The idea of India is multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual and that was the spirit of Indian freedom struggle, scholar-author and former professor at Delhi University Dr. Shamsul Islam, said here yesterday.
Taking part in an interactive session on Indian Freedom Struggle at Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences, MAHE. Prof. Shamsul Islam said emphasis on one religion, one culture and one language will be against ‘the very idea of India’ conceived by freedom fighters. Diversity should not be eliminated and one should strive for unity in diversity, he added.
Even though Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh had different approaches to freedom struggle, they complemented each other. In 1857 during first war of Indian Independence Hindus and Muslims fought together and complemented each other. However, there were many rebellions against the British even before 1857, he pointed out.
Speaking on the occasion Prof. Phaniraj regretted that there have been attempts to
misrepresent and misappropriate Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh and Dr. Ambedkar. GCPAS Head Prof. Varadesh Hiregange said the primary legacy of Indian Freedom Struggle is liberal nationalism as against religious nationalism. Dr. Rajaram Tholpadi felt the need for more literature on Gandhiji and Bhagat Singh dialectic. Many others participated in the discussion.
By 
ForthFocus™