The world would be devoid of religios hatred and far better place to live if all countries declare themselves as secular and liberal countries irrespective of majority of any particular religion. India has shown the way, Nepal has followed. Now the powerful countries must pressurize Islamic countries to follow that path and that should begin with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Sounds like a crazy idea ? Think about it. That is not impossible if women of the society are educated and liberated and given more power.
RE:Be secular
by Peter Parker on Apr 15, 2008 06:10 PM Permalink
This is a total fallacy that by giving women equality all the worlds problems would be solved. Take a look at the west itself, women have so called equality and yet none of the societal problems have been solved. Rather there are new problems. My point being that any one having power over anyone else is prone to misbehavior. There is a reason for the balance since time immemorial, it works as both sides are balanced out. Take out that structure and soon it will be like the japanese society. Where enlightened women keep "geisha" men and men are becoming soft and weak like women of the past. The only one's who to redress this balance are the feminists. These people have taken over the media and are trying to do social engineering by destroying the traditional indian culture. Well to hell with them and their liberal icons.
RE:Be secular
by Kris iyer on Apr 13, 2008 11:21 AM Permalink
Broadly, your views are right. But many countries in the Islamic world, may not be receptive to them - that is most of India's neighbours. Many Islamists see "secularism" itself as "unislamic". In the last ten years or so, many muslim women in India have disappered behind burquas and veils. In the south, Tamil Muslims, who had never veiled their women, ever, and had the same freedom to dress as Hindu women, are now predominantly veiled, that too in black clothes. In the hot weather of Madras, it must be a form of torture. Even ordinary muslims (not fundamentalists)cannot be persuaded to let their women folk be like the majority of women in India. How morality is preserved by covering women's (of all ages) faces and arms,I am, as yet, not convinced. In an advanced country like Britain in the name of Islam or "family honour", women have been killed by muslim families who are second generation British. Some of them are more conservative than their brethren in Mirpur and West Punjab. This unwillingness of Islam to share universal values of secularism and democratic liberalism is a huge problem, even in India, where the largest population of muslims in the world lives. As for Hindu women in rural areas, a great deal of work has to be done to ensure they get the same nutrition and education as male children. Narendra Modi of Gujarat goes to villages every fresh school year,ensures the enrollment of female children in schools. He ensures the schools have proper teachers.
