Secularism and Kashmiriyat
Introduction
Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on secular and naturalistic considerations. It can be most commonly defined as the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state, and may be broadened to a similar position concerning the need to suppress religion in any public sphere.
Kashmir is used to seeing a large number of soldiers in the state. Be it the frontiers of Kupwara, Baramulla and Kargil or the hinterland of Sophian, Anantnag and Pulwama. Kashmir as a state has faced lot many war and conflicts, but the will which has kept this Great State going is ancient old way of living, known as Kashmiriyat.
Secularism
As a philosophy, secularism seeks to interpret life based on principles derived solely from the material world, without recourse to religion. It shifts the focus from religion towards “temporal” and material concerns. There are distinct traditions of secularism in the West, like the French, Turkey and Anglo-American models, and beyond, as in India, where the emphasis is more on tolerance for all religions rather than separation.
Secularism in India, thus, does not mean the separation of religion from state. Instead, secularism in India means a state that supports or participates in a neutral manner in the affairs of all religious groups.
Kashmiriyat
Kashmiriyat is the centuries-old indigenous tradition of communal harmony and religious syncretism in the Kashmir Valley. Emerging around the 16th century, it is characterised by religious and cultural harmony, patriotism and pride for their mountainous homeland of Kashmir.
Kashmiriyat exemplifies the joint Hindu-Muslim culture, festivals, language, cuisine and clothing in the Kashmir Valley. In the spirit of Kashmiriyat, festivals of Hinduism and Islam are celebrated by adherents of both faiths. Kashmiriyat, with the Hindu
Muslim Unity. It was promoted by Kashmiri sultan Zain-ul-Abidin and can be explained by the story of Lal Ded (also called Lalleswari), in which her body turned into a mound of flowers that was buried by both Hindus and Muslims. This serves as an emblem of Kashmiriyat.
Conclusion
As on today, we can say with complete conviction that the efforts of the local population, the government and the Security Forces have paid off to connect the traditional concept of secularism; Kashmiriyat with the modern Indian concept of Secularism. The locals now relate to the sovereignty of the State as a whole. The youth has been going all around the Nation for pursuing various educational qualifications and come back with a more open and analytical mind which will promote secularism and Kashmiriyat together as a whole.
