We count 2014 as a crucial calendar year for India. This is because the general elections are scheduled to be held in 2014. It will define the idea of India. The voters will make the crucial decision whether India remains a secular, pluralist state or it retreats from the vision of the founding fathers. "Unity in diversity" is not a phrase empty of meaning, but an article of faith and a living philosophy for all patriots. India is unique for its diversity and tolerance. The repudiation of these defining national traits and their replacement with uniformity and intolerance is a recipe for disintegration. Secular politics is the antidote to communal tension. Communal strife is the biggest barrier to peace and prosperity. Communal riots must become a thing of the past. India can bear no more Muzzafarnagars. Communal harmony is an essential pre-condition for economic growth. Secularism, the talisman that keeps the country united, is part of India's rich cultural heritage. Hopefully, 2014 will see the idea of India as we know it and "live it" being preserved by the heterogeneous population of India.
G David Milton Maruthancode
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