People's Democracy

STRANGE sounds are emanating from the Congress camp regarding the issue of communalisation of education under the Vajpayee government. The debate in parliament on saffronisation of education saw a united secular opposition rise together with a commitment to defend the secular democratic spirit and content of the Indian constitution. The debate also reflected the resolve to resist the Saffron Brigade’s drive to communalise education and rewrite history. So much so that many of the BJP's allies in the NDA were forced to take a position, opposing some of the government's moves in this direction.

Subsequently, however, traces of retraction were heard from some of the Congress leaders. The Kerala chief minister, A K Antony, took recourse to a semantic excuse, stating that all those who like the saffron colour are not communal. The difference between the saffron colour and saffronisation is just like the difference between a Hindu and a proponent of Hindutva. The issue here is not semantic; it is political. Is Mr Antony committed to resist communalisation of education that is taking place and uphold the secular content and spirit of the Indian constitution? Obviously, the combination of casteist and communal forces that he has cobbled together in Kerala, which won the election with the tacit support of the RSS, is dictating Mr Antony's prevarication. The point is simple. Are you willing to come together to resist the communal onslaught on education?

Unexpected reactions have also come from another quarter. The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, who was one of the earliest to smell the saffronisation plan, has given a ‘creative’ interpretation for jyotirvigyan as dealing with astronomy and not astrology! It was he who had, in 1998, had written to the prime minister, Vajpayee, "not to allow the Sangh Parivar to extend their philosophy and control over education." Whatever be the motivation or reason for this shift in stance, clearly the struggle against communalisation of education is a matter that warrants the intervention of all secular, democratic patriots. What is at stake is the very secular, republican character of this diverse country. Vacillation can only invite peril in this larger struggle.

It is unfortunate that the Congress is yet to draw full lessons from its earlier excursions with pale saffron. Any compromising attitude towards communalism can only lead to disaster for the country and oblivion for the Congress party.