The ongoing controversy over the Sethusamudram project actually had to be a rational debate over the economic benefits of the projects V/s its negative geographical impacts, ecological destruction and loss of a heritage site.

Now, thanks to the irresponsible affidavit by the government of India and to the politicians of DMK this rational debate has turned into a communal issue full of hatred statements and counter-statements, and of accusations .

Based on this scenario, here is a thought about secularism and India.

I think that the countries all over the world can be categorized into three groups based on their secular (or religious) nature.

1) Religious Countries – Countries where the religion practiced by its majority people has a say in the functioning of its government and the definition of the law of the land. In other words, the government is influenced by the religion practiced by its majority population.

2) Secular Countries – Countries where no religion is given preference over other religions, and the government is neutral in terms of religions, and the law of the land is same for all people irrespective of their religion.

3) Pseudo Secular Countries – Countries where the religion practiced by its majority people has NO say in the functioning of the government but the law of the land is different for people depending on their religion. In other words, the government is influenced by the religion practiced by its minority population.

Now we can debate as to which category does India belong to?

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