US cable praises India’s secular society
December 18th, 2010 - 4:04 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi/London, Dec 18 (IANS) A diplomatic cable sent by the US embassy here to Washington says America can learn a lot from the Indians’ tolerance for all faiths, according to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.An April 2006 cable posted in The Guardian newspaper said that in the Indian context, secularism was synonymous with tolerance for all faiths, and does not imply life devoid of religion.
It said India enjoyed a “democratic, multi-religious, multi-cultural, heterogeneous, multi-ethnic society”, where all major world religions were practiced freely.
Though “isolated elements of religious extremism of many varieties” had occurred in India, “notably among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs”, extremists were outnumbered by “secular” moderates, it said.
The cable says that at a time when many nations “appear to be losing ground to extremist movements, India’s trendlines are pointing in the right direction, bolstered by strong indigenous traditions of communal co-habitation, non-violent political protest, a free press, and a realisation by politicians that religious hatred is not a vote-getter among the increasingly savvy, globalised, and prosperous Indian electorate”.
It, however, warned that there always remains a risk of isolated outbreaks of sectarian violence.
This would be so “especially in response to the terrorism” that has plagued India for decades “or when provoked by regional politicians for their narrow political purposes”.
- Suriname observes festival similar to India's Mahakumbh - Feb 23, 2011
- China criticises US report on religious freedom - Jul 31, 2012
- National Integration Week commences tomorrow - Nov 18, 2010
- Malaysian PM seeks 'global movement of moderates' - May 17, 2011
- Malaysian Indian woman wants her conversion to Islam invalidated - Aug 04, 2010
- Russian envoy denounces 'madmen' seeking ban on Gita - Dec 20, 2011
- Indian hand in South Sudan constitution - Jul 07, 2011
- Visit controversy a black farce, says shocked Rushdie (Lead) - Jan 25, 2012
- Hindus push for change in Ireland's education system - Jul 12, 2010
- President Patil lauds efforts of Indians in development of Mauritius - Apr 26, 2011
- India cautions against premature withdrawal of UN missions - Oct 13, 2011
- India slams US body's criticism on religious freedom - Aug 13, 2009
- Pope lumps "secularism" with "religious fundamentalism" - Dec 20, 2010
- PM appeals for peace, asks people to guard against rumours (Second Lead) - Sep 30, 2010
- Nitish attacks Modi as Shiv Sena backs Pranab (Roundup) - Jun 19, 2012
Tags: all faiths, electorate, extremist movements, guardian newspaper, hindus muslims, indian context, indigenous traditions, losing ground, major world religions, political protest, political purposes, regional politicians, religious extremism, religious hatred, sectarian violence, secular society, secularism, sikhs, trendlines, vote getter