Khushwant Singh, Indian journalist and diplomat, dedicated his life to the study of sectarianism, its devastating consequences and its use by foreign powers for destructive ends. He wrote several essays and books on the subject, the best known of which is The End of India, in which he exposes the evils of sectarian strife. A Sikh himself, Singh expounds the horrors that India suffered at the hands of warring Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. Endorsing Gandhi's denouncement of sectarianism, Singh explains what Gandhi meant by secularism. The secularism Gandhi wished to bring to his country was not of a Western variety; Gandhi wasn't concerned with the mere separation of church and state. His secularism called for equality, democracy and tolerance among all citizens. Gandhi's teachings may offer a clue to the dilemma Israel is facing today. Although secular and democratic in theory, Israel is sectarian and racist in practice, for it doesn't endorse equality among its citizens or tolerance towards others. Singh urges respect for the beliefs and culture of others. Everyone needs a faith to hold on to, but people ought to be less obsessed with building places of worship than expounding the common denominator of all creeds -- the quest for goodness, truth and beauty. India is arguably a democratic country with genuine economic achievements, but it is not over its sectarianism yet, Singh says. One reason is that, following Gandhi's death, Jawaharlal Nehru introduced Western secularism but stopped short of Gandhi's ideals of justice, equality and tolerance. In India, sects keep rallying their forces, biding their time, waiting for the right moment to settle their scores. Unless timely action is taken, this could mean the end of India, Singh says. He suggests that school curricula focus more on equality and tolerance, that the media quits fuelling sectarian prejudice, and that security services pre- empt factional violence and uphold justice and democracy. In other words, he advocates a return to Gandhi's version of secularism, a version that honours all creeds instead of alienating all. There is enough room for all creeds in India and their combined presence can be an asset rather than a liability for the country, says Singh. His words are just as true for Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Iraq and Palestine. The call for tolerance in our part of the world is not just timely. It is a matter of life and death.
