"India land of religious pluralism": Kerala High Court notes no flouting of Sanatana Dharma during Vidyarambham

The Kerala High Court recently observed that India is a land of religious pluralism as it has taken into its fold varied philosophies, beliefs and ethos over the past several centuries [KR Mahadevan v Mattannur Municipality & Ors.]..Justice Devan Ramachandran made this observation while closing a plea filed by a Hindu man alleging that the 'Vidyarambham' function proposed by Mattannur Municipality was violating Sanatana Dharma by forcing children to recite prayers outside their faith.“India is a land of religion pluralism – it is what defines us. It takes into its fold varied philosophies, beliefs, and ethos with ease; and it has been so for the past several centuries,” observed the High Court.Vidyarambham is derived from vidya, which means ‘knowledge’, and arambham which means ‘start’. This means it is a ritual that marks the formal introduction of toddlers to writing and syllabi..The plea was filed by a man professing to be a Hindu alleging that the ‘Vidyarambham’ conducted by the Mattannur Municipality was forcing children to recite and write the prayers contrary to their religious beliefs and the ethos of ‘Sanatana Dharma’.He, therefore, approached the High Court to intervene and stop the concerned authorities from going forward with the Vidyarambham program..The Court took note of the submissions made by the authorities of the concerned municipality that they have provided an option to the parents to choose the prayer they want their children to recite during Vidyarambham.Justice Ramachandran further acknowledged that the Mattannur Municipality was conducting the Vidyarambham in a library with secular thought.“Any attempt by anyone, much less respondents 1 and 2 (concerned authorities), to color this with any other shade, by forcing or inducing children to write or recite any prayer contrary to their parent’s choice would, therefore, be anathema to free thought and freedom of belief,” the High Court emphasised in its order..Therefore, the Court decided not to intervene since it was clear that the authorities had provided an option for parents to choose the prayer according to their religious belief for Vidyarambam.“‘Vidyarambham’ - which semantically means ‘commencement of education or knowledge’. There is nothing to imply therefrom that it is proposed to be conducted in a particular fashion, or in a particular manner; but solely that the parents can apply for their children to be initiated into education through certain prayers - the options of which have been indicated,” said the High Court.As long as the programme is conducted with a secular thought and without breach of any law and with full volition of the participants, I do not think this Court needs to intervene in any manner whatsoever, the judge said.The Court, however, made it clear that the event must be conducted respecting individual choices."The event mentioned in Ext.P1, must be conducted by respondents 1 and 2 implicitly respecting this, as also the individual choices to be made by the parents. I caution that any action on their part to cause a tear on the constitutional fabric – ingrained with liberty to all its citizens of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship – can never be countenanced," the judgment said..With this, the Court disposed of the plea..The petitioner was represented by advocates C Rajendran, RS Sreevidya, BK Gopalakrishnan and Manu M..[Read Judgment]