(V P Singh was at Jawaharlal Nehru University, at New Delhi to deliver his lecture at JP Memorial Lecture on 5 December, 1990)
Secularism and social
justice is one subject- rather two subjects. But, I think, both are two sides
of the same coin. Secularism and social
justice are today uppermost in the minds of most of us who are thinking about
the future of India. In fact, I will prefer to put Secularism and social
justice under one heading- one word, a much more humane word which is enshrined
in our constitution also. The Issue is really the issue of fraternity of India.
Social Justice
Coming to the issue of
social equity, we see two process or two things
which push on. One is recognising the factor inequity and I don’t think that it
is so ugly a factor which we don’t want to look at it so, better not to look at
it. At the same time, how does the social transformation take place? Social
justice, to me, has to be process of social synthesis. It cannot be a process
of hatred. It is process of social harmony. Well, one argument for the social
harmony is to maintain the status quo. If you don’t want to disrupt the
social harmony, maintain the status quo. The way, the harmony is an
instrument of status quo. But, I won’t use this word social justice for
social harmony. The other word which can be used is transformation. Recognising
the contradiction in the inequity of the present system, how do we move to a
greater harmonising equilibrium, a greater synthesis, without, in the process,
sowing hatred or venom? I think, the second condition is also important because
disruptive social changes can also take place. And the biggest challenge to all
social reformers or to all of us, in the present system is just to recognise
how it hurts a person who is born in a socially lower order. How the whole life
he suffers inside? Perhaps it is, an d being one is much more honourable than just burn within yourself in humiliation all life.
One instance I may give
you is a very tragic instance of self-immolation we saw last month. At the same
time, one set of boys had come- socially and educationally backward class. They
asked me: “sir, are we not the youth of this country? Are we not the students
of this country? I said, “Why do you ask this question? They said: “Sir,
whenever, in the papers, it comes that all the youth are in revolt-all the
youth are against you- that means we are not the students of this country. In
fact, that means that we are not counted”. And they said: “You have given us
something, some dignity but the whole social order seems to pounce upon you as
if you are giving it to some enemy, some foreigners, not to a child this soil”. And, that is the anguish, it is
not what the percentage of this or that we give. That is not the argument. We
have to overcome the rung of the social order. The question arises, with such
reactions: do we have one percent place in the hearts of those who run the
social order? This is one very poignant feelings of those boys. And we have to
take cognizance of it and then also put our heads together. I am not suggesting
this solution and that solution as solution. No one can be dogmatic about these
things. What is necessary is that we recognise it and put it on the national
agenda. Yes, there is such a problem.
Then there was another
set of boys from the Jawaharlal Nehru University of scheduled class and
scheduled tribes. They came and said: “Sir, we can understand, much better than
you, the abuses that are being showered on you”. I asked: “how so?” They said:
“The same abuses have been showered on us for thousands of years- by the same
social system. So, if you stand by us you are surely going to get the share of
it. Therefore, we are going to stand by you”.
Mandal Commission
Report (MCR)
Certainly, we have to
concede that there is power in every section of the society. We cannot divide
one power from the other. If I am from a poor family, irrespective from what
section or society I am born or all that by birth, should I not get an
opportunity? So, the contradiction is there. How do we synthesise it? This is
the problem poser I want to put. I don’t want to confine it to one action, say,
Mandal Commission. If there was no Mandal Commission report, if it was not
there, even then the issue would have been there. And, if we don’t recognise
the social dynamics of deep frustration, in future it may lead to violent
eruption and violent remedies. In Andhra Pradesh the Naxlaites had held a big
rally, of about 10 Lakhs or so, I am told, and they endorsed MCR and they said
they support V.P. Singh. Not that I support Naxalism or violence. But they
belong to that section of the society which has taken to arms.
(V P Singh was at Jawaharlal Nehru University, at New Delhi to deliver his lecture at JP Memorial Lecture on 5 December, 1990)
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