Faith is a peculiar phenomenon. Hindus have installed statues of their Gods at every nook and corner and hundreds of animals are sacrificed to propitiate the Gods to bestow wealth, happiness, child, success in litigation, education abroad, promotion and what not. Gandhi has written that once when he was forced to visit Kali temple at Calcutta, he saw rivers of blood flowing from animals being sacrificed. It is taboo for Muslims to worship God in form. Even photographs are banned. But Jinnah's photo adorns every house in Pakistan and government take pride in displaying it. We have Ganesh drinking milk, sea water turning sweet and Mother Mary crying.
What was the preamble of the Constitution when it was framed? From where did the word "secular" got into it and why. Left Parties in India don't believe in God. But, they make a beeline during Dura Pooja to Kali Temple.
If I don't hurt others, that is the best form of mental satisfaction for me instead of going to temples clapping, begging forgiveness, bribing the Gods with sweets, garland and coconut. It is a matter of record that the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai is the richest temple in Maharashtra and the offerings run into crores. The so-called celebrities and politicians carry along with them TV crew to photograph them there. It is also a matter of record that out of these hundreds of crores, the Trust (controlled by Netas) liberally makes grants to institutions run by Netas (institutions that have no land, no furniture, no room, no electricity, no teachers and no students). The hackneyed phrase of for the people, by the people and of the people is fully implemented by Netas here in gobbling the temple funds. There is a trust and Netas are the trustees.
Those who believe in secularism live in make believe world. We have adopted western way of life but are still steeped in the civilization handed down to us from Indus Valley.
I have no quarrel with such faithfuls and believers.
