Pakistan approves Hindu Marriage Bill

The Pakistan government passed a special Bill on February 9 legislating Hindu marriages after decades of delay, granting the Hindu minority community in the country the right to marry as per the Hindu customs and register their marriage.

The special committee of the parliament unanimously approved the Hindu Marriage Bill which is likely to be made into law after getting the assent of the National Assembly. Nationally recognizing a personal law related to the minority community that makes up a small percentage of Pakistan’s population is laudable and a relief to all those voicing support for the rights of minorities. The different communities haven’t been able to follow their respective personal laws even after six decades of attaining independence. Hindu community in Pakistan hasn’t been able to register their marriages and divorces ever since it became a separate nation causing major concern for the minorities. Pakistan has now made efforts to overcome all the hurdles by passing the Bill. Democracy and diversity are enriched only when the different religious and cultural divisions are able to safeguard their respective cultural heritage. Unfortunately, there are several instances of those religiously blindfolded, liberal morons and communist dictators neglecting this diversity and converting nations into barren lands. While the Islamic State on one side claims themselves to be ardent followers of the almighty, the communist government of North Korea rejects god. All these represent the same parched global conscience. The Sangh Parivar that rules the country at present also shares the same mindset. Therefore the move of granting assent to a Bill related to a minority in a present global scenario enveloped by the fear of those who try to do away with diversity is surely relevant.

Compared to Pakistan where it took a long time to get the Bill passed, India could be proud of itself given that the different communities in the country have been practicing their respective personal laws. It was started by the British who ruled India before 1947 and the tradition has been continuing even after attaining independence. The nation is ruled by those who strongly demand to put an end to this freedom. We are now amidst discourses related to Uniform Civil Code with the Supreme Court accepting a PIL on its own. The SC has directed the Centre to inform its stance in the matter within six weeks. As far as the Centre is concerned, the move by the apex Court is definitely an advantage. The Sangh Parivar-led Centre through the concept of Uniform Civil Code aims not at national integration or modernization of laws but to threaten and suppress the Muslims, the country’s largest minority community. If the Sangh Privar is driven forward by want of ‘modern and progressive’ laws, given the existence of the Special Marriage Act of 1954, they should have been willing to drop the Hindu Personal Law. Not only did they refuse to do so but also insist on living according to this law. At the same time, they demand a Uniform Civil Code whenever the matter of Muslim Personal Law is raised. The Hindutwa forces are visibly using the law for sectarian politics. Thinking that the nation would be fortified by unifying all the civil laws is an outdated approach. It’s only when the diverse communities are able to freely and proudly live and practice their cultural and religious heritage that democracy and secularism strengthens in the country. Attempting to break it up and bring it all under one roof would only destabilize the nation.