Kochi: The post-noon session of the Manorama News Conclave 2019 discussed a sensitive topic -– The new boundaries of belief.
Kerala Minister for Higher Studies K T Jaleel, Kollam MP N K Premachandran, RSS ideologue R Balashankar and writer S Saradakutty debated the hot topic, offering insights into the contours of religious belief.
Interestingly, nobody who participated in the debate was totally against the spirit of religious belief -– not even Jaleel, who is part of the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.
Jaleel said all faiths are for the well being of human beings. “Our ancestors knew that very well. Hence, there were no riots among our ancestors in the name of religion or beliefs,” he said.
“In a world of true believers, crime rate and exploitation should come down, but we know it's not happening,” he said.
Better values sustain in countries that did not have official religions. “Religions should be for human beings. Riots occur when it's the other way around,” Jaleel argued.
Adding to it, Balashankar said the root of modernity and renaissance were in beliefs.
From being a faction of the Jana Sangh in 1977, BJP could emerge as a party with own majority by reaching out to the people and by protecting their beliefs.
Balashankar was more vocal when he said “BJP could bring about good changes among Hindus.”
India needs religious, ideological or political beliefs to move forward.
Premachandran, who recently moved a private bill in Parliament to protect the customs of the Sabarimala temple, began his arguments saying that nobody can deny the relevance of religious belief in a country like India.
Citing the social reforms initiated by spiritual leaders including Sree Narayana Guru, he said Kerala's foundation was based on spirituality.
He, however, cautioned against the attempts to harm the religious diversity of the country.
Saradakutty, known for her feminist views, said religious belief was being used as a medium to impose patriarchal powers over women.
“Nobody talks about or questions beliefs in a family. All religions use beliefs to wield power over women. All beliefs are imposed on women. Religions as well as political movements exploit women,” she said.
It is dangerous to divide people into believers and non-believers as it would weaken all progressive movements, she said.
Jaleel intervened saying that in the current social milieu, everybody was vying to make people believers.
“One has the freedom to be a non-believer. Being an atheist is like a crime nowadays,” he said.
To a query on the way the CPM-led Kerala government dealt with the Sabarimala row, Jaleel said, “Atheists can handle believers' affairs more carefully than believers themselves.”
At this point, Balashankar said the CPM has always been unclear about its stance on religion.
“CPM doesn't know whether to stand with believers or not,” he said.
On the BJP's stand opposing entry of women of child-bearing age in Sabarimala, Balashnakar said the party supported women's equality and empowerment.
“However, Sabarimala has a unique nature and we stood with the traditions of the temple,” he said.
Premachandran was in a mode of confession when he admitted that political parties take stances on religious matters in a way not to hurt their vote banks.
“Issues are not looked upon on the basis of religious values. Stances are taken on the basis of vote banks,” he said.
He also lamented that communal outfits were eating into the space of political parties.
Agreeing with Premachandran, Jaleel said religious symbols like niqab and 'tilak' are being flaunted nowadays like never before.
No Muslim women wore niqab in Tirurangadi when he was a student and teacher there.
Saradakutty revealed her humanitarian approach towards religion when she said religious belief as a shelter of ordinary people was not a dangerous concept.
“Thinking that all that's not in my belief is bad is dangerous,” she said. Sabarimala issue wouldn't have been blown up in such a way if believers were more political aware, she said.
To a query on mob lynchings, Balashankar said such incidents had nothing to do with religion.
Balashankar's argument that communal riots have come down in India after BJP came to power invited a harsh rebuttal from Jaleel.
“There are no more communal riots. genocide is happening these days,” Jaleel said.
“Any fool can die for religion. It's difficult to live according to one's beliefs,” Jaleel concluded.
