Citizens Commemorate Gandhi And Secularism

NEW DELHI: Artists, academics, scholars gathered to observe the 67th death anniversary of Gandhi who was killed on January 30 by Nathuram Godse. As many present at the meeting pointed out it is essential to remember the reasons for his assassination, and “of the urgent need to continue to defend secularism in our country.”

The meeting came amidst a raging controversy over an advertisement issued by the central government where the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ had been dropped from the version of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution that formed the backdrop. The advertisement invited scathing comment on the social media wih opposition parties joining issue with the Bharatiya Janata Party government on this.

Interestingly two central ministers took two different positions on the advertisement. One Ravi Shankar Prasad insisted that there should be a debate on the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’. And the other Venkiah Naidu followed this with an assurance that the government had no intention of dropping these terms from the Indian Constitution, and India was indeed a secular democracy.

Recently a controversy was stirred by BJP Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj when he described assassin Godse as a “true patriot” and a “nationalist.”

The meeting organised to commemorate Gandhi by SAHMAT had the invitees wearing black badges, with postcards and posters remembering his words against religious fundamentalism. Well known historian Irfan Habib addressed the gathering with street plays, music marking the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assassin also tweeted earlier in the day, “"My tributes to Pujya (respected) Bapu.” He also in a second tweet added, “ "On Martyrs' Day, I pay homage to each & every martyr who laid his or her life for our Nation. Their bravery & courage will always inspire.”

US President Barack Obama in his last remarks at the Town Hall meeting in Delhi before leaving for Riyadh had also drawn comparisons between Martin Luther King and Gandhi at some length, speaking of the doctrine of non violence.

The SAHMAT meeting commemorated Gandhi’s role in combating communal forces, and giving his life up for secularism.