UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

idea would be produced. In an industrial system, if all the engineers were cast in the same mould, they would not be able to invent any new technology. In a society, if all the writers had the same tastes, no creative literature would be produced. If all politicians were fashioned alike, they would not be able to bring about any significant political advancement. Variety and difference are a common law of nature, which functions throughout all walks of life. No man has it in his power to change it. UNI-CULTURAL NATION OR MULTI-CULTURAL NATION For the last one hundred years, two different political groups in India have tried to mould the country along the lines of their own thinking. One favouring a secular ideology, and the other Hinduism. The ideas of each are totally different from one another. The paradox is that both are in agreement that India should have a common civil code for all. When looked at impartially though, a uniform civil code is against the concepts of both parties. If they are sincere in their ideology, they should not support an idea such as a uniform code. Secularism means choosing a policy of non-interference by the state in matters of religion. According to the principle of freedom of faith and religion, the government administers only common, worldly matters. This is the internationally agreed concept of secularism. It is along these lines that the Constitution of India has been framed. The difficulty arises when certain people interpret secularism as a religion in itself that encompasses all aspects of private as well as public life, so that the prevalent religions can then be dispensed with. But this is extremism, something which is to be found in all religious groups and ethical systems. In Islam itself extremists interpret Islam as if it were a religion purely of politics and war. This is, however, an over-exaggeration and is far from being Islam’s true representation. It is a fact that secularism and a uniform civil code are at opposite poles. The secular group of India, if it is so in the true sense of the word, should not talk of a uniform civil code, since the basic principle of secularism is religious freedom and freedom in the private sphere. The other group, who wants to proceed on the basis of Hindu ideology, should know that attempts to bring people belonging to various groups under the same civil code is against its own cherished concepts. The Secularism means opting for a policy of non-interference by the state in matters of religion.