Reactionaries & the scientific mind

It is the constitutional duty of every Indian citizen “to develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform,” as stated in Article 51A(h) of Part IVA of the Constitution on Fundamental Duties.

- Bhabani Shankar Nayak

Despite the 42nd Amendment of 1976, which enshrined the ideals of scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform, successive governments have continued to undermine scientific education and have failed to implement policies that nurture scientific consciousness. Religious, political, social, and cultural reactionaries—along with their allies in electoral politics who pander to them—erode both the Constitution and the constitutional duties of Indian citizens.

A stagnant culture serves to protect the conservative ideals and interests of the elites. The Eurocentric theory of cultural relativism continues to legitimise various stagnant and primitive forms of reactionary practices in the name of protecting cultural identity in India. Similarly, community-based laws safeguard practices that are fundamentally reactionary and neo-traditional. Such legal provisions weaken the constitutional promise of reform in India. These democratic and constitutional contradictions call for progressive reform. However, political parties and their leaders exploit social, cultural, linguistic, religious, and regional identities to mobilise voters and secure electoral victories to govern the country and hinder progressive reforms.