[Reader-list] The "Sickular" History

Venugopalan K M kmvenuannur at gmail.com
Thu Jun 4 19:57:46 IST 2009 

Dear Pawan Durani,
Thanks;with this comment from you I feel like vindicated.
I like to believe that people certainly voted for secularism;
again, most of them apparently know neither what is meant by
'sickularism' , nor are able to catch the nuances made out here.
Regards,
Venu.

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
> Did people vote for 'secularism' or 'sickularism' ?
>
> Arent the both same in India ...
>
> pawan
>
> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM, Venugopalan K M <kmvenuannur at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Kshmendra,
>> Thanks for your comments.
>> Whether the word be associated with the root 'sick' or 'sickle',
>> 'sickular' continues to be sickening to me. This, I attribute to the
>> permanently negative connotations the word most often catch. A desire
>> to belong to a genuinely secular polity, whatever be our personal
>> religious conviction is what better corresponds to secularism in my
>> view.  Sickular, as far as  I can understand, is often used by many
>> (including the Muslim victims of discriminative state policies)  only
>> to undervalue the real worthiness of secularism whatever is existing,
>> and to distract.
>> After the recent massive popular verdict in the last general elections
>> in favour of secularism, I wish we could go back to examine the sort
>> of distortions the idea of secularism suffered in recent times. If we
>> mean to use the word sickular just to describe all kinds of abuses of
>> secularism, I am afraid it would not go beyond abusing the abusers; it
>> seldom cares to build ideal models of praxis in a multi-religious
>> country. We often put blame on the Left and the Congress alike, for
>> not being sufficiently secular in practice; but that itself is no
>> justification for finding a vague expression for venting our ire on
>> people who don't really take care of our desire to live in a secular
>> polity.
>> Regards,
>> Venu.
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 4:43 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>> > Dear Venugopalan
>> >
>> > A few comments, a few digressions.
>> >
>> > - As things stand, it would be foolish for the 'sickle' to be associated
>> > with 'communism' in India, for if the "Left" are 'communists' they have
>> > almost totally ignored those who wield the "sickle" in India. In that
>> > perhaps is some clue for the stagnation and/or decline of the political
>> > presence of the "Left" in India.
>> >
>> > - But, you have given an interesting spin on the "SICK" in "sickular"
>> > being
>> > linked to "SICKle". You have added a dimension to the word though I did
>> > not
>> > (in my brief research) see that exclusive connection being highlighted.
>> >
>> > - My 'falling in love with" the word "sickular" comes from my
>> > fascination
>> > with roots of words and how words gain currency (and the altering
>> > that takes
>> > place in their recognised meanings through time).
>> >
>> > - As I said earlier, I do not use the word "sickular" and I stated the
>> > reasons why not. But I will not ignore the powerful statement the word
>> > "sickular" makes and it's significance in symbolising the attitudinal
>> > and
>> > (in some ways) ideological divides in India.
>> >
>> > - You seemed to have missed out on a reference I gave about the word
>> > "sickular" being used by Muslims too.
>> >
>> > - I would suggest that attempts be made to understand the reasons why
>> > people
>> > use the word "sickular" rather than shutting ones eyes with the
>> > dismissal that it is "used by people with deeply convoluted, distorted
>> > and
>> > parochial biases against secularism"
>> >
>> > - The word "pseudo-secular" (I am told by Wikipedia) has first recorded
>> > usage by Padre Anthony Elenjimittam in his 1951 book "  Philosophy and
>> > Action of the R. S. S. for the Hind Swaraj". It appears that he used it
>> > against the Congress.
>> >
>> > - There is much to be said in favour of the need for some forms of
>> > (limited)
>> > employment of "positive discrimination" or "affirmative action" in
>> > India.
>> > But beyond that, one often sees attitudes of "convoluted secularism";
>> > "hypocritical secularism"; "selective secularism". For those I find the
>> > word
>> > "pseudo-secular" applies itself aptly
>> >
>> > - Dont you think that when BJP professes that it is a "secular" party
>> > that
>> > it is "pseudo-secularism"?
>> >
>> > The more we put others in compartments in our mind, the more our own
>> > mind gets confined to a closed compartment.
>> >
>> > Kshmendra
>> >
>> >
>> > --- On Thu, 6/4/09, Venugopalan K M <kmvenuannur at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > From: Venugopalan K M <kmvenuannur at gmail.com>
>> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] The "Sickular" History
>> > To: "sarai-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
>> > Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 11:41 AM
>> >
>> > When used by people with deeply convoluted, distorted and parochial
>> > biases against secularism , the usage sickular is sickening indeed. At
>> > least some seem to have the image of sickle (comprising the
>> > traditional symbol of communism) in their mind while they use
>> > sickularism with extreme derogation. Take for example the
>> > coinage"pseudo secularism", the credit of which goes to the Hidutwa
>> > brigade of the 1990s under the stewardship of LKA.  It is far from
>> > truth to suggest that  they would have appreciated 'real' secularism
>> > in the place of the allegedly 'pseudo' secularism.
>> > You take pseudo secularism to be a point of reference not to ask for
>> > the real one,but just to whip up passions and hate and ultimately to
>> > proceed to your cherished Ramrajya,where the Constitution of India
>> > would be thrown to dust bin by the irate Hindu mobs and Sadhoos and
>> > Shankaracharis would take over as law givers (Manu would be reinstated
>> > as the unchallengeable authority of law)
>> >
>> > I have yet to come across a serious usage of the term 'sickular',
>> > notwithstanding my benign curiosity  toward Ksmendra's and Inder
>> > Salim's love for this coinage.
>> > With my deepest regards to Kshmendra and Inder,
>> > Venu.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 10:56 PM, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >> Dear Kshmendra
>> >>
>> >> SECULAR has lot to do with profane than with sacred, lucidly.
>> >> So it is not surprising that contemporary dirty politics invents the
>> >> word Sickluar.
>> >>
>> >> in many senses than one WE ALL ARE SICKLUAR PEOPLE , and that is not a
>> >> bad category, given that fact that we can bring about a change in the
>> >> society...... there is a possibility, but  those who think they are
>> >> believers ought to study their practices, and analyze deeply how their
>> >> beliefs are sustained by this Sickluar mass. If not down to earth
>> >> believer, which is so rare, a believer is unwittingly a practising
>> >> Sickular,  So better to be a known as Sickular, consciously....
>> >>
>> >> thanks for kissing the word SICKULAR on the cheek, i too am kissing
>> >> the other side of it.
>> >>
>> >> love
>> >> is
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 7:04 PM, Kshmendra Kaul
>> >> <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>> My burst of "love" for the word "slacktivism" that I got introduced to
>> >>> today reminded me about another word which I immediately fell in love
>> >>> with
>> >>> on first seeing it. The word is "sickular".
>> >>>
>> >>> I have personally never used the word "sickular" even though in it
>> >>> resonates and it encompasses my own evaluations of some attitudes one
>> >>> sees
>> >>> in India. I have preffered terms like "convoluted secularism";
>> >>> "hypocritical
>> >>> secularism"; "selective secularism".
>> >>>
>> >>> "Sickular" is a powerful word but it is too dismissive for my liking
>> >>> for
>> >>> it often brings to a sudden end any reasoned discussion that could
>> >>> explore
>> >>> opposing viewpoints on interpretaions of "secularism".
>> >>>
>> >>> But, "Sickular" is a significant word for it symbolises the
>> >>> attitudinal
>> >>> and to some extent the ideological divides that exist in India.
>> >>>
>> >>> What are the origins of this word "Sickular"? I could not find it in
>> >>> any
>> >>> dictionary, nor was Wikipedia of any help. If someone knows, please
>> >>> let me
>> >>> know.
>> >>>
>> >>> "Sickular" apppears to be an India-coined word.
>> >>>
>> >>> - The earliest usage of the word "sickular" that I could locate  from
>> >>> Web
>> >>> sources is a 2004 comment by "Anonymous" on the site "Snap Judgement"
>> >>>  which
>> >>> has content pre-dominantly in Tamil:
>> >>>
>> >>> "When our so called sickular media were shy on even touching this gory
>> >>> murder, you did a splendid job of bringing out the truth."
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://snapjudge.com/2004/11/05/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Next after 2004, I could find use of "sickular" only in 2006. The word
>> >>> is
>> >>> seen figuring repeatedly after that in 2008 and 2009.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - Jan 2006,  "indusAquarius" comments on the Blog "Shadow Warrior" :
>> >>>
>> >>> "This Mahesh Bhatt is among the bigwigs of the Sickular brigade."
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2006/01/british-mohammedan-preachers-vision.html
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - Feb 2006, on the same Blog, "daisies" questions "DarkStorm" :
>> >>>
>> >>> "And your daily songs of "sickular" are not sickening for anyone ?"
>> >>> http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2006/02/indians-as-blacks.html
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - March 2006, on the "OUTLOOKINDIA" site, in a comment, "Ramchi" says:
>> >>>
>> >>> "Only in India where Hindu temples which are under the control of
>> >>> sickular governments charging Hindus for praying their Gods."
>> >>> http://www.outlookindia.com/printdis_v2.asp?refer=64867&childid=64867
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - March 2006, in the "Wisdom Blog" on the INDIATIMES site, "Ram"
>> >>> comments:
>> >>>
>> >>> "If not, at the first opportunity, fly out of India, leaving the
>> >>> country
>> >>> in the hands of this 'sickular' govt."
>> >>> http://o3.indiatimes.com/wisenation/archive/2006/03/29/574301.aspx
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - May 2006, on the site "Sepia Mutiny", "Gaurav" questions "Mahajan
>> >>> Skeptic":
>> >>>
>> >>> "In your scheme of thing I guess India was a Ram Rajya (oops, that is
>> >>> communal !), I meant paradise under "sickular" Congress until Devil
>> >>> (BJP)
>> >>> came and serpent (LKA) robbed Indians of innocence."
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:yGIEYP-BFs4J:www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/003334.html+%22sickular%22&cd=90&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ae
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - May 2006, "Blinded" comments in the "UNITED WE BLOG! FOR A
>> >>> DEMOCRATIC
>> >>> NEPAL" :
>> >>>
>> >>> "I am amazed that still you all are not aware of what is true
>> >>> secularism
>> >>> and what is happening to India due to sickular (secular) ideology!!"
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://blog.com.np/united-we-blog/2006/05/18/no-hindu-kingdom-celebrating-secularism-in-nepal/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - May 2006, "SPINDIANMEDIA" titles an entry in Blog of same name:
>> >>>
>> >>> "Vir Sanghvi's "sickular" double standards on stark display"
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://spindianmedia.blogspot.com/2006/05/vir-sanghvis-sickular-double-standards.html
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - June 2006, we have "Shmuel Kuper" commenting on what appears to be
>> >>> an
>> >>> Israeli site "CROSS CURRENTS":
>> >>>
>> >>>  "Hopefully, the readers of this forum do not belong to the
>> >>> brainwashed
>> >>> sickular public who do not care to read facts that might confuse their
>> >>> brainwashed mind, and will find interest in facts rather than
>> >>> antisemite
>> >>> propaganda, the “isreali” media so excels in, putting the “Jewish”
>> >>> state as
>> >>> the #1 antisemite state in the Western world."
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/06/28/yisrael-valis-the-court-transcript/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> - Jan 2007, on the site INDIANMUSLIMS, "Sharique" writes a piece,
>> >>> titling
>> >>> it "The SICKular parties" and writes:
>> >>>
>> >>> "Incidents like these often develop this feeling in me that would
>> >>> India
>> >>> have been in a much better position as a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ ? At least
>> >>> there
>> >>> would have been no hypocrisy on the parts of these sickular political
>> >>> parties"
>> >>> http://indianmuslims.in/the-sickular-parties/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Kshmendra
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> http://indersalim.livejournal.com
>> >> _________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > http://venukm.blogspot.com/
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>>
>>
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