BHOPAL: Diversity is the soul of India, if this diversity gets weakened by conscious efforts or otherwise, it will affect the integrity and unity of the country.
This view was expressed by Vibhuti Narayan Rai, former director general of Uttar Pradesh police, former vice-chancellor of Wardha International Hindi University and a renowned author while speaking at a seminar organised by the Rashtriya Secular Manch.
Introducing the subject L.S. Herdenia national convener of the Manch, said that concerted efforts are being made to impose uniformity in the arenas of culture and education and history is being distorted. These efforts are aimed at weakening the secular foundation of our country.
Rai recalled that in the very first general election, forces which were against India’s emergence as secular nation suffered a crushing defeat. But in the subsequent years, protagonists of secularism became complacent. Meanwhile, fissiparous tendencies continued to work from behind the curtains and the result was a major communal riot in Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh in 1961. After that communal riots became a regular feature. These riots gave strength to communal forces, which entered the political arena in a big way. These forces started dreaming of converting India into a Hindu Rashtra. This danger is more imminent now.
