What do you think about the growing intolerance in India currently? For example, Kandhamal, Mangalore...?
I think we need secularism, and why is secularism so important for India at this time?
When you are on an accelerated growth path, you have to energise the whole country, unify the whole country. You need the efforts of everybody, belonging to every caste, every class. You cannot afford to discriminate against any particular group of individuals, and that is why I believe secularism is important.
Secularism is not about forgetting who you are; secularism is about saying I will respect you for what you are and that we will take all decisions without considering what religion you belong to. That is secularism.
Secularism is not about not saying I am a Hindu. I am a Hindu, I am proud to be a Hindu, I do my pooja everyday, but the relationship between me and my God is a personal affair at home and it is not something I bring out into the public and I will not use religion as the basis for any decision-making or any discussion.
Part II: 'In India, articulation is mistaken for accomplishment'
Image: Narayana Murthy poses next to a picture of his daughter in his office in Bangalore. | Photograph: Savita Kirloskar/Reuters
Also read: India, Asia's 4th most corrupt nation
| Live updates on money.rediff.com |
|
Advertisement