Dr. Xavier P. Mao, Associate professor
Department of philosophy,
NEHU, SHILLONG
All categories, languages, concepts and words that we use in characterising or describing human being or society are value-loaded. On the other hand, concepts, categories and words etc. to describe objects and animals are value-free. Therefore, the concepts of social justice and secularism are value-loaded. Social justice, development and secularism are often quoted words in contemporary social and political analysis. Plato devoted the entire ‘Republic” to the analysis of concept justice. What is justice? What are the ingredients of justice was the question before him. Social justice in concrete terms means equitable distribution of international or national wealth or any other assets among its citizens. In other words, there should be fairness to all. Therefore, in order to promote the advancement of the overall wellbeing of humanity the excessive privileges and perks should not be given to any individual. For example, in India the post of governor is unnecessary wastage of public fund. Therefore it should be abolished. Similarly, the President of India having 340(three hundred and forty) rooms is absolutely ridiculous. The number should be reduced to forty. Further even the NASA programme of going to planet Mars should be abandoned till the absolute poverty level is eliminated in the world. Judicial system should be effective, competent and efficient to check aberration or deviation. To ensure social justice, People at helm of affairs should live austere life and work as model. Perhaps the present educational system throughout the world seems lacking in the emphasis of moral and spiritual content. The priority of all educational system should be morality and spirituality or humanism. To my mind there should be three main objectives of education. First objective should be to create good human being. Second should be to develop independent spirit of inquiry. Even the development of science and technology should be guided by the overall welfare of all human beings. Social justice cannot be achieved by mere legislation alone. Though good legislation is necessary, that is, legislation is the begin-all but not the end-all.
In the contemporary period, the concept development and secularism have been juxtaposed to social justice. In my paper, the objective is two folds: 1) To make conceptual analysis of this basic term and examine certain empirical facts in the light of this analysis. Development has two dimensions. One is the economic or physical aspect and the other is the ethical or moral aspect. When the per capita income of a nation increases along with the development of science and technology, then that nation is said to be developing or developed. But this is not enough. As a matter of fact, if the ethical and moral dimensions are lacking, then we are bound to say that the society is degenerated or decadent. Growth is different from development. What is true of an individual is true of a society. Growth is not identical with development.
Justice has been defined in various ways. Sometimes we tend to say that the law courts or judiciary give us justice. As a matter of fact, what has happened throughout the world is this: Justice is bought and sold. In other words, the so called justice is beyond the reach of common people. One who employs efficient lawyers with high fees who can twist and twirl in favour of one’s client is likely to get the so called justice without morality. The moral dimension is lacking in the justice delivery system in the modern times. It may not be out of place to recount an anecdote in this connection. Two women quarrelled over the right to own a male child. As a result, they went to the king for a final decision. The king asked his men to bring a sword and cut the child into two halves and give half each to the two quarrelling women. The real mother of the child told the king not to cut the child but to give him to the other woman. At this the king decided in favour of the former. The anecdote is very meaningful and it is very clear that justice is a value term. Economic growth is the begin-all but not the end-all. Economic growth together with the cultivation of ethical and spiritual values constitutes true human development in the true sense of the term.
In name India is a secular country but in reality not secular. Even if secularism is established if other beliefs of nationalism, ideologies, racism and unrestrained human greed prevail then the objective of secularism cannot be realized. Secularism and humanism go together. As I pointed out earlier the major ideas, categories and concepts that we use to describe and characterize man and society are value-centric. On the other hand, the categories, concepts and other words that we use to describe nature are not value-centric. In nutshell, the categories, concepts and methods we employ in the study of nature are different from the study of man and society. Secularism is a concept with multi-dimensions. We employ this concept to characterize man and society. To say that a person or society is secular means there is no prejudice of man against another man on the basis of caste, tribe, ethnicity, religion, language and culture. An absolutely secular person is absolutely a free man because he treats other person as his own fellow being. Sometimes, we extend even to non-human animals and the rest of natural world. In this sense secularism stands for some attitude, ideal and value. Secularism has been enshrined in the constitution as the key watchword. What does it mean? It means that India shall not propagate any religion. Secularism in the context of India is a social and political value enshrined in the Constitution. The founding fathers of the Constitution included these words. They meant that the Indian Republic should not have any religion of its own. In the past, during Ashok regime, Buddhism was the state religion. In Pakistan today Islam is the state religion. On the other hand, Indian Republic does not have any religion of its own. In other words, what the Constitution makers meant is this: government should not make any distinction, and discrimination in the name of religion. It may be stated in this connection that secularism does not mean atheism. In other words, Indian Constitution does not advocate Godlessness. Further, I may point out in this connection that religion has three main components, metaphysics or worldview, rituals or sacraments with festivals and lastly religious values.
Most of the practitioners of religion throughout the world lay emphasis on rituals and worldviews. They forget religious values. The conflict arises among religions only when emphasis is made on religious rituals and worldviews. As for instance, when conflict arises between Hinduism and Muslim and Muslim and Christianity with respect to rituals and worldviews, that is, when Hindu takes out a procession of their gods or goddesses and play music near the mosque, conflict inevitably follows. Both the groups start claiming that their respective worldviews and rituals are superior to those of others. But with regard to the religious values they usually keep quiet. I wish to point out that with regard to religious values all religions are more or less the same, therefore, there should not be any conflict between religions. But as a matter of fact, religion becomes intolerant and the so called religious people start to kill each other. How to avoid this? Our educational system should take note of it. Religious leaders from all religions should be properly educated and people of good heart be chosen to lead their followers. Religious leaders should tell their followers that there is no essential difference between religions. But for some reason or other religious leaders keep quiet on this.
Religion is not science. There is nothing like truth or falsity in religious statements. Therefore, the logical entailment of the above statement is that there is no superiority or inferiority in religion. There is only a matter of preference. Every religion has a set of beliefs. Sometimes these belief systems have been idealized and idolized at the cost of other worldviews. I wish to suggest that simply inscribing in the Indian Constitution is not going to solve the problem. Religious leaders, politicians, statesmen, activists and academics must sit together and find out solution in this connection. Otherwise rampant conflict among different religions is not going to end. Some scholars argued out that secularism means atheism, that is, no belief in God. I wish to suggest that secularism does not mean absence of religion or religiosity. Religious values are different from the so called traditional belief in religion. One may not go to any place of worship yet one may be very religious and ethical. Similarly, one may perform religious rites, ceremonies, prayers etc regularly, yet one may be irreligious and leading an immoral life. As a matter of fact, religious values are more important than performing rites.
In the name of religion and secularism, a lot of confusions are created in India, the number of temples and other places of worship are on the increase in modern India, but religious values are on the progressive decline. Is India a secular county? The answer is both yes and no. The constitution declared that India is wedded to secularism. As a matter of fact, religious fanaticism, fundamentalism and communalism are on the rise today. What is the solution? There is no cut and dry method or there is no magical push and pull button method. But to begin with the basic concept should be properly and clearly understood: all out efforts should be made to achieve the goal, thought and action should go together; Right thought should lead to right action.
