Noted Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi today slammed Home Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks on secularism saying that his suggestion to replace the literal translation of the word in the Constitution with 'panth-nirpekshta' (sect-neutral) would be "disastrous".
He also said that the word 'secularism' should be rightly replaced with 'sarva dharma sadbhav'.
"You can translate something making the meaning disastrous. Yesterday, our Home Minister said something disastrous about secularism by saying 'dharma-nirpekshta' (neutral of religion) should be replaced by 'panth- nirpekshta'," he said.
Stating that 'sarva dharma sadbhav' would be a better replacement for the word 'secularism', the poet said, "It means equal respect for all religions and (is applicable) also for those who like me do not believe in any religion. We (atheists) also demand respect and understanding."
Vajpeyi was referring to Singh's remarks on the innagural day of Parliament's Winter Session during which he said the word 'secularism' was the "most misused" word in the country.
Singh had also objected to the use of Hindi word 'dharma nirpekshta', saying the literal translation of the secularism should be 'panth nirpekshta' and it should be regularly used as it is the official Hindi translation of secularism.
The poet was among the earliest few writers in the "award-wapsi" campaign, which later swelled to at least 37 writers and poets protesting against "growing intolerance".
Vajpeyi also defended Aamir Khan's recent comments on "intolerance" stating that the Bollywood actor had been "attacked, misinterpreted and misreported, which itself is an exercise and evidence of intolerance."
Khan had earlier expressed his view that intolerance in the country had risen in the last few months.
"He has the right to express that. Just because he is a Muslim we start abusing him and tell him that he should go to Pakistan. Everytime a popular Muslim actor speaks you want to send him to Pakistan, this itself is an extreme form of intolerance...," Vajpeyi said.
The poet was participating in a session themed on 'Building new grounds for translations in India' along with fellow panelists authors Urvashi Butalia and Bulbul Sharma besides translator Avadhesh Kumar Singh at the ongoing 5th edition of Samanvay, the annual Indian Languages festival.
The Hindi poet, whose works have been translated in several Indian and foreign languages, said translation in itself was an "exercise towards tolerance" because it enables an understanding of others writing and viewpoints.
"There is a great amount of intolerance at present in this country and many of us are fighting against it and voicing our opinions and one of the roles that translation plays is spreading tolerance. Because it spreads understanding that others are not really others... They are yourself," he said.
