By Fr Paul Melwyn, Pamedi, Capuchin

Aug 15: "Satyameya Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) is the national motto of Republic India. It is a Vedic mantra inscribed at the base of the national emblem. The national emblem and the motto of the nation are also inscribed on one side of all Indian currency. We Indians take pride to hoist the National flag, sing the National Anthem, pay tribute to freedom fighters and think of the lofty motto and celebrate 69th India’s Independence day on August 15, 2015.

Visionaries of India as secular nation chose ‘Dharma Chakra’ (Dhamma) to adorn the National Flag. The flag symbolizes freedom and the dharma chakra imprinted at the center of the national flag of India stands for secularism and constitutional values and principles. In his speech at the Red Fort, Delhi, on August 16 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India said: "The free flag of India is the symbol of freedom and democracy not only for India but for the whole world. India, Asia and the world must rejoice on this great day…"

The Preamble that highlights the essence of the Indian Constitution clearly declares the four objectives: justice, liberty, equality and Fraternity (Bandhutva). The goal of fraternity is expressed in the following words: "unity and integrity of the Nation." Dr Ambedkar describes fraternity as that brings a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians – of Indian being one people. It is this principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. Fraternity is assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity and integrity of India as one Country or nation.

What triumphs today is not the truth of unity and integrity of the India as fraternity but an opposite environment that permeates with intolerance, arrogance, hostility, prejudice, hate and violence which are hallmarks of religious fundamentalism. Ideologies of religious fundamentalism create fanatics and radicals who threatenreligious freedom, the most treasured liberty enshrined in the Indian constitution. In one of his outstanding speeches, concerned about the future of Independent India Dr Ambedkar on November 25, 1949 said the following:

"My mind is full of the future of our country that I feel ought to take this occasion to give expression to some of my reflection thereon… What would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety… This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will the Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above the country? I do know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above the country our independence will be put in jeopardy second time and probably lost for ever. This eventuality we must resolutely guard against."

The current game of reconversion (Ghar Wapsi); marginalization Christians and Muslims to make India a "Hindu rashtra,"; calling for national debate whether words "socialist" and "secular" should be part of the Preamble to the Constitution; a proposal to elevate the Bhagavad Gita, a revered holy book as India’s ‘national scripture’ that tantamount to undermining the secular basis of Constitution; bust (engraved portrait) of NathuramGodse to install in different parts of the country; a renewed attempt to introduce a nationwide anti-conversion law; inflammatory speeches and attacks are some examples appear to abrogate fundamental rights of the citizens enshrined in the secular constitution of India. Will India put her independence in jeopardy or will she lose again? Who has answers to the question raised by Dr. Ambedkar? Was Barack Obama, the President of the United States right when he said in February this year that the acts of religious intolerance that being reported in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi?

As mentioned above, Dharma-chakra which is at the center of the national flag symbolizes some basic rights of every Indian citizen. They were ideals proclaimed and practiced by Emperor Ashoka. Seeking after truth, reverence for life, tolerance, compassion and peaceful co-existence were the cornerstones of his administration. Gandhi wrote about national Flag:

"…. Looking at the wheel some may re-call that Prince of Peace, King Ashoka, ruler of an empire, who renounced power. He represented all faiths; he was an embodiment of compassion… The Ashoka Chakra represent eternally revolving Divine Law."

It was in the 1920s the tricolor flag was adopted by the Indian National Congress. The colours – white, green and saffron were arranged in the order from top to down. They were given religious connotations with saffron representing Hinduism, green Muslim and white all other faiths. The idea behind was that white would represent the weakest and it should occupy the first place. Second, greenthat would represent Islam and Saffron that would represent Hinduism at the base, numerically the strongest one shielding the weakest. However, religious significance attached to the colors was soon avoided on Gandhi’s initiative. The order of the colors was also changed to saffron, white and green in the descending order. From then on saffron is understood as representing courage, renunciation and sacrifice, while peace and truth and green faith and life.

The controlling principle of all those who work under national flag of India is Truth (satya), call it ‘dharma’. The wheel of the law of dharma denotes dynamism. On the Independence Day we celebrate dynamism of country’s secularism with patriotism-themed events across the country. The Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag at Red Fort in Delhi, followed by the official 21-gun salute and the Prime Minister’s Address. Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address sure to highlight over achievements and development of the country. We hope he touches the issue of secular dyamism and progress the country has made under his leadership. His words are fresh in our minds: "My government will not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred against others overtly or covertly."

We people of India earnestly desire that the motto of country ‘Satyameya Jayate’ is lived. Let truth prevail! Let ‘dharma’ prevail! Let peace prevail! Incidentally, when first Independence of India was celebrated Mahatma Gandhi did not join the celebration, instead he observed 24 hours fast praying for peace and unity and integrity of the nation. Certainly he might have repeated his favorite incantation, "Sabkosanmati de Bhagavan."

Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in the above article are those of the author alone.