On the eve of the partition of the Indian subcontinent thousands fled from both sides of the border seeking refuge and security. The two countries were founded on religion, with Pakistan as an Islamic state and India as a secular one.
August 14th, 1947 saw the birth of the new Islamic Republic known as Pakistan. The Hindus and Muslims used to live together peacefully but it did not last for long. The partition of India left both India and Pakistan devastated. India is still semi-feudal as evident from the unrestrained casteism and communalism prevalent in our society, therefore, the adjustment between these two communities has been a failure so far, resulting in violent communal riots. The truth is that secularism is a feature of modern industrial society, not of the foregoing feudal society. The decree for the nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), in the recent parliament elections is an indication that India’s majority Hindus are uncomfortable with their minority Muslim counterparts. However, the sheer reality is pretty contrasting. India is a multi-ethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multi-religious society and she has been able to retain its unity in diversity. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution proclaims India to be a secular country, and Article 25 guarantees to all its citizens freedom of religious belief and practice.
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