A Secular Agenda

A Secular Agenda

Product ID: 1495

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Author: Arun Shourie
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 1998
Language: English
Pages: 376
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172232586

Description

Indian secularism consists of branding others communal. Instead this book deals with specifics: what ought to be done in regard to Articles of the Constitution which deal with freedom of religion - Articles 25 or 26, for instance; in regard to Articles 29 and 30 which deal with the question of minority institutions; in regard to Article 44 which directs the State to ensure a Common Civil Code for all citizens throughout the country etc.

In this book, the author argues that a Secular Agenda is contingent on three things: purging public discourse of double standards, and grounding it in facts; reviving the national spirit; and getting the best into public life - persons of integrity and competence, persons who are dedicated to the country. For that reason not only are the first and last parts of the book devoted to these matters, they are the themes that permeate the entire book.

Contents

Introduction

OUR NATION ?

CHAPTER I
"But we aren't even one nation"

CHAPTER II
Yes, India is different

CHAPTER III
Not just Macaulay's offspring

CHAPTER IV
An example of the consequences

CHAPTER V
Will amnesia build a nation ?

CHAPTER VI
Nationalism : Things to do

MATTERS OF RELIGION
CHAPTER VII
Getting down to specifics

CHAPTER VIII
What are "matters of religion"?

CHAPTER IX
The real character of institution

THE SHARIAT AND THE COMMON CIVIL CODE
CHAPTER X
Sacrosanct ?Since when ?

CHAPTER XI
Why was the Bill necessary at all ?

CHAPTER XII
But What is the "Shariat' ?

CHAPTER XIII
What was the hullabaloo about ?

CHAPTER XIV
Bound by a thing of this sort ?

CHAPTER XV
How is religion endangered ?

CHAPTER XVI
Common Civil Code : The Founding Fathers' Intent

CHAPTER XVII
Common Civil Code : The way ahead

KYA " VOH GHISTE GHISTE GHIS JAAYEGI" ?
CHAPTER XVIII
Voh " ghiste ghiste ghis jaayegi"

CHAPTER XIX
Article 370: Behind the Curtain

CHAPTER XX
A device that undermines itself

CHAPTER XXI
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

CHAPTER XXII
A Vital reform

CHAPTER XXIII
No time to relent

A COUNTRY OF A WASTE-PAPER BASKET ?
CHAPTER XXIV
A Country or a Waste-paper basket ?

CHAPTER XXV
A telling contrast

CHAPTER XXVI
How countries kill themselves

CHAPTER XXVII
Entangling them

CHAPTER XXVIII
A Note, bests a Note, begets aà

CHAPTER XXIX
"We beg of the Prime Ministerà"

CHAPTER XXX
"Not able to sort of count them"

CHAPTER XXXI
The real problem, the real solution

Appendix I : Problem of Infiltration from Bangladesh

Appendix II : Migration : Secularism vs. Fundamentalism

HINDU-MUSLIM RELATIONS
CHAPTER XXXII
The journey of a thousand miles

CHAPTER XXXIII
Vital distinctions

CHAPTER XXXIV
Is 'A Grand Reconciliation' what we need ?

THE SECULARISTS' DISCOURSE

CHAPTER XXXV
The Poor chaps !

CHAPTER XXXVI
From Aliens to the Alienated

CHAPTER XXXVII
Read before you quote

Index