Historian S Irfan Habib Warns Against Linking Religion with Nationalism

Historian S Irfan Habib expressed concerns about linking religion with nationalism, citing potential issues as seen in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Speaking with author Ratan Sharda at the Sahitya Aaj Tak event, Habib emphasised that religion should remain distinct from nationalism. He noted that while communities have changed religions over centuries, their national identities remained unchanged.

Habib highlighted that in the past 50 years, nations have been divided on religious grounds. He pointed out that a nation founded on Islam couldn't stay united for even 25 years. "Pakistan and Bangladesh were divided along cultural and linguistic lines despite sharing the same religion," he said. This underscores the challenges of forming a nation solely based on religion.

Religion vs National Identity

Habib shared an anecdote about visiting Lahore, where locals recounted how Pakistanis mocked Mujibur Rehman in Parliament. This example illustrates how a nation united by religion struggled to maintain cohesion. He stressed that a single nation can encompass multiple religions, but basing a nation on one religion can lead to significant challenges.

Ratan Sharda, meanwhile, argued for distinguishing between religion and dharma. According to Sharda, dharma encompasses righteousness and transcends mere worship. He stated, "Islam, Christianity, and Vaishnavism may be different religious communities, but they all share the dharma of humanity."

Dharma and Religion

Sharda further explained that India hosts diverse sects and communities, yet they all share the same dharma. He believes that failing to differentiate between dharma and religion leads to confused discussions. This distinction is crucial for understanding the broader concept of humanity beyond individual religious practices.

The Sahitya Aaj Tak event featured various sessions covering cinema, history, politics, music, and literature. Notable participants included writer Neelesh Misra, lyricist Prasoon Joshi, singer Shilpa Rao, author Shailja Pathak, singers Badshah, Rekha, and Vishal Bhardwaj. The two-day event concludes on November 24.

The discussions at Sahitya Aaj Tak highlighted the complexities of intertwining religion with national identity. The insights from Habib and Sharda provided valuable perspectives on maintaining unity amidst diversity in India.