In a remarkable judgment, the Karnataka High Court quashed the denial of a public auditorium for celebrating Shankaracharya Jayanti, holding that such decisions cannot be justified under the guise of secularism. The case arose after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) refused permission to a trust seeking to host the event, prompting a legal challenge.
As per the Live Law, the court made it clear that Bharat’s secularism is not about excluding or suppressing dharmic and cultural traditions. Observing that Bharat’s civilization is deeply rooted in its heritage, the bench remarked that removing such traditions would be akin to “removing the soul of the nation.” It further noted that references to Bharat’s civilizational legacy, including Gurukul traditions, the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita, Gautama Buddha, and Mahavira, are embedded in the broader cultural consciousness and are reflected even in constitutional values.
Criticism has mounted against the Congress-led Karnataka government following the ruling, with opponents alleging that the denial reflects a pattern of selective secularism. Hindu cultural events are increasingly subjected to administrative hurdles, raising concerns about bias and misinterpretation of constitutional principles by local authorities.
The High Court’s verdict reinforces that peaceful cultural and religious expressions cannot be arbitrarily restricted by public bodies. It sends a strong message that the state Congress government’s governance must align with constitutional guarantees while respecting Bharat’s civilizational identity and that secularism, in the Bharatiya context, is meant to be inclusive rather than exclusionary.
Hindu dharma represents a truly secular and respectful tradition that honors all dharmas. Religions that promote conversion cannot genuinely teach secularism, nor can secularism be imposed or force-fed. This stands as a victory for Hindu Dharma, affirming that no one has the right to oppose dharmic or spiritual events in Bharat. Who has the authority to stop Hindu dharmic events in our own land?
