldn’t happen in a secular state. We have a long way to go before our country becomes truly secular. The atheistic, Maoist-led government and the president can lead the way. Published on TKP on october 17th Newer...
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Before Dasain, the Finance Minister (FM) Dr Baburam Bhattarai boldly decided not to allocate funds to Guthi Sansthan and the Kaushi Toshakhana for various, exorbitant animal sacrifices. In response, massive demonstrations erupted in New Road, Ason, Indrachowk, and Thamel. Agitators mistreated NC parliamentarian Nabindra Raj Joshi and damaged his car. In spite of the support of animal-rights groups and advocates of other religions, Bhattarai quickly retreated; and allowed government funds for animal sacrifices. Interestingly, the Nepali BBC’s Sajha Sawal held after a week at the protest-site asked a question, "Will the government buy Christmas presents for Christians too?"
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