Description
- Author : Ashok Bhide
In post-Independence India, Secularism and minorities are the two topics perpetually debated in political arena. In reality, the political parties have converted them into two sides of the same coin by their propaganda and practise. To some extent, they have been occasionally discussed and written about. However, the issue of minorities have been rarely dealt within a comprehensive book form. The book ‘ Minoritism – Perpetual Threat to Nation’ by Sri Ashok Bhide gives a different perspective to the issue. How the reality of existence of minorities in the country has been converted into ‘Minoritism’ by political parties with consequent danger to nation has been discussed in this book.
First three chapters deal with
(i) difference between Nation and State, Religion and Dharma and types of minorities,
(ii) Serious turn taken by the problem during British rule ( 1858 – 1947 ) and the role of political leadership
(iii) Debates and provisions in the State constitution.
The fourth chapter briefly discusses seven issues – Common Civil Code, Sachar committee and Ranganath Mishra commission reports and recommendations, ban on cow-slaugther, Urdu language, Minorities commission Act and illegal migrants issue in Assam. Such comprehensive and unified information is now available to serious students of politics and conscious readers.
ISBN : 9789386059550 ; Publishers: Param Mitra Publications ; Pages 244
Makarand – :
The book deals with various aspects of minoritism and it’s dangerous effects. It deals with how it started as a narrative for minorities protection in pre-independence era, safeguards to special electorates reserved for Muslims, to National Minority commission, to accomodating illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Asam and soft approach of polity towards whole issue of illegal immigration for vote bank politics in post independence time. It also deals with how propagation of religion was given status of rights, even though Constituent assembly(CA) saw it as infringement in rights of Hindu society, still granted such a provision, paving way for conversion among Hindus. In the name of safeguards, no of concessions like minority institutions rights, scholarships in education etc were granted to them. At the same time, such benefits were not given to communities which needed them more desperately like Adivasis and other backward communities in Hindu fold. The book also deals with a number of draft legislations and landmark judgements such as discussion on common civil code in CA, identification of minorities per state basis, need to do away with personal law which comes in way of personal liberty. The book is a real eye opener with a number of evidences, references and speeches of founding father like Dr Ambedkar, Dr Rajendra Prasad, KM Munshi in CA, puts issues like cow slaughter, common civil code and human rights above minority rights at the forefront.