The prominent Indian English writer Khushwant Singh passed away at the age of 99. Considering the life span of 99 years, I could say he was so fortunate. Though I am a bit of an addict of novels and short stories, I didn’t read Singh much, except a poor translation of Women and Men in my Life (1995). He always shocked the readers with his daring attempt to discuss female sexuality, thus spitting at all the pseudo-moral principles of our country. Besides, he always stood for secular practices in the country.
Mrs. Salomi, wife of Prof. Joseph committed suicide yesterday night, which will remain as a blemish on the face of the much-celebrated ‘secular-progressive’ politics of Kerala. Prof. Joseph was a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha. During an exam, he prepared a question paper based on the chapter prescribed in the syllabus, without knowing that, this very act will destroy his life and career. Some extremist religious group attacked him and marred his hand alleging that the question paper contained a question which criticizes the Prophet. In order to show the ‘secular’ face of the institution, the college administration fired him from the job and the so-called ‘secular’ political parties supported this. Without having a job and the fear to go outside, the professor and his family lived in terror. Odd to a secular country like India!
Kushwant Singh was an ardent believer of secular practices in India, a celebrity of secularism, whereas Mrs. Salomi was the victim, victim of the hypocritical society of India. Secularism is downgraded as a mere slogan here!
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