Shail Derashri: What if one day you wake up and realize that Bharat is no longer identified as the land where Ram and Krishn were born, but is a land that clings its identification to Gods and messengers of the Abrahamic faiths. What if one day you wake up and realize that your places of worship are deemed as corrupt and are thought to harbor illegitimate administration and functioning; and hence snatched away by the State from the community they belong to, while the State does not venture near the places of worship of other faiths – let alone touch them with a yard stick to peek into their administration and functioning. What if one day you wake up and realize that your Gods are deemed inferior to those of other faiths to the extent that even celebrating their birthdays is not something that the State would sanction.
Wake up and smell the coffee!
The scenarios mentioned above are neither fantastical nor hypothesis. These are very real scenarios that are an integral part of the reality that we live in. Don’t take my word for it! Feel free to search the web for the Circular F.No.12/5/2022-JCA dated 16th June 2022 issued by the Government of India under the subject “Holidays to be observed in Central Government Offices during the year 2023- reg.” and be pleasantly surprised that in the land of Shiv, Ram and Krishn, the birthdays of Bhagwan Shri Ram and Bhagwan Shri Krishn are “offered” as an optional holiday.
The constitution recognizes India as a secular state. Secular State by definition means that there will be no bias towards any faith(s) in particular. However, one look at the circular will pose a question if India really is Bharat? The list of mandatory holidays come across as a sad display of Stockholm Syndrome where the faiths that plundered, murdered, converted and destroyed our ancient lands and its people are given significant importance by way of observing government holidays on the days that are deemed important in those faiths while reducing the identity of this ancient land to no more than a footnote.
This circular acts as yet another reminder of the demoralization, deracination and desensitization of a population mass that would otherwise identify with the ancient identity of Bharat. Glorification of invaders is a constant problem that in turn paralyzes the policies of the State in a way that can be seen in the circular that has just 2 holidays out of 12 mandatory holidays dedicated to a culture that connects with its Temples, with its Ganga, with is Gau-dhan, and with its Gita.
As we celebrate the rise of Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi, what breaks the heart is that Ram Navmi is till date nothing more than an optional holiday for us.