How India's Hindus are being Marginalized in The Name of Equality

Secularism, in its purest form, is the separation of religion from the state, where all religious communities are treated equally. It implies that the government should remain neutral and not interfere in religious matters. However, when one takes a closer look at India’s practice of secularism, a deep hypocrisy becomes apparent. The disparity in the treatment of Hindu institutions compared to those of minority communities distorts the true meaning of secularism and undermines the very fabric of India's constitutional promise.

Why are Hindu Temples Under Government Control?

In India, the government has taken direct control over the management and finances of Hindu temples, a policy that is conspicuously absent for religious institutions belonging to other communities such as churches, mosques, and gurdwaras. This raises a critical question: Why is this selective intervention allowed to persist?

State governments across India have historically taken over Hindu temples under the pretext of ensuring efficient management. However, this control often results in misuse of temple revenues, with funds being siphoned off for purposes that have little to do with the religious and cultural preservation of Hindu traditions. For instance, in Tamil Nadu, thousands of temple properties are reportedly leased out at throwaway prices, with little benefit to the temples themselves. Meanwhile, churches and mosques enjoy full autonomy in managing their properties and finances.

Religious Education: A Divisive Approach

Another glaring example of the systemic bias is in the field of religious education. While the government provides support for madrassas and missionary schools, Hindu gurukuls are often ignored. Madrassas receive government funding and subsidies to promote religious education for the Muslim community, while Christian missionary schools enjoy tax exemptions and other benefits under various government schemes. In stark contrast, Hindu religious schools, often grappling with inadequate resources, receive little to no government support. 

Why is there such disparity? Why does the government fund minority religious education while Hindu institutions are left to fend for themselves?

Festivals: Selective Celebrations

Another aspect where India's distorted secularism becomes evident is in the celebration of religious festivals. Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja are often subject to restrictions under the guise of environmental or safety concerns. For example, bans on firecrackers during Diwali, limitations on Durga Puja celebrations in some regions, and disruptions in traditional processions are common. 

In contrast, Eid, Christmas, and other minority festivals face fewer restrictions, with the government even allocating special funds for their celebration. This selective regulation leads to resentment among the Hindu majority, who feel that their cultural expressions are being stifled under the pretext of secularism.

Appeasement Politics: The Art of Minority Pandering

At the heart of this issue lies the political strategy of appeasement. Political parties, especially those aligned with secularist ideologies, often engage in policies that disproportionately favor minority communities. This strategy, often referred to as vote-bank politics, has historically centered on securing the electoral support of Muslims, Christians, and other minorities through a combination of subsidies, reservations, and government-backed welfare programs. 

One such policy is the Haj subsidy, which was provided for decades, offering financial assistance to Muslims making the pilgrimage to Mecca, while no such financial aid was provided to Hindu pilgrims visiting religious sites such as Kailash Mansarovar. Although the Haj subsidy was eventually abolished in 2018, it remains a stark example of the government’s willingness to allocate taxpayer money for the religious benefit of a minority community, at the expense of the Hindu majority.

Similarly, successive governments have enacted laws and policies that cater to the specific religious needs of minorities while often disregarding Hindu concerns. The Shah Bano case of 1985 is a striking example, where a Supreme Court ruling granting alimony to a divorced Muslim woman was overturned by the government, bowing to pressure from conservative Muslim leaders.

Secularism or Pseudo-Secularism?

The Indian brand of secularism has, over the years, devolved into what many term pseudo-secularism—a system that masquerades as impartial but, in reality, disproportionately favors minority communities. This approach has led to the marginalization of the Hindu majority, who are often made to feel like second-class citizens in their own country. It is this very discontent that has fueled calls for reforms in how secularism is practiced in India.

The Path Forward: Restoring True Secularism

If India is to uphold the true spirit of secularism, the state must distance itself from all religious affairs and ensure that no community—whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or any other—receives preferential treatment. Here are a few measures that could restore balance:

1.  End Government Control Over Temples:
Hindu temples should be returned to the community, allowing them to manage their own finances and activities, just as churches, mosques, and gurdwaras do. This will not only ensure that temple funds are used for religious and cultural preservation but also restore fairness in the state’s dealings with different religious communities.

2.  Uniform Policy for Religious Education:
If the government is to support religious education for one community, it must extend the same privileges to all. Alternatively, it can withdraw support entirely, letting religious institutions develop autonomously without government interference or favoritism.

3.  Equal Treatment of Festivals:
Restrictions on festivals and celebrations should be uniformly applied across all communities. Singling out Hindu festivals for environmental or safety regulations while ignoring similar issues during minority festivals only fuels resentment and creates a perception of bias.

4.  End Appeasement Politics:
Political parties must move away from policies of appeasement and work towards policies that are inclusive and equitable. This means addressing the concerns of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation, and ensuring that all communities have equal access to resources and opportunities.

Final Thoughts: Is India Truly Secular?

As long as the current system of selective intervention and appeasement persists, India cannot claim to be truly secular. Secularism, in its true sense, demands that the state treat all religions equally, without favoritism or bias. Yet, the current state of affairs reveals a deep-rooted hypocrisy in the way secularism is practiced in India. 

The question remains: Will India continue down this path of selective secularism, or will it take the necessary steps to restore balance and fairness for all its citizens? Will Hindus continue to be treated as second-class citizens, or will they finally receive the equal treatment they deserve? As the largest democracy in the world, India owes it to its people to live up to the ideals of its Constitution and ensure that secularism means what it was always intended to—equality for all.