Big lesson in a small tale

Swarajinder Singh

OURS is a secular country. As we approach another Independence Day, I recollect my first lesson in secularism that I got when I was at the boarding in Sainik School Kapurthala in the early 1960s. We were in class VI and, as was the normal practice with boys in boarding schools, we spent most of the Sundays playing games in the playgrounds. It was one of those Sundays when we reached the football ground to play our game. 

We deputed Manmohan Singh and Mad Khanna as captains of the two teams. Just when they were about to pick their teams, someone suggested let it be Sikhs versus Hindus. That is how it happened and we played the game with Sikh boys in one team and Hindus in the other. 

This information reached the Principal, Commander OP Sharma, somehow. Next morning, during the assembly session, we were surprised when the Principal asked both teams to come in front of the assembly. He began by admonishing us, but realising our innocence, ended by counselling the entire school that no competition will ever be held based on religion in the school. Teams may be selected based on class or house or at random, but never on religion. A small incident, but a big lesson. 

Prior to joining the boarding, I did my early education in a small town of Punjab. We had Dalit children in our class and we were completely unmindful of their presence. Together, we did all our activities in class, playground and stage. During interval, or at the end of school hours, we would even go to their place for refreshments.

I was very fortunate to join the Indian Army after my schooling. I was commissioned into a regiment which had Sikhs, Dogras, Rajputs and Marathas. Such was the brotherhood amongst  us that we celebrated all religious festivals with equal fervour. Sikhs would lead the Lord Ganesh immersion procession enthusiastically. Hindus would be in the forefront during Gurparb in the gurdwara. 

In 1982, few IAS probationers were attached to us for training. We were celebrating Janmashtami in the temple and our Sikh religious teacher (granthi ji) was reciting the bhajan of Nandlala in his eloquent kirtan style. The IAS probationers remarked after the function that this was possible only in the Army in our country. In the Army, it is a leadership demand that religion of your men is your religion.

As per my experience, we can live in religious harmony only if we have a value-based education system and we build our societies on love and respect for one another.